The Department of Public Health announced late Friday it's denying the operating permit for industrial metal shredder Southside Recycling.

Why it matters: The city sided with environmentalists who have been pushing to keep the metal shredder from operating out of the Southeast Side community.

• "This decision demonstrates it is possible for the city to use health and environmental justice data and community input to reassess development decisions," the Metropolitan Planning Council said.

Context: The metal shredder formerly known as General Iron was closed on the North Side to make way for the mega-development Lincoln Yards.

• The facility was renamed Southside Recycling and relocated to the Southeast Side in 2019, when they signed an agreement with the city to build a new state-of-the-art facility.
• After the EPA asked for a review in 2021, the permit process was stalled.

What they're saying: "This decision can be a turning point for communities of color that have been hurt by environmental racism for decades," the Southeast Environmental Task Force said in a statement.

• "Although we are celebrating this decision, the community continues to deal with the toxic legacy that has allowed pollution to accumulate in our community."

The big picture: Environmentalists have fought to deny this permit through rallies, press conferences and hunger strikes. Groups have protested pollution on the Southeast Side for years, including a widely publicized battle against petcoke producers.

The other side: "We have built the most environmentally conscious metal recycling facility in the country, but politicians and government officials have ignored the facts," Southside Recycling owner RMG said in a statement.

• "This decision is a clear message to any businesses or industries that might be considering expansion or investment in Chicago: the city is not a reliable partner and is not open for business."
• This comes on the heels of a study from the city last week which found "no appreciable risk" when assessing the environmental impact of the facility.

What's next: RMG, which says it's spent over $80 million on this venture, plans to sue the city.

• The only other major shredder that recycles metal is currently being sued by the state of Illinois for toxic emissions.

We were off for Presidents Day yesterday, but these photos of presidents are worth it any day.

• Here are just a few historic photos featuring Chicago as the backdrop.

🚒 A huge fire destroyed multiple businesses and buildings, including the popular Twisted Hippo brewery in Albany Park. Turns out the landlord has a history of building violations. (Block Club)

😷 The Better Government Association (BGA) fact-checked claims from downstate Republicans that masking in schools doesn't work. Newsflash: it does. (Sun-Times)

🚄 Metra will honor expired 10-ride passes until June 1 due to the pandemic. (CBS 2)

🏒 The Blackhawks have parted ways with Bobby Hull and are reevaluating their ambassador program. (The Athletic)

🌭 After 31 years on Lake Street in the West Loop, the Fast Track hot dog stand has closed to make way for high-rise condos. (Block Club)

🪜 One step at a time on our Local Job Board.

1. Manager, Corporate Communications at AbbVie.
2. Senior Account Executive at Hawthorne Strategy Group.
3. Analyst, Finance at Publicis Groupe.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

2d Restaurant in Lakeview is giving away 222 mochi donuts at 2:22 p.m. today to celebrate 2/22/22 and its official opening.

Why it matters: The much-hyped doughnut and fried chicken shop is just the latest Chicago restaurant that touts its Instagramability as much as its food.

The concept: 2d Restaurant purports to be "Chicago's first hand-drawn, monochrome, illusionary restaurant" and serves mochi doughnuts and chicken.

The line experience: We waited outside for 45 minutes on Sunday at noon before finally ordering online and picking up our doughnuts.

• Staffers give samples to folks in line to ease the pain.

The social media experience: The cool comic drawings inside make for fun Instagram posts but also keep people lingering, which makes the line long and slow.

The food: We didn't try the chicken, but the mochi doughnuts ($22 for six) taste like chewy glazed pastries from Dunkin'.

• The rich, peanut-buttery Pooh doughnut was the exception.
• On the plus side, their shape does make them easy to pull apart and share.

Bottom line: Good for those with lots of time who are in it for the photos more than the food.

We've given you a couple of easy location quizzes lately, but obviously, you need to be challenged. So where's Justin?

Hint:

• West of the city, south of the presidents
• Ginkgos galore, Chicagoans yell fore
• Just miles from the roar

📬 Answer correctly and you can win some Axios swag!