The outrage over former ABC-7 chief political reporter Charles Thomas' ads for gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey has spread to his former colleagues.

Why it matters: Chicago journalists don't usually attack one another publicly.

Context: Thomas retired in 2017, but he's back with a new series of local ads called "Real Talk with Charles Thomas."

• According to Capitol Fax, a PAC supporting Bailey paid Thomas $50,000 to do the ads.

Driving the news: This doesn't sit well with Thomas' former colleagues at ABC-7.

• Former sports anchor Mark Giangreco tweeted about it during last Thursday's Bears game:

Thomas responded with:

Then came former news anchor Ron Magers:

What they're saying: "Former newsies rarely engage in high-visibility partisan politics, and that’s one reason several of our former colleagues were so critical," retired ABC 7 reporter Andy Shaw tells Axios.

• "Beyond that, Charles doesn't represent ABC 7 any longer, so he's free to support any candidate in any way he chooses, as are the rest of us."

The intrigue: There have always been strict ethical guidelines for working journalists on political issues. Columbia College Chicago journalism professor Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin tells Axios that Thomas is not bound to any code of ethics since he's retired.

• "That said, he is being paid by the campaign specifically because he was a reporter for a quarter-century, and his credibility rests on his having abided by journalistic ethics and having avoided conflicts of interest all that time."

CDPH commissioner Allison Arwady is warning that sluggish uptake of the new COVID-19 booster could spell trouble for the fall and winter.

Why it matters: Just about 10% of Chicagoans have gotten the booster, and that's "not enough to get us through this winter without a likely fairly significant surge," Arwady said yesterday during her weekly COVID update.

• She's also bracing for a nasty flu season based on trends in the Southern Hemisphere.

The good news: Although new variants have recently hit, they're all Omicron strains targeted by the new bivalent vaccine.

• Plus, the FDA approved a dose for kids as young as 5 years old last week.

Be smart: Get the new vaccine and flu shot from doctors and pharmacies, or at two free city events this Saturday at Daley and Wright colleges.

📺 Gov. Pritzker called Darren Bailey a "threat to democracy" in their final debate last night. (Tribune)

💵 The new Cook County basic income pilot program is giving $500 a month to 3,250 residents over two years. One problem — over 184,000 applied. (Sun-Times)

🚑 Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) shot himself in the hand while cleaning his gun. (Block Club)

The Bulls kick off the 2022-23 season tonight against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.

• The team has a share of nationally televised games this year, so you'll inevitably find yourself with a group of people watching this Bulls team.
• Here's what you need to know to keep up.

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine

The Bulls are coming off their first winning season in years and bring back two key players. Zach LaVine re-signed, and DeMar DeRozan is back after finishing 5th in MVP voting.

• Great conversation starter: "Is there a better backcourt in the NBA right now?"
• Probably, but it will make people think.

New additions

Veteran Goran Dragić brings some much-needed point guard depth, and Andre Drummond will use his massive body in the paint. There's also first-round draft pick Dalen Terry.

• A well-timed: "Dragić, did you not get the memo!?" will elicit nostalgic fist bumps. For those who don't get the reference, have the D-Rose video ready on your phone.
• Pro tip: All Bulls fans love D-Rose montages.

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👋 Hey, it's Monica. Dozens of you guessed I was at the southwest bridge house of the Michigan Avenue/DuSable Bridge.

• It's decorated with a bas-relief of the battle of Fort Dearborn — an event that has been reconsidered recently.

The intrigue: Today this structure hosts a super cool Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum with five floors of fascinating history.

NPR host Scott Simon tells us he proposed to his wife, Caroline, next to the structure.

• "We needed to be behind there because the wind was so strong, I didn’t want to lose the Cracker Jack ring I had for her," Simon says.

👏 Congrats to Mike J. and Helen P., whose names we pulled out of a bridge tender's hat. Claim your swag at an upcoming event!

👋 Hi, it's Justin! We are down to the Final Four in our best Chicago band tournament. We tallied your votes, and here are the results:

• Styx over Ministry (82%-18%)
• Chicago over Liz Phair (75%-25%)
• Earth Wind & Fire over Wilco (64%-36%)

And in a stunning upset, Cheap Trick over The Smashing Pumpkins (51%-49%).

This sets up two epic Final Four matches:

Cheap Trick vs. Styx

Cheap Trick may hail from Rockford, but Chicago is definitely their adopted home. A '70s rock stalwart with hits like "Surrender," "I Want You to Want Me" and "The Flame."

But Styx is a classic rock powerhouse too with hits like "Come Sail Away," "Renegade" and "Mr. Roboto."

Chicago vs. Earth Wind & Fire

Both bands love the horn section. Chicago hits include "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park" and "You're the Inspiration."

Earth Wind & Fire stirs our souls with tracks like "September," "Let's Groove" and "Shining Star."

Let's vote!