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City Cast Chicago

Have you been following the news in Chicago this week? Prove it! Take the City Cast Chicago news quiz.

Looking for a previous Hey Chicago news quiz? Find it here.

How closely were you paying attention to this week's current events? Test yourself in our weekly trivia quiz.

Your Weekly News Trivia Quiz

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

Emily Mack

Rat birth control IS working in Wicker Park.

disseminating contraception in local alleyways

, rat-track density is reportedly down by 88%. The city now plans to expand rat birth control further throughout Wicker Park and Bucktown.

Let’s celebrate the humane news with a good, old-fashioned rat quiz!

Rat birth control IS working in Wicker Park. Let’s celebrate the humane news with a good, old-fashioned rat quiz!

The Chicago Rat Quiz

The Rat Quiz

Yesterday was a cold, blustery election day in Chicago. Voter turnout was just over 

. But I know you City Cast Chicago readers did your civic duty.

So without further ado, let’s review who won.

The retirement of longtime Sen. Dick Durbin has opened up a super competitive Democratic race — ultimately won by Lt. Gov. 

. She beat out fellow frontrunners U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th) and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (2nd), in addition to seven other party hopefuls, winning about 40% of the vote.

Stratton will face former state GOP chairman Don Tracy in November’s general election.

Meanwhile, Krishnamoorthi and Kelly both forfeited their congressional seats in order to run for senate.

will replace Kelly on the Democratic ticket. Earning 40% of the vote, she beat out Jesse Jackson Jr. who hoped to win back his former seat 

years after pleading guilty to financial misdeeds

. In November, Miller faces Republican Michael Noack, who ran uncontested in the primary.

 beat out twelve candidates, including Chicago treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, to hopefully succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Danny Davis. Ford earned 24% of the vote and will face Republican Chad Koppie in November.

 beat out seven other Democrats to win back her old seat given up by Krishnamoorthi, with 32% of the vote. 

 when the district went red in 2010. She’ll be up against Republican Jennifer Davis in the general.

 won out the crowded race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Biss earned just over 29% of the vote, 

 Kat Abughazaleh, state Sen. Laura Fine, and 12 others. In the general, Biss will face Republican John Elleson.


other (less competitive) congressional races here.

Cook County Board President: Toni Preckwinkle 

 from the relatively conservative Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) but ultimately won with over 68% of the vote.

 aiming to become comptroller, state Rep. 

 over state Sen. Karina Villa. Croke will face Republican Bryan Drew, who ran uncontested in the primary, in November.

Leading up to the election, the county Democratic party 

 Fritz Kaegi. Ultimately, voters did too. Kaegi lost to suburban assessor 

. Nicholson won 62% of the vote. Another incumbent commissioner 

 maintained his seat despite a challenge from activist Juanita Irizarry, earning 53% of the vote.

ran uncontested and will face off against Republican 

Voter turnout was just over 25% when polls closed yesterday. Let’s review who won.

Chicago’s 2026 Primary Results

Valentine’s Day is coming up. In Chicago, that means another anniversary of the 

: On Feb. 14, 1929, Al Capone’s men gunned down seven rival gang members in Lincoln Park. The bloodshed quickly earned its 

, forever tainting Chicago as an apparent crime capital and catapulting Capone to infamy.

some experts question whether Capone even took out the hit

. He was hiding out in Miami at the time. If you look a little further, it turns out lots of local Capone lore is straight-up bull. That was the focus of “Debunking Grandma’s Al Capone Stories,” a recent lecture by 

It’s a beloved Chicago factoid that Capone liked to hang at the Green Mill, keeping an eye on both exits. 

But the story really started with a barfly in the ‘80s

. And that big ol’ booth Capone supposedly loved? Renovations took place 

 and again in the ‘80s … you do the math. Then again, it still 

 like the roaring ‘20s in there, and that should count for something.

While it wasn’t smart for Capone to spend much time in clubs, he controlled the Pony Inn, as it was near his Cicero headquarters. An assistant state's attorney was 

, a restaurant where you can video-gamble. (Capone would love that.)

