🏈 Who's trying to steal the Bears from Chicago?!

Mayor Announces Final School Board Member

Cydney Wallace, a Black Jewish mom, has been named the 21st school board member. Her children are in the Chicago Public Schools and she works for the City Clerk’s office. Wallace will represent part of the 8th district on the Southwest Side alongside Angel Gutierrez. [Sun-Times]

Could the Bears Move to Indiana?

Indiana House Bill 1292 would create a professional sports development fund and commission for Northwest Indiana, which the bill’s author says would target the Bears as they search for a new home. The bill passed the Indiana House Monday and will move on to the state Senate. [Tribune 🔒]

• Is the Bears stadium just an economic loser? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Chicago’s Black-Owned Bookstores Are Struggling

Following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, racial justice movements inspired a surge of support for Black-owned businesses, including bookstores. Now, many of these bookstores in Chicago are facing significant challenges and threat of closure, as the initial wave of support has tapered off. [WBEZ]

• Looking for a new read to get at one of Chicago’s Black-owned bookstores? Check out these books to learn more about Chicago. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

I’ve been running consistently for almost 10 years, and I’ve grown to absolutely despise the treadmill. But it’s winter in Chicago, so what’s the best way to manage the cold and ensure safety when running outside?

What To Wear

When running outside in the cold, you want to layer up for the elements. Here are some of my recommendations for how to prepare for your chilly jaunt.

• Always start with a base layer. You want to keep your chest warm, so even a tank top as a first layer helps once you add your long sleeves.
• Get a windproof jacket. Winter means wind and snow, so make sure your jacket is prepared to fight the elements.
• Wear wool socks. I love Smartwool socks as they help keep my feet warm, even if they get wet from rain or snow.
• Get proper running shoes. Make sure the shoes you are running in have a good grip to help with traction. Some running shoes are even made of waterproof material to keep your feet dry when running in the snow.
• Vaseline! I often use this on the parts of my face that are exposed to keep them insulated and warm on cold runs. Windburn is the worst!
• Wear a headband/hat & gloves. Get those ears and hands nice and toasty. When it’s really cold, I also recommend hand warmers.
• Wear a light-up vest or reflective gear. Winter running often means running in the dark. I always make sure to wear a ton of reflective gear to make sure I’m visible. (Personally, I use the Noxgear running vest and have been told by many how visible I am when running in the dark.)
• If you are doing a lot of running in heavy snow, yak tracks are a great tool. These are attachable spikes that you put on your shoes to allow for a better grip.

Chicago Run Groups

Running in the cold is tough, but what better way to get going than running with some new friends? Chicago has a ton of running groups, and here are just a few to check out!

• Chicago Area Runners Association: This nonprofit provides both training and race options for Chicagoans.
• Tortugas Run Club: This is a great run club for people of all paces and they meet on Sundays at 10 a.m. at Gracias Maria in Pilsen.
• Read & Run Chicago: If you’re a bookworm and a runner, this group is for you. From book-themed running routes to author talks, they have a ton of events to offer.
• Brew Crew: This run group meets in West Town on Fridays at 6:40 a.m.
• Lakeview Run Club: This run group meets in Lakeview every Tuesday night.
• GRC Run Club: Find this club’s next run in their Instagram bio, as they meet in locations all around the city.