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Afternoon Briefing

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Good afternoon, Chicago.

The U.S. is having its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades, with a total of 1,288 cases nationally and six months left in 2025.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today that the national case count surpassed 2019, when there were 1,274 cases for the year and the country almost lost its status of having eliminated the vaccine-preventable illness. That could happen this year if the virus has nonstop spread for 12 months.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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news
Then-Ald. Carrie Austin listens during a City Council meeting at Chicago City Hall on Feb. 23, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Judge rules ex-Ald. Carrie Austin medically unfit to face trial on corruption charges

A federal judge ruled today that former Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin is medically unfit to stand trial on corruption charges, likely ending a case that first came to light when federal agents raided her South Side office more than six years ago.

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More top news stories:

business
X CEO Linda Yaccarino speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with other social media platform heads on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 31, 2024, to discuss child safety online. (Susan Walsh/AP)

X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigns after two years at the helm of Elon Musk’s social media platform

Linda Yaccarino posted a positive message about her tenure at the company formerly known as Twitter and said “the best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with” Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, maker of the chatbot Grok.

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sports
Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, left, is congratulated by first baseman Michael Busch after hitting a home run in the fifth inning against the Cardinals on July 6, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Column: Chicago Cubs offense has been a machine so far — but it still could use a little help

The 2025 Cubs entered yesterday on pace to score 885 runs, which would be their highest total since the 1930 team finished with 998. That was the season Cubs outfielder Hack Wilson set a longtime NL record with 56 home runs and drove in 191 runs, which remains the major-league mark.

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eat. watch. do.
Asher Asif, center, gathers with friends over tea at Matari Coffee on April 18, 2025, in Lombard. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Lombard’s booming Yemeni coffee shops underscore demand for ‘third places’ and culturally appropriate nightlife

The recent boom in Yemeni coffee shops in the Chicago area, specifically in Lombard and other suburbs with a growing population of modern Muslim communities, underscores the rising demand for a place to socialize that isn’t tied to alcohol, but with a buzzy nightlife ambience.

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More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

nation & world
Cranes and shipping containers are seen at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

President Donald Trump’s trade blitz produces few deals but lots of uncertainty

The president has now extended the deadline for negotiations to Aug. 1 and tinkered with his threatened tariffs, leaving the global trading system pretty much where it stood three months ago — in a state of limbo as businesses delay decisions on investments, contracts and hiring because they don’t know what the rules will be.

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