This Friday, we dive into how Gov. J.B. Pritzker is preparing for a second Donald Trump presidency. And then there is this fractious debate: Do you need to rake your leaves?
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(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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Patty Wetli: People, the polarization has got to stop.
There’s no one right way to manage the leaves on your property.
On one end of the spectrum, people are raking or blowing piles into the street for curbside pickup (not available in the city of Chicago). Or, they’re bagging the leaves for disposal, preferably at a compost facility.
On the opposite end, people are just leaving the leaves where they fall, making sure to clear sidewalks for pedestrian safety. This camp has taken to arguing that doing anything more is just plain murder — of insects.
“There’s a lot of space in between those two extremes,” said Spencer Campbell, plant clinic manager at the Morton Arboretum.
Whole leaves can be gathered and spread atop perennial beds and vegetable gardens, serving as insulation for plants, enrichment for soil, and habitat for over-wintering insects and macroinvertebrates. Pile leaves too thickly on beds — especially oak leaves, which don’t decompose quickly — and perennials may struggle to punch through come spring. I say this from experience. (RIP, coneflowers.)
If you have a space where an excess mound of leaves can be stored, pile them for later use, either to refresh the insulation in your garden beds or to add to your home compost. No space? You might need to bag and dispose of leaves your garden beds can’t accommodate.
What you don’t want to do is leave a solid layer of whole leaves on your lawn because the leaves will suppress growth and create other issues.
“The only way leaves benefit turf is when they’re mulched,” Campbell said.
While some may argue that their lawn has done fine with leaves left in place, everybody’s yard is different, Campbell noted.
It’s been heartening to see the exponential growth in people interested in supporting pollinators and taking a holistic approach to horticultural management, Campbell said. But he also has respect for people’s personal traditions and preferences — not to mention the pressure some people may feel to conform to neighborhood norms.
“It’s a personal choice at the end of the day,” Campbell said.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker addresses reporters on Nov. 7, 2024. (Amanda Vinicky / WTTW News)
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a visible surrogate for the Harris campaign, in a news conference on Thursday signaled that Democratic leaders in Illinois are discussing what, if any, actions the state may take to gird itself against the future Trump administration.
“We’re gathering, you know, I would call it, a list of things that we may need to address,” Pritzker said.
The governor said it may not happen when the General Assembly meets in November and could wait until the legislature reconvenes in 2025.
Following his win, President-elect Donald Trump said his governing ethos will be to keep the promises he made on the campaign trail, which include leaving abortion rights to states, a mass-scale deportation of immigrants and undoing federal assistance promoting clean energy.
The governor said Illinois has already done much of the work to insulate the state from federal action.
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Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige appears on “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” on Jan. 17, 2024. (WTTW News)
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The budget for the Chicago Department of Public Health is set to shrink by 16% in 2025, as pandemic-era grants worth nearly $140 million expire, records show. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s spending plan for 2025 earmarks nearly $700 million for the department, which is charged with fighting the spread of communicable diseases, providing mental health care and ensuring the safety of food at restaurants and festivals.
City Council reaction:
Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward) urged his colleagues to heed the call from a coalition of public health groups to add $25 million to CDPH’s budget, calling the department’s work “critical” for the most vulnerable Chicagoans. “Without it, people will really be hurt."
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Outdoor Recommendations From Patty Wetli
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Every Friday, WTTW News highlights the best things to do outside.
Thanks to the time change, it gets dark super early. Here’s how to turn that negative into a positive.
Take advantage of the Lake County Forest Preserve District’s pair of illuminated trails, which are lit by small solar lamps. These trails stay open until 9 p.m. daily and offer a different way to connect with nature.
Get to know the ultimate creatures of the night — owls. The Chicago Ornithological Society is putting owls in the spotlight all month: Sign up for a presentation to learn about the species that call Chicago home or join a night hike to spot the elusive birds. The society has more info here about the programs, which are sure to be a hoot.
Look up. Saturn is super bright right now, but if you can’t tell your planets from your stars from your airplanes, it gets really easy on Sunday. Saturn will be hanging out close to the moon in the southeastern sky, early in the evening. Just look for the big yellowish dot above the big white ball.
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Back in the Day: November 8, 1994 - The Willis Clan Tragedy
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On this day 30 years ago, Rev. Duane “Scott” Willis and his wife, Janet, were driving to visit one of their sons in Wisconsin with their six youngest children. While on I-94, they hit a piece of a taillight assembly that had fallen off a semitrailer rig. Immediately after impact, their minivan caught fire and killed the children, who ranged from 13 to just 6 weeks old. The parents survived the crash with severe burns. Following that tragedy, it was discovered that the driver of the semi-truck had obtained his trucker’s license by bribing a worker at an Illinois secretary of state’s office licensing facility. The tragedy became part of the licenses-for-bribes scandal that
led to the downfall of then-Gov. George Ryan, a former secretary of state. Ryan, who left office in 2003, was ultimately convicted on federal corruption charges in 2006 and spent more than five years in federal prison. The Willis family received a $100 million out-of-court settlement in 1999, one of the highest wrongful death awards in Illinois history. The family appeared in the 2015 TLC reality series “The Willis Family."
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Other News From Around Town: |
The Cubs lost last night. With their playoff hopes fading, the defeat hands the NL Central title to the Milwaukee Brewers.
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What’s the best sandwich in Chicago? Tell us why and where we can find
it.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what readers had to
say:
I am addicted to the Pork and Greens sandwich at JT’s Genuine Sandwiches on Elston Avenue. It’s a take on a Philadelphia classic that combines two of my favorite things to eat, pork roast and rapini. All of Chris Cunnigham’s sandwich creations are outstanding, but this one is my go-to. - John S.
Jibarito (A Puerto Rican spot on Fullerton in Bucktown) - Sam W.
Reuben from NY Bagel and Bialy - @osiriskalkira
Steak sandwich at Ricobene's - @louiskamp1971
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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