Chicago public media companies are bracing for the impact of potentially losing millions of dollars in federal funding in a few short months.

The latest: The House passed a bill to cancel over $1 billion in funding for PBS and NPR, via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The funding was included in the 2025 fiscal year budget, but this action removes it.

Why it matters: The rollbacks could hurt the bottom lines at WBEZ-FM, WTTW and public media stations across Illinois.

What they're saying: "This cancellation of funding would eliminate critical investments, stripping resources that we use to power independent journalism," Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell wrote to station members.

• "The rescission bill, if approved, threatens the ability of WTTW to serve the American people with non-commercial educational programming, locally-focused documentaries and fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage," WTTW President and CEO Sandra Cordova Micek said in a statement.

By the numbers: The cuts would amount to about 6 percent of Chicago Public Media's budget, which the organization estimates to be about $3 million annually.

• For WTTW, 10% of its 2024 budget came from federal funding.

Yes, but: Smaller Illinois radio stations, such as WILL-FM in Urbana, WUIS-FM in Springfield, and WNIJ-FM in DeKalb are even more reliant on federal funds for up to half of their budgets.

Zoom out: It's unclear if the organizations will supercharge fundraising to attract more private donors or cut back on programming and staff.

In other media news, the Chicago Tribune is offering buyouts to shrink the size of the newsroom's union members.

• Alden Global Capital won't comment on how many jobs its looking to cut, but the newsroom guild says only about 76 union staffers remain.
• "This plan is based on greed, not any sort of long-term planning," the guild said in a statement.

Go deeper

75,000 protesters gathered in downtown Chicago on Saturday for the "No Kings" protest, according to organizers.

The big picture: The peaceful march began with a rally in Daley Plaza before dispersing in several directions and converging back on Wacker Drive across from Trump Tower.

What they're saying: I feel like the people of America are under attack by our own government," protester Jewel D. tells Axios.

• "To see people gathering with a wide variety of concerns joining together is so fantastic. It's our duty to speak up."

Zoom in: The march ended around 3pm as police blocked remaining protesters from continuing to march towards the Chicago Immigration Court building on Monroe Street.

• At that point, protesters were outnumbered by police officers.

Zoom out: Chicago wasn't the only place to host "No Kings" protests; gatherings also occurred in Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Orland Park, Gurnee, Des Plaines, and other Chicago neighborhoods.

Here are some photos from the downtown march:

More photos

President Trump is directing federal immigration officials to prioritize more deportations in Democratic-run cities, including Chicago. (Axios)

🧑‍⚖️ Michael Madigan was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison and fined $2.5 million after being convicted on corruption charges. (Tribune)

📸 New speed cameras have been added to seven more parks and schools. (Sun-Times)

Bananas prices are rising, even as inflation cools.

Why it matters: Tariff increases are starting to drive inflation for certain goods, and perishable items that can't be produced domestically are first in line.

• Enter the banana, which had been heretofore resistant to rising prices, thanks in part to free trade agreements.
• The White House's blanket 10% tariff has changed that equation, with coffee prices also feeling the pain.

By the numbers: Banana prices rose 3.3% in May from the previous month to 66 cents per pound, according to Consumer Price Index data out Wednesday.

Zoom in: On Friday Chicagoans were paying 69 cents a pound for bananas at Jewel and 53 cents at Aldi.

Zoom out

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At least seven Chicagoans are up for James Beard Awards this year, and one has already won.

Zoom in: To celebrate, we asked honorees to recommend one dish on their menu.

Eater Chicago editor Ashok Selvam, who won the Local Voice prize at the Beard media awards Saturday, has all of Chicago as his menu.

• A recent fave — Rendang Republic's treatment of a Duck Inn chicken dog, topped with Indonesian sambal aioli, acar relish, fried shallot and cilantro. Selvam puts it on a "shortlist for best hot dog in Chicago."

American Classic winner

Carmen Lemons of Lem's Bar-B-Q : The JBL Special featuring ribs, tips, a hot link, chicken and fries.

Great Lakes chef nominees

Erling Wu-Bower and Chris Jung of Maxwells Trading: Leek-stuffed pappardelle with crawfish, brandy and Nantua sauce for Wu-Bower.

• Clay pot mushroom rice featuring Yamagata koshihikari rice studded with shiitake, maitake, chestnut and blue oyster mushrooms for Jung.

Thai Dang of HaiSous: "Caramelized fish sauce wings. They're addictive, packed full of flavor and gluten free. I love them with steamed jasmine rice," Dang tells Axios.

Noah Sandoval of Oriole: Hibiscus ice, tapioca pearls and candied hibiscus over coconut lime leaf sorbet, the first dish created by Oriole pastry chef, Jacquelyn Paternico.

Outstanding Bar nominee

Mixologist and chef Julia Momosé of Kumiko: Yuzu koshō karaagé chicken, accented with fermented citrus and chili pastes.

• Cocktail: The Seaflower, made with Nikka Coffey gin, Dolin blanc vermouth, yuzu koshō, kabosu and savory "ocean dust."

Outstanding Restaurant nominee

Chef Zachary Engel of Galit: "The obvious choice is our hummus," Engel tells Axios. "But our labneh (yogurt dip) is also representative of Galit's voice and style. Labneh with za'atar and olive oil is eaten all over the Middle East."

More tasty recs

Catch the Axios Chicago crew as we broadcast live on Instagram from the James Beard red carpet starting at 4:15 pm today.