Axios Chicago

June 24, 2025
🥪 Happy Tuesday! Today is "National Take Back the Lunch Break Day." What are you waiting for!
🚨 Today's weather: Still dangerously hot, with rain. High of 90.
🧩 Become a core piece of our newsroom when you become a member today.
🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Chicago members Lucia Au and Alison Golin!
Today's newsletter is 948 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Shift on ICE raids leaves farmers in limbo
Businesses that rely on immigrant workers face continued uncertainty as President Trump flip-flopped again Friday by suggesting farmers should be able to use undocumented labor as long as they "take responsibility" for the employees.
Why it matters: Illinois and other Midwest economies rely heavily on farm workers, about 40% of whom are not authorized to be in the U.S., according to government statistics.
The latest: "We're looking at doing something where in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire … because we can't put the farms out of business," Trump said on Fox News Friday.
The intrigue: This is the third time Trump has changed his stance on farm raids, but it's unclear if or how the Department of Homeland Security will implement the president's suggestion.
- DHS officials declined to answer specific questions but offered a statement from assistant DHS secretary Tricia McLaughlin: "The president has been incredibly clear. There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE's efforts."
What they're saying: "We appreciate that President Trump is listening to farmers and recognizes the critical role immigrant workers play in feeding our nation," Rebecca Shi, CEO of the Chicago-based American Business Immigration Coalition, said in a statement.
The other side: Axios reached out to all three Illinois Republican U.S. Representatives — Mary Miller, Darin LaHood and Mike Bost — for a comment on Trump's latest idea. None responded.
Zoom in: Anecdotal reports suggest worksite immigration raids are hurting the food industry by scaring employees from coming to work.
- Last week, the owners of Jefferson Park's Gale Street Inn announced they were shutting down in part because "hiring and retaining quality staff has proven too tough for too long."
2. Bulls prep for future at NBA Draft
The NBA is wasting no time starting the clock on the next season now that the Finals are over.
The big picture: The Bulls have the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday, which is not ideal for the middling franchise that hasn't won a playoff series in 10 years.
Is it time to shake things up? Here are some potential scenarios that could play out on draft night, depending on your risk aversion.
🇬🇷 High risk/high reward: Go all in for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Rumors say he could be on the outs in Milwaukee. Trading for the superstar could bring a championship pedigree, but could also send several current players and draft picks 90 miles north.
♦️ Moderate risk: Trade up in this draft. Beyond the sure-fire No. 1 pick in Cooper Flagg, the rest of the draft is murky. One potential superstar is Rutgers' Ace Bailey, who has skipped pre-draft workouts with some of the top teams in the draft.
🏀 Safe bet: Stay put at No. 12, which could net serviceable young players like center Derik Queen (Maryland), forward Asa Newell (Georgia) or guard Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois).
The bottom line: The Bulls have built a team that hovers around the playoffs but isn't good enough to make it. The hope is that this draft could help change their fortunes for 2025 and beyond.
3. Chill recipes for these hot days
As near record-high temperatures continue to broil the Midwest, many are turning to pools, lakes and cooling centers for relief. But don't sleep on using food to beat the heat.
Why it matters: Chilled soups, salads and other cold delicacies offer a way to turn down your body temperature without heating your kitchen.
Dig in: Axios reporters have compiled some of our favorite hot weather recipes featuring a variety of cooling foods.
🥣 Monica travels to Spain in her mind by whizzing a peeled and seeded cucumber with two cloves of garlic, half an onion, a sweet pepper, olive oil, red wine vinegar and jug of tomato juice in a blender for cold gazpacho.

🍉 Monica also turns to her mint garden to make an ultra-easy watermelon salad topped with olive oil, mint, and crumbled feta.
Up in the Twin Cities, Geoff Ziezulewicz avoids his dad's cold beet borscht, known as chlodnik, but Monica loves making this Polish-Lithuanian blend of beets, yogurt, dill, cucumbers and more.
- Looks like Pepto Bismol but tastes like a dream.

4. Tips and hot links: Water safety needs funding
🛟 North suburban first responders are calling for more funding for water safety efforts after a 27-year-old woman drowned this weekend near Navy Pier and a man drowned at Illinois State Park Beach. (CBS)
🧑🧑🧒 Families with medically-complex children are worried what potential Medicaid cuts will mean for their kids' care. (WBEZ)
📺 The Marvel series "Ironheart" begins streaming today on Disney+. It follows a South Side superhero and was filmed mainly in Chicago. (Block Club)
5. Best skyline views: Round two
This week, we are on a quest to crown the best view of the skyline. Our first round matchups netted some big wins and some surprises.
- Biggest win: Museum Campus over Palmisano Park in Bridgeport (98%-2%).
- Closest win: 31st Street Beach squeaked by Olive Park by just one vote!
- Biggest upset: The Wells Street Bridge/Wacker Drive easily handled Grant Park's massive views (61%-39%).
We've pared down the field to eight contenders, squaring off to advance to the semi-finals.


🗳️ Vote here! We'll keep the polls open until 4pm.
6. History Mystery: Summer, 1905
Our regular "History Mystery" feature matches Getty's archival photos with photos of the current location.
State of play: We've recently unearthed early photos of the West Loop, the Polish Downtown and Bughouse Square, just to name a few.
- Today's photo is from 1905. It doesn't give us too much information, but there are clues as Chicagoans flock to the lakefront.
📬 Help us figure this one out! Reply to this email if you have an idea of where it could be.
Edited by Lindsey Erdody.
🍿 Carrie would love to watch "To Wong Foo" next to the InterContinental's landmark pool and see a drag history exhibit in the hotel's lobby this Saturday.
📚 Monica loved attending the 100th birthday party for her beloved Peterson Elementary School, where she saw fellow alums Lynn Sweet and Susan Miller Tweedy.
📺 Justin is ready for "Ironheart" tonight!
Want more Axios Chicago content? Check out our Instagram for extra stuff to do, behind the scenes photos, videos and more!
Sign up for Axios Chicago









