Good afternoon, Chicago. ✶
Since at least the early 1980s, tens of thousands of people have flocked to Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve, an expansive nature preserve in the south suburb where they can see more than 100 kinds of birds. In June, Homewood was designated a “bird city,” by the American Bird Conservancy.
But about four years ago, one local environmental scientist noticed a telltale brownish-orange color in one of the ponds at the preserve — a bad sign for its more than 190 acres of habitat.
In today’s newsletter, we look into what’s been found in the sanctuary and what’s being done about it.
Plus, we’ve got reporting on how Chicago’s airports stack up to the rest of North America, an interview with “Windy City Rehab” host Alison Victoria and more.
⏱️: A 7-minute read
TODAY’S TOP STORY
In ‘bird city’ Homewood, toxic chemicals found at nature preserve
Reporting by Brett Chase
Toxic reality: About four years ago, David Zaber, an environmental scientist who lives in Homewood, noticed a brownish-orange color in a pond in the northwest portion of Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve. He compared archival Google Earth images to discover discoloration of the water dating back to 2005.
The findings: Tests at the pond confirmed Zaber’s fear — high levels of a class of chemicals known as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, which are potentially harmful to humans and animals.
Fish and wildlife: Of particular concern, Zaber says, anyone eating fish from the pond would face a health risk, as would dogs. In that location alone, tests detected heavy metals, including lead and chromium, along with oils and grease.
Sounding the alarm: Zaber, who has since become an Izaak Walton Preserve board member, has made it his mission to do something about these chemicals. The problems have persisted, he says, because of ineffective responses from local and state officials.
Source identified: The color found in the pond, as well as an oily film, comes from a stormwater outflow owned by the village of Homewood. It collects water from nearby businesses, including Homewood Disposal, a garbage and recycling business that referred questions to Homewood officials.
Waiting for response: Homewood officials at first downplayed the problems, Zaber says, but agreed to try to contain the pollution with the help of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Yet several years after he first raised concerns, Zaber, other residents and the Izaak Walton board, which manages the preserve, are still trying to get answers.
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
Chicago airports rank low: O’Hare and Midway ranked nearly last in a yearly survey of North American airports by market research firm J.D. Power. Travelers said the airports are outdated, crowded and unpleasant.
Commuting on DSLD: Traffic has been worse than usual on North DuSable Lake Shore Drive because of unexpected lane closures related to a resurfacing project. Expect the closures to be in effect all day.
Amtrak’s new route: Called the Floridian, the temporary train route will offer direct trips between Chicago and Miami starting Nov. 10.
The trucks stop here?: Outpost, a company based in Austin, Texas, is reportedly set to open a 30-acre truck stop in West Dundee next month, making it the country’s largest truck stop.
No retrial yet on bribery case: The judge overseeing the case against former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza, who is accused of bribing former state House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, has declined to schedule another trial, saying he first wants to hear arguments on a motion for acquittal.
Sad Sox milestone: If the White Sox fall against San Diego tonight, they will mark 121 losses, setting a record for the most losses in a season by a modern Major League Baseball team.
Alison Victoria goes with her gut: In the upcoming fifth season of HGTV’s “Windy City Rehab,” the host will take on gut rehabs for 12 new clients as she figures out how to get back into the flipping game. “I am not buying and selling right now. That’s not where I am,” she told the Sun-Times.
OUR CITY IN COLOR 🎨
Uptown mural is a tribute to historic music venues
Reporting by Genevieve Bookwalter
Uptown’s history as a music scene was the inspiration for artist Rodney Duran’s latest mural, on Broadway near the Wilson L station tracks.
With piano keys, maracas, horns, guitars, music notes and more, the mural pays tribute to live music venues throughout Uptown, where Duran used to live.
Over three days, he spray-painted the mural on a boarded-up car tunnel that goes through the three-story, blocklong McJunkin Building at Wilson Avenue and Broadway.
“I lived in Uptown for four years. To me, the thing that kept me happy was the music,” Duran said. “It was pretty cool that I could buy tickets to the Aragon [Ballroom] and walk a block over and see the Foo Fighters or Nine Inch Nails.”
BRIGHT ONE ✨
Evanston’s Matt Mueller works his magic in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’
Reporting by Stefano Esposito
Matt Mueller mostly slips under the radar when he strolls through his native Evanston — almost as if he’s draped in an invisibility cloak.
The actor who portrays the auburn-haired Ron Weasley in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” now playing at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, says he’s rarely recognized, even though he’s from one of the Chicago area’s best-known “muggle” acting families.
His sister Jessie Mueller won a best actress Tony Award in 2014 for “Beautiful — The Carole King Musical,” while another sister, Abby, played Jane Seymour in “Six” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and on Broadway.
In a way, Mueller has been preparing for the Ron role all of his life, beginning when his parents would take the Mueller kids to shows. His parents, actors Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger, read bedtime stories nightly, morphing from one fictional character into another.
“Cursed Child,” which premiered in London in 2016, is effectively the eighth story in the Potter series. The touring production, which launches in Chicago, spans three hours.
“From the get-go, my experience with this show — and the creatives in this show — has been really lovely, welcoming and exciting,” Mueller told the Sun-Times.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
A recent survey of travelers graded O’Hare and Midway airports poorly. So we want to know:
What change at Chicago airports do you most want to see? Be sure to tell us which airport you’re talking about. ✈️
Email us (please include your first and last name). To see the answers to this question, check our Morning Edition newsletter. Not subscribed to Morning Edition? Sign up here so you won’t miss a thing!
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Written by: Matt Moore
Editor: Esther Bergdahl
Copy editor: Angie Myers