\ud83d\udce7 Subscribe<\/b>: Get our morning newsletter delivered to your inbox weekday mornings.<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n \u23f1\ufe0f: An 8-minute read<\/i><\/p>\n Mostly sunny with a high near 84.<\/p>\n Six people have been identified as dying, or being hospitalized and later dying, from heat-related causes in July.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Deadly toll<\/b>: Six people in Cook County have died from heat-related causes in July so far, marking the deadliest stretch of extreme hot-weather deaths since at least 2015. Four of those who died were younger than 60.<\/p>\n Lives lost<\/b>: Victor Ferguson, 48, died July 2 from heat stroke with ethanol intoxication as a secondary cause, according to new records from the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Others whose deaths have been attributed to the heat, according to the medical examiner’s office, are Stephanie Rodriguez, 45; David Gonzalez, 44; Barbara Whigham, 71; Mike Rodriguez, 57; and Daniel Machnikowski, 69. One death happened in Evanston. The others who died were residents of Chicago’s South and West sides.<\/p>\n Key factors<\/b>: Communities in the South and West sides are most vulnerable to extreme heat, according to one expert, who says some of that vulnerability is tied to socioeconomic factors, like not being able to afford an elevated electricity bill to cool a home or not having an adequate air conditioning unit. Neighborhoods with fewer trees also provide less shade during extreme heat.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n A growing group of Chicago Public Schools students has autism and requires more intensive special education support.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Manuel Martinez\/WBEZ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Specialized needs<\/b>: A growing group of students in Chicago Public Schools has autism and needs special education \u2014 a new reality for the school district that has major academic and financial implications. <\/p>\n Rise in needs<\/b>: As of this spring, almost 83,000 students qualified for an individualized education program, which legally requires school districts to provide students with specialized education services or to remove barriers to their learning. That’s 26% of CPS students, up from 20% in 2019. It’s a national trend that’s more pronounced in Chicago. <\/p>\n Separate rooms, more staff<\/b>: The number of students with autism has doubled since 2019, according to CPS data. Many of them require intensive classroom support and therapy, and a growing number spend the majority of their day in separate classes. When CPS recently announced 1,500 staff layoffs and other drastic measures<\/a> to close the district’s $732 million deficit, they stressed they were actually adding more special education staff.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Nash Elementary School Principal Marcie Byrd.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Jeremy Battle\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Over the last eight years, Nash Elementary in Austin has seen a significant increase in students with disabilities and staff to support them. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp spoke with Nash principal Marcie Byrd about how the small neighborhood school, with its dwindling student body and staff, has adapted to educating these pupils. <\/p>\n LISTEN HERE \ud83c\udfa7<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Justin Harbison is a mosquito expert known as the \u201cSewer Monster.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Pat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Buzz kill<\/b>: Justin Harbison, a Loyola University Chicago researcher, helps fight mosquito populations that can carry diseases by treating Chicago-area sewers with insecticides aimed at killing recently hatched larvae before they become bloodsuckers.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: The insects that everyone hates aren’t just annoying. In Illinois, they can spread the potentially deadly West Nile virus, an illness that sickens thousands of people across the country every year. There have been no human cases reported in Chicago this year, but health officials expect that might change. Harbison, who wears his “Sewer Monster” nickname on his shirt, is passionate about protecting public health.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Tell us your mosquito-fighting tricks!<\/b> <\/p>\n Our journalists are evaluating whether various ideas for battling mosquitoes actually work. Please share your ideas and stories<\/a>! We might contact you to follow up for a future story.<\/p>\n SHARE YOUR TIPS HERE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Chicago police officials investigate shootings Monday afternoon in Albany Park.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Candace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Sierra the Beluga whale is transported onto a truck at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Monday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Carlos Osorio\/The Canadian Press, distributed by the Associated Press<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Whales on the way<\/b>: Four beluga whales from a shuttered aquatic park in Niagara Falls, Canada, were on their way to Shedd Aquarium on Monday as part of an “unprecedented rescue effort,” according to Canadian media. It’s the first phase of a plan to move up to 30 belugas over the next few weeks from Marineland to several U.S. aquariums and to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. Shedd announced it could receive as many as 10 belugas.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: The future of the belugas has been in doubt since Marineland closed to the public in 2024. Marineland has previously threatened to euthanize the sea mammals, citing a lack of funding to care for them. Twenty whales have died at Marineland since 2019, AP reported.<\/p>\n Controversial move<\/b>: Some animal rights advocates argue that the whales are being exported potentially in violation of a 2019 Canadian law that bans the breeding of marine mammals in captivity.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n LISTEN LIVE \ud83c\udfa7<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Today’s clue<\/b>: 1A: Meteorologist Skilling who had a cameo in “The Bear.”<\/p>\n PLAY NOW<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Jordan Nickel, Garrett Munski, Alex Mendoza and Ole Flores<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Anthony Vazquez\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Four friends who grew up graffitiing Evanston walls returned to their hometown this month to add more color and to celebrate the addition of a new “permission wall” for the next generation of writers.<\/p>\n Garrett Munski, Ole Flores, Alex Mendoza and Jordan Nickel grew up tagging walls, viaducts, underpasses and more as kids in Evanston in the 1990s and early 2000s. Nickel built his adult career around creating art, working under the artist name POSE. Munski went on to work as a mechanic while Flores is a CPA. Mendoza owns his own sign company.<\/p>\n The four reunited this time to legally paint a wall on Green Bay Road at Simpson Street. Johnny Cash and Buena Vista Social Club blasted while the four created their individual panels with color and spray cans.<\/p>\n The wall is the precursor to a permissible graffiti wall scheduled to open later this summer on the other side of the same wall, facing an overgrown empty lot.<\/p>\n The four men reminisced about their high school days while they completed the strokes and shading with their cans.<\/p>\n Flores said the new mural was the first piece he had painted in 20 years. “Time passes. The passion doesn\u2019t,” he said.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n What tips do you have for fighting off mosquitoes?<\/i> <\/p>\n Reply here with your answer<\/i><\/a> (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.<\/i><\/p>\n On Monday, we asked you: What\u2019s the best way to make a new friend as an adult?