🤣 Probably Fake: Scurrying through Tunnels

Another part of the Green Mill legend is that Capone used a trap door in the bar, leading to tunnels, to escape raids. But according to Selzer: “If there was a liquor raid in one of his places, he probably had the raiders on payroll already.” 

👍 Probably Real: Present-Day Giordano’s

 that the pair lived in an apartment on Farwell and Sheridan when they moved to Chicago in 1921 … aka the 

. Many gangsters lived in the Rogers Park area, Selzer said. (Later, Capone’s family lived in Greater Grand Crossing at 

🤷🏼‍♀️ Kinda Fake, Kinda Real: The Congress Hotel

 from the Congress Hotel about the St. Valentine's Day massacre, and he had previously held meetings there. However, Capone never stayed or lived at the Congress, which means the ghostly presence I felt on the eighth floor was someone else … Capone spent more time at the 

, where he bought silk shirts; a bank at 2218 S. Wabash Ave., where he kept 

 glamorous, but hey, Capone wasn’t actually the clubby man about town he’s remembered as. Rather, he was 

Chicagoans are still spinning stories of Al Capone

🏨 Chicago’s haunted hotels (with Adam Selzer!) 

If you look at historical evidence, it turns out lots of local Capone lore is straight-up bull. Yes, even the Green Mill. Probably.

Where Did Al Capone Really Hang Out?

You don’t need me to remind you how cold it is — but people still gotta get around. Many Chicagoans (braver souls than I) are still biking. Or, perhaps, you’re winter-biking-curious?

Either way, we’ve got tips from an expert: David Powe, assistant commissioner at the Chicago Department of Transportation. Powe leads Chicago’s micromobility programs, including Divvy bikeshare, Lime scooter operations, and Bike Chicago. Rain or shine (or snow or cold), he’s the bike guy.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

What are tips for biking in cold (and very cold) weather?

“Layering and protecting your head, hands, and feet matters most,” Powe said.

Lobster gloves between -10 and 20 degrees

A neck gaiter and wool beanie down to about 20 degrees

A balaclava with the wool beanie for lower temps

Make sure your hair is fully dry before heading out. (This is important!)

Once temperatures drop to 10 degrees, it’s time to double up.


Do people actually use Divvy in the winter?

“There is a seasonal dip in Divvy ridership during the winter months, which is natural … but also winter ridership receives a boost from our year-round cyclists, who switch to Divvy to avoid wear and tear on their own bikes. That’s actually how I got into using Divvy before I started working for the city.”

How does the city support winter bike safety?

“The city focuses on keeping major bike routes usable year-round through snow removal, salting, and ongoing maintenance. We also work closely with Divvy and other partners to maintain bikes, ensure stations remain operational, and communicate safety guidance to riders throughout the season.

Though our crews have been hard at work clearing snow from bike lanes across the city, we need all hands on deck to keep them that way and ask that people do not push or pile snow into bike lanes when shoveling sidewalks to protect our cyclists.”

CDOT's David Powe, who leads Chicago’s Divvy program, has expert tips for biking in brutal weather. 

Tips for Biking in the Winter in Chicago

Tips for Biking When It’s Cold in Chicago

 — but does it qualify as a polar vortex?

The frosty term gained popularity back in 2014, when 

temperatures in Chicago hit -16 degrees Fahrenheit

: a record low. It was so cold that Chicago Public Schools cancelled class over the temperature alone. (I still fondly remember those rare days off.)

But, according to Scott Lincoln, a senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service, the “polar vortex” isn’t really a thing. At least not how Chicagoans generally use the term.

First, the polar vortex doesn’t come and go. It’s a circulation of air around Earth’s poles, and 

, swirling 10 to 30 miles above us in the stratosphere.

The polar vortex is weaker in the summer and stronger in the winter. But sometimes, when polar vortex winds are not circling the pole as quickly, sections can move away from the pole. (Lincoln likened the typical movement to a flushing toilet bowl.) This allows the jet stream to move south, and we feel the cold air.

