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Chicago's Best 24-Hour Restaurants

After a crazy night out or a long graveyard shift, Chicago has a decent selection of 24-hour restaurants — no matter what corner of the city you’re in. On today’s podcast, we discuss our favorite spots that offer 24-hour service, seven days a week.

DOJ Opens Investigation into Mayor Brandon Johnson

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Mayor Brandon Johnson, suggesting his hiring is race-based in favor of non-whites. On Sunday, Johnson emphasized the diversity of his administration during a speech at a South Side church. The DOJ said his comments indicate a potential Title VII violation. [Axios]

CPD Clearance Rates Are Low, Even Lower When Victims Are Black

In Chicago, police solve gun crimes at a lower rate than other cities, making arrests in just 23% of fatal shooting cases across the past 15 years. Recently, clearance rates have declined further despite a drop in gun homicides. When victims are Black, just 21% of fatal shootings result in arrests, compared to the 38% rate for white victims. [The Trace]

• Related: This is how Chicagoans are memorializing those lost to gun violence. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

AI-Generated Titles Appear in Sun-Times Reading List

On Sunday, the Chicago Sun-Times published an advertorial — an ad in the style of an article — full of AI-generated content. Taking the form of a summer reading list, 10 of the 15 books named were fake. The piece came from King Features, a syndicate of Hearst Newspapers, and also appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer. [NPR]

Beyoncé Weekend Was a Boon for Western Wear Stores

If you were out this weekend, you saw them: fringe-flashin’, boot-wearin’, hat-tippin’ Beyoncé fans. They were everywhere. And they looked chic! In part thanks to local stores like Alcala’s Western Wear and El Arriero Western Wear and Fashion. One owner discusses the busy sales bump 🤠 [Sun-Times]

Chicago alders are expected to vote on “snap curfews” today, once and for all.

Also called “roving curfews” or “roaming curfews,” this option would allow Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling to set temporary curfews for teens anywhere in the city.

The constitutionality of snap curfews has been debated since Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) first pushed the proposal last month. The measure narrowly passed through the Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

How Did We Get Here?

After two people were shot during “teen takeovers” in Streeterville during March, Hopkins clamored to implement an 8 p.m. curfew downtown only. He planned to force a City Council vote on April 16, then suddenly pivoted to introduce new, broader legislation instead: snap curfews. 

Hopkins said he’d discussed the option with Snelling, which initially would have granted CPD commanders broad authority to impose the curfews at will. However, after a fiery, five-hour debate at City Council on April 30, the ordinance changed shape.

About Snap Curfews

Should City Council approve snap curfews, Snelling (with consent from the deputy mayor for community safety), could declare a three-hour curfew, any time, anywhere that 20 or more gathered people are “likely to [harm] the safety of the community or others, or [cause] substantial damage to property.”

This is a change from Hopkins’ original legislation, which delegated that power to Snelling and all 22 of his district commanders.

If a snap curfew goes into effect, minors nearby would have 30 minutes to disperse. There is no limit on how large the curfew area could be. If minors fail to disperse, they could be taken into custody and their parents or guardians could be fined $500.

An on-scene commander would announce the curfew. It’s unclear at this point how else snap curfews would be publicized.

There would also be several exceptions to snap curfews. Among them: First Amendment activity, ticketed events, travel to and from work, errands for parents, and civic or religious engagements. 

The Curfew Debate

Mayor Brandon Johnson has been vocally against blanket and additional curfews, but as Block Club’s Melody Mercado told City Cast Chicago, he does not have the support to veto the snap curfew measure. Required consultation from the deputy mayor for community safety would allow for limited checks and balances. (Please note that a provision requiring consent of the deputy mayor was removed May 20.)

Additionally, in the last month, Johnson’s office hosted a first-of-its kind meeting that brought together law enforcement, health officials, politicians, and violence-prevention organizations to discuss alternative ways to address the “teen takeover” trend. Nonpolice intervention appeared to be a popular alternative.

Notably, over the last month of the snap curfew debate, there were no injuries stemming from teen meet-ups. April murders also reached a historic low — 19 — not seen since 1962.

Time for Neighbor Shoutouts! City Cast Chicago Neighbors told us all about their fave local companies and organizations, and we’re sharing that with you! Shows these places some love 💕

• Katie M. of Wicker Park is shouting out Volumes Bookcafe: “We love to grab a coffee and browse for new books after Saturday morning storytime.”
  
• Mark C. of the southwest suburbs is shouting out Resilience: “Formerly Rape Victim Advocates, Resilience has been on the front lines of working with survivors of sexual violence in Chicago since 1974.”
  
• Riley W. of North Center is shouting out Martyrs’: “Martyrs' is a family-owned music venue on the North Side that supports the community and spotlights local musicians.”
  • Riley, I can attest! I spent a lot of time there during my formative years 😉

To share your shoutout, become a City Cast Chicago Neighbor!