Colin (Harry Melling) has an “aptitude for devotion.” It’s a quality that he discovers about himself, develops and ultimately embraces over the course of “Pillion,” Harry Lighton’s “dom-com,” an amusing, illuminating and daring romance about a dominant/submissive relationship that proves revelatory for our young protagonist.

“Pillion” isn’t quite a love story, but rather a coming-of-age tale, leather-clad. Based on the novella “Box Hill” by Adam Mars-Jones, the film follows a relationship between the sheltered Colin and stoic biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), who meet in a pub one Christmas Eve. Ray immediately susses out Colin for his potential qualities — his “aptitude,” if you will — and Colin keeps coming around, curious about the impossibly handsome Ray and the possibilities he presents.

The word “pillion” refers to the backseat of a motorcycle (and often those who might ride it), and Lighton invites the viewer to hop on the back of his machine for a kink-positive exploratory journey into the gay motorcycle gang subculture that Ray inhabits, all seen through Colin’s uniquely expressive eyes. Lighton doesn’t hold the audience’s hand or overexplain; he simply presents this world and allows us to learn the dynamics and rituals through observation, as Colin enthusiastically fumbles his way through Submissive 101 with the taciturn Ray.

But the anthropological aspect of “Pillion” is merely the backdrop for what is a period of personal discovery for Colin. He’s extremely close with his caring parents, particularly his mother Peggy (the great Lesley Sharp), who is dying of cancer. As his tight-knit family unit is fading away in front of his eyes, he clings to both the discipline and queer family that he finds with Ray.  Relinquishing all control in his relationship serves as a relief from his day-to-day routine of writing parking tickets and sometimes singing in a barbershop quartet. Ray offers him sex, and danger, and access to an exciting new world, but in his rigid dominance, he also offers Colin freedom — from expectations, from decision-making, from quotidian drudgery.

We know Colin thrills to it, based on his reactions to the boundaries that Ray pushes. And Ray himself refuses to be pushed around. When Peggy bristles at the dynamic she witnesses between her son and his lover at a family dinner, Ray calmly informs her that just because she feels uncomfortable doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with their relationship. It’s an important moment in the film because Lighton is lightly domming the viewer in the same way: check any squeamish inhibitions at the door, because no kink-shaming is welcome here.

Lighton presents it all with unvarnished honesty, allowing the tension and humor to bloom in the clash between Skarsgård’s forthright Scandinavian brusqueness, and Melling’s awkward British charm. Lighton and cinematographer Nick Morris favor natural light, particularly in Ray’s sparsely decorated apartment — the visual focus is always on the relationship itself. The film gets aesthetically expressive in slow-motion sequences when Colin is riding pillion on Ray’s bike, capturing the sensual excitement of it all, the wild ride that Colin has chosen to take.

Lighton favors music for setting the tone and locating the story within the emotional tenor of mid-century yearning classics. The soundtrack is studded with unique tracks like a cover of ’60s love ballad “I Will Follow Him,” retro disco rock anthem “Bad Feeling” by Cobra Man, and a poignant performance of the standard “Smile” by Colin’s barbershop quartet.

But it’s the delicately wrought performances that allow us to walk hand-in-hand with these characters. Melling’s face and eyes reveal the sheer joy of surrender as Colin dives into Ray’s way of life; later, when he flips the script on his partner, Skarsgård’s inscrutable expression shields Ray’s emotions as he visibly resists any connection that might take a different form than the one they’ve built, chain link by chain link.

The edgy and explicit “Pillion” might be set within the parameters of a relationship that many would consider “alternative,” but the heart of it is the same as any love story that becomes a lesson in self-love. Not every relationship lasts, but we are changed by every one, and hopefully for the better.

Katie Walsh is a critic for Tribune News Service.

“Pillion” — 3 stars (out of 4)

No MPA rating (graphic sex scenes, nudity and discussion of sex)

Running time: 1:47

How to watch: In limited theatrical release Feb. 6, wider on Feb. 20

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/review-pillion-movie/ 

Beverly Theatre Guild presents ‘Clue’

“Clue” takes over the Baer Theater at Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St. in Chicago later this month.

The Beverly Theatre Guild’s production can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and 2 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15. The show Feb. 13 includes American Sign Language interpretation.

The murder-mystery, based on the board game and movie of the same name, is set at a dinner party in 1954 in Washington, D.C., that includes secret passages, suspense and slapstick comedy. Director Anna Rachel Troy, of Chicago, is assisted by assistant director Lewis R. Jones, of Riverside.

A dinner and show package is available from Jenny’s Steak and Banquets in Chicago Ridge.

Tickets for the show are $18 for students up to 13 years old, $25 for adults and $23 for guild members, seniors and military personnel. Group rates also are available. Information is at beverlytheatreguild.org or 773-184-8497.

Domestic violence center seeks gala sponsors

Crisis Center of Suburbia seeks sponsors for its 2026 Gala, Be the One – Color the World With Compassion, planned for Feb. 21 at the Odyssey in Tinley Park.

The gala, the organization’s biggest fundraiser, helps fund counseling, advocacy and emergency shelter for individuals and families who are survivors of domestic violence. Exelon is this year’s presenting sponsor, but more are needed. In addition to monetary sponsors, Crisis Center is accepting in-kind donations for the silent auction.

To become a sponsor or donate an auction item, email development@crisisctr.org or call 708-429-7255.

Musky club plans fishing, outdoor show

The Midwest Musky Club hosts its 10th annual fishing and outdoor show from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 7 at Village Sportsmans’ club, 5201 W. 115th St. in Alsip.

