Good afternoon, Chicago.
Images of your friendly neighborhood mail carrier trundling along the roadside in a boxy white mailtruck or walking up to the door in striped federal blue are as American as apple pie, but in this 250th birthday year for the nation, not everyone gets to partake in this American experience.
For some residents in Wheeler, Indiana, it’s more of a hunting expedition than the receiving of mail. Since the closing of the Wheeler post office branch in July 2023, the residents have had to travel to the Hobart post office to collect their mail. The unserved pocket is limited to a small area south of Ind. 130 and north of County Road 450 North.
The 4.8 miles may not seem like a lot to some, but the nine-minute drive is a far cry from the quick jaunt across 130 they used to make to collect their mail at the Wheeler branch, particularly for Jeanine Ross, who is disabled after a car accident and has to rely on family to collect her mail.
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.
Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill, speaks during a news conference to introduce The Full Body Restraint Prohibition Act on Capitol Hil, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
New bill seeks to prohibit DHS from using full-body restraints
The Department of Homeland Security would be barred from using a full-body restraint device called the WRAP under a new bill introduced in the House today. The “Full-Body Restraint Prohibition Act,” sponsored by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., would prohibit future purchases of the device and create oversight and reporting requirements. Read more here.
More top news stories:
Noise of train horns in Glencoe to be reduced under agreement
Indiana housing bill amended, passed Senate
A Waymo vehicle drives with traffic on Dec. 27, 2025, in San Francisco. Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., currently operates in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Waymo starts mapping Chicago streets as self-driving car battle heats up in Springfield
Waymos are coming to Chicago — but they’re not driving themselves yet. The self-driving taxi company is deploying about 10 vehicles in Chicago to start mapping the city’s streets — thus “laying the early groundwork” for future operations here — Waymo said today. Read more here.
More top business stories:
Chicago Fire open up marketing center to sell suites and seats at new $750M soccer stadium
Mr. Clean, the bald, broad-shouldered cleaning mascot, retires
Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas laughs as infielder Munetaka Murakami asks to field another ball during Spring Training at Camelback Ranch–Glendale in Phoenix, Ariz., on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Column: New bidets might help the Chicago White Sox flush away the past
The team that bidets together stays together. Or at least that’s the mantra of the Chicago White Sox after news that the team is introducing bidets in the clubhouse at the request of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
Jack Hughes’ OT goal for US gold in Olympic men’s hockey averages 26M live viewers on NBC and Peacock
Chicago Blackhawks prospect AJ Spellacy less focused on scoring than ‘being a pain to play against’
People queue outside the Louvre museum, in Paris, France, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The home of the ‘Mona Lisa’ has a new boss to steer the Louvre out of crisis after jewel heist
The home of the “Mona Lisa” is getting a new boss. Art historian Christophe Leribault, a veteran museum director, is taking over at the Louvre, shouldering the challenge of getting the world’s largest museum out of crisis after the brazen heist in October of the French crown jewels. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
Architecture Prize responds after Tom Pritzker’s Epstein ties surface
Column: At the Drury Lane-Martinique in Evergreen Park, John R. Lazzara owned the spotlight
President Donald Trump exits the House Chamber after delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
President Donald Trump plans to take his State of the Union message on the road — eventually
President Donald Trump has delivered the State of the Union. Now the challenge for him is to make that message stick. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
Casey Means faces the Senate health committee in a confirmation hearing to be US surgeon general
Today in History: Baruch Goldstein opens fire inside the Tomb of the Patriarchs
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/25/afternoon-briefing-mail-delivered-one-community-over/
