| Good afternoon, Chicago. Mike Piechocinski walked the tightly packed, but organized, aisle of Krazy Kaplans Fireworks in Hammond with his 7-year-old daughter, Savannah, looking for smoke bombs. The father and daughter duo drove in from Wheaton to shop for fireworks “you can’t get in Illinois,” Piechocinski said, like the kind with bigger smoke and louder sounds. It would be nice if Illinois sold fireworks, Piechocinski said, but he said he’s used to shopping for fireworks out of state. Krazy Kaplans is the first exit off of I-94 driving east from Illinois into Indiana, and it’s across the street from two other
fireworks stores — Rock the Sky Fireworks and Cheap Fireworks. Billboards touting the latest deals at Krazy Kaplans and other fireworks stores are common sights along Illinois expressways. Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History news Former Downers Grove South High School teacher Christina Formella, 30, arrives for a hearing at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton on July 2, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A DuPage County judge denied a request from a former Downers Grove high school teacher to reduce the distance she must keep from the student she is accused of sexually abusing. More top news stories: business The Mariano’s grocery store in Glenview at 25 Waukegan Road will remain open after the
chain announced in June 2025 the closures of three other suburban locations, including one in West Glenview. (Pam DeFiglio/Chicago Tribune) Mariano’s announced it is closing its west Glenview location, which has a Northbrook address and is nestled in a shopping center surrounded by Northbrook. More top business stories: sports Vaclav Nestrasil participates in media availability for Blackhawks draft picks, June 30, 2025, at Fifth Third Arena. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Vaclav Nestrasil, 18, grew up idolizing Patrick Kane, but that’s where the similarities end between the Hawks legend and the 6-foot-6, 185-pound forward prospect. More top sports stories: eat. watch. do. Aerie Williams (center) with Brittney Mack, Eric A. Lewis, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Shantel Renee Cribbs, Aalon Daeja
Smith, Michael Earvin Martin, Jos N. Banks, Sharriese Hamilton and Ariya Hawkins in “The Color Purple” at the Goodman Theatre. (Brett Beiner) The Goodman’s production uses much the same group of talent from a 2019 Drury Lane staging and the newcomers are mostly Chicago-based and Chicago-raised talent. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: nation & world Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul delivers remarks following hearing before Dane County Wis. judge
Diane Schlipper which challenges a 174-year-old feticide law in Madison, Wis., May 4, 2023. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal) The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority struck down the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban today, ruling 4-3 that it was superseded by newer state laws regulating the procedure, including statutes that criminalize abortions only after a fetus can survive outside the womb. More top stories from around the world: | 
