Four months after Northwestern University fired football coach Pat Fitzgerald following a hazing scandal on the team, the school is trying to move on.

Why it matters: Northwestern has promised to fix the football program and be more transparent after reports of widespread hazing rocked the university.

Driving the news: Northwestern announced this week that David Braun will be the team's official head coach, after four months in an interim role.

What they're saying: "Every decision we make, the question will be asked, 'Well, how does this affect the young men that are part of our program?'" Braun told reporters yesterday.

• NU president Michael Schill said Braun took the interim job under "incredibly challenging situations and conditions."

Catch up fast: Several former players have sued the school over allegations of harassment and abuse by other players, with some claiming coaches willfully ignored the behavior.

• Fitzgerald is also suing Northwestern for $130 million, citing wrongful termination.

By the numbers: Fitzgerald was expected to make more than $7 million in 2024, according to USA Today.

• But it's unclear how Braun's salary will stack up. A university spokesperson declined to share how much the new coach will be paid, telling Axios the school doesn't "disclose salary."

Between the lines: Northwestern is the only private school in the Big Ten conference, so Braun's salary isn't public record, as is the rest of his peers'.

The intrigue: Under Fitzgerald's former agreement, Northwestern would have ranked middle of the pack among Big Ten football coaches' guaranteed annual pay.

The big picture: The promised transformation of the football program comes as the school is pushing an $800 million, privately funded renovation plan of its stadium, Ryan Field, including a zoning change to allow six concerts a year.

• Some neighbors are fighting the plan, citing traffic and noise concerns.

What's next: Evanston's City Council is expected to vote on the Ryan Field renovation Monday after punting on a vote last week.

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Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday announced $160 million in additional state funding for migrant aid in Chicago.

Why it matters: The money helps fill a big gap in the newly approved 2024 city budget that allocated just $150 million for migrant aid, less than half of what officials anticipate needing.

The intrigue: Although the General Assembly signaled it would not vote on more migrant funding this year, Pritzker found funds within the Department of Human Services, which he says has a budget for wraparound services for "people living in the state."

How it works: $30 million is earmarked for more workers to greet new arrivals and help them find housing, especially alternative housing beyond shelters.

• $65 million to expand local shelter capacity.
• $65 million to increase case management programs to expedite migrant paths to self-sufficiency.

Of note: The state is also reducing its rental assistance to new arrivals from six months of support to three months, starting today.

What we're watching: Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to reveal a suite of tougher migrant policies today.

Go deeper

A Yellow Line train collided with a CTA snowplow near the Howard stop yesterday, injuring 38 people. There is still no explanation for why the snowplow was on the tracks. (Axios)

👩‍⚕️ Walgreens announced they are closing stores on Thanksgiving for the first time in the company's history "to give time back to its workforce." 24-hour Walgreens will stay open. (Axios)

🧑‍⚖️ After a weeklong COVID-related delay, Ed Burke's corruption trial restarted with opening statements. (Tribune)

🏈 Bears quarterback Justin Fields will start Sunday against the Lions. He's been sidelined with a dislocated thumb. (NBC Sports)

👋 Hi, it's Justin!

We get it, you like the bad boys.

What's happening: This week, we asked readers who should replace Jason Benetti in the South Siders' broadcast booth, and former White Sox anti-hero A.J. Pierzynski came out the winner.

• He's not a play-by-play guy, but why not try something new?

The intrigue: I also received several write-ins for Andy Masur. I worked with Andy (and poll runner-up Connor McKnight) and think either would be an excellent choice!

📅 Upcoming events around the city.

Family Day w/ Mary Macaroni & the Impastas at Midwest Coast Brewing Company on Nov. 26:

Families are welcome and encouraged to stay after and enjoy beer, cider, hard seltzer, non-alcoholic beer, cold brew coffee, soda and sparkling water.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

A new documentary screening at the Music Box tomorrow explores how to reverse climate change by tending to our soil.

What's happening: "Common Ground" digs into how humans have destroyed topsoil around the globe, which has a much more profound impact than air or water pollution.

• "The fact that the climate community kind of missed this is stunning," co-director Josh Tickell tells Axios.

What they're saying: The filmmakers posit that the ground is the natural place to store carbon dioxide, yet our massive industrial food system has laid waste to the land, turning soil into dust.

• "Conventional farming over the last 150 years has destroyed the topsoil that we built America on," co-director Rebecca Tickell tells Axios.

Be smart: The film isn't all gloom and doom. The Tickells lay out solutions, including empowering and subsidizing sustainable farmers.

• "It's all about not taking more than what you give," says Rebecca Tickell.

Keep reading

The barrel is the star of this year's Bourbon County stouts from Goose Island, writes our good buddy John Frank from Axios Denver.

• We gave him the plum assignment of reviewing the goods.

What's happening: The Chicago brewery, owned by Anheuser-Busch, made six variants for its 2023 release that showcase freshly emptied barrels from six much-loved bourbon distillers.

Why it matters: Bourbon County Brand Stout — released once a year in November — is the original bourbon barrel-aged stout and remains a standard-setter in the beer industry.

Mark your calendar: The celebration starts Saturday in Chicago with Prop Day, the debut of the city-exclusive variant, which this year is inspired by the flavors of rice pudding.

• The nationwide release of the other variants is Nov. 24.

What to know