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| Tuesday, February 3 | |  | 25° F | / |  | 19° F |
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City Cast Chicago! You read that right — this newsletter has officially changed names. Don’t worry, I’ll still (usually) start with a friendly hey before getting into the day’s news. But we hope this change will remind you of our awesome daily podcast, City Cast Chicago. |
| And if you see me around town, feel free to shout, “Hey Chicago!” I won’t correct you. (That happened to me once in Lincoln Park. It made my life.) |
| Now … you guessed it … onto the news 👇 |
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| What Chicago's Talking About | Chicago Bank Goes Under | Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust in River North shut down last week, with Detroit-based First Independence Bank acquiring all $261 million worth of assets. It’s the first back in America to go under in 2026. [Sun-Times] |
| SNAP Changes Begin | Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program went into effect Feb. 1. These include work requirements for many who previously received waivers. As a result, 360,000 llinoisans could lose benefits. [Block Club] | |
| | ICE on Notice and CTA Chief Plans | Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order directing Chicago Police to investigate alleged crimes by federal immigration agents and refer them for potential prosecution. But can the city really do that? We explore the question on today’s podcast, as well as upcoming CTA plans. [City Cast Chicago 🎧] | |
| Deported Newlyweds Fight to Reunite | Chicago couple Alexander Villeda and Alexa Ramírez were arrested during “Operation Midway Blitz” — eight days after getting married. Ramírez was deported to Mexico and now, after months in a Michigan detention center, Villeda is being sent to El Salvador. After that, he plans to join his wife in Mexico. [WBEZ] |
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| New Spots to Dine and Drink in Chicago |  | Radicle comes from the crew behind another Logan Square favorite, Daisies. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
| The Chicago dining scene is abuzz as Restaurant Week continues. But outside that mega-master list, several younger eateries have caught our eye, including some South Side spots expanding up north. |
| Radicle in Logan Square | The return of the $10 cocktail. That’s how Radicle, a new bar in Logan Square, is billing itself. And I have to say, it’s quite the hook. Radicle arrives in the former Daisies space — find that artisan pasta a couple blocks away — but the draw is reasonable drinks. My favorite was the ESOO, with rye and balsamic olive oil. |
| Carmine’s in Gold Coast (Again) | Carmine’s, one of Chicago’s most old-school Italian restaurants, has reopened in its original Rush Street location after a three-year, $4 million remodel. If you missed the red sauce, you’ll be happy to know Carmine’s is participating in Restaurant Week. (Pasta, plus an app, salad, and dessert will run ya $60.) |
| Portage Park Breakfast Place | If the pared-down name didn’t tip you off, Portage Park Breakfast Place is serving classic brunch in, yep, Portage Park. Located near Milwaukee and Montrose, the opening marks another boost for the growing business corridor there. It comes from two chefs who met working at the popular m.henry in Andersonville. | |
| Le Shrimp Noodle Bar in Chinatown | The Singaporean chain Le Shrimp Noodle Bar has opened a location in Chinatown Square, marking its first expansion to the midwest. Naturally, this place is for shrimp lovers (the shrimp broth simmers for eight hours) but there are plenty of seafood and non-seafood options alike, ranging from shrimp broth noodles to prawn buns to chicken rice bowls. |
| Cleo’s Southern Cuisine in Lakeview | The contemporary Southern restaurant Cleo’s opened in Bronzeville in 2019. Now, a third location has come to Lakeview. The menu draws from the owner’s family’s Mississippi roots, with dishes like Creole fish and honey-butter muffins. | |
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