It’s Wednesday. Take a minute to catch up on the latest local stories from WTTW News.
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A water tower is seen Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Plymouth, Minn. A cyberattack targeted the operating technology at over 30 water systems in Minnesota, including Plymouth's, earlier this week, state officials said. (AP Photo / Ellen Schmidt)
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What appeared to be innocent malfunctions in municipal water systems could actually be something more serious.
At the end of July, several water systems from Minnesota to Georgia suddenly went offline.
While officials restored them, cybersecurity experts now say the outages may have been caused by Iranian hackers, raising larger questions about the security of America’s critical resources.
Jacob Braun, executive director of the Cyber Policy Initiative at the University of Chicago and former acting principal cyber director under the Biden administration, joined “Chicago Tonight” to break down how hackers were able to access the country’s water infrastructure.
What happened when these cities first realized something was wrong with their water systems?
Braun: The cyber attack attacked a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), which is a device that helps control the IT system and its commands to the physical system — so the actual pumps that make the water utility work. As you suggested, the assumption is that the Iranians were behind the attack. We think this attack is not really about a specific water utility. It’s really trying to send a message to the administration and the American people about where we’re vulnerable. I think what they’re trying to do is really show the administration that they can shut off the water to our military assets. They can shut off the water to what may be the key economic driver in the country right now, which is our AI data centers.
Finally, in a country that’s deeply divided over the war already, they’re showing they can undermine public trust in the government’s ability to perform the most basic lifegiving services like making sure the water turns on.
How are hackers gaining access to our water systems?
Well, they worm their way through the internet. Unfortunately, most of the utilities that were successfully hit were the smaller utilities that don’t have budgets to hire big cyber companies or cyber professionals and make sure they have all the newest cyber defenses in place. So those were the low-hanging fruit that presumably the Iranian hackers were able to attack.
Could there be similar implications or concerns for other utilities?
The Iranians have been quite active in hitting other critical infrastructure. For example, years ago when we launched a cyberattack against their nuclear program and it came to light, they did a massive attack against our banking system and shut off online banking for weeks and weeks. By the way, we were never able to stop it. They just kind of got bored with it after a few weeks and stopped doing it on their own.
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Wrigley Field is pictured in a file photo on Aug. 17, 2026. (WTTW News)
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This week, Chicagoans are choosing sides: blue vs. black, North Side vs. South Side, Cubs vs. White Sox.
For only the second time in 18 years, Chicago’s rival baseball teams are facing off in a Crosstown Classic with both squads boasting winning records.
The Cubs enter Wednesday’s game with a 3-2 season series lead, thanks to two consecutive walk-off victories Monday and Tuesday. They hold a slight edge in their record at 74-53 but must once again fend off a hot White Sox team coming off an impressive sweep of division rival Detroit. The White Sox currently sit atop the American League Central at 65-60.
Mike Mulligan of 104.3 The Score and Jesse Rogers of ESPN joined “Chicago Tonight” to talk about the series.
More context:
Rogers said the Cubs are still a capable team, but a recent injury to shortstop Dansby Swanson could throw a wrench in their late-season push for the National League’s top spot.
“They’re very good,” Rogers said. “They’re a well-rounded team. They have strengths in all areas of the game. They just suffered an injury at shortstop — Dansby Swanson is going to be out for a while. But they have enough to overcome. They’re as deep as they’ve been in years.”
The White Sox, even after sweeping the Tigers, have a long road ahead if they want to win the American League.
“Just given where they’ve been and where they’re at, they need more wins,” Mulligan said. “There’s 39 games left in the season. Their magic number is 36. They’re the class of the AL Central, don’t get me wrong. But like I said, they had a really good weekend, so they probably look better than they really are.”
Rogers said he believes the Sox could be a problem for teams in the American League if they make the playoffs.
“I actually think the Sox are built better for the postseason,” Rogers said. “Left-handed power is very important. You face mostly righties, and you need to run into some home runs. They’ve proven that for a long time now. That’s why they have so many come-from-behind wins.”
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(WTTW News)
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The Chicago Teachers Union is suing the Illinois Policy Institute, claiming the nonprofit think tank has defamed the union by framing it as “toxic” in an alleged effort to undermine its progressive policies.
