💻 From Under the El
False spring is over and 30-degree weather is back. Still, a Chicagoan jumped into Belmont Harbor to save a baby. And 95 CPS seniors just secured $30 million in scholarships. And for families struggling with drafty homes and sky-high bills, the city is opening the door to real relief. The temperature says winter, but these headlines are warming our hearts.
⏰ tl;dr
Hero in Belmont Harbor: A Chicagoan who doesn’t even swim dove into icy Lake Michigan and saved an 8-month-old from drowning. The baby is safe. The hero is stable.
$30M for CPS seniors: 95 public school students secured full-tuition Posse scholarships. It’s a record-setting win that will send nearly 100 Chicago kids to college debt-free.
Mark your calendar: Speed Rack Chicago (this weekend at Thalia Hall) is an all-women and femme bartending competition raising money for breast cancer research. Drink well and do good.
🌻 What’s Going Right In Chicago Today
🏠 Mayor Brandon Johnson has reopened Green Homes Chicago Registration
Low-income homeowners can now access full-home retrofits and electrification upgrades that will permanently slash monthly utility bills and eliminate health hazards.
The mayor has officially reopened the registration for Green Homes Chicago, a bold offensive against the rising costs of living and environmental injustice. The program provides one- and two-unit homeowners with whole-home retrofits (including cold-climate heat pumps and weatherization) at no cost to those burdened by high energy expenses.
With retrofits already completed in the first 60 homes, the city is scaling this initiative to ensure Chicago’s aging housing stock is both sustainable and affordable. This program can be a breath of relief for families who have spent years choosing between heating their homes and buying groceries.
🏊♂ Non-swimmer hero rescues baby from freezing Belmont Harbor
Chicagoan Lio Cundiff successfully saved an 8-month-old infant from drowning after a massive wind gust blew her stroller into Lake Michigan.
In a breathtaking act of selflessness, Lio Cundiff jumped into the deep, icy waters of Belmont Harbor on Wednesday afternoon to rescue a baby girl. Despite not knowing how to swim, Cundiff fought the currents and the weight of the stroller to keep the child above water until others could pull them to safety.
Turns out I'm a fighter, I guess. Always thought I was a runner. I guess not today.
The infant was treated and released in good health, while Cundiff remained hospitalized Thursday in stable condition.
Image credit: Union Pacific
🚂 Chicago railroaders set historic 10-year safety record
Local transit professionals achieved 380 consecutive injury-free days, operating Chicago’s rail arteries with the highest safety standards in a decade.
The Chicago Service Unit was awarded the 2025 Safety Bell on Friday after achieving an unprecedented milestone in employee safety: The team surpassed every other service unit in the country, maintaining an injury-free streak that had not been seen in the last 10 years. This high-stakes commitment to safety directly impacts the reliability of the rail systems that move Chicago's food and fuel, not to mention keeping rail workers safe on the job every day.
📚 95 CPS students secure a record $30 million in scholarships
This massive educational boost will help nearly 100 Chicagoans attend elite universities without debt.
95 Chicago Public Schools seniors were named 2026 Posse Scholars, collectively securing more than $30 million in full-tuition scholarships.
The students were selected from a pool of 2,400 applicants based on their leadership and academic resilience. They are now headed to institutions like Cornell and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, representing a direct infusion of opportunity into Chicago’s neighborhoods. This achievement stands as a powerful testament to the caliber of student talent thriving in the city’s public system, creating a new generation of debt-free leaders.
🏒 South Sider Abbey Murphy helps lead the U.S. women’s hockey team to gold
A local Chicago-area athlete’s victory has united the South Side in a historic celebration of neighborhood talent on the world stage.
Chicago native Abbey Murphy has led Team USA’s Women’s Ice Hockey to a thrilling overtime gold medal win against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Murphy, the daughter of a local pipefitter who grew up playing in local South Side rinks, scored two goals and seven points for Team USA throughout their Olympics run, sparking celebrations across Evergreen Park and Beverly. Her journey from local rinks to an Olympic podium serves as powerful inspiration for young athletes across the city.
“I played for the Chicago Mission for eight years for some wonderful coaches, had some of the best memories over there. They built me a lot, I had a lot of support and guidance both as a person and a player with that club team.”
💰 JB Pritzker demands immediate refunds of taxpayer funds after SCOTUS tariff ruling
Following a Friday ruling that struck down federal tariffs, Governor JB Pritzker has officially issued an $8.6 billion bill to the federal government for immediate reimbursement for every Illinoisan household.
The Court ruled 6-3 that Trump didn’t have the authority to impose the sweeping tariffs he’s used to bully other nations into doing his bidding over much of the last year. In a public letter addressed to Trump, Pritzker demanded the federal government refund the cost of the tariffs that had been paid by each household in the state: an estimate $1,700.
“Your tariff taxes wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof. This morning, your hand-picked Supreme Court Justices notified you that they are also unconstitutional. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I demand a refund of $1,700 for every family in Illinois. There are 5,105,448 households in my state, bringing the total damages you owe to $8,679,261,600.”
🗓️ Eye On the Chi
Speed Rack Chicago
The first and only international all-women and femme bartending competition where every ticket sold contributes to breast cancer research and prevention.
Date: Feb. 23
Location: Thalia Hall
Black Makers Market
Every Saturday in February, discover Black-owned artisans and brands, shop small, and provide local businesses with a high-traffic place to gather rooted in creativity and community.
Date: Feb. 28
Location: Navy Pier
Till next time,
✨ Good News, Chicago ✨
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