<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Aeh6S_1H43h85M00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Aeh6S_1H43h85M00" width="1087" height="611" ><figcaption>Mayor Brandon Johnson on Oct. 21, 2026. Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times</figcaption></figure>Good afternoon! It’s Friday the 13th, and my black cat is displeased he didn’t get an extra-early breakfast to celebrate. Here’s what you need to know today.As Fran Spielman reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ashlee Gabrysch’s departure sent shock waves through City Hall and beyond, coming in the middle of a budget stalemate after just three months in the role. The move could trigger another drop in Chicago’s already shaky bond rating and scare investors away from the city’s bonds.A former Wall Street executive, Gabrysch issued a statement saying she was unwilling to compromise her financial integrity. She did not reveal what she was asked to do that would have damaged her reputation.“As the City of Chicago’s Chief Financial Officer, there is nothing more important than my fiduciary duty to the City and its taxpayers. The Chief Financial Officer’s statements about city finances are not idle chatter: they are relied upon by investors, ratings agencies, City Council, and taxpayers. The CFO must act scrupulously to ensure they are always accurate and complete,” Gabrysch said in a statement.“Throughout my career, I have remained committed to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency, and in my short time as Chief Financial Officer, I have faithfully discharged this duty. It has become apparent, however, that to continue in this role would be to compromise my integrity and professional obligations. I therefore have concluded that I must step down from my role, and hereby tender my resignation.”Gabrysch had replaced Steven Mahr, who himself had abruptly resigned, along with his top deputy. Mahr had replaced Jill Jaworski, who left City Hall in January for a job at Navy Pier shortly after a City Council majority rejected Johnson’s corporate head tax and muscled through an alternative city budget. [Chicago Sun-Times]The Chicago City Council is more independent than ever, forcing Mayor Brandon Johnson to issue four vetoes, cast three tie-breaking votes, accept a Zoning Committee chair he did not choose and struggle to pass two budgets with mounting resistance for a third.Despite the transition to more power, 10 incumbents and one newcomer won’t have to raise a penny or spend a minute shaking hands, knocking on doors or attending neighborhood forums ahead of the city’s Feb. 23 aldermanic election, my colleague Fran Spielman reports.The incumbents are Alds. Lamont Robinson (4th), Peter Chico (10th), Nicole Lee (11th), Ray Lopez (15th), Ronnie Mosley (21st), Samantha Nugent (39th), Andre Vasquez (40th), Anthony Napolitano (41st), Matt Martin (47th) and Debra Silverstein (50th). Meanwhile, Elianne Bahena is chief of staff to — and handpicked successor of — retiring Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd).Other veterans will likely face only nominal opposition from challengers with very little money: Brian Hopkins (2nd); Pat Dowell (3rd); Desmon Yancy (5th); Monique Scott (24th); Felix Cardona (31st); Bill Conway (34th); Gilbert Villegas (36th); Nick Sposato (38th); Brendan Reilly (42nd); Timmy Knudsen (43rd) and Bennett Lawson (44th).“It’s possible that our constituents are pleased to see a City Council with teeth and a coalition of aldermen who are stepping up, doing the hard work and pushing back on the executive branch of government for the first time in many, many decades,” said Reilly, a leader of the group that calls itself the Common Sense Caucus. “In other cases, maybe it’s a job they simply don’t want. There’s so much upheaval at City Hall, perhaps some folks don’t want to sign up for that circus.” [Chicago Sun-Times]This funding paves the way for the health system’s first inpatient hospital outside its Chicago campus, Misha Manjuran Oberoi reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the hospital’s Certificate of Need application, a key step toward expanding pediatric emergency and specialty care in the western suburbs.“Every child deserves access to the specialized care they need, as close to home as possible,” Tom Shanley, the hospital’s president and CEO, said in a statement.The proposed 298,000-square-foot facility will include 48 inpatient beds, an emergency department, operating rooms, diagnostic imaging and outpatient services. It is also expected to offer specialties in oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology and orthopedics. Patients are expected to begin receiving care in spring 2029. [Chicago Sun-Times]For the first time in its 92-year history, the Thanksgiving Day procession will begin at 7:45 a.m. — an hour earlier than in previous years, according to a spokesperson for the parade’s organizers.The earlier start will allow the parade’s television broadcast to begin at 8 a.m. on CBS Chicago, ahead of the Bears’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions. Pregame coverage will follow at 10 a.m.The