\u23f1\ufe0f: An 8-minute read<\/i><\/p>\n
\nTODAY\u2019S WEATHER \ud83c\udf24\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
Partly cloudy with a high near 81.<\/p>\n
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TODAY\u2019S TOP STORY \ud83d\udd0e<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n ![\"A](\"image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\")
<\/p>\n
\nPeople enter Chicago immigration court Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nCandace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Chaotic, crowded Chicago immigration mega court hearings fuel record deportation orders<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\nReporting by Adriana Cardona-Maguigad<\/a> and Lauren FitzPatrick<\/a><\/h5>\n‘Mega’ hearings<\/b>: At a “mega master” calendar hearing, a massive preliminary procedure instituted by the Trump administration at the end of May, between 100 and 185 people cram into a single immigration judge’s morning call \u2014 and as many as 70 into the same hearing if they don’t have lawyers. Not everyone shows up, but before May, these hearings averaged 30 people. It’s not clear how judges are chosen for these assignments.<\/p>\n
Chicago spike<\/b>: Chicago, a large court with a large backlog, stands out with the most mega hearings in June in its courthouse at 55 E. Monroe, and with the most scheduled at the same time, according to immigration scholar Austin Kocher. He pinpointed three mornings in June with hearings scheduled simultaneously before four judges, in addition to normal court business. Anecdotally, July has shown no signs of letting off the gas.<\/p>\n
Key context<\/b>: Attorneys and ex-judges say mega master hearings are the latest tool for the Trump administration to deport large numbers of people, this time by causing chaos and confusion in the courts. Advocates say a key purpose is to discourage immigrants from coming to court, smoothing the way toward deportation. It’s a subtler tactic than last year\u2019s headline-grabbing Operation Midway Blitz.<\/p>\n
Recent day in court<\/b>: The benches in courtroom 11, which judges lament as so tiny, barely seat 25. So how could 143 people called for hearings on a July morning fit? By 9:10 a.m., roughly 60 people \u2014 mostly asylum seekers without lawyers \u2014 had crammed in wall-to-wall. A clerk squeezed through the crowd to collect names and mark late arrivals present. The hearing was dense and complex, with the judge’s jargon punctuated by crying children.<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nSMALL BUSINESS \ud83d\udcc8<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nRon Vann is now a supervisor at Fillmore Linen Service in North Lawndale.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nCandace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Fillmore Linen Service brings jobs, opportunity to North Lawndale<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\nReporting by Chris Casacchia<\/a><\/h5>\n‘Best thing’<\/b>: For most of his life, Ron Vann’s record of offenses has been a red flag for prospective employers. But a couple of years ago, Vann began working at Fillmore Linen Service, a commercial laundry in North Lawndale serving the healthcare industry. He was recently promoted to supervisor, overseeing more than 100 workers. “This is truly one of the best things that ever happened to me,” he said. “I could have been in jail for life. I could have been killed.”<\/p>\n
Jobs, opportunity<\/b>: The Fillmore Linen Service facility makes up a portion of the 168,000-square-foot Fillmore Center. The center and linen service are funded by the Steans Family Foundation to create more opportunities in North Lawndale, where upward mobility has been stifled for generations by disinvestment, high unemployment and poverty rates, and violent crime. The company prioritizes employing formerly incarcerated jobseekers, recovering addicts and others who are largely overlooked by local employers.<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nANIMALS \ud83d\udc33<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nBeluga whales recently arrived from Canada swim in a tank at the Shedd Aquarium on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nPat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Take a first look at Shedd Aquarium\u2019s newest beluga whales<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\nReporting by Stefano Esposito<\/a><\/h5>\nNew neighbors<\/b>: Just before dawn Tuesday, Acadia, Lillooet, Osiris and Sierra \u2014 four beluga whales \u2014 arrived at the Shedd Aquarium from the now-shuttered Marineland, a once-popular tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario. <\/p>\n
Controversial move<\/b>: The new arrivals, all females ranging in age from 21 to 27 years old, faced an \u201cimminent risk\u201d of being euthanized<\/a>, a lawyer for the Canadian marine park said. Canadian animal rights advocates have criticized the move, fearing the aquariums will now breed the whales, leading to more marine mammals in captivity. Shedd officials haven\u2019t ruled out breeding the Marineland belugas at some point, but they say their current focus is on acclimatizing the animals to their new habitat.<\/p>\nREAD MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nWATCH: SHEDD\u2019S NEW WHALES \u25b6\ufe0f<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n <\/p>\n
MORE NEWS YOU NEED \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/h5>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nDropped Stitch in Edgewater is one of three Chicago companies that participated in a national survey about tariffs\u2019 impact on small businesses.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nAmy Yee\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n- Coping with tariffs<\/b><\/a>: Tariffs imposed last year drove small business owners to take on new debt, tap into retirement savings and raise prices, among other measures, according to a national survey released this week.<\/li>\n
