WBEZ12%
The most monthly heat deaths in a decade: The Rundown 4%
By Bianca Cseke15%
7/21/2026, 8:45:00 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 21 faulty reasoning types, including Negativity Bias, Attempt to Sell a Product or Service, and Pessimism Bias, with Indoctrination as the most egregious example at 7.6% saturation with 97 hits. Analysis detected 887 faulty-reasoning hits from 1,268 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 18.8% and a BS Rank of 4% (18,918 of 19,672 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 96.20% of the article peer group.
Good afternoon!
It’s Tuesday, and while I don’t need an excuse to eat tomatoes this time of year, I appreciate these recipes that give me even more ideas.
Here’s what you need to know today.
1.
Six heat-related deaths in Cook County mark July as the deadliest month in more than a decade
Four of the six people who died were younger than 60, my colleagues Elvia Malagón and Elijah James report.
In all, six July deaths have been logged in Cook County so far, with high temperatures ranging from 88 to 95 degrees on the days the individuals either died or were hospitalized, according to an analysis of National Weather Service data by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Cook County was under an extreme heat warning in the week before the Fourth of July.
The people whose deaths have been attributed to heat are Victor Ferguson, 48; Stephanie Rodriguez, 45; David Gonzalez, 44; Barbara Whigham, 71; Mike Rodriguez, 57; and Daniel Machnikowski, 69, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Since Chicago’s 1995 heat wave that killed more than 700 people, the city has suffered through at least two other major deadly heat waves: in 1999, when 10 people died, and in 2012, when 22 died.
Marc Raifman, who works with the Extreme Weather Planners Coalition, said city officials should work with community members to examine the circumstances that led to the deaths this month.
“Why aren’t we looking at these cases, figuring out in some level of detail the same way they do in the medical field, what went wrong that led someone to experience a heat or cold injury that in some awful cases took their life?”
Raifman said.
“And what can we do to prevent that next time and save the next person?”
[ Chicago Sun-Times ]
2.
Chicago’s air quality has improved, but experts warn wildfires and wind can change conditions
As of this morning, Chicago’s Air Quality Index was around 50, according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website, though nearly 900 wildfires continue to burn throughout Canada.
“Based on the wildfire episodes our city has experienced in the summers of 2023, 2025 and this year, residents should expect periods of changing air quality, depending on Canadian and U.S.
West Coast wildfire activity and weather patterns,” said Serap Erdal, associate professor at the University of Illinois Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences School of Public Health.
Late last week, Chicago’s AQI ranged from very unhealthy to hazardous, the two most severe levels on the index.
The conditions were caused by a cold front that carried wildfire smoke to the ground level in Illinois, according to the EPA.
Generally, an AQI value below 100 is considered acceptable for air quality, while anything over 100 first becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups before becoming unhealthy for everyone as the values increase.
For any value over 301, the air is considered hazardous, and all sensitive groups are urged to stay indoors while everyone else is encouraged to avoid lengthy amounts of time outdoors.
[ Chicago Sun-Times ]
3.
Two independent candidates won’t appear on the November ballot for U.S.
Rep.
Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia’s seat, the state board ruled
Both Mayra Macías and Ald.
Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) will not appear on the ballot, leaving Lyons Mayor Chris Getty the only independent candidate, my colleague Tina Sfondeles reports.
There were no challenges filed against Getty’s petitions.
Patty Garcia, Rep.
Garcia’s chief of staff, is running for his seat after the congressman abruptly dropped out of the race and raised eyebrows by quickly helping her get enough signatures to make a tight deadline.
State Board of Elections general counsel Marni M.
Malowitz said Mayra Macías submitted 9,758 valid signatures, 1,058 fewer than required.
In one instance, a petitioner provided a wrong home address, so 101 of the signatures she collected were tossed.
In another, a petition circulator was also getting signatures from other Democratic candidates, which is not allowed for independent candidates.
In other cases, signatures were not valid.
Meanwhile, Malowitz said Sigcho-Lopez submitted 9,594 valid signatures, 1,222 fewer than required, and noted the constitutional challenges Sigcho-Lopez presented weren’t under the board’s jurisdiction.
Among those objections were that signers of an independent candidate’s position don’t have to be registered voters or to write their address next to their names on a petition sheet.
[ Chicago Sun-Times ]
4.
Four beluga whales arrived at the Shedd Aquarium from a closed Canadian park
As my colleague Stefano Esposito writes, this is the first phase of a plan to move up to 30 belugas over the next few weeks from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada, to several American aquariums and to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain.
Earlier this month, Shedd announced it could receive as many as 10 belugas from Marineland.
“While the whales have arrived safely, a transport effort of this magnitude is difficult, and the aquarium cautions that experts expect to learn more about the rescued belugas’ health and current condition in the coming days,” Shedd announced in a news release.
The whales had been living at Marineworld Canada, which has for years faced criticism that its animals were living in unsanitary conditions.
The park closed to the public in 2024, and Marineworld officials, citing extreme financial difficulties, had threatened to euthanize the whales if permanent homes couldn’t be found.
[ Chicago Sun-Times ]
5.
Berwyn Eagles Club has a new owner.
What does that mean for Chicago wrestling?
Months after the storied wrestling venue stopped hosting matches, the Berwyn Eagles Club has a new owner, my colleague Ambar Colón reports.
The property at 6309 W. 26th St. in west suburban Berwyn has been sold to the neighboring Berwyn Auto Spa, owner José Tejada confirmed.
The car wash posted a video on its Instagram page that showed the former Eagles Club with a new name: Destino.
According to the post, the building will be converted into an event space.
The new owner and Auto Spa staff did not respond to multiple requests for additional comment about the future of the former Eagles Club or what types of events they plan to host in the space.
But a website for the auto spa space does not list any upcoming events.
Wrestling promoters told the Chicago Sun-Times they don’t know of any wrestling events scheduled there, despite the building’s history.
[ Chicago Sun-Times ]
Here’s what else is happening
The Houthis, a Yemeni Shia militia aligned with Iran, announced a naval blockade of a key waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
[ NPR ]
A court ruling froze the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger for now.
[ NPR ]
This quiz tests how much you know about U.S. road trips, a summertime staple for many people.
[ AP ]
Review: The young cast of Kokandy Productions’ “Hair” embraces protest as performance with fierce conviction.
[ Chicago Sun-Times ]
Oh, and one more thing …
Do you live in the Edgewater area?
Join WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times for our next community listening session at 5 p.m. this Thursday at Bramble Arts Loft (5545 N.
Clark St., 2nd floor).
You’ll get to sit down one-on-one with a journalist to inform us about community issues, offer us feedback and get to know us.
RSVP at suntimes.com/wehearyou.
Tell me something good …
What are you still hoping to check off your summer bucket list before the season ends?
“Caldwell Woods to botanic garden bike ride.
Round trip.
And hike entirety of Devils Lake, Wisconsin.”
Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.
Analysis
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