The union announced the defamation lawsuit late Monday against the Illinois Policy Institute, its legal arm, the Liberty Justice Center, and Austin Berg, the institute’s vice president of marketing.
“They have tried to use misrepresentations of our union and our President to undermine Chicago values and undo people-first policies,” CTU Vice President Jackson Potter said in a statement. “In filing this suit, we’re standing up for the Union and its members and the truth.”
Through its lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County court, the CTU claims the IPI has engaged in a yearslong, anti-CTU marketing campaign and is “not interested in context or truth.”
An IPI spokesperson did not comment on the specific allegations, but said in a statement Tuesday the institute is “reviewing the case at this time.”
Some backstory:
The lawsuit comes nearly two years after the Liberty Justice Center filed suit against the CTU on behalf of four union members, demanding that the CTU produce an audit after the center claimed the union failed to do so for multiple years.
It also comes months ahead of crucial elections on the Chicago Board of Education and next year’s mayoral election.
The CTU claimed that the IPI, Liberty Justice Center and Berg have published social media posts and articles falsely accusing the union of “cooking its books” through fraudulent accounting and engaging in “potentially criminal conduct,” according to the new lawsuit.
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Back in the Day: August 19, 1975 - The Monarch Butterfly Becomes Illinois’ State Insect
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Fifty-one years ago, Illinois had a state tree (white oak), a state flower (violet), a state bird (northern cardinal) and even a state mineral (fluorite). On Aug. 19, 1975, Gov. Dan Walker signed a bill that made the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) the official state insect of Illinois. At a press conference during the bill signing, Walker introduced a third-grade class from Decatur’s Dennis Elementary, who had previously lobbied state Rep. Webber Borchers to introduce the bill. "We have here a group of youngsters who are completing a unique experience in the governmental process," Walker said. "They proposed, they lobbied and today are bringing to fruition a new law.” Interestingly enough, Illinois had a state insect before it had a state animal: The white-tailed deer would become Illinois’ pick in 1980.
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Aug. 19-25
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, Aug. 19:
Hazel City, Nolan Chin at Hungry Brain. Tickets.
Twin Peaks’ Clay Frankel headlines a solo show in Roscoe Village.
Victoryland, Drook, Godstar Megamax at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
Eclectic and cathartic indie rock at one of Chicago’s best venues.
Thursday, Aug. 20:
Jake Xerxes Fussell at Old Town School of Folk. Tickets.
This folk artist writes patient, introspective and stunning songs.
Jill Scott at Chicago Theatre. Tickets.
The R&B icon stops in the Loop for three nights to celebrate her new album, “To Whom This May Concern.” The first of three.
Plum, No Men, Girly Pants at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The local post-punk trio is gearing up to release a new album.
Friday, Aug. 21:
Alabama Shakes, Liam Kazar at Ravinia. Tickets.
The hometown hero opens up for the Southern rock juggernaut.
Kacey Musgraves, Midland at United Center. Tickets.
The country star takes her show to the West Loop arena.
Scout Gillett, Jackie West, Ava Brennan at the Hideout. Tickets.
Several excellent songwriters can be found on this bill.
Superchunk, Joe Glass at SPACE. Tickets.
The veteran punk outfit enlists a rising local opener.
Saturday, Aug. 22:
Bonnie Raitt at Ravinia. Tickets.
The country icon is still going strong.
Iris Temple, NnamdÏ, No-Fi RPM at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
Celebrate 10 years of the Chicago label Sooper Records with a stacked bill.
Jill Scott at Chicago Theatre. Tickets.
The R&B icon stops in the Loop for three nights to celebrate her new album, “To Whom This May Concern.” The second of three.
Sunday, Aug. 23:
Jill Scott at Chicago Theatre. Tickets.
The R&B icon stops in the Loop for three nights to celebrate her new album, “To Whom This May Concern.” The third of three.
Monday, Aug. 24:
Wild Thyme at Empty Bottle. Free.
There’s nothing better than a free Monday show in Ukrainian Village.
Tuesday, Aug. 25:
Willie Nelson, The Avett Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Stephen Wilson Jr., more at Northerly Island. Tickets.
Come see a songwriting legend who, at 93, can still put on a heck of a show.
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Where’s your favorite place to watch sports in Chicago? Tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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