Illinois
Illinois Fines Chicago-Area Brewery for Cicada-Infused Malort
The state has fined a suburban brewery an undisclosed amount after they served a special infusion of Jeppson’s Malört with cicadas, celebrating the insects’ 2024 emergence. Noon Whistle Brewing Co. in Lombard made headlines in May for combining Chicago’s infamous liquor with bugs foraged from a neighboring park.
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s March report includes a blurb that does not mention Noon Whistle, but it refers to a licensee selling an infusion containing cicadas: “The licensee was cited for the violation and was provided education on the issue.” A message to an ILCC rep wasn’t immediately returned. Noon Whistle’s co-founder Mike Condon confirmed the fine over email and wrote he preferred not to share more info.
In May, Noon Whistle compared its cicada-infused malört to tequilas bottles with worms. They charged $5 per shot, and it was available for a limited time. Malört infusions are all the rage, as neighborhood bars are mixing ingredients like pumpkin spice and candy cane into the liquor. Even outside of Chicago, bartenders are unveiling sinister concoctions with the bitter spirit. The liquor is so storied that former Chicago Tribune beer writer Josh Noel has written a book, Malort: The Redemption of a Revered & Reviled Spirit, that will be released on September 3.
Local authorities have long held concerns about spirit infusions made at taverns and restaurants, worried that bartenders would ignore the science and allow bacteria to grow while waiting for flavors to develop. Plenty has changed over the years in terms of information available to the general public. For example, the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 wasn’t written to take into account homebrewers; the Internet has helped better educate folks. The act does include a 14-day limit for infusions and bottles have to be clearly labeled with the start and end dates and listed the ingredients used. The state law also defines infusions as using “ingredients, including, but not limited to, fruits, spices, or nuts, are added to naturally infuse flavor into the spirit.”
Bugs aren’t listed. But neither is bacon — Chicago went through a phase, in the late 2010s, when bartenders were gleefully infusing spirits, like bourbon, with pork. There weren’t reported fines. However, presumably, they weren’t hunting pigs and curing their own bacon. They weren’t hunting wild pigs, they were buying a product from a store or butcher. There’s no such facility to procure food-grade cicadas.
Keep this in mind when cicadas remerge in Illinois in 2037.
Lollapalooza sightings
Last week, Chappell Roan drew the largest crowd ever at Lollapalooza, with organizers claiming the star attracted the largest festival audience ever during a Thursday, August 1 performance with a legion of about 80,000 fans in Grant Park gathering in front of her stage. Of course, these folks have to eat and River North restaurants feasted on the opportunities to feed celebs. Two days before, Roan sampled seafood in River North at Sushi-san. A rep says it was a low-key visit and the singer was barely noticed at the restaurant, part of the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises group.
Lettuce has long been a company that draws celebrities and works with concert promoters to feed VIPs. With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that Kesha also found her way to Three Dots and a Dash where a rep says she threw a party for her band and took selfies in the bathroom. Meanwhile, The Killers, whose hit Mr. Brightside has found renewed life in clubs from Northalsted to River North, also played Lolla and the band dined at Lettuce’s Italian restaurant, Il Porcellino. This was while California singer-songwriter Dasha headed to Bub City and sang while they line danced, inspired by the performer’s viral TikTok. Rounding it out, Pierce The Veil did the most punk thing conceivable: They ate dinner at RPM Steak. The band also ate dinner with Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge at Miru the Japanese restaurant inside the St. Regis Chicago. Singer and actress Reneé Rapp (Mean Girls) was joined by Remi Wolf for dinner at RPM Seafood.
Other sightings included the K-pop group Stray Kids who visited Bonyeon, the steak omakase in West Loop. Icelandic singer/musician Laufey dined at Publican Quality Meats and was tended to by head chef and butcher Rob Levitt.
But life wouldn’t be the same without a Kardashian mention. Kourtney Kardashian, who has embraced more of a vegan diet, ate at Penelope’s Tacos in River North and posted a photo on Instagram.
Illinois
Illinois Tollway proposing increased tolls in 2027 to fund $26.5 billion in road construction
Illinois drivers might soon have to pay more to drive on the state’s tollways.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has proposed an increase in tolls in 2027. If approved by the board, it would be the state’s first toll hike since 2012.
Anyone who drives in the Chicago area likely jumps on one of the Illinois tollways at some point.
“I try to avoid them, you know what I mean? But if I’ve got to get somewhere, and it’s like 10 minutes quicker, I’ll just take the toll,” said Shomari Dyson.
But that toll could cost Dyson and thousands of drivers who take it an average of 45 cents more per toll for passenger vehicles and 30% more per toll for commercial vehicles starting Jan. 1, 2027, if the Illinois tollway board approves the proposed toll hike, and those paying the tolls aren’t happy
“It’s ridiculous. I’m constantly getting tolls, charges, refills on my bank account when my iPass goes through. So, I can imagine it’s just going to happen more and more often,” Jon Jackson said.
Currently, tolls run as low as 30 cents and as high as $1.50 at various toll plazas.
This proposed hike could place the average toll well over a $1 every time drivers pass through an automatic toll plaza.
