Barack Obama to Host New Podcast About Influential Books

Former U.S. President Barack Obama is launching a new podcast called "A Great Book With Barack Obama." The show will look at books that have had a big influence on people and ideas over time. It was announced by Audible, a popular audiobook company, and Higher Ground, the media company run by Barack and Michelle Obama. Listeners can expect the former president to share his thoughts on books that have shaped history and culture.

In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has named a new chief financial officer, or CFO. The CFO is the person responsible for managing the city's money and budget. The new CFO is Ashlee Gabrysch, who previously worked as a senior director at Fitch Ratings, a firm that reviews how well governments and businesses handle their finances. She is replacing Steve Mahr, who served in the role temporarily after the previous CFO, Jill Jaworski, stepped down at the start of the year.

There is still one open spot on Chicago's finance leadership team — the budget director job. This position opened up after Annette Guzman resigned last week. Mayor Johnson is preparing for his fourth budget cycle this fall, so finding the right people to manage the city's finances is very important. City leaders will be working to fill that last vacancy soon.

Illinois has made history by becoming the first state in the Great Lakes region to label industrial plastic pellets as a form of pollution. These tiny pellets, known as nurdles, are used to make all kinds of plastic products. When they spill into rivers and lakes, they can hurt fish, birds, and other animals that depend on clean water. Under the new law, companies must report any nurdle spills, which is a big step toward protecting the environment.

In sports, the Chicago Blackhawks are facing a tough stretch without their star player Connor Bedard. Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell are both trying to earn the top center position while Bedard recovers. Players like Patrick Kane will also need to perform at a high level to help keep the team in the game. Fans are watching closely to see who will rise to the challenge.

Chicago's arts and theater scene also has some fresh news. A popular performance space called a spiegeltent, once home to Teatro ZinZanni on Randolph Street, will be replaced by a new venue called Kermess. Musicians at Kokandy Productions have voted to form a union, which means they will work together to improve their pay and working conditions. Writers Theatre is also celebrating strong ticket sales, showing that live theater is thriving in the city.