Good afternoon! It’s Friday, and the Chicago area should see a weekend without rain , which probably means I’ll be hearing more of my neighbors’ fireworks. Here’s what you need to know today. 1. ICE arrests have increased in Chicago but with tactics less publicized than last fall, legal groups say Last week, at least 20 people were arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago, and another 17 people have been detained so far this week, according to reports from rapid response groups who document the arrests. Those numbers seem to be an increase from recent months, said Marcela Rodriguez, co-chair of the Illinois Latino Agenda and a member of the nonprofit group Enlace Chicago. Legal groups said those totals also may underestimate the actual amount of arrests made because federal immigration agents have operated more discreetly compared to last fall, when caravans of agents dressed in military fatigues would roam streets, use helicopters, film arrests and boast about them on social media. The Southwest Side — particularly the neighborhoods of Back of the Yards, Brighton Park and Gage Park — have been targeted the most over the last two weeks, legal groups said. The heightened ICE activity in Chicago comes amid an escalated deportation campaign by the Trump administration across the country. [ Chicago Sun-Times ] 2. An appeals court upheld Illinois’ assault weapons ban as the U.S. Supreme Court mulls Cook County’s prohibition The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the state’s ban on AR-15s and 30-round rifle magazines is “consistent with the principles that underpin our nation’s tradition of firearm regulation.” Judge Amy St. Eve wrote the opinion, which was joined by Judge Frank Easterbrook. As my colleague Jon Seidel reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, the Supreme Court will likely have the final say on the Constitutional question — and whether Illinois’ ban ultimately survives. The high court is on track to rule around the five-year anniversary of the 2022 Highland Park Fourth of July parade mass shooting. That massacre left seven dead and inspired the statewide assault weapons ban. The Highland Park gunman used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. The prohibition on assault weapons was one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature achievements, banning the sale and capping the purchase of magazines at 10 rounds for long guns and 15 for handguns. Pritzker, who has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run, signed the law in 2023. [ Chicago Sun-Times ] 3. A court monitor dinged Chicago for lacking a single compliant accessible crosswalk signal for impaired pedestrians One year after a federal judge ordered Chicago to install more accessible crosswalk signals for impaired pedestrians, a court-appointed monitor found the city has met the minimum requirements by installing 78 new signals. But the monitor, in its first-year report published July 1, also found none of Chicago’s accessible signals comply with federal standards, David Struett reports for the Chicago Sun-Times. The signals, when pressed, beep when it’s safe to cross for blind and vision-impaired pedestrians. The buttons also vibrate to alert hearing-impaired pedestrians of a signal change. Requirements are determined by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which sets technical specifications for button placement to distance from the curb. Besides failing the technical requirements, many devices were not functioning properly or required maintenance. [ Chicago Sun-Times ] 4. When it rains, stench soars near Thornton Reservoir The Thornton Quarry has long been a scenic destination within Chicago’s south suburbs. But this week the usual sights have been joined by an all-too-usual smell. Also known as the Thornton Reservoir, the quarry is nearly full after weeks of heavy rainfall — and emitting a foul odor, Elijah James reports for the Chicago Sun-Times. The reservoir is part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Deep Tunnel flood-control system and reached 94% capacity earlier this week after more than 8 inches of rain fell across the Chicago area over the last month. Officials said that was the fullest the reservoir has been since opening in 2015. But Alex Ferreira, owner of Blades and Fades barbershop, pointed out the foul scent is not new. Clients often mention it, he said, comparing it to “roadkill.” Luckily, even on hot summer days when it becomes especially strong, it has not affected business. [ Chicago Sun-Times ] 5. Here’s what to watch at this year’s Mubi Fest As arts contributor Bill Stamets reports, this is the third year the global film streamer, distributor and producer selected Chicago as its sole North American site for the event, which features a lineup of indie and art house films. The theme of this year’s festival is “Better Together,” which yields “a variety of cinematic pairings that reflect and refract one another, each film either echoing or complicating the other,” said Lilly Riber, Mubi’s chief marketing officer. Pairings of new titles include repertory screenings: a 10th anniversary sing-along showing of “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”; the 25th anniversary of “Ocean’s Eleven”; the 25th anniversary of “The Royal Tenenbaums”; the 40th anniversary of “The Fly”; and “Sleepaway Camp,” a teen slasher cult hit from 1983. Each title is thematically paired with another film, respectively: “Lurker,” “The Mastermind,” “Rosebush Pruning,” “The Substance” and “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.” You can see more recommendations in the link. [ WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times ] Here’s what else is happening A major federal housing bill is set to become law at midnight — even though President Donald Trump says he won’t sign it. [ NPR ] Nine months into a ceasefire, Israel now controls nearly 70% of Gaza. [ NPR ] A star 1,300 lightyears away just ate a planet and appears to still be hungry. [ New York Times ] Pitchfork Music Festival co-founder Mike Reed is being sued by the event’s parent company, which says he misappropriated $564,680. [ Block Club Chicago ] Oh, and one more thing … Color Me Coffee was recently named the sole coffee supplier for the newly opened Obama Presidential Center after a blind taste test that included seven other local roasters, my colleague Mariah Rush reports. The Lower West Side roastery now supplies the presidential center’s restaurant, cafe and catering events. Visitors can also purchase their beans at the cafe inside the center, though they were sold out earlier this week. In honor of former President Barack Obama, the company created the 44 Reserve, a proprietary blend of Kenyan, Hawaiian and Indonesian beans, symbolizing the former president’s roots. Co-founder Rhonda Stivers said Color Me Coffee was the first Black roastery in the country. She and her husband spent years traveling Europe and researching the industry before opening their first shop in 1985. [ Chicago Sun-Times ] Tell me something good … What are your favorite summer camp activities or memories? Rhea writes: “In the mid seventies I was a camper at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Forty years later we enjoyed watching our children attend and perform at that beautiful place. And now I am on the faculty teaching music there! Live music is the best!!” Nancy writes: “I’m a FOREVER GIRL SCOUT. I attended many camp escapades at The Quintessential Chicago GS Camps: Juniper Knoll in East Troy WI and Butternut Springs near Valparaiso IN. I even attended as an adult volunteer troop leader with my daughter’s troop.” Thanks for all the responses this week! It was great hearing from everyone.