Good morning, Chicago.
It had all the makings of a typical graduation party. Blue and yellow streamers lined the room. Signs were posted on the walls that said “Congrats Grad 2025,” “You did it” and “Made the grade.” In the back, there was a table full of Chips Ahoy and Oreos and even a cake that read “Congratulations Taevion” in blue frosting.
Except, the party was held on the 22nd floor of Lurie Children’s Hospital in honor of one of the hospital’s patients: 18-year-old Taevion Norris. He had been attending West Leyden High School in Northlake when his senior year was suddenly interrupted in March due to heart failure, forcing him to spend the tail end of his final year of high school in the hospital.
But Norris refused to let his condition stop him from graduating on time — and succeeded. Yesterday, Norris — wearing a blue cap and gown — was handed his diploma. Graduation music played in the background as he traversed from one end of the hospital hallway into the room of the ceremony.
Read the full story and see photos from the ceremony.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including an effort in Dolton to force the purchase of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home, a look into the archives at a passenger who lit dynamite on a plane that departed from O’Hare and a review of Disney’s latest live-action remake.
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2 staff members of Israeli Embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in Washington, DC
Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, police said.
The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security, Smith said.
House Republicans pass President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session
House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package, with Speaker Mike Johnson defying the skeptics and unifying his ranks to muscle President Donald Trump’s priority bill to approval.
With last-minute concessions and stark warnings from Trump, the Republican holdouts largely dropped their opposition to salvage the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that’s central to the GOP agenda. It next goes to the Senate.
Teen ‘snap curfew’ ordinance stalls in City Council; Mayor Brandon Johnson’s position unclear
The effort to give Chicago’s police superintendent the power to declare “snap curfews” to curb large teen gatherings stalled yesterday in the City Council.
Dolton attorney invokes forced purchase of Pope Leo XIV’s home in letter; Board yet to discuss publicly
While Dolton is moving ahead with negotiations to buy Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in the village, it’s unclear how trustees were consulted about the decision, which hasn’t been discussed at an open meeting.
As Mayor Jason House seeks to come to terms with the home’s owner, at the same time the village attorney is threatening court action to acquire the property via eminent domain.
Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones presides over a City Council meeting Nov. 9, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Calumet City clerk Nyota Figgs testifies in document destruction lawsuit
In a lawsuit brought by Calumet City alleging she illegally destroyed records, city clerk Nyota Figgs testified that she was given proper authorization.
Though Figgs’ supporters claim the records lawsuit represents a targeted political attack from Mayor Thaddeus Jones, its trial has continued, with closing arguments scheduled for June 18.
Jim Irsay, longtime Indianapolis Colts owner and Chicago-area native, dies at 65
Jim Irsay, the Indianapolis Colts owner who leveraged the popularity of Peyton Manning into a new stadium and a Super Bowl title, died yesterday at age 65.
Irsay, a Lincolnwood native who attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, had a profound impact on the Colts franchise.
Column: If Chicago is ‘the place quarterbacks go to die,’ Bears coach Ben Johnson embraces flipping that script
First-year coach Ben Johnson doesn’t have a lot of bandwidth for dissecting what has kept the Bears in their current quandary, without a playoff victory since January 2011, writes Brad Biggs.
So whatever happened in 2024 and during the lead-up to last year’s draft — when No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and his father, Carl, explored ways to avoid landing at Halas Hall, according to an excerpt from Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” — it is what it is.
- Joe Thuney extension a sign of his faith in Bears: ‘This is something I want to be a part of’
- Photos: What we saw at Chicago Bears OTAs
Today in Chicago History: Passenger’s dynamite causes midair explosion on plane that departed O’Hare
On this day in 1962: Continental Airlines Flight 11, en route from Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri, crashed in Centerville, Iowa, after a bomb apparently brought onboard by a passenger exploded, killing all 45 occupants of the Boeing 707.
Federal authorities determined passenger Thomas G. Doty, of Merriam, Kansas, had lit sticks of dynamite that he purchased at a hardware store inside a trash bin within the plane’s lavatory, then returned to his seat.
‘Sirens’ review: TV’s obsession with the wealthy continues
Tribune TV and film critic Nina Metz can’t remember the last time a TV series started off with so much promise, only to fall apart in its final act. Metz suspects that won’t deter audiences from “Sirens,” which premieres on Netflix less than a year after the arrival of “The Perfect Couple,” with which it shares many similarities.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ review: Disney puts another one through the de-animation machine
Stitch and Lilo are now in a live-action movie, writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. The new “Lilo & Stitch” constitutes adequate if wearying fan service at best, and at worst, a new reason to check in with your dentist about a mouth guard for apparent teeth-grinding.
Jim Morrison bust stolen from Doors singer’s Paris grave in the ‘80s has finally been recovered
Police have found a bust of Jim Morrison that was stolen nearly four decades ago from the Paris grave that has long been a place of pilgrimage for fans of the legendary Doors singer and poet.