A year after the state abolished cash bail in favor of letting judges decide who stays in jail before their trial, data shows that Illinois' violent and property crime rates have fallen.

Why it matters: Critics of the Pretrial Fairness Act had argued the law would lead to crime spikes and lawlessness, but the data, shared in a report from Loyola University's Center for Criminal Justice, suggests the opposite.

Flashback: Before the PFA took effect in 2023, some state's attorneys and politicians proffered dire predictions about what the impact would be.

What they're saying: "For months [we saw] racist propaganda that was not checked by those in positions of power and journalism to call a thing a thing," Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said Wednesday at a summit where the report was released.

• "So when people say to me, 'Wow, it's really surprising that this law worked,' [I ask] 'surprising to whom?'"

By the numbers: Loyola researcher David Olson presented data from six months before and after PFA implementation and found:

• Failure to appear rates dropped from 17% to 15% across the state.
• Statewide violent and property crime rates dropped by 12%.
• Jail populations decreased by 14% in Cook County, 14% in other urban counties and 25% in rural counties. (But some of this was offset by defendants placed under pre-trial supervision involving some monitoring.)

The other side: Former Democratic Alder Bob Fioretti, who is now running as a Republican for Cook County state's attorney, questions the characterization of the PFA as a success.

• "Ask families of murder victims if they think it's a big success," he tells Axios.

What's next: PFA proponents say they expect some tweaks to the law around improving failure-to-appear rates and possibly expanding what's considered a detainable offense.

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👋 Hey, it's Justin!

I'm making it my mission each week to get you fully prepared for the Bears game.

Driving the news: The Bears (1-0) head to Houston for a prime time matchup against the Texans (1-0) on Sunday Night Football.

Good news: The Bears won last week without scoring an offensive touchdown.

Bad news: The Bears haven't won a road Sunday Night Football game since 2011.

What to watch for:

Who makes big plays: It's a nationally televised game and in the NFL, superstars separate themselves from the pack by playing their best when the lights are brightest.

• Watch for Bears stars like Jaylon Johnson, DJ Moore and Montez Sweat.

Compare and contrast: This will not be an easy game for quarterback Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall draft pick didn't play well last week, and the Texans defense is tougher than the Titans.

• Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was last year's AFC Rookie of the Year so watch closely how he operates and if Williams can match him.

Monsters of the Midway: Whenever the Bears have early success, it's usually because the defense makes big plays. The nation expects it. If they get a few sacks, the broadcast will cue up Mike Singletary highlight clips.

The broadcast: Be ready for analyst Cris Collinsworth to salivate over deep dish pizza while talking gibberish about hot dogs and heart attacks.

• There will also be graphics and charts showing how bad Bears quarterbacks have been and close-up shots of Williams' fingernail polish.

More to watch for

Pollen counts have been consistently high for the past month, but are finally starting to come down.

Why it matters: Climate change is making Chicago's allergy seasons longer and more intense. This fall will be a prime example.

Yes, but: Fall allergy season typically tapers when frost arrives in late October or early November.

The big picture: Worsening allergy seasons are a concern nationwide. NOAA researchers are developing a new pollen forecasting model, the first of its kind for a federal agency.

👮‍♀️ After alder and union outcry, city officials clarified that the Chicago Police and Fire Departments will be exempt from the municipal hiring freeze. (Sun-Times)

Legendary drag performance artist Chilli Pepper died earlier this week. She is a member of the LGBT Hall of Fame and a former guest on daytime talk shows like "Donahue" and "Oprah." (Windy City Times)

⭐️ Three Chicago restaurants, including Ukrainian Anelya, Filipino Bayan Ko and Lebanese Beity have been added to the Michelin guide. (Michelin)

🏙️ Check out what's happening around Chicago.

Chicago's Late Night Talk Show: The Not That Late Show at The Lincoln Lodge on Sept 18: We're a Chicago-first showcase of not only artists, but politicians, journalists, activists, and community leaders. Every month, we provide a live late night talk show experience (without being in NYC or LA) that's packed to the brim with entertainment.

Interested in featuring an event? Email [email protected].

Chicago is hosting its very first Premier League fan festival next weekend.

Driving the news: NBC Sports' Premier League Mornings Live will broadcast from Lincoln Park beginning at 6:30am Sept. 21, followed by matches on a big screen.

• Rivals Manchester City and Arsenal play Sept. 22 at 10:30am.

Zoom in: Chicago is the 10th city to host the event that celebrates fans of the elite English football (soccer) league.

What they're saying: Liverpool fan Patrick Crumpton tells Axios he's excited to show off Chicago on the broadcast and rarely misses a match, usually at AJ Hudson's Bar.

• "Matchdays are an incredible experience where you can meet people from four different continents and have an instant conversation with them. But if you're not there when the doors open at 6am, you're not getting a table, and if it's nearly kickoff, you're likely not getting in."

Ways to watch: Registration for the festival is closed, but if you didn't register, here are some Chicago bars where you can watch matches.

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👋 Hey, it's Monica!

Last football season, pop-up chef Billy Zureikat posted videos of weekly pizzas he made inspired by Bears' opponents, but this year he's working with Pizza Matta to actually make and sell them.

• Last Sunday I ordered the Titans-themed Nashville hot chicken pie with sweet pickles ($30) and loved it.

What's next: Zureikat will reveal this week's Houston-themed pie Sunday at 8am on Instagram.

• Expect a banh mi nod to Houston's Vietnamese community.