- Emmett Till Day<\/b><\/a>: On what would have been Till’s 85th birthday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Thursday designating July 25 as a statewide day of reflection and remembrance of Emmett and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Till was 14 when he was lynched on a trip to Mississippi in 1955.<\/li>\n
- Commission will release conduct report<\/b><\/a>: A Springfield commission voted Thursday to release a state government watchdog’s report on the conduct of disgraced ex-state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, who resigned earlier this month after a series of sexual harassment allegations.<\/li>\n
- Illinois sues Trump over flood relief<\/b><\/a>: Illinois joined more than two dozen states in suing the Trump administration for requiring them to comply with election and immigration conditions as a condition of receiving billions of dollars in federal funding for disasters.<\/li>\n
- Blagojevich seeks pass for pal<\/b><\/a>: Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is hoping to parlay his access to President Donald Trump into a moneymaking clemency ask for Frank Kollintzas, a former Indiana city councilman who allegedly fled to Greece after being convicted in a vote-buying scheme.<\/li>\n
- CTU-SEIU rift<\/b><\/a>: The Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union, the second-biggest union representing Chicago Public Schools workers, are backing different candidates for the first elected school board president \u2014 widening the rift between staff unions.<\/li>\n
- Pepe Vargas retires<\/b><\/a>: After decades of leading the International Latino Cultural Center, executive director and founder Vargas stepped down earlier this month due to health reasons. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nCHICAGO\u2019S BALTIC BOND \ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nMartynas Echodas of BC Rytas Vilnius shoots the ball during a game at Arena Vilnius in Lithuania on April 19.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nAshlee Rezin\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
How Chicago helped a tiny Baltic country produce star NBA players<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\nReporting by Stephanie Zimmermann<\/a><\/h5>\nLithuania knows ball<\/b>: In the 1930s, a half-dozen Lithuanian Americans from Chicago played under Lithuania’s flag in the European championship and won, kicking off a basketball craze in the Baltic country that’s still strong today. The trans-Atlantic relationship continues with teens who play for Lemont’s Lituanica Athletic Club and spend summers playing in Vilnius. For part three of our Lithuania-set series, reporter Stephanie Zimmermann traces the Chicago-Lithuania basketball connection<\/p>\n
Coming Monday<\/b>: Check the Morning Edition newsletter for part four, in which Stephanie sits down with former Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, who moved to Chicago as a young man and headed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes regional office. <\/p>\n
Full series in print<\/b>: Find all six parts of our “Chicago’s Baltic Bond” series in Sunday’s and Monday’s print editions. <\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nWEEKEND PLANS \ud83c\udf89<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nA 1970s railcar is on display at the Millennium Metra Station in the Loop for the 100th anniversary of the Metra Electric.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nPat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n- Metra\u2019s century celebrations<\/b><\/a>: Historic railcars and interactive exhibits will be showcased this weekend in Pullman to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Metra Electric line.<\/li>\n
- Improv in Chicago<\/b><\/a>: This weekend marks the third annual iO Fest, one of the biggest improv events in the world. <\/li>\n
- Folk music in protest<\/b><\/a>: Dave Specter, Jason Narducy, Billy Branch and Melody Angel are among nearly a dozen music acts in the lineup for “Songs of Protest, Sounds of Freedom” in Evanston this weekend.<\/li>\n
- More things to do July 24-2<\/b>9<\/a>: The Chinatown Summer Fair, Buddy Guy’s 90th birthday celebration and Wicker Park Fest are among the highlights in the week ahead. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nON WBEZ 91.5 FM \ud83d\udcfb <\/h4>\n
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n- Weekly news recap<\/b>: The Sun-Times’ Mary Norkol, ABC7’s Ravi Baichwal and journalist Kim Bellware break down the week’s biggest stories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n- What do you want?<\/b>: Some psychologists say asking for what we want can lead to less depression and greater self esteem. Today’s show asks listeners what they want \u2014 and what keeps them from getting it. Callers weigh in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
LISTEN LIVE \ud83c\udfa7<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nFROM THE PRESS BOX \ud83c\udfd2\ud83c\udfc0\u26be<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n- Rowe knows<\/b><\/a>: In her 30th season working with the WNBA, ESPN’s Holly Rowe will be the sideline reporter for ABC’s broadcast of the 30th WNBA All-Star Game 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the United Center.<\/li>\n
- Finders not keepers<\/b><\/a>: The Sky have a good eye for talent, but holding onto stars is another story, writes Alissa Hirsh.<\/li>\n
- Hint at the plate?<\/b><\/a>: These days, when Seiya Suzuki steps to the plate at Wrigley Field, Frank Sinatra\u2019s “My Way” plays. Are the Cubs approaching the “final curtain” with the free-agent-to-be?<\/li>\n
- Looking for a home run<\/b><\/a>: The first-place White Sox are keeping the line moving in the season’s second half, and Munetaka Murakami’s just getting warmed up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n <\/p>\n
