💸 A ‘loser tax’ on Chicago sports teams?

No Kings and Court Updates

Saturday’s No Kings rally drew over 100,000 people to downtown Chicago. On today’s pod, we’re breaking down the demonstration and updating listeners on what’s going on in Chicago’s federal courts. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

• Related: On Monday, a judge questioned ICE and Border Patrol leaders about tear gas and aggressive raids. [WTTW]

Stacy Davis Gates to Lead State Teachers Union

The Chicago Teachers Union head was elected president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and will retain both posts. She has long pushed for more state funding for public schools, but says she’ll also prioritize issues like health insurance and pensions. Until 20 years ago, CTU presidents often held both roles. [WBEZ]

Salt Shed Seeks Expansion

The music venue's developers are looking to buy an adjacent property along the North Branch of the Chicago River near Goose Island. Just how big could the new outdoor space get? Try 15,000 people for concerts and street fests — nearly three times its current capacity. [Crain’s 🔒]

Keeping Carp From Invading Lake Michigan

Despite funding tension with the feds this year, the state has acquired land for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project — a big step for the planned underwater defense system against invasive carp. The upgrades in the Des Plaines River will include a bubble wall, acoustic blasts, an electric barrier, and a flushing mechanism to keep the fish from passing through and potentially overtaking native species. [Grist]

• How else can we keep carp from spreading? Eat them. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

We’ve reached the final round of our bracket to crown the scariest thing in Chicago. It’s a matchup between one of our most common anxiety dreams and Chicago’s mysterious underground.

Which one frightens you the most? Vote in our poll, and we’ll release the winner next week.