In City Council News …

A $51 million budget amendment to help asylum-seekers was blocked from a vote at Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first City Council meeting Wednesday. Alders approved his committee restructuring plan. [WBEZ]

• What do groups helping migrants need? More funds and better coordination from the city and state. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Why These Cops Can’t Testify in Court

John Catanzara, the president of the city’s largest police union, is among the hundreds of current and former Chicago police officers who won’t be called to testify by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. Why? Because their histories of misconduct and untruthfulness hurts their credibility. [The Triibe]

Proposed I-55 Expansion Raising Eyebrows

An 11th-hour deal in Springfield to widen Interstate 55 and add express toll lanes managed by a private party is reminding some of Chicago’s despised parking meter deal. The potential for more traffic has some nearby Little Village residents worried about more air pollution. [WTTW; Sun-Times]

When wildlife is found unexpectedly in the city, Chicagoans can’t get enough. I’m talking T-shirts, watch groups, the whole shebang. Here are some of the animals that have captured our hearts recently.

Millennium Park Foxes

Amateur photographer Garrett Becker’s Reddit post sparked citywide interest in the family of foxes living downtown. Two adults and six babies, or kits, have made a den at Lurie Garden, which has 350 different types of plants. Experts have tips for residents looking to get a glimpse.

Chonkosaurus the Snapping Turtle

Spotted in the Chicago River near Goose Island earlier this month by a pair of kayakers, Chonk’s presence means restoration efforts in the river are working. Maybe more snapping turtles could be seen soon …

Monty & Rose the Piping Plovers

When the two birds returned to Montrose Beach year after year, Chicagoans were enthralled. Plovers are endangered, and the star-crossed lovers were the first in the area in decades. Today, birders are following Imani, the offspring of the late Monty and missing Rose, as he looks to mate.

Chance the Snapper

The alligator was captured in the Humboldt Park Lagoon in 2019. Likely someone’s pet unleashed into the West Side lagoon, Chance was captured by trapper Alligator Robb. Chicagoans helped fund Robb’s recent health procedure. As for Chance? He’s been kicking it in Florida.

+ Remember the coyote at Quiznos? Or the cow that fled a South Side school? Reminisce about other iconic Chicago animals.

ICYMI: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile got a rebrand. The Chicago-based meat company renamed its iconic hot dog vehicle the Frankmobile.

Ergh, why? The Wienermobile long highlighted the brand's weenies, but now the Frankmobile will drive around the country to promote Oscar Mayer 100% beef franks.

What happens to the Hot Doggers? The drivers of the vehicle are getting a rebrand, too. They’ll become the Frankfurters.

Why is the hot dog vehicle a thing? The marketing idea was born in 1936 when Oscar Mayer commissioned Chicago’s General Body Co. to design the Wienermobile to transport the company spokesperson around the city.

This is the Wienermobile’s first rebrand in almost 100 years. The vehicle has remained iconic while its cousins — the Wiener Rover, the WienerCycle, and WienerDrone — haven’t quite caught on.

Want to see the Frankmobile for yourself? It’s going on tour this summer, stopping in the city and nearby suburbs like Orland Park and Schaumburg.

Paint the Town Red in Millennium Park | Thursday | 11 a.m.

Join Uniting Voices Chicago, formerly the Chicago Children’s Choir, at the annual event at Pritzker Pavilion. [Free]

Stop ShotSpotter Webinar | Thursday | 6–7:30 p.m.

Learn about the effort to stop the controversial police surveillance tool. [Free]

South Shore Poetry Reading | Sunday | 3–4 p.m.

Go to the Stony Island Arts Bank to hear poet Arnold J. Kemp read “sounds poems” from N.H. Pritchard’s experimental collection. [Free]

Mayfestiversary in North Center | All Weekend | Varies

Sip beer, grab bites from food trucks, and enjoy live music between Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery. [$5 suggested donation]

From Michigan lakes to Cedar Point roller coasters, your fav newsletter writer loves long weekends nearby. Thrillist’s Meredith Heil joins the City Cast Chicago podcast to share spots within driving distance.

So sad to learn the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll died yesterday 💔 Hope some of you saw “The Tina Turner Musical” when it was in the city this spring.

—Sidney Madden