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD \ud83c\udf2d<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Today’s clue<\/b>: Lou ___ (Grammy winner raised in the Ida B. Wells homes)<\/p>\n
PLAY NOW<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nBRIGHT ONE \ud83d\udd06<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nGirls become a Firefighter for a Day on Thursday at the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n\nCandace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Girls across Chicago become firefighters for a day<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\nReporting by Cindy Hernandez<\/a><\/h5>\nFor one day, 12-year-old Hannah Cole got to put on a helmet and learn what it\u2019s like to be a Chicago firefighter.<\/p>\n
Hannah was among dozens of girls taking part in the Chicago Fire Department’s “Firefighter for a Day” event Thursday at the Quinn Fire Academy, 558 W. De Koven St. The girls learned about fire safety, participated in drills and spent time with members of the CFD.<\/p>\n
“I consider them very important heroes,” Hannah said. <\/p>\n
The girls came from across the city. Some were there thanks to Girls Inc. of Chicago, a nonprofit, which brought a group ranging from kindergarteners to eighth graders. Other attendees were from CFD\u2019s Camp Courage.<\/p>\n
At the event, participants were able to try on bunker gear, run through obstacle courses, practice CPR on dummies and spray water from a firehose. The department also let the girls climb onto a fire truck and jump in the back of an ambulance.<\/p>\n
After spending time with firefighters Thursday, many of whom were women, Hannah said she could see herself becoming one.<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nYOUR DAILY QUESTION \u2615\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
What aging architecture in the city would you like to see refurbished, and why?<\/b><\/p>\n
Respond to this question via email<\/i><\/a> (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nThanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition!
Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWritten and curated by<\/b>: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia<\/b><\/p>\n
\n
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>\nSource: Chicago Sun-Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Good morning, Chicago. \u2736\ud83d\udd0e Below: New “mega master” hearings that began in May are calling up to 185 immigrants to a single small courtroom. Many people, fearful and unable to find a lawyer on short notice, are missing critical court dates.\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15223878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15223876","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\/15223876-90.png",1461,834,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-300x171.png",300,171,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-620x354.png",620,354,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-768x438.png",768,438,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-940x537.png",940,537,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90.png",1461,834,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90.png",1461,834,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-998x665.png",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-670x446.png",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-1340x834.png",1340,834,true],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-510x510.png",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-160x160.png",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-24x24.png",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-48x48.png",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-96x96.png",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-150x150.png",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-300x300.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\/15223876","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=15223876"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15223876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15223877,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15223876\/revisions\/15223877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15223878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15223876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15223876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15223876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/84d5475\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7148x4012+0+0\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff4%2F2ce036ee453d86989b8aa5a0cc85%2Fwatchmegamasters-260726-004.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
People enter Chicago immigration court Wednesday.<\/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 ‘Mega’ hearings<\/b>: At a “mega master” calendar hearing, a massive preliminary procedure instituted by the Trump administration at the end of May, between 100 and 185 people cram into a single immigration judge’s morning call \u2014 and as many as 70 into the same hearing if they don’t have lawyers. Not everyone shows up, but before May, these hearings averaged 30 people. It’s not clear how judges are chosen for these assignments.<\/p>\n Chicago spike<\/b>: Chicago, a large court with a large backlog, stands out with the most mega hearings in June in its courthouse at 55 E. Monroe, and with the most scheduled at the same time, according to immigration scholar Austin Kocher. He pinpointed three mornings in June with hearings scheduled simultaneously before four judges, in addition to normal court business. Anecdotally, July has shown no signs of letting off the gas.<\/p>\n Key context<\/b>: Attorneys and ex-judges say mega master hearings are the latest tool for the Trump administration to deport large numbers of people, this time by causing chaos and confusion in the courts. Advocates say a key purpose is to discourage immigrants from coming to court, smoothing the way toward deportation. It’s a subtler tactic than last year\u2019s headline-grabbing Operation Midway Blitz.