Axios Chicago

December 17, 2024
🏉 Happy Tuesday! On this day in 1933, the first NFL Championship Game was played at Wrigley Field. The Bears beat the Giants, 23-21.
☁️ Today's weather: Cloudy with a high of 41.
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Today's newsletter is 947 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: How Trump could affect international students


A handful of top U.S. universities are urging international students who travel home for winter break to be back in the country before President-elect Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
The big picture: Trump has vowed to crack down on both illegal and legal immigration, and school leaders are worried one of his first actions could be an executive order limiting entrance to the U.S. like he did with the Muslim Ban in 2017.
Driving the news: At least 10 universities have told international students to be back stateside before the Jan. 20 inauguration, including Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, MIT and others.
State of play: University of Illinois, which ranks sixth in the country for most international students, has not recommended students change their travel plans at this point, but has outlined resources for these students ahead of the new administration.
- Classes begin Jan. 21.
Between the lines: Other local schools expect students to return before the inauguration regardless — classes begin Jan. 6 at both University of Chicago and Northwestern.
- A spokesperson for UChicago tells Axios they have not suggested new travel plans for students.
What they're saying: "We have received concerns from our international community associated with the upcoming administration change. At this time there are no specifics regarding what, if any, policy, or regulation changes may be attempted," Robin Kaler, an U of I associate chancellor, told Axios in a statement.
- "ISSS (International Student and Scholar Services) will continue to make sure our students, scholars and campus partners are aware of any new immigration information that may affect them by communicating quickly and broadly."
By the numbers: There are roughly 1.1 million students from other countries studying in the U.S., according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a global nonprofit that advocates for international study.
- Those students contribute $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy. They also often pay about triple the amount of tuition that state residents pay.
2. Chicago passes budget with no property tax hike
Chicago City Council voted to pass Mayor Brandon Johnson's $17.3 billion budget proposal on Monday, but not before opponents and onetime allies took turns criticizing the process and Johnson's leadership.
Why it matters: The four attempts it took to get the necessary votes clearly demonstrated the strained relationship between Johnson and the council and the mayor's weakened political capital.
Reality check: Even alders who voted for the budget took shots at Johnson, including Progressive Caucus co-chair Ald. Maria Hadden, who said, "How we do things is just as important as what we do. And the way you've led, this process has left the city council fractured. Chicago is less trusting in government, and it's left our city in an extremely vulnerable position."

Zoom in: The final vote was 27-23.
- Fifteen alders who outlined their opposition to the budget in a letter to Johnson voted against it.
Flashback: Johnson pitched a $300 million property tax hike in October, but after public outcry and unanimous pushback from alders, the mayor's budget team managed to present a plan this weekend without a property tax hike.
By the numbers: The new plan still calls for $165.5 million in new taxes — down from $243 million in the previous plan.
- But it also offers up $44.9 million in "expenditure cuts," including a $1 million reduction in the mayor's office staff and $2.8 million in middle management cuts.
New revenue: The plan includes a $10 million "cost recovery initiative" that pursues reimbursement from big event organizers for millions in overtime the city pays to police, fire, sanitation, transportation and emergency management workers.
- It seeks another $40 million in savings by spreading out debt payments for the city's purchase of land formerly occupied by Michael Reese Hospital.
Between the lines: It's unusual for the back and forth between the mayor and council members to be done in public. Historically, mayors have negotiated behind the scenes and haven't called for a vote until they've been confident they have enough to get it passed.
3. Tips and hot links: Bears lose yet again
🏈 The Bears (4-10) were blown out by the Vikings in Minnesota on "Monday Night Football." The 30-12 shellacking was the eighth straight loss for the Bears, who face the Lions (11-2) at Soldier Field on Sunday. (Sun-Times)
✏️ Mayor Brandon Johnson named Sean Harden the new president of the Chicago Board of Education, along with five other new appointees. Harden is a former deputy CEO at CPS. (Crain's)
📦 Hundreds of Amazon delivery drivers in Skokie voted to authorize a strike in an effort to reach a labor contract with the company. (Tribune)
4. Chrismukkah, explained


Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same date this year for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Flashback: Hanukkah last started on Christmas night back in 2005 — the only other time the two have aligned in the last 50 years.
How it works: The first night of Hanukkah comes on the 24th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which is based on lunar cycles with the occasional "leap month."
- Hanukkah starts in late November through December on the more commonly used Gregorian calendar.
By the numbers: The earliest first nights of Hanukkah on the Gregorian calendar over the last 50 years came in 1994 and 2013, when it fell on Nov. 27.
- The latest came in 1986, on Dec. 26.
- The most common first night over the last 50 years? Dec. 8 (1974, 1993, 2012).
5. Where in the world is ... Carrie?
Can you guess where Carrie is?
Here's a hint:
- This spot has been around for about a century.
- Dances, roller skating, rock shows … there's plenty to see.
- The legend goes that tunnels underground
- Were used by the mob so their booze wasn't found.
Edited by Lindsey Erdody.
🎧 Carrie is reminding people to listen to the "Crooked City: Dixon, Illinois" podcast to learn more about Rita Crundwell, whose sentence Biden commuted last week.
🛼 Justin is bummed for his kid who had to get a cast on their leg after a roller skating accident. How many times does he have to say it: the future is roller BLADES.
🏝️ Monica is on vacation.
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