🍎 Will Chicago bring back grocery tax?

What This Historic Gang Leader’s Commutation Means

Larry Hoover, co-founder of the Black Gangster Disciples Nation, had his federal life sentence commuted last week. The 74-year-old has been behind bars for the last 52 years and remains incarcerated. Author and professor Dr. Lance Williams discusses Hoover’s life, legacy, and commutation on today’s podcast. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Johnson Pushes For City Grocery Tax

Gov. JB Pritzker announced an end to Illinois’ 1% grocery sales tax, saying it’s a squeeze on poor families, but he left the door open for local governments to reimplement it. Now Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to do just that. Johnson is urging alders to pass the local tax to prevent another — $80 million — hole in Chicago’s 2026 budget. [Tribune 🔒]

• Related: But the state budget does have some new taxes. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Revoking Chinese Student Visas Would Hit U of I Hard

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne has the second-highest number of international students of all U.S. public universities. One-fifth of its students are foreign-born, and the majority of those are Chinese. As the Trump administration vows to “enhance scrutiny” on Chinese student visas, anxiety is rising on campus, and university officials worry about tuition funding. [Sun-Times]

• Related: These Chicago colleges are under pressure from Trump. [Hey Chicago 💻]

City Must Add 1,700 Accessible Crosswalk Signals

A judge has ordered Chicago to install more than 1,700 audible crosswalk signals over the next decade in response to a class-action lawsuit. These signals will aid people who are blind and visually impaired. Once the plan is completed, 71% of crosswalks will include specialized signals. [Block Club]

Time for your weekly Neighborhood Shoutout! We love highlighting recs from City Cast Chicago members, a.k.a. Neighbors, because they know what’s good. This week’s shoutout comes from Julio L. of Pilsen:

• Julio L. of Pilsen is shouting out Huck Finn Restaurant on Archer and Damen: “I work at a popular donut shop and often get asked where else in the city I like to get donuts from. Huck Finn does classic-style donuts very well in addition to their awesome diner offerings. My favorites are their red velvet cake and cinnamon rolls. They’ve been a Chicago staple for me for decades.”