👋 Hi, it's Justin!

We are less than a week away from the 2023 municipal election that will reshape City Council.

Why it matters: Several alderpeople have recently retired or have been replaced, paving the way for many fresh faces and ideas in the city's next council — possibly under a new mayor.

How it works: We probably won't know all the winners until spring given that so many wards, especially these five, seem headed for runoffs:

• If no candidate in a given race gets more than 50%, the top two vote-getters will engage in a runoff election in early April.

1st: This race to represent Wicker Park and Logan Square is getting rough. Incumbent Daniel La Spata reported his campaign office was recently vandalized. That comes after La Spata got a drink thrown on him during a bike ride with supporters last fall.

• His main opponent is former 1st Ward Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno. Attorney Sam Royko is also running, but the Tribune gave its endorsement to community activist Andy Schneider.

4th: Current Ald. Sophia King is out, because she's running for mayor. So Bronzeville, Kenwood and Northern Hyde Park will pick from among seven candidates, including state Rep. Lamont Robinson, who's running ads with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and is endorsed by Gov. JB Pritzker.

• Prentice Butler, chief of staff to King, is also running.

26th: Robert Maldonado is stepping down, opening the door for challengers like community organizers Jessie Fuentes and Angee Gonzalez Rodriguez, and local house DJ Julian "Jumpin" Perez.

• The new alderperson will take on gentrification issues along The 606 Trail, which includes Humboldt Park and Hermosa.

34th: This ward was completely redistricted from a Far South Side ward to a Near West Side ward. Ald. Carrie Austin isn't returning after being indicted on federal bribery charges, so this race features a matchup between former state's attorney candidate Bill Conway and a former head of the Chicago Association of Realtors, Jim Ascot.

• So far, Conway has declined debates and forums with Ascot.

45th: Embattled incumbent Jim Gardiner has five candidates trying to deny him a second term. By far the most controversial alder in the council, Gardiner faces headwinds including an FBI investigation into corruption allegations.

• But a remapped ward that includes conservative areas like Edgebrook and Wildwood could work to his advantage.
• The Tribune endorsed lawyer Megan Mathias.

Read my take on every ward as part of our 50 wards guide

We know your pocketbooks feel it, but we finally have official numbers into how food prices are rising this year.

Driving the news: Grocery prices rose 0.8% in Chicago in January compared with November 2022, per the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.

• Nationally, the cost of groceries rose 0.7% from December to January.

Why it matters: For many of the approximately 63% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, rising food prices can be an especially difficult financial challenge.

• Such prices, meanwhile, are particularly vulnerable to outside and difficult-to-control forces, such as climate change and geopolitical happenings.

The big picture: Among the metro areas with newly published CPI data, Chicago's increases were among the lowest.

• Denver saw grocery prices rise 2% from November 2022 to January 2023, and in Washington, D.C., it was around 1.6%. (Data from these areas is published every other month.)

Keep reading

🧥 Two of the alleged "Puffy Coat Bandits" have been arrested. Recently, the crew has been pickpocketing restaurant diners on the North Side. (Block Club)

✈️ United Airlines is planning a feature that would guarantee families' ability to sit together on flights … for free. (Axios)

📺 HBO Max has pulled the plug on the Chicago comedy "South Side" after three seasons. (Tribune)

🏀 The Bulls have ruled out Lonzo Ball for the rest of the season with a knee injury. (ESPN)

Chicago's knish game has never been as strong as New York's, but that might change this week.

The bite: Manny's Deli and Soul & Smoke collaborated on a special smoked brisket and mac and cheese-stuffed knish ($6.95), available only through Saturday.

The verdict: Soul & Smoke chef D'Andre Carter has elevated this nosh to a delectable meal, balancing the luscious mac and cheese and the sweet, smoky brisket with earthy collard greens.

The context: The creation is part of Manny's 2023 knish series, launched to develop unique combos "that cross cultural and culinary boundaries for all to enjoy." Future partners include:

• Irazu
• Gene & Georgetti
• Piccolo Sogno and more

💼 See current open positions on our Job Board.

1. Corporate Operations Manager at Arbor Lodging.
2. Associate Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at Erie.
3. Account Executive at MCPR.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

Tomorrow night, we welcome candidates to our Mayoral Madness 2023 event at The Hideout!

• It's a free event where we'll ask questions meant to bring out a fresh side of the politicians, as we did with our questionnaires.

State of play: All candidates have confirmed their attendance except Willie Wilson and, surprise, Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

• At least she's consistent in blowing off Axios Chicago.

Of note: Lightfoot's campaign did offer to send a surrogate to this event designed to show a more human and personal side of candidates.

🎟️ Good news: The show is technically sold out, but The Hideout has just released 20 more tickets for Axios Chicago readers.

• Get tickets here!

Reminder: Entry is first come, first served, so your RSVP does not guarantee you a seat.

• There will be spillover seating and a TV broadcast of the show in the front bar.