🏆 Chicago’s newest champs

Chicago Hounds Are Champions

The Chicago Hounds won their first-ever Major League Rugby championship over the weekend against the California Legion. They are the first team in league history to complete the season undefeated. The Hounds won 35-17 at SeatGeat Stadium in Bridgeview in their fourth year in existence.

Chicago rugby scene: The Hounds’ first season was in 2023. The Chicago MLR Founders Group wanted to get into Chicago’s competitive sports scene and build love for the game.

Want more rugby? The Chicago Tempest, founded in 2024 as part of the Women's Elite Rugby league, is still in season. You can catch their next game on July 11 against the New York Exiles.

Chicago’s last championship: Chicago hasn’t been a sports champion since the Sky won the WNBA Finals in 2021 against the Phoenix Mercury. Before that, the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, and the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2015.

• Check in with our last champions: The Chicago Sky play the Portland Fire on Wednesday at home, and the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday at United Center.

Meanwhile, in men’s basketball: This year’s NBA draft is stacked, and the Bulls have the fourth pick. The last time the Bulls had a top-five pick was 2020, when they drafted Patrick Williams.

Another Bears stadium proposal? The 268-person village of McCook, just west of Chicago, wants to be home to the Bears' new stadium. So McCook officials hand-delivered the pitch to the Bears. The site would be at the corner of 55th Street and East Avenue, less than 7 miles away from Midway Airport.

• The plan? The Bears or the village would buy the land. The Bears would then build a domed, 80,000-seat stadium and give it to the village. In return, Mayor Terrance Carr would charge the team $1 a year in rent. It would be exempt from property taxes as a publicly owned stadium.

T-minus 55 days till the Crosstown Classic: But for now, keep up with the White Sox energy as they face the Cleveland Guardians tonight at home. The Cubs face the New York Mets tonight.

Lawsuit Says Chicago’s Sidewalks Aren’t Accessible

In 2023, a federal judge ruled in a class action lawsuit that Chicago failed to make crosswalks accessible for people with vision challenges. Now, Chicago wants a judge to dismiss a new lawsuit on sidewalk accessibility. The lawsuit points to broken curb ramps, crumbling sidewalks, and paths overgrown with weeds. [WTTW]

How Are Schools Fundraising? Plus, Chicago’s Plan For The 78

How are individual Chicago Public Schools navigating tightening budgets? In 2025, schools in the district spent around $50 million in outside revenue. On today’s podcast, we discuss the latest, including the city’s plans for The 78.

Illinois Breaks Tornado Record

After recent severe storms, Illinois has had the most tornadoes in a year on record, with a total of 147. On average, Illinois usually has 54 tornadoes annually. Experts point to climate change for the Midwest's more frequent thunderstorms. [Tribune 🔒]

Jim’s Original and Express Grill Remain Rival Neighbors

Last week, the University of Illinois Chicago extended Jim’s Original's lease. The hot dog stand was to close the Maxwell Street location and move to Pilsen due to UIC expansion plans. The two stands will remain next door for now. [Block Club]

Brookfield Zoo and Bad Bunny’s Unlikely Connection

The zoo breeds endangered Puerto Rican crested toads (“sapo concho” in Spanish) and ships them back to the island. This year, they hit their highest numbers as Benito’s mascot, “Concho,” showed up at the Super Bowl. [WBEZ]