That’s what happened in 2014 and again in 2019, when 

However, Lincoln could not definitively say whether our current cold spell resulted from a disruption in the polar vortex. At least not yet. He’s more focused on how this cold is spreading across the country: aka the jet stream.

Chicago is experiencing an arctic air mass moving southeast from Canada. And we’re not the only ones: about two-thirds of the country is locked into 

 hear people (erroneously) referring to it as a polar vortex, overall, usage of the expression has waned.

As Lincoln explained, “You may have noticed that people are talking less about [the polar vortex] in recent years because the ‘buzz’ of the term has diminished since it became popular several years ago.”

A new phrase picking up steam appears to be 

, perhaps semantics isn’t exactly top of mind. 

Chicago experienced polar vortex events in 2019 and 2014, but this current cold spell doesn't qualify. Probably. 

Is This a Polar Vortex?

It’s a delightfully mid-temp week in Chicago, but trust me, the snow will be back. And when it comes, who do you want plowing your streets? Bozo the Plown? Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow? Bad, Bad Leroy Plow?

Those are past winners of the city’s annual snow-plow-naming contest. This year, 

. Mayor Brandon Johnson has already thrown his weight behind (the admittedly superior) 

Return to the Chicago Shovels site in February to vote for your favorites. (Don’t worry, I’ll remind you.) In the end, several names will be chosen.

The Department of Streets and Sanitation handles snow and ice removal and salting for Chicago streets. Its Snow Command center utilizes citywide cameras and pavement sensors to do so. You can 

Expressways, meanwhile, are cleared by Illinois' Department of Transportation.

Business owners that rent space adjacent to the sidewalk are responsible for shoveling that area. Residential property owners are responsible for clearing their own sidewalks as well. That includes landlords, although 

 may put the onus on tenants as part of their rental agreements. Check your leases, people!

Adequate shoveling means clearing a path at least five feet wide on all the sidewalks adjacent to the property. (

) Failure to do so could result in fines of up to $500 per day.

If your landlord (or neighbor) isn’t shoveling, you can call 311 to report the uncleared sidewalk. Chicago saw 

Chicago is hosting its annual snow-plow naming contest. But who's responsible for clearing snow from streets and sidewalks?

Who's Responsible For Clearing Snow in Chicago? 

Could the Big Leplowski Clear Your Street?

Just kidding, I won’t be presenting legislation in the form of a trend-forecasting list. (

Hopefully yesterday’s scratched that itch.

) It’s time to get serious: Nearly 300 new laws took effect in Illinois Jan. 1.

As mentioned above, 2026 marks the start of enhanced background checks when hiring police officers in Illinois. The move comes after the 

, who was killed in her home by former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson worked six law enforcement jobs in four years and had two DUIs before becoming a cop.

Officers also must now train (every three years) in trauma-informed programs to comply with 

, named for Illinoisan Anna Williams who felt dismissed throughout an investigation into her own sexual assault.

 makes it easier for police officers to remove squatters from a home by differentiating “squatters” from “tenants,” opening a path to bypass eviction procedure. Previously, squatters were allowed to stay at a property while the case was underway.

Signed into law at the height of “Operation Midway Blitz,” the 

 explicitly guarantees the right to a K-12 public education regardless of immigration status. This means:

Schools cannot allow law enforcement inside without a judicial warrant.

Schools cannot share any child’s (or their family members’) immigration information.

Students and families cannot be excluded from activities or programs due to immigration status.

 went into effect Jan. 1 enacting some similar protections at state-licensed child care centers and public colleges.

 will be awarded regardless of immigration status. That was already true for state-funded financial aid, but local aid programs are now included under that umbrella.

Ten percent of funds collected from Chicago ambulance rides will go toward fire truck and ambulance upgrades.

The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority can now oversee women’s teams, which could help the Chicago Stars soccer team get state stadium funding.

Employers must compensate mothers during breast-pumping breaks for up to a year after their child is born.

Firearm storage requirements in homes with children increased.

Libraries must maintain a supply of opioid overdose medication, like Narcan.

Nearly 300 new laws went into effect Jan. 1 in Illinois.

