The Rundown: Bicycle crashes are surging in Chicago

Plus, 10 drugs are targeted for Medicare price cuts. Here’s what you need to know today.

Good afternoon! For some reason, while I was trying to fall asleep, I had the idea of making a statue dedicated to Amy the talking gorilla from Congo. Anyway, here’s what you need to know today.

So far this year, there have been nearly 1,190 crashes involving a cyclist, almost a 30% increase compared to the same time period in 2020, WBEZ’s Jessica Alvarado Gamez reports.

The alarming rise in crashes comes after a series of fatal accidents last summer, including the deaths of two young children, created a public outcry and a push for safer streets. City officials responded by increasing fines on vehicles parked in bike lanes and upgrading protected lanes.

But the continued rise in crashes suggests the problem is not going away.

A couple of studies in recent months have recommended ways Chicago can make roads safer, including reducing speed limits on larger roads and closing gaps in the city’s bike network.

Earlier this year, city transportation officials released a plan for adding 150 miles of new and improved bikeways. Officials say 85% of the plan’s projects will include protected lanes and neighborhood greenways. [WBEZ]

The plan calls for buying property formerly used by the U.S. Marine Corps to create a shelter for more than 500 migrants, Block Club Chicago reports.

A council committee this week gave preliminary approval to the $1.5 million plan, which now heads to the full council for a final vote next month. [Block Club Chicago]

Meanwhile, a hotel in the city’s Kenwood neighborhood will be converted into a shelter for more than 300 migrants, according to the local alderman. [Block CLub Chicago]

The moves come as Mayor Brandon Johnson faces increased pressure to find housing for migrants, many of whom have been staying at temporary shelters inside police stations, a hold-over strategy from the Lightfoot administration.

When pressed by the Chicago Tribune for details about Johnson’s long-term plan, a high-ranking aide to the mayor said the city needs more help from President Joe Biden’s administration. [Chicago Tribune]

As officials continue to say little about a shooting that wounded two women during a White Sox game, a police report says at least two shots were fired and a bullet was found in the hoodie of a third woman, my colleagues Rosemary Sobol and Sophie Sherry report.

“I felt a pinch in my back … sure enough I picked up a damn bullet,” the woman with the hoodie said in a Facebook post that has since been deleted. “Still in shock … but I am fine.”

The shooting took place as fans watched Friday night’s game between the White Sox and the Oakland Athletics.

As police responded to the shooting, Chief of Patrol Brian McDermott asked the White Sox organization to stop the game “for public safety reasons,” my colleagues report.

But ultimately the game continued because police didn’t see any threat of an active shooter and didn’t want to “create a panic,” said interim Police Supt. Fred Waller. [Chicago Sun-Times]

President Joe Biden’s administration today named 10 expensive drugs that will be included in price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, an unprecedented step aimed at reducing the financial burden for older Americans.

Among the prescription drugs are Imbruvica, a drug that treats blood cancers, and diabetes drugs Jardiance, Januvia, Farxiga and Fiasp/Novolog insulin. You can find a full list in the link.

As NPR reports: “People on Medicare who took the 10 drugs paid a total of $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for them in 2022, according to the government. The cost to Medicare was much higher — about $50 billion in total.”

The power to negotiate the prices comes from the Inflation Reduction Act passed last year. Drugmakers have since filed several lawsuits, arguing the new law is unconstitutional. [NPR]

Organizers of the swim club, which draws thousands of people to Chicago’s Montrose Harbor, today announced on Instagram that there will be no more official meet-ups this summer.

The news comes after the Chicago Sun-Times reported on how the event breaks almost all of the Park District’s rules on swimming.

In today’s announcement, organizers said the decision to end this summer’s meet-ups was due to “last Friday’s event and the complex communication that is happening between the Chicago Park District and the city.”

Hundreds of people showed up to swim last Friday even though the official swim club had been called off. Organizers said police and Park District workers had threatened to arrest some swimmers.

The Park District and Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Should NASCAR return to Chicago next year? Survey says … nope!

Ald. Brendan Reilly, whose 42nd Ward includes parts of the downtown area, created an online poll to gauge how people felt about NASCAR’s street race this summer.

Of the 662 people who responded, 54.5% said they do not support the street race returning, Crain’s Chicago Business reports, which cautions the poll was “not scientific and may have attracted a disproportionately negative sample.”

Reilly said the results of the survey and an upcoming economic impact study will guide his decision on whether to support or oppose next year’s street race. [Crain’s Chicago Business]

I’ve been thinking a lot about the fall, probably because we all just survived a brutal heat wave. What are some of your favorite things to do in the fall?

Laura Pegoraro in Des Plaines writes:

“This is controversial, but candy corn, specifically Autumn Mix so you get both kinds of candy corn AND mellowcreme pumpkins and pumpkin spice everything! (But not until September 1st.)”

Joel Inwood writes:

“My favorite thing about fall is the Forest Preserves turning into a crimson and orange autumnal wonderland! My second favorite thing is the wildly variable Chicago Halloween weather. Snow? T-shirt weather? Anything is possible!”

Feel free to email me, and your response might be shared in the newsletter this week.