Marine, camping, hunting and fishing items will be available for sale, but no guns or ammunition will be allowed. Fundraiser tickets for the club will be sold, with a Hummingbird 15-inch Solix as the prize.

Admission costs $5 per person. Visit www.midwestmuskyclub.com.

100+ Women Who Care give to New Lenox pantry

Jim Pitcairn, facilities and programs director of the New Lenox Township, center, holds a symbolic check for $10,725 from 100+ Women Who Care of Will County that will support the New Lenox Family Services Food Pantry. (100+ Women Who Care of Will County)

The New Lenox Family Services Food Pantry recently received a boost from 100+ Women Who Care of Will County, thanks to a donation of $10,725 from the organization.

The money represents $7,150 from the organization’s given circle as well as a 50% matching grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.

The pantry, run primarily by volunteers, is open Monday through Friday at 1080 Cedar Road in New Lenox and serves families challenged by food insecurity. Jim Pitcairn, facilities and programs director of New Lenox Township, said the money will help establish a scholarship fund for students in the Lincoln-Way Transition Program to continue their education or financial means to get to work. For the past five years, the pantry has been working with the Life Essentials students, those with special needs, at Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way Central.

The next meeting of 100+ Women Who Care of Will County is 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Coom’s Corner Sports Grill, 1225 E. Ninth St. in Lockport. Members meet quarterly to nominate charities, choose three at random, and then vote on which to support with a $100 check. Details are at 100wwc-will.org.

Valentine’s Day craft, vendor event set

Craft fans can spend part of Valentine’s Day exploring a craft vendor event from 9 a.m. to 2 p. m Feb. 14 at Blue Island Eagles Ladies Auxiliary 1332, 2427 Grove St. in Blue Island.

Admission is free, and food, drinks and a bake sale will be available in addition to individual crafters and vendors. Candles, beads, dog treats, crocheted items, Mary Kay, key chains, T-shirts, Tastefully Simple and Tupperware are some of the items up for sale.

The building has a side entrance accessible to people with disabilities. Details are at 708-388-9739..

Tinley Park expo wants to hook fans of fishing, outdoor activities

Meet Hall of Fame speakers during the Tinley Park Fishing Travel & Outdoor Expo, set for

Noon to 8 p.m. Feb. 13, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 14 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Tinley park Convention Center, 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park.

Mike Norris and Mike Mladenik will be the headlines, as  well as regional experts who will share their expertise during seminars included with admission. Boating, kayaking, camping, hunting and fishing experts will be on hand, and live demonstrations will be at the Hawg Trough. Kids can enjoy a trout pond and balloon art, face painting and games.

Advance tickets, group rates and details are found at TinleyFishExpo.com.

Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/around-the-southland-beverly-theatre-guild-presents-clue-gala-planned-in-tinley-more/ 

The movies may be coming to Flossmoor.

The Village Board approved an agreement last month with the production company Only Believe Entertainment to develop abandoned village-owned land into a studio and production space.

Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson said the project will benefit the town by drawing in production crews and revenue for every new project.

“Each one of these films has their own crew, contractors and whatnot, and artists and actors, so it’ll bring in a fresh new crew to the village whenever there’s a production happening,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the passage of recent film tax credit legislation on the state level made it attractive for Only Believe Entertainment, which is based in Indiana, to relocate to Illinois.

“The film industry in Illinois has been booming, and we’re leading the United States in terms of friendliness to films,” Nelson said. “We’re becoming quite the Mecca.”

The development is planned for two village-owned parcels on the 3600 block of 198th Street in Flossmoor. The agreement was approved unanimously Jan. 20.

The first phase of the planned development will consist of three buildings: an administration and production building, a soundstage and a prop house, as well as internal roadways, according to the agreement.

The project is also planned to include a space for viewing films that will be able to host special events, Nelson said.

Only Believe Entertainment has until Sept. 30, 2027, to complete construction, according to the agreement.

Nelson said there is not a firm timeline for construction in place yet, but that things were coming together quickly.

“I saw it as a win-win, for both him in terms of growth and also for the village of Flossmoor,” Nelson said. “It just seemed like a natural partnership.”

A broadcast crew led by Marcellus Marsh films a commercial for stroke awareness in a residential kitchen in Flossmoor in summer 2024. (Bionic Content)

Part of the agreement entails the developer applying for Class 8 tax relief with Cook County, which will reduce the tax rates on the property for 12 years, though the developer also agreed to reimburse the village for its portion of the reduced taxes.

There are multiple reasons Flossmoor is well-suited for film productions, Nelson said.

“We have a lot of folks who are in the production space already, from filming to acting to voiceover,” Nelson said. “There’s a lot of home-grown talent here that I think will end up operating out of that studio.”

In April of last year, Flossmoor passed an ordinance to create an approval procedure for productions that want to shoot in the village, following an influx of interest.

Under that ordinance, productions were required to apply in advance and pay a fee for a shooting permit. Residents living near the place of filming must be notified, and those living within 300 feet have the right to object. Student films are exempt from the permit fee.

“We have these great backdrops,” Nelson said. “From mid-century modern homes to old classic designs to some newer, more modern architecture. Plus we’ve got this gorgeous downtown, and great parks.”

Only Believe Entertainment was founded in 2017, according to its website. The company did not respond to requests for comment on the project Wednesday.

“OBE stands by the notion that artists should not wait for Hollywood to take a chance on them,” the company’s website said.

elewis@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/flossmoor-movie-production-studio-plan/ 

Just shy of 250 years ago, Founding Father John Adams understood the weight of the moment when we as a nation declared our independence from British rule, as well as the importance of celebrating that moment to help unify a new American people.

