* Sun-Times | UAW strike spreads to GM, Stellantis parts sites in Bolingbrook, Naperville: Two auto parts distribution sites in the Chicago suburbs are striking Friday, after the president of the United Auto Workers expanded its action against major automakers by walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts centers in 20 states. Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW President Shawn Fain. As a result, Ford’s Chicago operations are not included in the new walkouts.

* Tribune | Blood suppliers warn of potential rationing at hospitals if donors don’t step up: ‘We need it now’: “We don’t ever want to be in a situation where we have to start making a decision on who does and doesn’t get blood,” said Versiti’s area vice president, Amy Smith. “We need it now.” Versiti seeks to have 10,000 units of blood in its inventory. Instead, inventory has dropped to 2,800 units for the nonprofit, which supplies blood to 85 nearby hospitals, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Edward-Elmhurst Health and Silver Cross Hospital.

* WCIA | Scherer files bill to give Dennis Lab students their summer back, but at a cost: Dennis Lab students started the school year two weeks late. The two Dennis Lab buildings in Decatur were found to be structurally unsafe this past summer and the district set up modular classrooms for students. But they were not ready by the official start of the school year. Since they started two weeks late, the students are also scheduled to go two weeks longer in this summer.

* Press Release | Governor Pritzker joins U of I System board in roundtable discussion: “Affordability really matters,” Pritzker said. “Scholarship money and financial aid is the most important thing, at least from the General Assembly and the governor, that we can do for you.” U of I System President Tim Killeen said the governor’s participation in the meeting was a reflection of the state government’s extensive commitment to and support of higher education, as well as the role that the system plays in the state’s overall well-being.

* WTTW | Debate Continues Over Plan to Raise Real Estate Taxes on High-Priced Homes to Fight Homelessness in Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson recently announced a new proposal dubbed “Bring Chicago Home,” which would raise about $100 million dollars to fight homelessness by raising taxes on all sales above $1 million, and then an additional hike on sales of more than $1.5 million dollars. The proposal would also slash the transfer tax on real estate that sells below $1 million.

* WCIA | Drug company announces move into Decatur using former Akorn building: Rising Pharmaceuticals, based in New Jersey, announced its move in the community earlier this week. Company officials said they plan to use the former Akorn building to make and package sterile products. Back in February, Akorn announced that it was filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and laying off its hundreds of workers. It sparked outrage from local politicians and prompted a state investigation. […] Rising Pharmaceuticals said the move into Decatur is expected to improve the company’s portfolio and boost the country’s supply chain.

* CBS Chicago | Hundreds turn out in Chicago suburb’s municipal court to pay tickets they didn’t know they had: “At first, I thought it was $50 – and then I had to put my glasses on,” said Elizabeth Watson. Watson quickly saw an extra zero for a total sum of $500 – if she did stand in the line to appear in court.

* Crain’s | Chicago’s hospitality business hasn’t seen this bullish an outlook since 2019: Travel and hospitality in Chicago continue to make a comeback from the depths of the COVID pandemic, when at a point in 2020 hotel occupancies sank to a low of 26%. Travel industry consultant HVS, employing research from STR Inc. as well as its own surveys of hotels and restaurants, recently released its most bullish assessment of the Chicago market since 2019.

* STLPR | Barges are very efficient. Does that make them a good climate alternative for shipping?: It would take more than 1,000 semitrucks to carry the same load as 15 barges and a single tow boat, the standard for this part of the Mississippi River, he said. That’s significant given that the transportation sector accounts for about 28% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. But only about 2% of that sector is ships and boats, Rohde said.

* Block Club | The Voice Of The CTA Hits 25-Year Milestone Of Telling Us Where We Are: The polished voice actor, now 64, drives down to Chicago two or three times a year to record updates to the transit system. Most recently Crooks told Chicagoans about detours due to the Blue Line’s West Side rebuild, laid down sharper recordings for the new 7000-series trains and gave folks a reminder to give up their seats to “people who are pregnant.”

* SJ-R | Sangamon County home prices rose 8.2% in August, with houses listed at a median of $194,800: Sangamon County’s median home was 1,885 square feet, listed at $108 per square foot. The price per square foot of homes for sale is up 4.5% from August 2022.

* SJ-R | A memorial service for trailblazing SIU physician to be held on Saturday: Robinson-McNeese was best known for his work in diversity and inclusion initiatives at SIU, helping to found the Office of Diversity, Multicultural and Minority Affairs, serving as the system’s executive director of diversity initiatives, and for collaborating with Springfield Public Schools District #186 to create the Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program (P4).

* Daily Southtown | Homer Glen mayor nixes parade request as strife between village, township mounts: The village of Homer Glen has declined Homer Township’s application to conduct its annual Independence Day parade as political tensions between some local leaders were heightened during meetings this month. Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said she felt the parade, which usually takes place in late June in conjunction with HomerFest, has become too political when she and village staff declined the township’s request to use village streets. The application was not voted on by the Village Board.

* Commercial-News | Tilton cannabis dispensary now open; cultivation center construction underway: It had a soft opening Friday and Saturday. An official grand opening will be Saturday for the dispensary and the two other businesses of the 14,500-square feet building. The site also includes Molly’s Joint, cannabis consumption lounge with couches and tables and chairs; and a bar/restaurant area with video gaming machines and an outdoor patio and grass area for bands and food trucks.

* WTTW | Lin-Manuel Miranda Talks Chicago, His PBS Roots and the Return of ‘Hamilton’: Lin-Manuel Miranda made a stop in Chicago to commemorate the official return of “Hamilton.” Arts Correspondent Angel Idowu sat down with Miranda to get his take on why the show’s return to Chicago is so special.