Good morning, Chicago.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, a century-old cottonwood tree fell outside the Hyde Park home of pianist and educator Bethany Pickens, and city crews removed it quickly—neighbors gathered to offer condolences while Pickens plans to keep pieces of the tree for her family.

A Bensenville man, Kevin Krenc, 32, was sentenced on Thursday in DuPage County to 30 years in prison for fatally shooting Victor Garcia during a party on Church Road in 2023 — he must serve his full sentence before being eligible for parole.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago opened its $66 million Tropical Forests today—a new outdoor space where visitors can see gorillas, orangutans and rescued spider monkeys up close.

Zoo leaders said the project is the first step of a long-term plan to add African savanna and forests to the park.

The Brushwood Center will host the botanical art exhibition “Rooted in the Shadow of Coal: Botanical Treasures of the Waukegan Dunes” with a free reception at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 13—followed by a panel discussion at 2 p.m. and a display running until Aug.

31 at the Gallery at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. The event is presented in partnership with the Driehaus Museum.

On July 5, thousands of mainly Black and brown queer Chicagoans gathered at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center for the seventh annual Pride South Side festival, enjoying live music, dancing, vendors, and speeches against federal challenges.

Organizers said the event showed unity and resistance while highlighting local talent and diverse voices.

UIC researchers led by Associate Professor Sushant Anand are developing an ultra-fast paper-based PCR device to enable home testing for viruses—an effort aimed at preventing future pandemics.

The team, including postdoctoral associate Gunipe Prasanth, received $25,000 in funding and plans to finish the portable prototype by the end of the year.