<\/p>\n Recent day in court<\/b>: The benches in courtroom 11, which judges lament as so tiny, barely seat 25. So how could 143 people called for hearings on a July morning fit? By 9:10 a.m., roughly 60 people \u2014 mostly asylum seekers without lawyers \u2014 had crammed in wall-to-wall. A clerk squeezed through the crowd to collect names and mark late arrivals present. The hearing was dense and complex, with the judge’s jargon punctuated by crying children.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Ron Vann is now a supervisor at Fillmore Linen Service in North Lawndale.<\/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 ‘Best thing’<\/b>: For most of his life, Ron Vann’s record of offenses has been a red flag for prospective employers. But a couple of years ago, Vann began working at Fillmore Linen Service, a commercial laundry in North Lawndale serving the healthcare industry. He was recently promoted to supervisor, overseeing more than 100 workers. “This is truly one of the best things that ever happened to me,” he said. “I could have been in jail for life. I could have been killed.”<\/p>\n Jobs, opportunity<\/b>: The Fillmore Linen Service facility makes up a portion of the 168,000-square-foot Fillmore Center. The center and linen service are funded by the Steans Family Foundation to create more opportunities in North Lawndale, where upward mobility has been stifled for generations by disinvestment, high unemployment and poverty rates, and violent crime. The company prioritizes employing formerly incarcerated jobseekers, recovering addicts and others who are largely overlooked by local employers.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Beluga whales recently arrived from Canada swim in a tank at the Shedd Aquarium on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Pat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n New neighbors<\/b>: Just before dawn Tuesday, Acadia, Lillooet, Osiris and Sierra \u2014 four beluga whales \u2014 arrived at the Shedd Aquarium from the now-shuttered Marineland, a once-popular tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario. <\/p>\n Controversial move<\/b>: The new arrivals, all females ranging in age from 21 to 27 years old, faced an \u201cimminent risk\u201d of being euthanized<\/a>, a lawyer for the Canadian marine park said. Canadian animal rights advocates have criticized the move, fearing the aquariums will now breed the whales, leading to more marine mammals in captivity. Shedd officials haven\u2019t ruled out breeding the Marineland belugas at some point, but they say their current focus is on acclimatizing the animals to their new habitat.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dropped Stitch in Edgewater is one of three Chicago companies that participated in a national survey about tariffs\u2019 impact on small businesses.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Amy Yee\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Martynas Echodas of BC Rytas Vilnius shoots the ball during a game at Arena Vilnius in Lithuania on April 19.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Ashlee Rezin\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Lithuania knows ball<\/b>: In the 1930s, a half-dozen Lithuanian Americans from Chicago played under Lithuania’s flag in the European championship and won, kicking off a basketball craze in the Baltic country that’s still strong today. The trans-Atlantic relationship continues with teens who play for Lemont’s Lituanica Athletic Club and spend summers playing in Vilnius. For part three of our Lithuania-set series, reporter Stephanie Zimmermann traces the Chicago-Lithuania basketball connection<\/p>\n Coming Monday<\/b>: Check the Morning Edition newsletter for part four, in which Stephanie sits down with former Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, who moved to Chicago as a young man and headed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes regional office. <\/p>\n Full series in print<\/b>: Find all six parts of our “Chicago’s Baltic Bond” series in Sunday’s and Monday’s print editions. <\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n A 1970s railcar is on display at the Millennium Metra Station in the Loop for the 100th anniversary of the Metra Electric.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n Pat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/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 <\/p>\n Today’s clue<\/b>: Lou ___ (Grammy winner raised in the Ida B. Wells homes)<\/p>\n PLAY NOW<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Girls become a Firefighter for a Day on Thursday at the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy.<\/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 For one day, 12-year-old Hannah Cole got to put on a helmet and learn what it\u2019s like to be a Chicago firefighter.<\/p>\n Hannah was among dozens of girls taking part in the Chicago Fire Department’s “Firefighter for a Day” event Thursday at the Quinn Fire Academy, 558 W. De Koven St. The girls learned about fire safety, participated in drills and spent time with members of the CFD.<\/p>\n “I consider them very important heroes,” Hannah said. <\/p>\n The girls came from across the city. Some were there thanks to Girls Inc. of Chicago, a nonprofit, which brought a group ranging from kindergarteners to eighth graders. Other attendees were from CFD\u2019s Camp Courage.<\/p>\n At the event, participants were able to try on bunker gear, run through obstacle courses, practice CPR on dummies and spray water from a firehose. The department also let the girls climb onto a fire truck and jump in the back of an ambulance.<\/p>\n After spending time with firefighters Thursday, many of whom were women, Hannah said she could see herself becoming one.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n What aging architecture in the city would you like to see refurbished, and why?