💻 From Under the El
Spring weather continues to be absolutely chaotic, but that’s good news in and of itself — winter is officially over, the days are getting longer, and warm weather is finally making (somewhat) regular appearances. Got any good spring or summer plans? In the meantime, here’s your Tuesday dose of good news.
⏰ tl;dr
A Chicago lawmaker is pushing to make life-saving heart screenings more accessible, catching problems before they become emergencies
Illinois just hit a record $703M in film production spending, turning Chicago into a serious hub for creatives
This weekend: roll up your sleeves and join a Chinatown cleanup event
🌻 What’s Going Right In Chicago Today
🐀 A smarter (and safer) way of dealing with rats is working
An 88% drop in rat activity in parts of Wicker Park and Bucktown shows a new, non-toxic approach could reshape how Chicago handles a long-standing problem.
This is one of those ideas that sounds strange until you realize it’s kind of brilliant: Instead of trying to poison rats, what if you just… made there fewer of them over time?
That’s exactly what’s happening in Wicker Park and Bucktown, where a pilot program using rat birth control has led to an 88% reduction in rodent activity in some areas. The approach uses a contraceptive bait that reduces fertility gradually, instead of killing animals outright.
And while this idea might sound silly on the surface, it’s more important than you might think. Traditional rat poison doesn’t just affect rats; it moves up the food chain. Last year, an entire family of nesting great horned owls in Lincoln Park died after ingesting poisoned prey, a reminder that these solutions ripple outward in ways we don’t always see.
When we see a big reduction like that, it translates to fewer sightings and less movement in those shared spaces with the residents.
This new method is considered low-risk for other animals, including birds and pets. The early results are strong enough that organizers are planning to expand the program across more of the city.
🎬 Chicago’s film industry is having a big moment
A record $703 million in production spending is fueling jobs, creative careers, and a growing identity for Chicago as a film powerhouse.
If you’ve felt like you’re seeing more film crews around the city lately, you’re not imagining it. Illinois just hit a record $703 million in film and TV production spending in 2025, a 25% jump from pre-pandemic levels. That growth means roughly 18,000 jobs, from camera operators to set designers to local vendors supporting productions behind the scenes.
The future of film, the future of storytelling, is going to be shaped right here. Whether your dream is to be a TV star or a movie star, an A-list director or renowned cinematographer, Illinois is the place to be.
A lot of the momentum is tied to the state’s film tax credit, which has turned Chicago into a magnet for productions that might’ve otherwise gone to places like Atlanta or Los Angeles. But what’s interesting is how local this has become. Actor Joe Minoso, who’s been with Chicago Fire since the beginning, has talked about watching Chicago-based Cinespace evolve from gravel lots into one of the busiest studios in the country.
❤ A Chicago lawmaker is expanding access to lifesaving heart screenings
More Illinois residents could soon get early heart disease screenings without worrying about cost — catching issues before they turn deadly.
State Rep. Yolonda Morris (D-Chicago) just advanced a bill that would require insurance companies to cover coronary calcium scans, a tool that can detect heart disease early, for people 40 and older every three years. If it becomes law, it means more people can find out something’s wrong before it becomes a crisis, instead of after.
This is a meaningful step toward ensuring every Illinois family has access to the care they need. Passing this bill in committee brings us one step closer to making sure people can access the life-saving screenings without worrying about whether they can afford them.
Heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death, but it’s also one of the most preventable when caught early. That’s the idea behind this bill: Remove the financial hesitation that keeps people from getting screened in the first place.
🗓️ Eye On the Chi
Chicago Chinatown Cleanup
pend your Saturday morning helping beautify Chinatown: Meet neighbors and pitch in for the community.
When: March 28, 9 a.m.
Where: Chinatown Visitor Center
Hug A Child NFP Six-Year Appreciation Celebration
A feel-good afternoon celebrating six years of giving back — expect smiles, community, and a lot of good energy.
When: March 28, 1:30 p.m.
Where: 1401 S Sacramento Dr
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Till next time,
Good News, Chicago
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