He wrote to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776, that the day would be the most memorable in American history. He said the day of deliverance should be celebrated by succeeding generations.

“It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,” he wrote her.

Too bad Illinoisans will not join in the illuminations at home for our nation’s semiquincentennial — at least not legally. That’s because Illinois state law bans residents from using or even transporting most consumer fireworks. Leaders in Illinois, Massachusetts and Vermont don’t trust their residents to act responsibly enough to fulfill Adams’ rallying cry.

Our nation’s independent streak is the defining element of our national character. We celebrate the cowboy and the explorer and still fly “Don’t Tread on Me” flags.

So, the fact that the Illinois fireworks ban is roundly ignored by Illinoisans is not a surprise to anyone, as the night skies prove on Independence Day. We simply drive across the state line to enrich pop-up stands in Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and the other Midwestern states.

Northwest Indiana is one of the nation’s hottest fireworks markets thanks to Chicago-area consumers. Hannibal, Missouri, claims the nation’s largest fireworks stand — about the size of a Walmart Supercenter.

Reggie Rogers, of Chicago, loads his shopping cart with fireworks at Krazy Kaplans Fireworks on Calumet Avenue on July 2, 2025, in Hammond. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Both are a short ride over the Illinois border. Both are getting rich from Illinoisans ignoring the state ban. Both have giddy politicians collecting lots of tax from outsiders. 

Consumer fireworks consumption in the U.S. hit nearly 300 million pounds, worth $2.2 billion, in 2024 and is expected to “boom” for the 250th Independence Day. This year, the holiday falls on a Saturday, which also traditionally spikes consumption.

So, here’s a suggestion for the Illinois General Assembly, which will wrap up its current session well before we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday this July Fourth. Let’s stop making Illinoisans criminals twice over — once when they go get fireworks and then again when they shoot them off — just because they want to celebrate their independence as Adams envisioned. Let’s keep Illinois fireworks dollars in Illinois.

It’s time to repeal the Illinois Pyrotechnic Use Act of 1942.

Illinois since 1942 has banned most consumer fireworks such as Roman candles, firecrackers and bottle rockets out of concern for people’s safety. The act does allow novelty items such as sparklers, which are sticks of magnesium burning at up to 3,000 degrees.

So why didn’t state lawmakers ban sparklers, which in 2024 caused 1,700 emergency room visits nationwide? Maybe because a little perspective shows there is relatively little risk to fireworks compared with the joy of personal pyrotechnics and the economic bump their use can bring.

Of 12.7 million emergency room visits in the U.S. related to consumer products in 2023, fireworks accounted for fewer than 10,000. Barbecuing caused double that and baseball and softball games 14 times as many. No politicians are trying to ban grilling or America’s pastime.

Illinoisans deserve to decide for themselves whether they want to shoot off displays in their backyards or head to municipal displays to express their patriotism. Freedom of choice is valued in 47 other states, so why not here?

Illinois leaders should not play King George and restrict our people on the very day we are celebrating our independence. State lawmakers can lift the ban and enjoy their freedom to tax the newly legal consumer fireworks plus the income from those Illinois stands.

Let’s light the fuse for repeal. Let’s celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday with legal pyrotechnics in Illinois, just as the Founding Fathers prescribed.

Brad Weisenstein is the managing editor of the Illinois Policy Institute.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/opinion-illinois-freedom-america-250th-birthday/ 

The Tribune Editorial Board is endorsing candidates on both the Democratic and Republican sides of contested primary races for the U.S. Congress throughout Illinois. This is Part Four.

13th District 

Before Illinois’ new political maps came out in 2021, District 13 was represented by a Republican — Rodney Davis — who held the seat for a decade until the new map cut him out of District 13. Now, the district has a Democratic tilt. It’s a mix of rural areas and college towns, making its politics diverse, and Democrats who want to win here must remember this is a somewhat competitive district.

Incumbent Nikki Budzinski is running against Dylan Blaha, 31, in the Democratic primary. Blaha, an army veteran, is running a progressive campaign well to the left of his opponent. 

Budzinski is the more pragmatic Democrat. She has shown a willingness to work across the aisle during her tenure in Washington, which goes a long way with this board and, we imagine, with her constituents. We appreciate, for example, her bipartisan efforts to increase access to apprenticeships and skills training.

We agree with Blaha on the importance of the balance of power in our government and his skepticism of executive overreach. But he seems to mistake government expansion for reform, assuming bigger systems will work better simply because they are, well, bigger. 

Budzinski, 48, is endorsed in the Democratic primary.

Joshua Loyd is running in the Republican primary to represent Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. (Campaign photo)

Republican challengers in this district face the same difficulty statewide that Republicans face in general, namely, the need to appeal to the base to win primaries and the need to appeal to moderates to win the general. It’s a tall order, but such is the reality.

Republican Joshua Loyd, a 28-year-old West Point graduate, is vying for another chance to do that after losing to Budzinski in 2024. To earn a rematch, he’ll have to defeat Jeff Wilson, a Republican running on a populist Republican platform. 

Wilson, 61, is a Navy veteran and serves on the Champaign County Board, which will give him name recognition among voters. While he is campaigning on a promise of fiscal restraint, which we like, he has clearly aligned himself with Trump’s agenda, casting doubt on his ability to operate as an independent-minded representative. Loyd presents a more commonsense approach to a wide range of issues while also maintaining support for principles of limited government and free enterprise. He received our endorsement in 2024, and we continue to view him as the best choice today.

