🕯️ It's Friday. Today marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, a day we remember for the nearly 3,000 people who were killed and the countless lives forever changed.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 79.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Tom Browning, Zoe Haworth, Megan Minkoff, Beth Skony, Kyle Bucher, Alexander Eugenides, Chris Hamer, Christopher Chamberlain, Weezie Kramer and Maureen Kennedy!

🍎 Situational awareness: Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown tonight. Shanah Tovah to those celebrating.

Today's newsletter is 1,112 words — a 4-minute read.

Chicago is preparing for the return of Mexican Independence Day crowds this weekend, a year after immigration raids put a chill on one of the city's biggest celebrations.

Why it matters: The annual festivities have become synonymous with massive downtown caravans and gridlock. But this year, the crowd size could measure how much the city's Mexican community has rebounded from last year's immigration crackdown.

State of play: The two-day El Grito Festival returns to Grant Park on Saturday and Sunday, while the Little Village Mexican Independence Day Parade kicks off at noon Sunday.

• Little Village pushed ahead with its famed parade last year despite ICE fears, but crowds were down. Downtown's El Grito celebration was postponed altogether.

In recent years, the caravans have brought downtown traffic to a standstill, preventing some residents from getting home and doctors and nurses from reaching hospital shifts.

• City officials say they're ready for the caravans, with extra police, possible downtown street closures and eight access points if traffic becomes overwhelming.

Zoom in: New Airbnb data in Little Village points to a return of the celebratory vibe. Demand for Little Village listings is up more than 200% compared with the same weekend in 2025.

Yes, but: Little Village businesses are still recovering. They continue to feel the effects of last year's crackdown and foot traffic still isn't completely back to normal, Little Village Chamber of Commerce's Jennifer Aguilar told CBS Chicago.

The bottom line: The celebrations may be back, but it remains to be seen whether the crowds — and the gridlock — will return to pre-crackdown levels.

Go deeper

Legal challenges to Illinois' medical-aid-in-dying law are coming down to the wire as the law is set to go into effect tomorrow.

Why it matters: A federal judge denied disability rights advocates' motion to block the state's new law, but some are still fighting it on religious grounds.

Catch up quick: Two people with life-threatening disabilities, Ebony Payne and Pam Heavens, joined disability rights organizations and a doctor in suing Gov. JB Pritzker in June.

The latest: U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois yesterday denied the plaintiffs' motion for an injunction.

• Tharp ruled that the plaintiffs failed to establish they have a future injury traceable to the law's implementation and that they did not demonstrate irreparable harm without an injunction.

Earlier this month, Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich and a group of Catholic nuns also sued Illinois officials over the law, arguing it violates their religious beliefs.

Zoom in: Pritzker signed the bill, also referred to as "Deb's Law," in December 2025.

• Qualified patients must have a terminal illness that will result in death within six months, as determined by two doctors, be informed of all their end-of-life options, and make written and oral requests to receive the aid-in-dying medication.
• They must have the mental capacity, confirmed by their physician, to make medical decisions.

No physician, health care provider, or pharmacist is required to participate in aid-in-dying, but they must inform patients of all end-of-life care options.

Zoom out

🇺🇸 To mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, hand-drawn portraits of more than 300 Illinoisans who died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are now on display at the Daley Center. (WBEZ)

😷 Chicago public health officials are warning about a possible measles case at Union Station. CDPH said an out-of-state traveler with a confirmed case was at the station on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28. (WGN)

Roger Simon, one of Chicago's best political writers and columnists, died yesterday at 78. Simon, who later moved on to a national career in Washington, was inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame in 1999. (Tribune)

🗳️ After 15 years in office, Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) announced he is not seeking reelection. (Block Club)

👋 Hey, it's Justin!

The Bears are starting this season with something they haven't had in a long time: expectations.

• They kick off at noon Sunday versus the Panthers in Charlotte.

Why it matters: After winning the NFC North last year, they aren't sneaking up on anybody — and sounding like you know what you're talking about at a Bears watch party just got harder.

State of play: I'm here to help you sound like a lifelong fan during those inevitable Sunday afternoon gatherings.

Caleb Williams

If you can only handle one player's name, memorize this one. Williams earned the nickname "Iceman" for his knack for delivering late in close games.

Catch up quick: Williams is the closest thing the Bears have ever had to a quarterback superstar.

• A simple "The Iceman cometh to play!" quip after his first completion will let other partygoers know you mean business.
• Try to stay away from "Ice, Ice, Baby." Too easy.

Ben Johnson

The nerdy-looking head coach is super intense. He's also great at winning football games.

Zoom in: When the camera shows him mean-mugging during the game, throw out a "Take your shirt off!" Not only will you get a good laugh, but the party host will fetch you another beer and bring out the good guacamole.

The defense

This is no longer the Monsters of the Midway, more like the Milquetoasts of the Midway (you can use that one).

🐻 Bears diehards, help us out: What's one thing every fake fan should know before Sunday? Reply and we'll share our favorites.

More party tricks

This week, a Kaufmann quiz for the superfans.

State of play: No, not the "SNL" kind, but the real fans who remember the jersey numbers of some of the great and less-than-great Bears throughout history.

• Super easy, or is it?

The action movie quiz had a couple of winners. Congrats to Matt R., Timothy A., Alana A. and Nicole W.!

Play this week's quiz

Edited by Tyler Buchanan.

🎂 Carrie is wishing her mom a very happy birthday and looks forward to celebrating her this weekend!

🎧 Justin is on City Cast Chicago this morning talking about the news!

🗓️ Monica is on sabbatical.

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