There's a leadership void in the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Driving the news: Mayor Brandon Johnson fired health commissioner Allison Arwady on Friday, a day after the Chicago Board of Health urged him to keep her in the post.

Why it matters: After leading the city through the pandemic, Arwady became Chicago's best-known health chief in recent memory.

Context: Despite Johnson's campaign vow to remove Arwady, some thought she might stick around, given her eagerness to stay and the mayor's post-victory statement acknowledging the importance of her expertise.

• So the commissioner's firing late Friday seemed abrupt. Arwady suggested in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she couldn't even say goodbye to her staff.
• CDPH's second-in-command, chief medical officer Jennifer Seo, has also announced her resignation.
• That leaves first deputy commissioner Fikirte Wagaw, who oversees CDPH finance and is not a doctor, in charge in the interim.

The intrigue: Other Lori Lightfoot-era commissioners have recently stepped down on their own timelines.

• Arwady's unceremonious ouster right after the Board of Health endorsement is raising questions about whether it was a power play gone wrong.

Between the lines: Crain's posits that Johnson's main beef with Arwady involved not reopening public mental health clinics.

• Others point to Johnson's strong ties to the Chicago Teachers Union, which clashed with Arwady and Lightfoot during the 2022 work stoppage over COVID safety.

What they're saying: The Johnson administration didn't respond to Axios' questions about why Arwady was dismissed.

• But when asked at a Monday press conference if it was connected to the CTU standoff, Johnson responded, "Transition is difficult for everyone. … I don't know how many times you're allowed to quote Tupac in a press conference, but you can't always go by the things that you hear. Real eyes, right, realize real lies."

The other side: "My top priority has always been protecting the health of all Chicagoans," Arwady said in a statement. "Public health must always be driven by science and medicine, and never politics."

What's ahead: The Johnson administration has not said when it will appoint a new commissioner.

Full story

In recent weeks, Gov. JB Pritzker has been signing bills into law faster than you can say potential presidential run.

Why it matters: The General Assembly passed 566 bills in the last session, and these signings give us a chance to catch up on important new state rules.

1. Young influencers get paid, too

The law requires parents to set aside a portion of income made from their child's content on social media sites. It goes into a trust that only they can access when they turn 18.

• It's the nation's first such law.

What this addresses: It attempts to solve the issue of people using their kids' content to make money for themselves.

When: The law takes effect July 2024.

2. Native American history 101

The new law requires public schools to teach the history of native Illinois tribes and about the genocide and forced resettlement of native people. It also allows students to wear native dress to graduations.

What this addresses: Inclusivity in school curriculum and ceremonies.

When: Start of 2024-25 school year.

3. Beep, beep, no zoom, zoom

We've all heard of the laws about texting and driving, but now it's illegal to Zoom and drive.

• Video call apps have become synonymous with remote work, and the state is stiffening penalties for drivers who want to meet while behind the wheel.

What it addresses: Distracted driving.

When: January 2024.

Go deeper

📧 Emails show that former Mayor Lori Lightfoot engaged in a backroom deal with the Chicago Housing Authority to sell public housing land to the Chicago Fire FC for a practice facility. (Block Club)

☔️ Yesterday's storms caused flooding along area expressways, causing massive traffic jams during rush hour. (NBC 5)

⚾️ The Cubs host the Sox at Wrigley Field tonight for a quick two-game series. (NBC Sports)

👋🏻 Hey, it's Monica. I was recently driving hungry through Northwest Indiana when I remembered that "The Region" is famous for delicious smash burgers.

What happened: I put it to the test. After scanning several lists, I picked the top three contenders to battle it out.

Schoop's Hamburgers: Despite being a chain with more than a dozen locations, the Schoop's in Highland offers a friendly local feel and a super burger ($8.99) with a nice sear, fresh bun and tasty condiments.

Rating: 7/10.

Miner-Dunn: Opened in 1932, the quaint diner still cranks out tasty "Real Hamburgers" ($5.99) with traditional ketchup, mustard, relish and onion toppings.

• Even the lettuce and tomato I mistakenly ordered couldn't hide the juicy flavor and crispy sear on this excellent burger.

Rating: 7/10.

Burgerhaus: Despite its NW Indiana roots (with locations in Valparaiso and Schererville), this burger defies local tradition with a big, juicy, non-smashed prime patty and global toppings.

• On my server's recommendation I tried the Santiago Burger ($17) with avocado, tomato, butter lettuce, chipotle Monterey cheese, chipotle mayo and fried jalapeños on a pretzel bun.

Rating: 8/10.

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• Built as an homage to nearby water,
• It's based on a Greek myth about daughters.
• Nestled between a great park and great art,
• With space to reflect and get lunch from a cart.

Hit reply with your best guess, and you could win some Axios swag!