parade along State Street will start at Ida B. Wells Drive and head north to Randolph Street. Admission is free. Expect to see 14 giant balloons, 12 marching bands and six equestrian units, with a new Cookie Monster balloon among the attractions. [Chicago Sun-Times]Jason Narducy would be the first to tell you that rock ’n’ roll stories are not all biting the heads off bats, snorting human ashes, setting hotel rooms on fire and having some intern pick out all the brown M&amp;Ms in your dressing room.Sure, the Evanston-reared musician has his “Behind the Music” sagas from touring with Bob Mould, Superchunk and the R.E.M. covers project with Michael Shannon. There’s also his own musical projects Split Single, Verböten and Verbow.But the tales he chooses to share in the second volume of his memoir series “Mostly the Van” are a bit more innocuous, music contributor Selena Fragassi writes. For example: getting Facebook friend requests from George Wendt, sparring with Guided By Voices’ Bob Pollard over Miller Lite vs. Heineken and playing with his band Split Single at the infamous Pizzagate restaurant in Washington, D.C., around the time the 4chan conspiracy went viral in 2016.The crown jewel of adolescent tales in the book, without giving too much away, involves Narducy getting yelled at by late sportscaster Tim Weigel (the stepdad of one of his high school friends) for playing music too loud and then getting caught in the crosshairs with Evanston PD for some illicit activity in Dawes Park. [Chicago Sun-Times]Here’s what else is happening<ul><li>Microsoft is scrambling to fix an email outage impacting millions of individuals, organizations and businesses. [NPR]</li><li>Start-up tech companies face a future without former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s money after his abrupt resignation. [New York Times]</li><li>Three high-ranking Chicago police officials were picked as finalists to replace former Supt. Larry Snelling — including a candidate who, if selected, would be the first woman to ever lead the department. [Chicago Sun-Times]</li><li>R&amp;B diva Patti LaBelle returns to the Chicago area to play at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana today and Genesee Theatre in Waukegan tomorrow. [Chicago Sun-Times]</li></ul>Oh, and one more thing …The season’s first snowflakes could fall today — a sign that now is the time to hit the ice rink.Whether you have your sights set on Olympic glory or don’t know a snowplow from a salchow, these 14 Chicago-area venues — from great date night spots to large, regulation-sized rinks — offer something for skaters of all levels. At Skatium Ice Arena in Skokie, you’ll even find classic rink fare like burgers and nachos with Jamaican flair.Several rinks offer free admission if you bring your own skates; all of them rent skates for kids through adults. Hours of operation vary widely, and reservations are required by a few rinks. Classes for figure skating and hockey are on tap at many.You can see our recommendations in the link. [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]Tell me something good …What’s a movie you watched this year and loved?Evangeline writes:“The ‘Coyote vs Acme’ love just reminded me of my favorite animated movie I saw this year: ‘Hoppers.’ So original, sweet, timely, and incredibly funny. A pivotal moment in the movie hinging on an accidental clap was so well timed the whole theater was in stitches.”Kelly writes:“A wonderful movie: ‘Mouse,’ starring Katherine Mallen Kupferer and her mother Tara Mallen, founder and artistic director of Chicago’s Rivendell Theatre. This coming of age story is from the same team behind 2024’s ‘Ghostlight,’ which starred Mallen Kupferer and her father, Chicago actor Keith Kupferer (Tara was in that one, too). Outstanding work by all concerned.”Jim writes:“Earlier this year I watched the French language movie ‘The Stranger’ from Albert Camus’ novel. It was shot in black and white which was perfect, and stayed true to the novel. It felt like it came out of the Golden Age of Hollywood, yet somehow still remained modern.”Thanks for all the responses this week! I couldn’t fit them all, but it was great hearing from everyone.</div></body>

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Good afternoon! It’s Friday the 13th, and my black cat is displeased he didn’t get an extra-early breakfast to celebrate. Here’s what you need to know today. As Fran Spielman reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ashlee Gabrysch’s departure sent shock waves through City Hall and beyond, coming in the middle of a budget stalemate after just three months in the role. The move could trigger another drop in Chicago’s already shaky bond rating and scare investors away from the city’s bonds.

The Rundown: Another sudden Johnson administration departure

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Good afternoon! It’s Friday the 13th, and my black cat is displeased he didn’t get an extra-early breakfast to celebrate. Here’s what you need to know toda

The Rundown: Another sudden Johnson administration departure

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