“I like to know where my money is going, and then [Interstate] 294 has been under construction for the last 15 years, and that is frustrating,” Frank Faso said.
The tollway said the hike is needed to handle projected repairs for road widening, bridge repair, and new technology. It’s all tied to a 15-year capital improvement program estimated to cost $26.5 billion.
The tollway board also wants automatic inflation-based increases every two years starting in 2029.
“We pay our taxes, man, you know what I’m saying? So all that extra, it’s nonsense,” Dyson said.
“If we’re going to void and not take part in things like the World Cup and Soldier Field that’s going to bring tax revenue to the state, they shouldn’t charge me for it,” Faso said.
The board must hold a dozen meetings in various counties to get the public’s take before voting on the toll hike. The first one kicks off in August, but drivers question if the public hearings are really about input.
“I think they’re just going to keep going through the motions,” Jackson said.
Illinois
Illinois has already broken the record for number of tornadoes in a year — and it’s only June
Illinois has seen more tornadoes in 2026 than in any year on record.
Following several more tornadoes confirmed this week across the state, Illinois has recorded 143 tornadoes so far in 2026, beating the previous record of 142 tornadoes set in 2024. With reliable records dating back to 1950, Illinois averages just 54 tornadoes per year. But in recent years, the state has experienced many more:
- 2023: 121
- 2024: 142
- 2025: 126
- 2026: 143 and counting
Unlike 2024, when a record two-day tornado outbreak accounted for a large share of the year’s tornadoes, the activity in 2026 has been spread out across several months.
On Thursday, June 11, a tornado outbreak brought at least 21 confirmed tornadoes to northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, 13 of them in Illinois. Two tornadoes that day — in Streator, Illinois, and Hebron, Indiana — reached rare EF-3 intensity, with winds over 135 miles per hour. Numerous injuries were reported from the storms, but there were no fatalities.
Confirmed tornadoes from June 11:
- Long Point to Streator, IL: EF-3
- Wenona/Osage Township, IL: EF-1
- Graymont to Dwight, IL: EF-1
- Lee, IL: EF-U
- Harpster to Elliott, IL: EF-0
- Pembroke Township (Leesville), IL: EF-U
- St. John to Schererville, IN: EF-0
- Paxton/Loda, IL: EF-1
- Merrillville to Hobart, IN: EF-2
- Ludlow, IL: EF-1
- Cedar Lake, IN: EF-0
- Schneider to Hebron, IN: EF-0
- Watseka, IL: EF-0
- Hebron to Kouts, IN: EF-3
- Wellington/Prairie Green Township, IL: EF-1
- Bartlett, IL: EF-1
- Boswell to Atkinson, IN: EF-1
- Ade to Mount Ayr, IN: EF-0
- Naperville to Lisle, IL: EF-0
- Hickory Hills to Garfield Ridge: EF-2
- Morocco, IN: EF-0
Though most of the Chicago area dodged severe weather from storms this week, the National Weather Service confirmed a brief tornado touchdown Wednesday night in Lake County near Grayslake. The EF-0 tornado had estimated winds of 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for about a quarter-mile. Damage consisted of several downed or split trees and sporadic minor roof damage along a narrow corridor in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision.
Four more tornadoes were confirmed Wednesday in western and central Illinois. NWS crews are still surveying damage in central Illinois, and more tornadoes may be added to the count in the coming days.
With 143 tornadoes so far this year, Illinois leads the nation in tornado count for the third time in the last four years — a remarkable statistic for a state not typically thought of as being in Tornado Alley.
The recent increase in tornado activity across Illinois and the Midwest fits research showing a shift in tornado-favorable environments away from parts of the traditional Plains Tornado Alley and farther east into the Midwest and South. Climate change is one likely factor, as warming temperatures are expected to make the Plains hotter and drier overall, shifting tornado ingredients eastward toward the Mississippi River.
A person was fatally hit by a Metra train in Palatine, Illinois, early Friday morning.
Around 5:10 a.m., Metra said Union Pacific Northwest train No. 602 hit a pedestrian at Baldwin Road and Northwest Highway.
Metra confirmed the person died at the scene. The victim has not been identified.
Metra said train service on the Union Pacific Northwest line is suspended.
This is a developing story. CBS News Chicago will continue to provide updates.
-
South Dakota6 minutes agoSaturday Boredom Busters: June 20
-
Tennessee9 minutes agoThings to do in the Chattanooga area this week include Chickapalooza, Amy Grant, Summerween | Chattanooga Times Free Press
-
Texas14 minutes agoSee how Texas medical schools rank among the world’s best for 2026
-
Utah21 minutes agoUtah marks a year of battling measles, with no clear end in sight
-
Vermont21 minutes ago‘The Great Bennington Battle and Vermont’: Pawlet and Rupert Historical Societies to host historian Howard Coffin
-
Virginia29 minutes ago15 things to know about the budget deal Virginia lawmakers just reached
-
Washington36 minutes agoSuspect arrested in deadly shooting of 15-year-old girl in Washington County
-
Wisconsin39 minutes agoMissing endangered 24-year-old in Wisconsin, search ongoing
