Good morning, Chicago.
Facing complaints about safety and long wait times, the CTA is planning to change schedules, boost security efforts, and upgrade its bus and train trackers.
CTA President Dorval Carter laid out a broad plan at a lunch for the city’s business and political elite Thursday. But parts of the plan, including some of the increased safety measures and hiring, are not new. The CTA has struggled with complaints about service, safety and conditions as ridership plummeted during the pandemic. In recent months, ridership has been hovering at more than half of pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, the Tribune’s A.D. Quig reports Obama Foundation revenues were down in 2021. Fundraising in recent years was hindered both by the COVID-19 pandemic and the long delays in approvals for the presidential center’s construction.
Going to the Bud Billiken Parade Saturday? Here’s the location, route and time information you need.
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Chicagoans adjust dining habits to take bite out of food prices
Over the last several months, Chicagoans have been dealing with soaring food costs as inflation hit 40-year highs. To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates four times since March. Interest rate hikes are the only tool the Fed has to tamp inflation down, but doing so diminishes access to credit, raising fears of possible recession, though experts have said the economy isn’t there quite yet.
Over the last three months, 57% of people surveyed by the Chicago-based food industry market research firm Datassential said they’d cut back on restaurant spending because of inflation and higher prices. Fifty-six percent said they were visiting sit-down restaurants less often; half said they were cutting back on fast-food visits.
Dexter Sain and Curtis Herron, both 36, have been missing since they disembarked from East Chicago Marina in Indiana, where they were last seen by a friend on July 27, according to East Chicago police and the boaters’ families.
David Lenardson, who works at Great Lakes Marine Services LLC, told the Tribune on Thursday that the missing boaters had contacted the company that morning to inquire about a tow, but that one of the boaters turned down their services.
Rivian now has nearly 200,000 orders for its EV trucks and delivery vans. It’s produced 8,000.
Startup electric truck manufacturer Rivian continues to see robust demand for its inaugural products, with nearly 200,000 orders in hand, and a long way to go to fill them.
Rivian announced during a second quarter earnings call it had more than 98,000 orders for its R1T pickup and R1S SUV as of June 30. Amazon, an early investor in Rivian, has ordered 100,000 commercial electric delivery vans.
Each Chicago Cubs player and staff member found a moment to appreciate the unique Field of Dreams environment Thursday.
The dismal records of the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds didn’t detract what this marquee game meant for both teams. Rocking throwback cream uniforms, prompting multiple players to hope they are incorporated in future seasons, the Cubs cherished playing for a sellout crowd of 7,823 fans.
Chicago Cubs top the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in the Field of Dreams game on a picturesque night in Iowa
‘The Princess’ review: The story of Princess Diana, as the media told it and covered it
“Another documentary about Diana, Princess of Wales. What more is there to say — or be revealed — at this point? Not much,” writes Nina Metz.
But “The Princess” on HBO, from director Ed Perkins, takes a unique approach: The film assembles news coverage that spans nearly two decades, from her 1981 engagement to Prince Charles to her 1997 car accident death in Paris. The end result is not so much the story of Diana (even though it obviously is) but a look at the telling of her story — as the media told it.
