Axios Chicago

July 30, 2026
π₯© Happy Thursday! On this day in 1971, the Union Stockyards closed for good.
π€οΈ Today's weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 78.
π Happy birthday to our members Brian Likosar, Arthur Hahn, Jill Chukerman and Georgette Foss!
Situational awareness: Eli's Cheesecake is driving around Chicago today, handing out free slices to celebrate National Cheesecake Day.
Today's newsletter is 1,093 words β a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Lolla gets in on THC drinks
Lollapalooza begins today, and festivalgoers will have a new way to get buzzed: THC drinks.
The latest: Chicago cannabis company Rythm will serve its SeΓ±orita THC drinks to 21+ customers at the festival.
Why it matters: THC drinks have exploded in popularity, even as state and federal lawmakers struggle to decide how they should be regulated.
Catch up quick: In June, Illinois passed a new bill that strictly regulated intoxicating hemp products.
State of play: Illinois didn't ban hemp-derived THC drinks outright. Instead, lawmakers largely folded intoxicating hemp products into the state's regulated cannabis market, though questions remain about exactly how THC beverages will be treated when the law takes full effect in November.
- Currently, you can find them alongside alcohol products in stores including Binny's and Target, and at tourist attractions such as Navy Pier and the United Center.
- If the law takes effect as written, drinks like SeΓ±orita likely won't be sold at grocery stores, liquor stores or venues like next year's Lollapalooza. Instead, they'll generally be limited to licensed dispensaries.
Zoom in: The new Illinois law also loosens restrictions for licensed cannabis dispensaries as the state tries to compete with neighboring Michigan, where many Illinois residents buy marijuana.
How it works: Licensed cannabis dispensaries can now offer curbside pickup and drive-thru services. The law also doubles the purchase limit from 30 grams to 60 grams of cannabis flower.
- Also, the state law allows dispensaries to stay open until 2am, up from 10pm.
Yes, but: All these changes are subject to local municipalities. For instance, Chicago has yet to adopt any of the changes, and it's unclear whether it ever will.
- The mayor's office has not responded to our requests for comment.
The bottom line: Drink up and drink responsibly at Lollapalooza, because come this fall, THC drinks may be tougher to find.
2. Retracing MLK's Marquette Park march
Chicago officials and civil rights leaders will recreate Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic 1966 march through Marquette Park on Saturday.
Why it matters: The Chicago Freedom Movement March was part of King's campaign to expose blatant segregation in the North, especially in Chicago, and led to more awareness of unfair housing practices.
Zoom in: Original marchers from 1966, King's daughter, Bernice King, Mayor Brandon Johnson and others will recreate the procession, followed by a performance by Common.
Context: More than half a million Black people came to Chicago from the South during the Great Migration between 1917 and 1970, and racist housing practices kept many from owning homes.
Flashback: On Aug. 5, King led the Chicago Freedom Movement March through the then all-white Marquette Park, where protesters attacked marchers, striking King with a rock.
Reality check: After the march, the civil rights leader said, "I have seen many demonstrations in the South, but I have never seen anything so hostile and so hateful as what I've seen here today."
If you go: Welcoming remarks begin at 9:30am Saturday, followed by the march departing from 63rd and Kedzie at 11am.
3. Tips and Hot Links: We're No. 1 (in tornadoes)
πͺοΈ Illinois has already experienced 220 tornadoes this year, more than double the total of any other state. (Tribune)
Former Simeon basketball star and high school coach Tim Bankston was found fatally shot at his Auburn Gresham home yesterday. No arrests have been reported. (ABC 7)
π The city is providing free Lyft rides to grocery stores for older residents after the closures of Save A Lot stores last week. (Block Club)
π A new state law lets judges decide custody disputes between unmarried pet owners based on the pet's well-being and each owner's financial support. (Sun-Times)
4. Coffee may help your heart
Coffee lovers rejoice. The American Heart Association says that extra cup may actually help your heart.
Why it matters: A new scientific statement from the AHA says up to five cups of coffee could be healthy.
Driving the news: The AHA outlined last week how consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine a day appears to be linked to a lower risk of several cardiovascular conditions, including heart disease and stroke in some individuals.
- 400 mg of caffeine is equal to about three to five 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee.
Yes, but: The benefits are connected to black coffee β no milk, cream or sugar.
What they found: For people with optimal blood pressure, drinking 1 to 3 cups a day was associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, while drinking more than 3 cups per day was associated with a lower risk.
- Randomized trials indicate that a component in caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee called cafestol is associated with higher levels of "bad" cholesterol. Cafestol is present in espresso, French press and Turkish coffee β stronger brews β but not in coffee brewed with paper filters or instant coffee.
Reality check: Stick to a cup of Joe. The research shows that higher amounts of caffeine, such as those found in energy drinks, may increase the risk of high blood pressure and/or irregular heart rhythm.
π―οΈ Carrie's thought bubble: If they could find out how much coffee is too much to give me a headache, I'd appreciate it. Great, thanks.
5. Coffee break: Hexe (Roscoe Village)
π Hey, it's Justin! I don't need a study to tell me coffee is good for you. I already know! π€£π€£π€£
Today's spot: Hexe Coffee Co. (2000 W. Diversey Parkway)
The vibe: Nestled next to the newly renovated Lathrop Homes, it's one of the best spots for coffee in Chicago. Plus, an awesome patio.
The coffee: I got the iced Spring Latte, which included house-made orange fennel syrup. With the whole milk, it tasted like an espresso dreamsicle.

The service: Baristas aplenty, so the coffee was made quickly. It was also crowded, but no one overstayed their welcome.
πͺ Nine-word review: Dreamsicle coffee sure to put a hex(e) on you.
Edited by Larry Graham.
β€οΈ Carrie loves what these entrepreneurial Chicagoans did with the salvaged Holiday Club sign.
π Monica is looking forward to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 40th anniversary open house on Monday afternoon when all three theaters will be open to the public.
πΊ Justin is hoping Hulu still streams Lollapalooza sets. Watching the Smashing Pumpkins from his couch? Yes, please!
Want more Axios Chicago content? Check out our Instagram for extra stuff to do, behind the scenes photos, videos and more!
Sign up for Axios Chicago