Loyd is endorsed in the Republican primary.

14th District 

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, who is running for reelection without a Democratic opponent this primary season, will face off in the 14th District against either Gary Vician, 71, or James Marter, 63, in the November general election. Whoever gets the Republican nomination has an uphill battle ahead. Marter lost to Underwood in 2024.

This district, which stretches from Lake County west to McHenry County and south into Kane and Kendall counties, includes a potpourri of communities — suburban, ex-urban and rural — and political leanings. 

Vician’s campaign platform looks good on its face — including a stated commitment to cut taxes and a desire to create a thriving economy. He also lists public service on his résumé, noting that he served as Naperville Township supervisor from 2009-13. Despite multiple attempts to contact him, however, we never reached him, and are left with a lot of unanswered questions about his candidacy. Marter is a former delegate for Donald Trump and has portrayed himself as an unapologetic hardliner who aligns closely with the president on a wide range of issues and has said he has “zero concern for bipartisanship,” which does not sit well with us. 

The Tribune is not endorsing in this Republican primary race.

15th District 

Republican U.S. Rep. Mary Miller has held her seat in Illinois’ 15th District since 2021. District 15 is the largest district — geographically — in the state, and covers much of central and downstate Illinois, bisected awkwardly by District 13, stretching across to the eastern and western borders so that it touches Indiana, Iowa and Missouri. It is less ethnically diverse than other parts of the state, is home to an economy that relies heavily on agriculture and has a strong conservative tilt. While District 15 is a safe bet for Republicans, it’s also a bellwether we’ll be watching to see how the president fares in conservative parts of the state. 

Miller ran unopposed in 2024. Now, she is facing primary challenges in Judy Bowlby, 70, and Ryan Tebrugge, 36.

Judy Bowlby is running in the 2026 Republican primary to represent Illinois’ 15th Congressional District. (Campaign photo)

Bowlby clearly understands the district she hopes to represent, with an emphasis on agriculture and a focus on kitchen table economic issues, and worked for decades in health care and government affairs. What really stood out to us is Bowlby’s deep desire to build bridges as a means of restoring trust in democracy and faith in institutions. We found her approach, tone and authentic demeanor refreshing and much-needed.

Where Miller walks in lockstep with Trump, Bowlby is more independent-minded and moderate. Tebrugge, a business owner and former law enforcement officer, supports fiscal responsibility and cutting waste, and offered thoughtful opinions on immigration reform. Like Bowlby, he seems to sense the need to cool partisan tensions. We believe Bowlby is best positioned to take on that challenge and has the experience needed to make a difference in Washington. 

Bowlby is endorsed in the Republican primary.

Democrats in District 15 necessarily have to be more moderate to compete in the general election, and four — Paul Davis, Kyle Nudo, Randy Raley and Jennifer Todd — are vying to run against a polarizing incumbent. 

Davis, 58, a Collinsville veterinarian, describes himself as “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.” He told us his point of distinction is his emphasis on finding middle ground, being willing to work across the aisle and coming up with ways to solve nonpartisan issues. His rejection of extreme, divisive and disconnected politics surely will resonate with not just District 15 voters but many Americans elsewhere. He grasps the importance of agriculture to his district. On health care, he is an advocate of Medicare for All, with the ultimate goal of a single-payer system in the U.S. Like every other Democratic candidate in this primary, he supports a tax on unrealized gains, but he also clearly stated his openness to spending cuts and reform. In this field, that sets him apart.

Paul Davis is running in the 2026 Democratic primary to represent Illinois’ 15th Congressional District. (Campaign photo)

Todd, 56, is a nurse, a single mom, child of a military veteran and a lifelong Illinoisan. Her campaign seems to be rooted in her personal story, and we have no doubt of the sincerity of her motivations. Many of her ideas sound very much like her Democratic peers in the northern part of the state.

Raley, 69, a longtime on-air broadcaster, understands how to make a point, most of which are very progressive in nature. Nudo, 54, is a small-business owner and union man who presents a good command of the everyday issues constituents care about. What gives us pause is that much of his language on spending focuses on tax hikes rather than looking for responsible cuts.

If you live in District 15 and consider yourself a very progressive Democrat, Todd and Raley are your candidates. Nudo comes across as slightly more moderate. But Davis’ recognition of the need to address out-of-control spending makes him the most reasonable choice, and he would present the strongest challenge to Miller in the general election. 

Davis is endorsed.

17th District

In many ways, endorsement season is an opportunity to marvel at just how ridiculous Illinois’ political maps have become. District 17 is no exception, running in a snaking route throughout north-central Illinois, including Rockford, the Quad Cities, Bloomington and Peoria. This misfit district is represented by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Democrat who defeated his Republican opponents in a competitive race in 2022 and then more comfortably in 2024. The Republicans vying to face him in November are Julie Bickelhaupt, 50, and Dillan Vancil, 33.

Both Republican primary candidates express an understanding of the challenges small businesses are facing. Both candidates are pro-life but acknowledge that it’s up to the states to decide rules on abortion access. Both are Second Amendment advocates. Both support immigration enforcement. Both are well to the right of this board.

Dillan Vancil is running in the 2026 Republican primary to represent Illinois’ 17th Congressional District. (Campaign photo)

Vancil owns coffee shops in Illinois and Iowa and employs a healthy number of employees, including many younger workers, and speaks convincingly and with authenticity about the desire to improve affordability — the buzzword of the year — for regular Americans. We appreciate his commitment to lowering the tax burden and would hope that would be accompanied by a commitment not to do so irresponsibly and without any accompanying spending cuts. We also like that he told us he supports “strong, instant background checks for all commercial (gun) sales.” 

