Good morning, Chicago.

Illinois ranks 30th in the nation for hospital safety, down two spots from the fall, according to new ratings released by the nonprofit Leapfrog Group today.

In all, 22% of Illinois hospitals earned A grades for safety from Leapfrog, compared to nearly 25% in the fall.

Illinois hospitals earning top marks include University of Chicago Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. Five Endeavor Health hospitals in Evanston, Highland Park, Glenview, Elmhurst and Arlington Heights also earned As, as did six Northwestern Medicine hospitals in Huntley, DeKalb, Winfield, Geneva, Lake Forest and McHenry.

No Illinois hospital got an F grade this spring, though 15 hospitals across the state earned D grades.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker.

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Illinois pot businesses could gain tax benefits, easier loan access under DEA reclassification

Cannabis company owners in Illinois welcomed the news Tuesday that the federal government is expected to reclassify marijuana as a drug with medicinal value and lower potential for abuse.

The change will not be immediately noticeable to most consumers in Illinois, where medical and recreational use already are legal under state law. But it may have a huge impact on weed businesses, allowing them greater ability to take tax deductions for business expenses and making it easier to get loans.

‘He’s like a Talented Mr. Ripley’: Serial scammer Joey Cipolla faces sentencing for life of fraud

Cipolla is facing his most significant prison sentence yet today, after pleading guilty in November to a multi-pronged scheme: stiffing people on luxury auto sales over eBay, rip-offs in the leasing of aircraft out of DuPage County Airport, and using more than $1 million in fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief funds to fund his over-the-top lifestyle.

Encampment opposing war in Gaza at DePaul launches, as university leaders meet with Foxx on response to student protests

Student groups at DePaul University, a longtime locus of student organizing in solidarity with Palestine, launched an encampment in protest of the war in Gaza Tuesday, joining demonstrations on campuses across the country amid midterms at the private Catholic university.

Democrats say they will save Speaker Mike Johnson’s job if Republicans try to oust him

House Democrats will vote to save Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s job should some of his fellow Republican lawmakers seek to remove him from the position, Democratic leaders said Tuesday, likely assuring for now that Johnson will avoid being ousted from office like his predecessor, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

United Methodists begin to reverse longstanding anti-LGBTQ policies

United Methodist delegates voted to delete mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries. Still to come later this week are votes on the core of the bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage in church law and policy, which may draw more debate.

Bankrupt Etta restaurants bought for $4 million by Texas fintech entrepreneur, who plans to grow the brand

A Texas financier has purchased the bankrupt Etta restaurant group for $4 million, with plans to expand the Chicago brand nationwide.

DuPage County overdose deaths down 24% in 2023

For the first time in the past decade, overdose deaths in DuPage County took a significant downturn in 2023, decreasing 24% from the year before, according to a new coroner’s office report.

LGBTQ+ community members call on Mayor Brandon Johnson to rescind plan to scale back Pride Parade

Organizers of the annual Chicago Pride Parade and allied groups are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to rescind the city’s plan to downsize the event this June.

The city last month cited “safety and logistical concerns” when it said this year’s parade would be limited to 125 groups, a decrease of more than a third from last year.

Local runner Kayla Jeter seeks to make an impact with her 100-mile challenge on women and the Black community

Warmer days in Chicago mean a few things: Our marquee season — summer — is on the way, yearslong road work resumes and recreational runners hit the paths and pavement.

Tribune writer Shakeia Taylor has long admired the commitment of anyone who can get outside and run without a reason or destination, people for whom the running itself is the point.

Ohio native Kayla Jeter is one of them.

Column: Chicago White Sox rotation in flux as fans tune out after a horrific April

Maybe Garrett Crochet should cherish his time in the Chicago White Sox starting rotation. He might not be long for the role, writes Paul Sullivan.

Chicago Opera Theater and Symphony Center Jazz announce seasons

Chicago Opera Theater announced a scaled-back 2024-25 season on Tuesday, its first programmed by new general director Lawrence Edelson. The company will oversee just two staged productions in its 51st season, both of which will receive three performances rather than the two that have long been COT’s standard.

The nonclassical arm of the Chicago Symphony also announced its Symphony Center Presents Jazz lineup for the 2024-25 season.

Swadesi Cafe offers Chicago a Western coffee shop experience that’s distinctly Indian

Swadesi Cafe in the West Loop opened on March 26 and offers customers the sense of sipping chai at home but with a modern menu that beautifully marries French and Indian culinary styles.

Itching to catch the next eclipse? Get your passport ready

If you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun.