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Afternoon Briefing

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Children lined up in the gymnasium at Holy Family School in North Lawndale Monday morning, eager to tear into milk cartons and grab breakfast before another day of summer camp.

Among them were cousins Calia Brown and Alonnah Muhammad, both age 11, who are preparing to enter sixth grade. Over bananas and waffle crackers, they talked about the school year ahead. Calia is looking forward to learning about new subjects, while Alonnah is excited to get to meet her teachers and make new friends.

They’ve spent the summer at Holy Family, taking field trips, watching movies and participating in the camp’s free breakfast and lunch program. It’s one of 115 summer feeding programs across Cook County supplied by the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which provides free meals and snacks to children during the summer months.

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.

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news
Workers cut off limbs from a tree that fell on a house in the 2700 block of South Oak Park Avenue in Berwyn, following strong storms on July 27, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago wakes up to calmer conditions after Monday’s storms as cleanup gets underway

National Weather Service workers were investigating today whether tornadoes were part of the severe thunderstorms that ripped across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana yesterday, pelting the region with up to four inches of rain and tennis ball-sized hail.

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business
Chicago Behavioral Hospital, in Des Plaines, added the Extra Mile Veteran Care Program in a building with a separate entrance on the campus, Jan 15, 2016. (Joe Lewnard/Daily Herald)

3 Northwest suburban hospitals accused of not properly providing pricing information

Three behavioral health hospitals in the Northwest suburbs are among the medical facilities the Trump administration says have failed to provide the public with basic pricing information.

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sports
Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, center, celebrates with his teammates after his single led to a fielding error by the Giants that allowed Dansby Swanson to score the winning run in the 10th inning June 6, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Cubs — with less than a week to MLB trade deadline — have earned investment from front office

While this season’s journey has certainly tested the Cubs, particularly during the 10-game losing streak in May, their performance has earned an investment from president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and the front office.

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eat. watch. do.
Pepperoni and Mike’s hot honey drizzle pizza in a takeout box at Pizz’amici, on Sept. 25, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Musicians coming for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and North Coast reveal their favorite Chicago restaurants

We asked a mix of breakout acts and headliners what places they have to hit when they’re in town and found they have strong opinions about Chicago-style pizza and food they’re so addicted to they need it waiting as soon as they get off the plane.

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nation & world
President Donald Trump listens as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Donald Trump expresses frustrations with Benjamin Netanyahu before their first meeting since launching the Iran war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump were meeting at the White House today for the first time since they launched a joint war against Iran, offering a chance for Netanyahu to smooth out strains in their relationship.

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