Make Sure You’re Not Breaking Chicago’s New Laws

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration demanded the CTA enhance its security by adding cops — or it would pull federal funding. (The CTA’s 

The ultimatum came weeks after a woman was set on fire by a man on the Blue Line. 

But what is the CTA’s current system for public safety?

 was budgeted for security services on the CTA. This covers off-duty Chicago Police Department officers who supplement the 

It also covers private security companies, which make up the bulk of CTA security. Surely you’ve noticed the roving German shepherds alongside handlers in tactical gear — these are part of the private firm Action K-9 Security.

 with Action K-9 to deploy 100 unarmed guards and 50 canines per day (two guards for every one dog). In 2024, 

Rather than respond directly, the hope is the mere presence of these K-9 teams will deter crime. If someone continues to break a law or CTA rule, 

you can expect a K-9 to call for police backup

The dogs, which are muzzled, can only be sicced in a life-or-death scenario 

Meanwhile, I’ve reached out to the CTA asking whether the dogs are trained to sniff out drugs or bombs — if they answer, I’ll let you know in Hey Chicago.

Also in 2022, CTA signed multi-year contracts worth $71 million with Inter-Con Security and Monterrey Security, a local company with 

. Together, the firms provided 300 unarmed guards.

A year later, data showed crime on the transit system had 

funding for the Inter-Con and Monterrey contracts increased

 by $26 million. Those unarmed guards are still present on the train — you might notice them 

Despite November’s Blue Line attack, CTA crime rates have remained relatively flat with 902 violent crimes so far this year. That’s 20 fewer than in 2024, according to a police spokesperson.

Still, Friday remains the federal deadline for CTA to implement a new 

“verifiable security enhancement plan.”

The federal government demanded the CTA add more cops. But what is the CTA's current system for public safety? 

Who Really Does Security on the CTA?

It was a dark and stormy night in the big city, and my editor was breathing down my neck. “Holiday pop-ups are 

!” she insisted. “They’re just regular bars packed with cheesy Amazon decorations. Go prove it.”

I put my (furry) reporter cap on and set out to Wrigleyville — or, as it’s known these days, Christmastown. In the shadow of the ol’ field was 

. Beyond that, a near dozen storefronts blinked with temporary signage: Elf’d Up, Jingle Junkie, Christmas Club, Santa’s Workshop, Rudolph’s, Santa Baby … Squinting through falling snow, I hardly recognized the block and thought my boss might be right.

 first, the area’s oldest pop-up (dating back to 2018) inside year-round Country Club — itself the result of 

localized “countrification” marketing

. But at Christmas Club, I saw a couple in Bulls merch kiss under the mistletoe. I saw my friend Chunghwa get a real kick out of the $8 

“National Lampoon” souvenir moose mug

To my surprise, the heavily themed pop-ups seemed to 

 if I could take part, too. I, the cold-hearted hipster journalist, suddenly found myself in a made-for-TV movie learning the true meaning of Christmas in Chicago.

Just as I was coming around, however, Nisei Lounge’s self-described pop-up embodied my editor’s Scrooge-y accusation. The dive was affixed with minimal twinkle lights and out of peppermint Malört. Though it offered the cheapest drinks of the night — always a win in my book — holiday highlights emerged elsewhere.

 (normally Graystone tavern), I took in the smells of surrounding latke feasts and sipped on Manischewitz. At 

 (normally Roadhouse 66), mulled wine warmed my bones and jazzy Christmas tunes filled the air. 

Our Jingle Junkie bartender said the pop-up offered a reprieve from the normally slow post-Cubs season in Wrigley. My friend RJ Hanson, who bartends at the Chicago Athletic Association’s winter pop-up, 

"Happy’s is a welcome novelty from the rest of the year … The entire staff looks forward to the opening. It’s impossible not to be infected by the holiday spirit."

I’ll be visiting him there soon because, for this big city career gal, seasonal pop-ups are 

(Also, in case you’re wondering, I did not meet a handsome tree farmer on my adventure, but my Uber driver was pretty cute.)

With admittedly Scrooge-ish expectations, I set out to explore the city's vast array of seasonal pop-ups.