Working Lunch newsletter
Illinois drivers could face higher tolls next year • Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to cite parking meter NDA, even as owner says it was lifted
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Header Logo

Working Lunch

Friday, June 19, 2026

US gas prices dip below $4 a gallon for first time since March but remain 25% higher than last year

U.S. gas prices have fallen to just below $4 a gallon on average, bringing some relief to drivers who have seen soaring costs amid the war with Iran.

Read more →

Illinois drivers could face higher tolls next year

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority on Thursday proposed its first passenger toll hike since 2012.

Read more →

Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to cite parking meter NDA, even as owner says it was lifted

Mayor Brandon Johnson claims a confidentiality agreement bars him from sharing information about the sale of Chicago’s parking meter system with aldermen.

Read more →

Obamas hope presidential center in Chicago will be a ‘beacon of hope’ for democracy

Barack and Michelle Obama welcomed former presidents, Chicagoans and supporters for a dedication ceremony at the Obama Presidential Center.

Read more →

MS NOW goes all in on Obama Presidential Center opening, as national media flock to Chicago’s South Side

An array of national news networks also captured the grand opening ceremony in real time, but MS NOW went all in, broadcasting from a remote pop-up studio on the roof of the new Chicago Public Library branch embedded on the sprawling South Side campus.

Read more →

The Obama center’s A-list opening, or: The art of having famous friends

Stephen Colbert, Dave Chappelle, Tom Hanks, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey all attended the opening ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center.

Read more →

Thousands flock to Midway Plaisance Park for Obama Presidential Center watch party: ‘This is a historic event’

Crowds packed Midway Plaisance Park to watch a livestream of the star-studded Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony.

Read more →

A look at recent deadly aviation accidents in the US

Three different models of aircraft crashed in recent days in the U.S., killing 21 people.

Read more →