Chicago's Week in a Nutshell: From Music to Politics and Everything In Between

Chicago was buzzing this week, with Lollapalooza bringing in crowds and big-name artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Tyler, the Creator. But the city wasn't just about music; politics was heating up too. Governor Pritzker signed some important bills, including one to boost pensions for certain Chicago police officers and firefighters. Meanwhile, Mayor Brandon Johnson was thinking about new taxes to balance the city's budget. In the world of politics, some big changes are coming. U. S. Rep. Danny Davis decided not to run for another term, and he's backing state Rep. La Shawn Ford to take his place. Over in the Senate race, Rep. Robin Kelly got a big endorsement from a major gun control group. The education sector took a hit this week, with Northwestern University cutting about 425 jobs and Moody Bible Institute laying off 9% of its staff. Former President Joe Biden also stopped by Chicago to talk about the importance of upholding the Constitution. And let's not forget the rest of the world. Wildfires in Canada sent smoke drifting over the Midwest, making the air quality pretty bad. Over in the UK and Canada, they announced they'll recognize a Palestinian state come September. Plus, some countries missed the deadline to finalize trade deals with the U. S. , so new rates are coming soon. Sports fans had a bittersweet week. The Chicago Cubs lost a legend, Ryne Sandberg, who passed away after a battle with cancer. But there was some good news too: the Cubs made some trades and found out that the 2027 MLB All-Star Game will be at Wrigley Field. And finally, if you're into quizzes, check out the Tribune's latest Quotes of the Week challenge. It's a fun way to test your knowledge of the week's events.