We liked that Bickelhaupt, a seventh-generation farmer, supports school choice, an issue this board has long championed. 

Central Illinois is not Chicagoland, and what flies among moderates and conservatives up here isn’t the same as the politics elsewhere. We recognize that, and so take with a grain of salt some of our misgivings about these candidates, which, frankly, made us consider not endorsing in this race. If you are looking for a Republican with a small-business perspective, and who could present a coherent challenge to incumbent Eric Sorensen, Vancil is your best shot.  

Vancil is endorsed.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/dillan-vancil-joshua-loyd-nikki-budzinski-paul-davis-judy-bowlby-sorensen-mary-miller/ 

The face of Iryna Zarutska stretches almost the entire height of a three-floor brick building, her blonde hair tucked over her shoulder as she peers at the corner of West Montrose and North Western avenues.

Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed in North Carolina in an unprovoked attack on a light rail train in August, doesn’t have any apparent connection to North Center — or even Chicago. Most walking past don’t seem to look up.

Yet, the newly painted mural over a restaurant is part of a nationwide project by Remember Iryna, which has also overseen installations in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C., according to its website.

The killing of Zarutska, who fled the Russian-Ukrainian war for the U.S. in 2022, drew national attention and reignited right-wing critiques of “soft-on-crime” policies in Democratic-led cities. President Donald Trump called for Zarutska’s killer to receive the death penalty, and Elon Musk, who has financially backed the mural campaign, posted on X that Zarutska was killed “just for being a ‘white girl.’”

That politicization of her death has led to complicated reactions to her image on the side of the building, which neighbors say was completed a few weeks ago. The artist didn’t sign their name.

“The mural is beautiful, and obviously her story is tragic, so you take a kernel of truth, which is, ‘That shouldn’t have happened,’” said Neil Stratman, a 38-year-old actor and writer who lives close to the North Center mural. But he views the painting as a way for Musk, Trump and others on the right to vilify people of color. Zarutska’s alleged killer, DeCarlos Brown Jr., is Black.

“You blow it up in every way that you can to use her image to skew public perception,” Stratman said. “And so for people who don’t know what’s going on, it’ll work. And that’s sad.”

Brown, 35, had a criminal record and has struggled with schizophrenia. His family tried to get him help before the attack, The Charlotte Observer reported. Brown faces life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of Zarutska’s murder.

After her death, Eoghan McCabe, CEO of the AI customer service company Intercom, pledged $500,000 for a nationwide mural project for Zarutska. Musk, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X, pledged $1 million. Since then, McCabe has fundraised over $100,000 for the project and is soliciting more buildings for murals to be painted on.

An artist who goes by the name SAV45 painted Chicago’s mural, according to an X post by McCabe from Jan. 22, which showed the completed project. SAV45 didn’t respond to the Tribune’s interview requests.

Elizabeth Trykin, who leads the Remember Iryna memorial project, confirmed the project is funded by McCabe and Musk. She said over 900 artists have reached out to participate, and nearly 20 murals have been painted so far.

Trykin declined an interview and to comment on the project’s controversy, but the website says the project is meant to be “a public record of a preventable death.”

Leadership from Glascott and Associates — the Lincoln Park real estate company that owns the building at 2415 W. Montrose Ave., according to Cook County property records — didn’t respond to multiple interview requests.

Still, despite the politicization surrounding her death, observers remember that Zarutska was a victim.

“She came here, she found her work,” Chicago-based Ukrainian artist Kateryna Tkachenko said about Zarutska. “She loved the United States, and it’s a tragedy what happened.”

Local Ukrainian artists don’t want a political symbol

Tkachenko immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine 10 years ago. She painted a mural dedicated to Ukraine in Ukrainian Village and saw that the Remember Iryna project was looking for artists, but she didn’t apply because of the project’s controversy.

“For me, it was this moment just to show that she was a white woman who was killed by a Black man, and I don’t want to use her name just for this reason,” Tkachenko said.

Musk has been vocal online about Zarutska, sharing images of her final moments on the train on X, the social media platform he bought in 2022. A post where he claimed Zarutska was killed for being white has over 75 million views on X. Hate speech on the platform has increased since he took it over, according to a study by researchers at California universities, allowing for other right-wing CEOs and politicians to spread sometimes racist and violent messages after Zarutska’s killing.

Community members hold flyers and candles as they gather for a vigil Sept. 22, 2025, honoring the life of Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on a commuter train in August in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Nell Redmond/AP)

Ukrainian-born Chicago artist Elena Diadenko said she doesn’t think Musk’s motivation behind his involvement is to honor Zarutska. She pointed out how Musk helped Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia with access to Starlink, a SpaceX satellite internet service, but later shut the internet down as Ukraine launched a counteroffensive, throwing soldiers into a blackout.

“And now he’s trying to show that he’s painting murals of a Ukrainian woman on every building in every city … It sounds like a publicity stunt a little bit,” Diadenko said.

Diadenko and Tkachenko both said they hope the murals bring attention to safety on public transit. In November, a man allegedly threw gasoline on a woman and set her on fire on the CTA Blue Line. The incident drew nationwide outrage and further emboldened the Trump administration to threaten funding for the CTA unless new security plans were put in place.

“I would love to be open about problems with our public transport because I’m using the CTA almost daily,” Tkachenko said, adding that she would have applied to paint the mural if its message was to make transit safe.

