Good afternoon!
A Chicago sandwich shop is now selling THC-infused giardiniera. Here’s your daily news update:
1. Illinois Minimum Wage Increase: Illinois raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour, effective January 1st, 2025. This is the final increase in a series of scheduled hikes, bringing the state in line with over 20 others raising their minimum hourly wages this year. The new minimum wage for tipped workers is $9 per hour, and $13 for those under 18. The Illinois Restaurant Association and some Chicago restaurant owners express concerns that the increase will necessitate menu price hikes, potentially impacting customer tipping habits and leading to staff reductions. [Chicago Sun-Times]
2. Goonie Gang Leader’s Sentencing: Defense attorneys for Romeo Blackman, the alleged leader of the Goonie Gang, are arguing against a life sentence. They cite his birth with cocaine and alcohol in his system, impacting his brain development, and his age at the time of the crimes (some committed when he was only 18). Blackman was convicted last year of conspiracy in multiple South Side killings and other crimes, including a gun store burglary. His lawyers point to a recent Massachusetts Supreme Court decision limiting life sentences without parole for crimes committed between ages 18 and 20. [Chicago Sun-Times]
3. Chicago Office Market Recovery: Avison Young’s report names Chicago as a key market to watch in 2025. While the office market is still recovering from the pandemic, Chicago’s “Office Busyness Index” shows offices at 56.6% of their pre-pandemic activity (November 2019 levels). Although vacancy rates remain elevated, decreased office availability suggests increased demand, with some brokers reporting higher leasing activity in 2024. New office construction is expected to remain stagnant. [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. First Babies of 2025: Chicago welcomed its first babies of the new year, ushering in Generation Beta (2025-2039). Among the early arrivals were Scarlett Carmela Sartori, born at Illinois Masonic Hospital shortly after midnight, and Lavaeh Brandt, born at Rush University Medical Center. Other newborns include Ethan Jovanni Maxinez (Lutheran General Hospital) and Aiden Jimenez (Mt. Sinai Hospital). [Chicago Sun-Times]
5. Early Arts Ticket Alert: WBEZ highlights must-see Chicago performing arts events in 2025, advising early ticket purchase due to anticipated high demand. Notable shows include *Betrayal* starring Helen Hunt at the Goodman Theatre, Shemekia Copeland’s performance at SPACE in Evanston, the Joffrey Ballet’s production of *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland*, and *Kimberly Akimbo* at Broadway in Chicago. [WBEZ]
Here’s what else is happening:
Dunkin’ has launched a new drink, “Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso,” inspired by Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song “Espresso.” [USA Today]
Tell me something good…
What are you excited about in 2025?
Nancy shares: “My daughter’s wedding on April 26th! She’ll be wearing a wedding dress originally designed by my mother in 1951, refashioned for me in 1985, and uniquely updated for 2025 by Uncommon Closet. The wedding will be at The Beverly Unitarian Church, also known as Chicago’s only Givin’s Irish Castle, the same church where my husband and I married in 1985.”
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