🌱 Biden Gives 'Major Speech' In Chicago + Air Quality Alert Continues

It's Thursday, Chicago. Patch is back to recap the most important stories happening across the city today, including:

• The city's school board president steps down.
• A major move for the Blackhawks organization.
• A lawsuit against a former radio host is dropped.

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Now, today's weather: Humid with a strong t-storm. High: 88 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories in Chicago today:

1. President Joe Biden gave an economic address Wednesday at Chicago’s Old Post Office. Also in town for a Democratic fundraiser, he spoke of adding “over 13 million jobs, more jobs in two years than any president has added in a four-year term.” (Paid source: Tribune)

2. President Biden also announced Wednesday he is nominating April Perry as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. She would be the first woman to serve in the role if approved. (WGN)

3. Air quality in the Chicago area remained in the “very unhealthy” range on the national index Wednesday, Block Club reports. Six community centers were opened to provide safely ventilated indoor spaces for those in need. A “slight improvement” is expected today, with “moderate” air quality anticipated this weekend. (Block Club/Patch)

4. The Blackhawks were expected to select 17-year-old Connor Bedard with their number one pick at Wednesday night’s NHL Draft. This summer he became the first player in Canadian Hockey League history to win top prospect, leading scorer and Player of the Year awards. (NBC Sports)

5. Chicago Board of Education President Miguel del Valle announced he will step down at the end of his term this week. Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint his successor. (CBS)

From my notebook:

• PAWS Chicago is offering tips to protect pets during the air quality alert. (PAWS Chicago)
• A lawsuit against former radio host Eric Ferguson has been dropped. He was accused of forcing his assistant producer into sex acts, CBS Chicago reports. (CBS)
• Planning ahead for July 4? Patch has a guide to fireworks, parades and more in the Chicagoland area. (Patch)
• “Rookie of the Year” will celebrate its 30th anniversary this weekend with a special screening at Wrigley Field. (MLB)
• The Illinois grocery tax suspension ends Friday. (NBC)
• “Significant” road closures are in effect in the downtown area in preparation for this weekend’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race. (WBEZ)

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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for another digest, Chicago.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her writing has been recognized with awards from the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.