Mural’s neighbors feel for Zarutska, but some question motives behind the art

Stratman said he found it ironic that this type of mural rests on the side of a family-owned taco restaurant, Taqueria El 5 De Mayo, because the restaurant is staffed by the same demographic of people that the politicians touting Zarutska’s name are targeting through nationwide Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns. The taqueria owner declined to comment.

Sebastiano Masi, 27, lives in the building where the mural is painted. He said the mural was completed in mid-January, and he’s glad to see color on the wall. The mural was painted over a faded black, white and yellow hand-painted sign advertising a real estate agency. It was around 70 years old, according to the Chicago Sign Museum, a volunteer crew documenting Chicago’s sign history and advocating for its preservation.

Last week, Masi said he came home one night to find big, blocky letters of white paint on the bottom left of the new mural spelling, “Hang Musk.” Within 12 hours, the graffiti was covered up, Masi said. The mural appears unchanged.

Masi said he followed how Zarutska’s death became “a target for far-right idealization.” Although he doesn’t like Musk or Trump, Masi said he also doesn’t like the controversy Zarutska’s death has spurred and thinks both political parties are ignoring how people of their own ideology kill others.

“Someone died, and it’s a memorial,” Masi said. “I understand why it has become such a fire, but at the same time, someone was killed. At the end of the day, you can’t deny that.”

An atypical mural process

Jeff Abbey Maldonado, a Pilsen-based muralist and art teacher, said it’s common for murals to be used as tributes. It can be painful but necessary to memorialize people, Maldonado said.

“I’m hoping that something like this at least leaves her family with some sort of solace that people care, that she’s not forgotten, that they’re not alone,” Maldonado said.

Besides serving as tributes, murals have historically been used by marginalized communities to document their experiences and make themselves visible, according to Christian Roldán, a Humboldt Park muralist who wrote a thesis on politicizing public spaces through art while studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Chicago has a long mural tradition that is credited with shaping public art. The city’s “Wall of Respect” — painted in the 1960s — famously captured Black leaders and spurred murals across the country. Mario Castillo’s “Peace” — also from the ’60s — birthed a Hispanic mural movement. Maldonado said the piece made political murals even more common.

A mural of Iryna Zarutska in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood on Jan. 22, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

For Roldán, the problem with the Remember Iryna project is that a billionaire is deciding whose story deserves to be told — atypical for a mural process — instead of the community, he said.

Roldán noted that Musk cut humanities funding through the Department of Government Efficiency last year, but now funds nationwide murals. But it’s not ironic, Roldán said. It’s expected. Roldán said powerful people have to be favorable in public opinion to keep power, and making artists dependent on private funds allows the wealthy to push their narratives through art and influence opinion.

“Whose humanity is acknowledged, and whose humanity is invisibilized?” Roldán said. “So, when you choose this person, this person’s face to create a propaganda, you’re also at the same time not honoring but dehumanizing this person.”

Remembering Zarutska

Ben Keller, a Connecticut artist who painted murals for the Remember Iryna project in Washington, D.C., and New York City, said he tries to stay away from the political noise because it can taint the murals’ message. Instead, Keller said he has focused on preserving the memory of Zarutska.

Even if viewers don’t agree with Musk or McCabe, “don’t hate the project that they’re funding (for) an innocent victim,” Keller said.

Diadenko said that the mural project falls short of what the country really needs and wishes Musk would fund mental health support.

“It really doesn’t matter how many murals you’re going to paint,” Diadenko said. “The issue is still there, and the issue is mental health problems in the United States.”

But she and Tkachenko still agreed that it’s a good thing people will remember Zarutska.

Tkachenko added that she’s not against the murals, and she hopes people will see them and think of the war in Ukraine. She said she just wishes Zarutska would be remembered for being Ukrainian, not a political talking point.

“Maybe because we have years and hundreds of years of being under Russian occupation, and it was a fight to be Ukrainian, have our own voice, have our own identity,” Tkachenko said. “And so it’s still very important we are Ukrainians. It’s who we are, and this person, she was Ukrainian, she’s still Ukrainian.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/mural-elon-musk-remember-iryna/ 

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s marquee plan to increase access to fresh groceries on the city’s South and West sides — a plan that initially called for a city-owned grocery store and later evolved into a proposed year-round market — appears to have slowed to a crawl. 

Johnson first floated the idea of opening a publicly owned grocery store in 2023, just months after he took office. The idea, a novel one at the time for a major U.S. city, has since attracted the attention of progressives elsewhere, including Zohran Mamdani, who put city-owned grocery stores on the platform that won him the mayor’s office in New York City. 

But in Chicago, the Johnson administration walked back the bold proposal in early 2025, saying that instead of opening a publicly owned grocery store, it would open a year-round public market. The administration announced the change in plans only after the Tribune reported the city had failed to apply for a state grant it had planned to apply for to help fund a grocery store. 

Nearly a year after announcing the pivot, the city appears unable to share any more concrete details about what that project will look like.  

Cassio Mendoza, a spokesperson for the mayor, did not directly answer the Tribune’s questions about when a public market will open, where it would be located, how it would be funded or how many markets the city plans to open. 

Instead, Mendoza pointed to a series of “listening sessions” the mayor’s office held last September during which officials solicited feedback about the public market concept. Participants in those sessions included farmers market managers, urban farmers, developers and retailers, amongst other stakeholders, according to Mendoza. 

The city is compiling a report based on those sessions “which will include the feedback provided by attendees and a roadmap to expand food access, equity and entrepreneurship in Chicago,” he said. 

“A framework for identifying potential locations and a plan to foster a network of markets will be elaborated in the report,” Mendoza said. The report will be released this quarter or early next, Mendoza said. 

