🏛 Think you know Chicago landmarks?

High-Profile Independents Won't Appear on 4th District Ballot

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and Mayra Macías won’t appear on the November ballot in the 4th Congressional District race. The Illinois State Board of Elections ruled that neither has enough valid signatures to qualify. The two independents were vying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García and have accused García of thumbing the political scales. His chosen successor, Patty Garcia, is the Democratic candidate. [WTTW]

• Looking back: Both candidates faced an uphill battle.
• Don’t forget: Chuy’s retirement timing was, er, shady. [City Cast Chicago 💻]

Lithuanian-Chicagoans, Read up

The Sun-Times kicked off a multi-part series about Lithuania. A reporter explored the country, young in its democracy, to see stories of how issues there might impact Chicago readers. There’s a strong connection: about 60,000 Lithuanian-Americans live here today. The reporter’s mother was one of them.

• Part one: Here's what the U.S. can learn from Lithuania. [Sun-Times]

Gun Violence Rose Near Closed Schools

Neighborhoods surrounding long-vacant schools saw a 10% increase in gun violence compared to similar neighborhoods where schools stayed open, according to a new study. In 2013, 50 Chicago public schools closed, and more than half of those remained vacant for the next decade. Most were also in majority-Black areas. [Block Club]

Tick Safety Tips

Now that the smoke has largely cleared, it’s the perfect time to get out into nature … but you've gotta protect yourself against ticks. We discuss how on today's podcast. Plus: are amusement and water parks still summer go-to summer spots, and what Chicago reboot would you want? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Is Chicago About To Lose Seven Grocery Stores?

All seven of the Yellow Banana-owned Save A Lot stores could close as early as Saturday if the company cannot secure new investors and suppliers ASAP. The affected stores are all on the Southwest Side and have experienced a 26% decline in SNAP sales year over year. [WGN]

• Also: South Side Walgreens are on the decline. [City Cast Chicago 💻]

New Urgent Care in Little Village

Midwest Express Clinic has opened its first location on the Southwest Side of the city, in Little Village. Services include school physicals, pediatric care, women’s health, lab testing, and other non-emergency treatments. [Stretch PR]

Riverside Plaza, aka the former Chicago Daily News building, is now an official city landmark. It’s Art Deco, 26 stories, and while it might not be super famous, it marked two historic firsts: the first local office building with a public plaza and the first built above train tracks.

Speaking of which, do you know your historic Chicago sites? Test your landmark knowledge.