Welcome to Newswire — your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what action we can take to make our city great, featuring public meeting coverage by City Bureau’s Documenters.
Quote/Term of the Week
Extreme heat / noun
According to the National Weather Service, heat conditions are considered extreme when the following conditions are met:
When the peak heat index is expected to reach 100°F-105°F for three straight days
When the peak heat index exceeds 105°F-110°F for at least two days in a row
When the peak heat index is forecasted to be 110°F or higher for one day
Ex: The city of Chicago is warning people to prepare for extreme heat with temperatures and humidity hitting dangerous levels.
Chicago’s heating up, here’s how you can cool down
Amid summer heat waves, Chicago Park District officials are upgrading air conditioning at its fieldhouses in neighborhoods most affected by extreme heat.
This is the first phase of “cooling enhancements” at 42 parks, investing $1 million in the improvements. The money for the upgrades is coming from $45 million tax increment financing surplus set aside for the Park District in the 2026 city budget.
Park District leaders prioritized sites for the first improvements based on the Chicago Heat Vulnerability Index created by researchers. That showed that nearly all of the neighborhoods most affected by extreme heat are on the West, Southwest and South sides of the city.
Twenty parks in those areas will get upgraded air conditioning by the end of this summer, and 10 more projects will be complete by the end of the year. Twelve larger projects to provide better cooling are getting started. You can see the map of sites getting upgrades by clicking through to this page and scrolling to the bottom.
In the meantime, we want to do everything we can now to stay cool out there and protect our loved ones. The district is running cooling centers (scroll down on this newsletter for a list of sites), and keeping beaches, pools, and splash pads open as temperatures spike.
Do your best to follow these tips from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications:
Stay hydrated – drink lots of water; AVOID alcohol, caffeine, sodas.
Stay inside; if you do not have air conditioning, keep shades drawn and blinds closed, but windows slightly open.
Keep electric lights off or turn them down.
Minimize use of your oven and stove.
Wear loose, light, cotton clothing.
Take cool baths and showers.
Do not leave anyone (including pets) in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
Check in frequently with vulnerable neighbors, especially older residents and people who live alone.
And remember, under the 2022 Cooling Ordinance, on days when the heat index exceeds 80°F, certain residential buildings must provide air conditioning in all apartments or have an air-conditioned indoor common gathering area known as a cooling center.
Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners by Arieon Whittsey
What you can do:
Share this map of where you can find air conditioned spaces in Chicago and share info about how to prepare for extreme heat with friends and neighbors:
The Department of Family and Support Services’ (DFSS) six community service centers activate cooling areas during periods of extreme heat at 90˚F and above. The cooling areas operate from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
Auburn Gresham Center – 1140 W. 79th St.
Garfield Center – 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
King Center – 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
North Area Center – 845 W. Wilson Ave.
South Chicago Center – 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
Trina Davila Center – 4312 W. North Ave.
DFSS Senior Centers: Seniors are welcome at any of DFSS’s senior centers (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Renaissance Court, which is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, City Colleges of Chicago, and Chicago Police District Locations:
During hours of operation, residents can also find relief at Chicago Public Library locations, City Colleges of Chicago main campuses, Chicago Park District fieldhouses, as well as pools and splash pads throughout the city.
The Chicago Police Department’s 22 district stations are available 24 hours for relief from the heat and to be connected with shelter.
Chicago’s debt sale and what it means for YOU
Do you owe money for parking tickets and other unpaid fines? Here’s what to know about Chicago’s debt sale, debt relief programs, and how to spot a debt scam.
The city of Chicago is selling debt that residents and visitors owe for municipal fines and fees to a private debt collector as a way to help cover its 2026 budget gap.
While owing money for traffic tickets or water bills might not be the biggest portion of debt many of us are facing — debt for student loans, credit cards and medical bills are often what hit us hardest — our city-owned debt could put us in a bind once private collectors start contacting us to pay up. It’s also something our elected officials are making decisions about in real time.
Check out our resource guide for information on getting rid of debt, the City’s debt sale, how to spot debt scams and more.
Content in this Newswire is from Resource guide: Do you owe Chicago money? Start Here by Grace Del Vecchio, Jerrel Floyd and Sophia Kalakailo. Stay tuned for more of our reporting on this and more resources about navigating debt at citybureau.org/news.
What you can do:
We want to hear from you: If you have unpaid parking, red-light or traffic tickets, have ever had your car booted or are unsure whether you owe money to the city, we want to hear about your experiences and how they affect you. Contact us at civicinfo@citybureau.org to share your story with us.
A version of this story was first published in the July 15, 2026 issue of the Newswire, an email newsletter that is your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what we can do to make our city great. You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.
Have thoughts on what you'd like to see in this feature? Email Civic Editor Dawn Rhodes at dawn@citybureau.org.