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It’s Thursday. Beware that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued an air pollution “action day” as smoke from Canadian wildfires makes its way into the area. Today, WTTW News reports on crime, COVID vaccines and more. Plus, scroll down for a fun fact about “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” |
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The Dirksen Courthouse is pictured in Chicago. (Capitol News Illinois) |
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Federal authorities are expanding a violence prevention initiative that had previously existed solely on Chicago’s South and West sides to now include downtown and all CTA train lines.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois on Wednesday announced the expansion of its Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which combines the efforts of federal, state and local authorities to help stem violent crime.
The nationwide program, first launched in 2001, had only operated in seven Chicago neighborhoods — South Chicago, Gresham, Englewood, Deering, Ogden, Harrison and Austin.
But it will now include portions of three downtown police districts encompassing shopping corridors, beaches and landmarks. The program will also extend across all CTA train lines throughout the city — marking the first time Project Safe Neighborhoods will be deployed on a mass transit system.
“Many billions of dollars of revenue, taxes, and investments are anchored in our city’s financial districts,” interim U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said in a statement, “and when violence and criminal activity cause our residents, businesses and tourists not to feel safe to live, invest and shop in Chicago, everyone suffers, whether at the federal, state, or local level.”
More about the initiative:
The new enforcement zone being added to the Project Safe Neighborhoods program will extend from Division Street on the Near North Side between Lake Michigan and La Salle Drive to I-55 between Clark Street and Lake Michigan on the Near South Side. It will also extend west to Ogden and Ashland avenues, between Grand Avenue and I-290.
According to the feds, enforcement in those areas will focus on the investigation and prosecution of offenses including illegal firearm possession, drug trafficking, robberies, carjackings and other violent crimes. |
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News) |
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Chicago’s homicide totals in 2025 continue to trend well below other recent years, as the city last month saw its fewest homicides in any May in more than a decade. According to Chicago Police Department data, there were 36 homicides recorded throughout May 2025, a total that’s down 38% compared to the same month last year and down nearly 50% compared to May 2023. Those 36 homicides were also the fewest for Chicago in any May since 2011, according to CPD data.
More context:
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Through the first five months of 2025, Chicago’s homicide total (152) is down 28% compared to the same time last year. The number of shootings (529) and shooting victims (616) recorded thus far in 2025 are also down 35% and 36%, respectively, compared to 2024.
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Those totals are the lowest since at least 2019, according to the CPD.
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Violent crime in 2025 is down 23% compared to last year, according to police figures, while property crime is down 12%.
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The CPD also said motor vehicle thefts are down 28% and burglaries are down 23% year-to-date. Police officers in May also recovered 1,131 illegal firearms, or more than 36 per day, bringing the department’s 2025 total up to more than 4,500.
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(kfuhlert / Pixabay) |
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Federal health officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., issued new guidance last week on who should have the COVID-19 vaccine, and it no longer includes healthy children and healthy pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seemingly contradicted Kennedy, later announcing that children will remain on the immunization schedule, but the agency’s stance for pregnant people is now “no guidance.”
While recommendations coming from the federal government are a bit unclear, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists still suggests pregnant people get the vaccine. The organization says: “Vaccines are recommended during pregnancy to protect against serious illness. The most common vaccines given in pregnancy include the flu, Tdap, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). These vaccines can keep you healthy and help protect your baby after birth.”
University of Illinois Chicago epidemiology professor Katrine Wallace shares the organization’s sentiments, noting that Black women are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 complications during pregnancy.
“COVID can be very dangerous in pregnancy,” Wallace said. “It increases the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, ICU visits and death.” |
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Back in the Day: June 5, 1985 - Cubs Game at Wrigley Immortalized in 'Ferris Bueller’s Day Off' |
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John Hughes’ 1986 comedy “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” is a popular classic of Chicago-set cinema. It follows Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, a precocious teen who skips school to explore the city with his friends. On this day 40 years ago, Ferris, Cam and Sloane attended a Cubs game at Wrigley Field versus the Atlanta Braves. In the film, Principal Rooney is seen at a pizza parlor where the game is on television. As he looks away, Ferris is shown onscreen catching a foul ball. Cubs bloggers traced the broadcast to a June 5, 1985, game against the Braves, where the Cubs lost 4-2 in 11 innings. While that was the game Ferris attended in the movie, it’s not the game where the “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” crew actually filmed. Production and shooting started in September 1985, so that means the June 5 game could only be shown on TV. While they used footage from the June match, the scenes actually filmed in Wrigley Field come from a Sept. 24, 1985, game versus the Montreal Expos. The Cubs lost 17-15 in extra innings. If you’re confused, Baseball Prospectus writer Larry Granillo put it this way, “The game, within the Ferris Bueller universe, was on June 5, 1985, against the Braves. The game, in the real world, was filmed on September 24, 1985, against the Expos.” |
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This Week’s Arts and Culture Events |
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Every Thursday, WTTW News highlights the week’s must-see cultural events. This week, it’s newsletter producer Josh Terry filling in for arts correspondent Marc Vitali.
If your daily life gets hazy, as if plumes of dust and wildfire smoke are clouding your vision, the best way to get clarity is to go experience some art safely indoors. Whether it’s a musical on the “Queen of Rock’n’Roll,” an esoteric screening of VHS oddities, or two imaginative plays, you have a lot of stellar options to explore Chicago’s thriving cultural scene.
"You Will Get Sick" at Steppenwolf
Noah Diaz’s “You Will Get Sick” first debuted in 2022 at New York City’s off-Broadway Laura Pels, where it starred Linda Lavin and “Billions” actor Daniel K. Isaac. The New York Times praised it, saying, “Neither prosaic nor clinical, it defies all expectations for a story in which the main character receives a fatal diagnosis, telling the tale in the most lively, surreal and surprising ways imaginable.” Now, it’s in Chicago at Steppenwolf. It premieres today, runs through July 13 and stars ensemble members Cliff Chamberlain, Amy Morton and Namir Smallwood. Tickets and details are here.
"Iraq, But Funny" at Lookingglass Theatre
Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Atra Asdou penned a biting satire “about five generations of Assyrian women reclaiming their stories, as narrated by a British guy.” “Iraq, But Funny” premiered last week at the Mag Mile theater and runs through July 20. Tickets and details can be found here.
"Strange and Found" at Music Box Theatre
The two hosts of “Strange and Found” at the Music Box Theatre boast a VHS collection of over 15,000 tapes. Together, they traverse their archives for the weird videos, the oddities and the fascinating for an unforgettable live screening experience. Sunday, June 8. Tickets and details here.
"Tina: The Tina Turner Musical" at Cadillac Theatre
"Tina: The Tina Turner Musical“ ends its run at Chicago’s Cadillac Theatre on Sunday, June 8. It first hit the city in 2023, and of the initial production, WTTW critic Hedy Weiss wrote, “The musical version of Tina’s life captures the essence of a woman who suffered greatly on many fronts yet persevered thanks to an indomitable spirit and immense talent.” Only five performances left: tickets and details here. |
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What’s the most overrated thing about summer in Chicago? |
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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