<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s some of what you said\u2026<\/p>\n “I had great luck finding friends as an adult when I reached out to my child’s friend’s family members. We were able to do things together, with and without our children. Also, through volunteering locally.” \u2014 Christine Bock<\/i><\/p>\n “Find a club, church, activity or team that interests you. You’ll find others [who] share your interest so you automatically have something to talk about. No pickup lines necessary \u2014 unless you’re at a truck show!” \u2014 Paul Lockwood<\/i><\/p>\n “Think of an interest you have. Go to a ‘how to’ class on that interest. Music? Old Town School of Folk Music. Comedy? Second City … Running? Oak Park Running Club.” \u2014 P. Teodo<\/i><\/p>\n “Salsa classes!” \u2014 Ronnie Saso<\/i><\/p>\n “Join an adult sports league or do group travel.” \u2014 Noah Buckwalter<\/i><\/p>\n “Go to your local watering hole the same day and time for a few weeks; you will start to recognize people and before you know it, you will have new friends.” \u2014 Tom Carter<\/i><\/p>\n For some more ideas, listen to callers’ suggestions on Monday’s Say More with Mary Dixon & Patrick Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition! Written and curated by<\/b>: Matt Moore The Chicago Sun-Times is a nonprofit supported by readers like you. Become a member to make stories like these free and available to everyone. Learn more at <\/i>suntimes.com\/member<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n Source: Chicago Sun-Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Good morning, Chicago. \u2736\ud83d\udd0e Below: There are already more deaths in July with ties to heat-related causes than any month since at least 2015.\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Plus: How schools are coping with a rise in special education needs and costs, one man’s anti-mosquito mission\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15219273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15219271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90.png",1461,834,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-300x171.png",300,171,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-620x354.png",620,354,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-768x438.png",768,438,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-940x537.png",940,537,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90.png",1461,834,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90.png",1461,834,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-998x665.png",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-670x446.png",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-1340x834.png",1340,834,true],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-510x510.png",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-160x160.png",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-24x24.png",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-48x48.png",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-96x96.png",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-150x150.png",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15219271-90-300x300.png",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"Chicago<\/a>","tag_info":"Chicago","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15219271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15219271"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15219271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15219272,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15219271\/revisions\/15219272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15219273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15219271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15219271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15219271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nTODAY\u2019S WEATHER \ud83c\udf24\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
\nTODAY\u2019S TOP STORY \ud83d\udd0e<\/h4>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3d415c9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1684+0+196\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1b%2F37%2F02b1239f49d6a8a6ee4f208aac1a%2Fweatheralertextended-260701-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6 heat-related deaths in Cook County make July deadliest month in 11 years<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Elvia Malag\u00f3n<\/a> and Elijah James<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nEDUCATION \ud83c\udf4e<\/h4>\n
![\"Tiffany](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b40f24d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x4598+0+433\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F36%2Fea93440f4cf1b698d310dbb446ef%2Fspedbudget-2607060260.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow CPS is coping with a rise in special ed needs and costs<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Sarah Karp<\/a><\/h5>\n
<\/h5>\n
\nLISTEN UP \ud83c\udfa7<\/h4>\n
![\"Nash](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e695923\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x3367+0+0\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2Fa8%2F659201af4376920354dd1873d340%2Fspedbudget-260706-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nENVIRONMENT \ud83e\udd9f<\/h4>\n
![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f57294f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6352x3565+0+335\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2Ff0%2F92fd17804681bd10e89254416501%2Fmosquitoes-260714-40.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen mosquitoes are biting, the \u2018Sewer Monster\u2019 is on the case<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Brett Chase<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nLET\u2019S HEAR FROM YOU \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
\nMORE NEWS YOU NEED \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3e3ffaa\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x4598+0+0\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2Ff6%2F5ae558dc4cedb7160061066ed421%2Fpoliceshooting-260721-004.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n ANIMALS \ud83d\udc33<\/h4>\n
![\"Beluga](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/59aa424\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1513x849+0+79\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F62%2F29%2F415ea2c9452e9c411cef32944af6%2Fbeluga-whale-sierra-transport.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFour beluga whales are on way to Shedd from closed Canadian park<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Stefano Esposito<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nON WBEZ 91.5 FM \ud83d\udcfb <\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\nFROM THE PRESS BOX \u26be\ud83c\udfd2\u26bd<\/h4>\n
\n
\nCHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD \ud83c\udf2d<\/h4>\n
![\"Mini](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/685000c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/396x222+0+3\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fca%2F07ba5cb34d3da272b327aecdad9f%2Ffy2025-cst-marketing-games-website-images-490x2484-990514079e028a3c.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nBRIGHT ONE \ud83d\udd06<\/h4>\n
![\"From](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/036cd83\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8192x4598+0+708\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F5f%2Fd6df02d644fe8361820033c1cae0%2Fmurals-evanston-260719-02.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGraffiti artists reunite decades later to paint Evanston wall<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Genevieve Bookwalter<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nYOUR DAILY QUESTION \u2615\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
\n
Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
Editor<\/b>: Eydie Cubarrubia<\/p>\n
\n