Mayor Brandon Johnson this week quietly reupped a controversial migrant shelter contract with Favorite Healthcare Staffing that some alders had called "shameful" and "insanity."

Why it matters: The multimillion-dollar contract has drawn intense criticism over the Kansas-based staffing company's "exorbitant" rates and use of out-of-state labor.

Driving the news: Chicago approved a new $40 million contract with Favorite Healthcare Staffing through mid-October of next year, per city filings.

• The terms include reduced rates for certain positions, including housekeepers and nurses. Hourly rates went from about $60-$200 in March to roughly $40-$156 today, per an Axios analysis.

Catch up fast: In September 2022, as the city rushed to open the first migrant shelters, Mayor Lori Lightfoot signed an emergency contract with Favorite Healthcare, which the city has since paid more than $57 million.

• In a budget address this month, Johnson called it one of many "expensive emergency contracts" he inherited from Lightfoot.
• Some alders, including Ald. Brendan Reilly, have called for the contract to be canceled.

Zoom in: Reilly told Axios on Wednesday he was caught off guard by the new contract.

• "[The mayor] didn't consult me. If he had, I would have advised him against it," Reilly said.

By the numbers: Documents Axios obtained through an open records request show that in March alone the city paid Favorite $14 million in staffing fees.

• For one week of staffing at the Woodlawn shelter that month, Favorite charged $427,991 — an average of $117 per hour per employee, most who worked some overtime. Payment for one nurse to work a single 12-hour shift at the shelter was $2,700.
• The wages also covered hotel costs for Favorite's mostly out-of-town staff.

What they're saying: Not much. The mayor's office has not responded to multiple Axios requests for comment on the contract since Sept. 30.

• The Johnson administration told NBC5 that, as of mid-September, Favorite hired 265 of its 750 staffers from the local workforce and that it will "focus on hiring local candidates almost exclusively" going forward.

The other side: "Favorite has proactively worked with the city to reduce rates through a commitment to hire additional local candidates," the company's senior vice president Keenan Driver said in a statement earlier this week.

Keep reading

Illinois has joined 32 other states in suing Facebook and Instagram's parent company, alleging Meta knowingly designed features that can harm the mental health of young people.

Driving the news: The state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Tuesday that also accuses Meta of falsely assuring the public that those features were safe.

Why it matters: Recent research shows that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of depression and anxiety.

What they're saying: "The addictive features on Meta's social media platforms interfere with sleep and education, enable cyberbullying, and contribute to depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement.

Go deeper

Women are not only underrepresented as political candidates across the country, they're also underrepresented as donors.

Driving the news: In Illinois, female donors contributed 17% to general election candidates from 2019 to 2022.

• Nationally, female donors made up 29% to 33% of the contributions to general election candidates at statewide and state legislative levels.

Read more

🪧 A tentative agreement has been reached between United Auto Workers and Ford. About 4,600 workers at Chicago's Ford Assembly Plant have been on strike since Sept. 29. Still no word on how this deal will affect strikes against other automakers. (Sun-Times)

👮‍♀️ Chicago's police superintendent is vowing to remove officers linked to hate groups and far-right extremist organizations. (WGN)

• The remarks were made in response to a WBEZ/Sun-Times report that found nine current CPD officers whose names appear on a leaked list of Oath Keepers are on the force.

🏀 The Bulls started their season off on the wrong foot, losing at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 124-104. (NBC Sports)

💼 Take your career to the next level and see who's hiring.

1. Marketing Coordinator at FGM Architects.
2. Director, Communications at Illinois Housing Development Authority.
3. Director - National Assurance Technical Group - GASB Focus at Clifton Larson Allen.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Use code FIRST50 for $50 off your first job post.

We're down to the final two in our quest to choose Chicago's best anchor of all-time: Carol Marin vs. Bill Kurtis.

It sets up an amazing showdown between two Chicago greats. We all know why both of these anchors were outstanding. All that's left is to choose one.

Vote here. We'll reveal the champ tomorrow!

If you've ever tried to make pot brownies, you know that any mess-ups can lead to an out-of-whack (and body) experience. A Chicago bakery is now looking to help you perfect your process.

What's happening: West Town Bakery and sister store Okay Cannabis Dispensaries are now offering take-and-bake cake mixes that include THC.

Details: Flavors include Cannfetti Cake, Fudge Brownie and Devil's Food Cake ($25-$32), and each mix contains 50mg of THC.

• The Devil's Food Cake mix is Illinois' only commercially sold gluten-free edible that is not a gummy product.

What they're saying: "We took the guesswork out of it," Fifty/50 Hospitality Group chef Chris Teixiera tells Axios.

• "We wanted to create a product that first and foremost tasted great and secondly delivered a consistent, controlled experience."

The intrigue: Teixiera joins other notable chefs like Mindy Segal entering the cannabis space. Mindy's edibles are sold nationwide.

Zoom out: West Town Bakery has been at the forefront of gluten-free and vegan baking, acting as Chicago's go-to for specialty pastries and cakes over the past 10 years.

What's next: The brownie mix is already in stock; Cannfetti and Devil's Food Cake will become available on Halloween.

Share this story

As part of our series of favorite Halloween decorations, Connie S. shared how she got the band back together!

📫 Hit reply to share scary, spicy and funny Halloween decorations.