Seeking details related to the public market plan, the Tribune this year filed public records requests related to market planning with the mayor’s office, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Procurement Services.

The Tribune asked for any documents related to public market planning including studies, reports or memos; grant applications; procurement or staffing plans; and contracts with corporate or nonprofit partners related to planning or creation of a market.

DPD, BACP and DPS said they possessed no such records.

The mayor’s office produced only a slide deck presentation created for the September 2025 listening sessions. 

The presentation indicated that as of last fall the mayor’s office hadn’t made any decisions about the basic structure of the market or markets it planned to open, such as the market’s size, location, operating model or how many there would be. 

Related Articles

Johnson proposed the public grocery idea against the backdrop of a seemingly intractable problem on the South and West sides of Chicago: corporations closing down grocery stores in low-income and majority-Black neighborhoods, leaving residents without reliable access to fresh groceries. 

Past mayors have struggled to incentivize grocery stores to stay on the South and West sides even with carrots like tax incentives. A grocery store the city itself owned, advocates said, would function as a public good akin to a library or post office and could stay open even if it didn’t meet the profitability standards of a corporation. A 2024 study commissioned by the city found that a public grocery store in Chicago was “necessary, feasible and implementable.”

Critics of the idea, however, cautioned that opening a grocery store would be rife with logistical challenges. The grocery industry is a notoriously difficult business plagued by razor-thin margins and a highly perishable inventory. 

In February 2025, after the Tribune reported the administration had passed on applying for a state grocery store grant, administration officials announced the pivot to a public market, saying such a market would sell staples like bread and milk and would also contain retail spaces for local farmers and food retailers to sell their products. 

Experts said the scaled-back plan would be easier for the city to pull off than a full-on grocery store — but expressed some skepticism that it would help address food deserts on the South and West sides, because public markets are often located in dense downtown areas with lots of foot traffic and can be pricier than a typical grocery store.  

At the time, officials said they weren’t ready to provide concrete details about the project, such as where exactly it would be located, how it would be funded or who would operate it. The administration did say it was focused on the South and West sides. 

The fall 2025 presentation provided by the mayor’s office indicated that it was still considering those questions. 

For instance, the presentation asked participants to weigh in on their preferences between various operating models, such as a city-owned and -operated market, or one that was owned by the city but leased and operated by a nonprofit. 

Participants were also asked to discuss whether markets should be centrally located, located on the South and West sides or dispersed throughout the city. 

The presentation said the purpose of the listening sessions was to “gather feedback, ideas and input to inform the development of a public market action plan” as well as to “brainstorm on how Chicago can become a ‘market city.’” 

A ‘market city’ was defined in the presentation as one that “develops a strategic plan to support and establish a network of culturally rich, complementary markets to increase food access, create economic opportunity and support community resilience,” with Barcelona given as one example. 

The Tribune requested additional documentation regarding the listening sessions via FOIA, such as meeting minutes and any feedback compiled as a result of the sessions. 

The mayor’s office said it was withholding some of those records pursuant to state FOIA law because they were “predecisional and deliberative” records “in which thought process and internal discussions of the Department are expressed in regard to the public market.” 

Separately from the public market concept, the city, in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, recently opened a food pantry in a library in West Garfield Park.

Mendoza said Wednesday that in regards to the public market, the city is trying to “pursue a collaborative, community-informed process as that was the major feedback from the initial municipally owned grocery store concept.”

The city’s listening session presentation began with several “ground rules” for the discussion. 

“No need to land the plane,” one of the ground rules read. “We’re not here to reach consensus today. We’re here to hear all the things you have to say.”

tasoglin@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/public-market-chicago-brandon-johnson/ 

Address: 21 N. May St., Unit 802, Chicago

Listed: Jan. 12, 2026

Price: $3,149,000

Listing agent: Jennifer Ames, Engel & Voelkers, 773-797-9500

This four-bedroom, 4½ bathroom condo in the northeast corner of this West Loop building has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Chicago skyline. An elevator opens directly into the unit, which has arched doorways, tall ceilings, wide-plank hardwood floors, a fireplace and designer lighting. The kitchen includes Miele, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances and a walk-in pantry. All four bedrooms have en suite bathrooms with custom closets. The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet and a marble bath with a dual vanity, an oversized shower with a rain head, and a freestanding soaking tub. The unit also has an office, a mudroom and two-car tandem garage parking. Amenities in the Embry building include a fitness center with a putting green, an entertainment lounge, a dog run and a spa.

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

All four bedrooms at 21 N. May St., Unit 802, in Chicago, have en suite bathrooms. (Jennifer Ames)

Some listing photos are “virtually staged,” meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.

To feature your luxury listing of $1,000,000 or more in Chicago Tribune’s Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/dream-home-elevator/ 

As a voter in the 9th Congressional District, I’m disappointed in the editorial endorsing state Sen Laura Fine in Tuesday’s edition (“Laura Fine for Democratic nomination in 9th Congressional District”). The Tribune Editorial Board is right that the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has attracted “many impressive people,” but I think the board has given two of the candidates short shrift.

I’m not sure it should dismiss Kat Abughazaleh’s candidacy so decisively. Is it because she chose to send a spokesperson to speak to the editorial board? Do I want a congressional candidate talking to a panel of journalists or protesting the behavior of Immigration and Customs Enforcement? I’m not sure.

The editorial board also should have given more consideration to state Sen Mike Simmons. I’m not sure why the board didn’t manage to speak with him in person, but I’ve been impressed with his use of citizen-based legislative councils in his district and what seems to be a heartfelt concern for the everyday problems of his constituents.

