Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg has died after a battle with cancer. He was 65.

The big picture: The Hall of Fame second-baseman played 15 seasons for the Cubs, which included 10 consecutive All-Star appearances and nine straight Gold Glove Awards.

• Sandberg retired abruptly in 1994, but returned to the Cubs in 1996 before retiring again in 1997. After that, he served as an ambassador, broadcaster and coach for the organization. He also managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015.

What they're saying: "Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Chicago Cubs fans and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise," Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement last night.

Context: The fan favorite came to Chicago in 1982 after a trade with the Phillies.

• He went on to become the Cubs' starting second baseman, hitting .285 for his career while slugging 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs and stealing 344 bases.

Flashback: Sandberg was honored with a statue at Wrigley Field in June 2024 during the 40th anniversary of the "Sandberg Game," in which he hit two late-inning home runs versus the St. Louis Cardinals.

• He was named the NL MVP that season, leading the Cubs to the National League Championship Series.
• He hit 40 home runs in 1990, only the third second baseman to achieve that feat at the time.
• He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Cubs retired his No. 23 jersey the same year.

Sandberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024. He announced the cancer was in remission, but it returned late last year. He kept fans up to date on his treatment, announcing in mid-July that he was continuing to fight the disease.

The bottom line: Sandberg will live forever in Chicago's collective mind as one of the best to ever suit up for the Cubs.

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Airport security programs like TSA PreCheck and CLEAR allow travelers to breeze through screening. As TSA eases security protocols, travel experts say paying for that privilege is still a good investment.

Why it matters: Two decades after post-9/11 crackdowns made fast-track security a no-brainer for many Americans, especially frequent fliers, the appeal of skipping long lines hasn't faded.

Catch up quick: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on July 16 that TSA may change the rule on traveling with liquids.

• The potential change comes on the heels of TSA ending the "shoes off policy," which the more than 20 million active PreCheck members already bypassed.

How it works: In addition to keeping their shoes on, TSA PreCheck members do not have to remove belts and light jackets through screening.

• They also can keep their laptops and travel-size liquid products in their carry-on bags.
• TSA's wait goal for the standard security line is 30 minutes or less, a TSA spokesperson told Axios, while PreCheck is expected to be 10 minutes or less.

Zoom in: Separate from PreCheck, CLEAR is a third-party service that expedites check-in at airports and arenas using enrollees' biometric data, such as fingerprints and eyes.

• O'Hare and Midway have CLEAR kiosks.

What they're saying: Travel experts argue the programs' time-saving advantages go well beyond the eased restrictions.

• "The lines tend to be shorter and to move faster with dedicated security lanes and no requirement to remove belts," Eric Rosen, director of travel content for The Points Guy, tells Axios.

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🏥 Rush University Medical Center diverted ambulances and canceled surgeries yesterday after its A/C went out.

• Meanwhile, Weiss Memorial can no longer take Medicare patients after state officials found violations in nursing and emergency services. (Sun-Times)

🔨 The cost to build one unit of affordable housing in Chicago increased from an average of $400,000 to $775,000 between 2019 and 2024, driven by rising construction costs and regulatory hoops. (Block Club)

📺 Fans will pay $20 more a month to watch the Cubs on the Marquee Sports network through Comcast next year. (Tribune)

👋🏼 Hi, it's Carrie!

It's my latest mini review of a Chicago-area vintage or thrift store.

Today's shop: Green Element Resale (6241 N. Broadway)

The vibe: Controlled chaos. In a good way.

• This is your classic thrift shop with walls of CDs next to shelves of mismatched vintage glassware between rows of used blouses in front of a furniture section with a piano.

My treasures: A pink, floral silk blouse ($4), beaded necklace ($5) and large wood bowl ($5).

📀 7-word review: A true treasure hunt with $2 DVDs!

Thanks to reader Gary D. for the recommendation!

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👋🏼 Hi, it's Justin!

This week's History Mystery transports us to the turn of the 20th century.

• This Getty archival photo shows the river and horse-drawn carriages on a bridge. What other clues does the image give us?

📧 Send us an email with your thoughts to help us solve this Chicago history mystery!