<\/b><\/p>\n Respond to this question via email<\/i><\/a> (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.<\/i><\/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: New “mega master” hearings that began in May are calling up to 185 immigrants to a single small courtroom. Many people, fearful and unable to find a lawyer on short notice, are missing critical court dates.\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15223878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15223876","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\/15223876-90.png",1461,834,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-300x171.png",300,171,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-620x354.png",620,354,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-768x438.png",768,438,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-940x537.png",940,537,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90.png",1461,834,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90.png",1461,834,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-998x665.png",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-670x446.png",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-1340x834.png",1340,834,true],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-510x510.png",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-160x160.png",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-24x24.png",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-48x48.png",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-96x96.png",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-150x150.png",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15223876-90-300x300.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\/15223876","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=15223876"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15223876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15223877,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15223876\/revisions\/15223877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15223878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15223876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15223876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15223876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Chaotic, crowded Chicago immigration mega court hearings fuel record deportation orders<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Adriana Cardona-Maguigad<\/a> and Lauren FitzPatrick<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nSMALL BUSINESS \ud83d\udcc8<\/h4>\n
![\"Ronald](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1fd26a2\/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%2F5d%2Fbd%2F6f275a3d4cd891996d7ad25943c3%2Ffillmore-260719-008.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFillmore Linen Service brings jobs, opportunity to North Lawndale<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Chris Casacchia<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nANIMALS \ud83d\udc33<\/h4>\n
![\"Belugas](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6fac52e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4837x2715+0+255\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F9a%2Fe20d9547427da70ef112f4c37741%2Fbelugasshed-260724-20.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTake a first look at Shedd Aquarium\u2019s newest beluga whales<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Stefano Esposito<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nWATCH: SHEDD\u2019S NEW WHALES \u25b6\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
\nMORE NEWS YOU NEED \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/h5>\n
![\"Dropped](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ccc1f9c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4080x2290+0+0\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fb9%2Ff473c7e647b980624c1403c66cef%2F8a8de961-46b0-41e4-920e-bdc9e110a5ef.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\nCHICAGO\u2019S BALTIC BOND \ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9<\/h4>\n
![\"Martynas](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c8cf429\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5350x3003+0+77\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F16%2F7e%2F524c9db34aef8146d04455770993%2Flithuania-06xx26-01.JPG\")
<\/p>\nHow Chicago helped a tiny Baltic country produce star NBA players<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Stephanie Zimmermann<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nWEEKEND PLANS \ud83c\udf89<\/h4>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/4cfc115\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6776x3803+0+357\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fa5%2F9a8d6d5244f79b65121b3fc2718d%2Fpullmandays-260724-15.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\nON WBEZ 91.5 FM \ud83d\udcfb <\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\nFROM THE PRESS BOX \ud83c\udfd2\ud83c\udfc0\u26be<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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\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
![\"Girls](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/509d19c\/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%2F50%2F0f%2F22e0e4084f1f8b2d1a7342316f21%2Fgirlsfire-260724-12.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGirls across Chicago become firefighters for a day<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Reporting by Cindy Hernandez<\/a><\/h5>\n
\nYOUR DAILY QUESTION \u2615\ufe0f<\/h4>\n
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Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.<\/a><\/p>\n
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Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia<\/b><\/p>\n
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