State Sen. Mike Simmons speaks during a candidate forum for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District at Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie on June 29, 2025. (Talia Sprague/for the Chicago Tribune)

It seems to me that both of these candidates represent the future of the 9th Congressional District. What we need now more than ever are new solutions, new energy and greater activism in politics, both here and nationwide.

The old answers are obviously failing us.

— Jane Bannor, Chicago

We need negotiation

I believe it is time for all politicians and candidates running in the upcoming election to understand our Founders.

Instead of the candidates promising to “fight, fight, fight” if elected to Congress, I prefer to hear their plans on how they will “negotiate, negotiate, negotiate” to obtain compromise.

We voters have an opportunity to choose representatives who will do what they are supposed to do: Negotiate, compromise and present plans that lead to solutions rather than fight with each other.

We voters should demand Congress create an enforceable solution on the issue of immigration. Voters should be protesting in front of district offices or in Washington instead of on the streets over Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

If representatives are unable to agree to a solution, voters should demand they resign and then elect leaders who understand the Constitution.

— Rudy U. Martinka, Elmhurst

Prosecute feds’ abuses

While national attention has rightly focused on Minneapolis, where federal agents operating under draconian deportation quotas have engaged in unprecedented violence, communities in the Chicago area must prepare for what comes next: Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement returning to Chicago. 

When they do, we must be ready.

Last year, the federal government breached public trust to an extraordinary degree, using violence and funding cuts to pressure governors and mayors to comply with an extreme agenda — while relentlessly lying to the public and the courts. This year, state and local governments should draw a firm line against these abuses of federal power and hold federal agents accountable when they violate state and local law.

During Operation Midway Blitz last fall, unprovoked violence by CBP and ICE was rampant — and often captured on video. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis cataloged this misconduct in an extensive written opinion. Yet we saw no state prosecutions to protect the public from federal agents, who operated here with impunity — and then moved on to Minneapolis, emboldened. 

For this reason, we welcome Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart’s public stance (“State prosecutors must hold feds accountable when they break law,” Jan. 29). He made clear that in his jurisdiction, “federal agents who break state laws will be investigated, … prosecuted with due process and held accountable in our local court system.” 

We call on Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to follow the lead of Rinehart and others such as Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and prosecute all crimes committed by federal agents in this county.

Supreme Court precedents support this legitimate exercise of state power. In our federalist system, as Rinehart notes, if federal officers believe they have acted lawfully, there are well-established procedures for them to raise defenses to state law based on the Supremacy Clause — in court. Holding federal agents accountable will deter future abuses of power.

These prosecutions may be difficult. But extraordinary actions by the federal government require an extraordinary response from our state prosecutors.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office has been remarkably successful in confronting the Donald Trump administration’s overreach. That office should convene state’s attorneys and local law enforcement agencies and provide legal guidance. A coordinated, all-hands effort is required.

During Midway Blitz, neighbors organized to protect one another and document the federal government’s actions. Their videos identified those taken into federal custody, informed families and helped secure legal relief. Those recordings may yet bring accountability to the architects of these anti-democratic policies in Washington.

Our fellow citizens are meeting this moment with courage. Our state prosecutors must match it — by using every lawful tool to protect the people they were elected to serve.

— Patrick Hanely, president, and Kenneth Obel, executive board member, New Trier Democrats

Politically motivated

Sheila Bedi, a civil rights attorney and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s strategy chief, said the mayor’s final say on felony charges against federal immigration officers “would not be influenced by politics,” the Tribune reported (“Johnson directs police to investigate federal agents,” Feb.1).

Hell, the mayor’s entire “ICE on notice” executive order is based on politics.

— Bruce R. Hovanec, Chicago

Consider 1974 editorial

Here are excerpts from a May 9, 1974, editorial regarding our president at the time: “lack of concern for morality, a lack of concern for high principles, a lack of commitment to the high ideals of public office, … preoccupied with appearance rather than substance. … He is devious. He is vacillating. He is profane. He is willing to be led. He displays dismaying gaps in knowledge. He is suspicious of his staff. His loyalty is minimal. … It is … important for the future of the Presidency itself that it be separated from the man who now holds it.”

Why has the Tribune Editorial Board abandoned its own principles? Fear, perhaps?

— Michael Clayton, Riverwoods

Your admirable leaders

I often ask my many Chicago relatives whether they realize how fortunate they are to have elected officials worth reading about or listening to. Your governor, U.S. senators, mayor and numerous other officials have refused to remain silent not just about what is happening in Chicago but also in California, Minneapolis, Maine and everywhere else American values and freedoms are at risk because of President Donald Trump and his paramilitary.

Meanwhile, here in Ohio, we have Gov. Mike DeWine who has stated that he fears Springfield, Ohio, could be the new Minneapolis. (Springfield, Ohio, is where Trump, JD Vance and several Ohio Republicans claimed Haitian refugees were eating their neighbors’ cats and dogs.) But DeWine naively or spinelessly said that when federal agents come for Haitian refugees, he expects them to follow Ohio law enforcement protocols. We have U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno who, along with the equally sycophantic U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, also a Trump supporter, signed on to a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting Trump’s outrageous attempt to do away with birthright citizenship.

So please appreciate what you have in Illinois. We in Ohio can only hope to be so lucky.

— Stephen Gladstone, Shaker Heights, Ohio

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/letters-020526-9th-congressional-district/ 

UBS: SpaceX-xAI Merger Signals Rise Of “Orbital AI”

Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/05/2026 – 05:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/ubs-spacex-xai-merger-signals-rise-orbital-ai