Latest news with #JulyFourth
Bloomberg
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Lower Gas Prices to Spur Record July Fourth Road Trips, AAA Says
A record number of US drivers are expected to hit the road for the July Fourth holiday period starting next weekend, helped by the cheapest gasoline in four years. About 61.6 million people will travel by car from June 28 to July 6, a 2.2% increase from last year, the American Automobile Association said. The group's travel outlook was compiled before the recent escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, which has boosted oil prices and threatened to raise US fuel costs.
Chicago Tribune
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon Briefing: Latest Naperville ‘teen takeover' results in multiple arrests
Good afternoon, Chicago. After Naperville police allegedly found a 14-year-old carrying a loaded, semiautomatic pistol at a downtown 'teen takeover' event last weekend, authorities are urging safety and, again, stressed they have zero tolerance for illicit behavior. 'While we encourage everyone to exercise their first amendment right and we encourage everyone to enjoy what the downtown provides, we need everyone to do that lawfully,' Naperville police Cmdr. Rick Krakow said. 'There's going to be zero tolerance for any sort of criminal behavior, from trespassing to disorderly conduct to fighting.' Since May 1, there have been seven planned teen takeover events in Naperville, each with varying degrees of participation, Krakow said. The latest, held Saturday, resulted in five arrests, including that of the 14-year-old, who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, authorities said. Charges in other arrests included disorderly conduct and battery. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration never undertook a formalized national search for a new CTA president despite the mayor saying last month that his office had in fact done so, according to responses to public records requests made by the Tribune. Read more here. More top news stories: After two years of rain-soaked July Fourth weekend events, could the NASCAR Chicago Street Race be heading west to eternally sunny San Diego? Chicago is set to host the third annual street race July 5-6 on a pop-up course in and around Grant Park, completing an inaugural three-year agreement with NASCAR. The deal, struck during former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, includes a two-year renewal option. Read more here. More top business stories: The Chicago Sky lead the league in turnovers per game (18.7) and opponent points off turnovers (20.5). A staggering 23.4% of the Sky's offensive possessions result in a turnover. This weakness ballooned into a full-on crisis against the Mystics as the Sky hemorrhaged points, giving up 40 on 22 turnovers — 1.8 points per. Read more here. More top sports stories: Watching MJ Lenderman at the Salt Shed yesterday was to be reminded of the curious power of exhaustion. It's a beautiful, humid, rickety sound. You can hear in it why the sighs of Neil Young became inextricable from Watergate-era malaise, and how Lenderman, 50 years later, sounds like both a throwback to strung-out singer-songwriters of the '70s and very much of his own time. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Americans for generations, but became more widely observed after former President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday in 2021. It is recognized at least as an observance in every state, and nearly 30 states and Washington, D.C., have designated it as a permanent paid or legal holiday through legislation or executive action. Read more here. More top stories from around the world:
Chicago Tribune
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Is NASCAR moving its street race from Chicago to sunny San Diego next year?
After two years of rain-soaked July Fourth weekend events, could the NASCAR Chicago Street Race be heading west to eternally sunny San Diego? The Athletic reported Wednesday that NASCAR and the Southern California city's sports tourism commission are in negotiations to hold a race on the streets of San Diego in 2026. A NASCAR spokesperson declined to comment on the unconfirmed report, while the San Diego Sports Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Chicago is set to host the third annual street race July 5-6 on a pop-up course in and around Grant Park, completing an inaugural three-year agreement with NASCAR. The deal, struck during former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, includes a two-year renewal option. 'We continue to have positive conversations with the city of Chicago, and right now, we're focused on making 2025 the best event yet,' a NASCAR spokesperson said Thursday. A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The city, which had an annual 180-day exit clause after the first two races, committed to this year's event in August. Adding a San Diego street race next year does not necessarily affect the future of the Chicago Street Race. Most NASCAR tracks range from a quarter-mile to 2 ½-mile banked ovals, but the Florida-based sanctioning body for stock car racing holds several events at road courses, including Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in Sonoma, California, and at Watkins Glen in New York. NASCAR might similarly be building its portfolio of urban street races, with Chicago paving the way. The Chicago Street Race has nonetheless had its challenges in the first two years, including pushback over the disruption and street closures to set up the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue. This year, NASCAR has streamlined the buildout and reduced major street closings to 18 days, starting with the shutdown Thursday of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14. But the biggest issue facing the first two street races was inclement weather. In 2023, the inaugural Fourth of July weekend event navigated record rainfall that curtailed races, canceled concerts and left fans soaked. The first Cup Series street race also garnered a huge national TV audience with Chicago as a rainy backdrop, averaging nearly 4.8 million viewers during a four-hour broadcast on NBC. While clear skies prevailed for last year's Xfinity Series race on Saturday, the nationally televised Cup Series race on Sunday was once again shortened when rain delays forced officials to call the race after 58 laps as darkness fell on the unlit street course. Last year's race generated $128 million in total economic impact and drew 53,036 unique visitors, according to a study commissioned by Choose Chicago, the city's tourism arm. This year, the Grant Park 165 main event on Sunday is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., 2 ½ hours earlier than last year, in hopes of finally getting the race to the finish line. The nationally televised broadcast is moving from NBC to cable channel TNT. If the San Diego Street Race comes to fruition for 2026, whether as a competitive event or supplanting Chicago, the forecast for a dry run is likely much brighter. San Diego, which is considered to have among the best year-round climates in the nation, averages less than 10 inches of annual rainfall, according to National Weather Service data. The Windy City is far wetter than Southern California. Chicago averages closer to 40 inches of annual precipitation, with a record 3 to 7 inches of rain hitting the city and flooding the street course during the first Cup Series race in 2023.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Mr. Beef, Jake Melnick's, Lexington Betty to serve NASCAR Chicago Street Race fans
We don't know who will take the checkered flag at next month's NASCAR Chicago Street Race, but we do know who will be behind the checkered tablecloths. Chicago-based Levy was named Wednesday as the new food and beverage provider for the third annual pop–up race in Grant Park, bringing a refreshed lineup of restaurants to the July Fourth weekend event, from concessions to the premium hospitality clubs and suites. Levy replaces Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You, which handled food and beverages during the first two Chicago Street Races. 'We are thrilled to partner with another Chicago-based culinary powerhouse like Levy to ensure that we continue to shine a spotlight on the local Chicago food scene,' Julie Giese, NASCAR Chicago Street Race president, said in a news release Wednesday. Launched 47 years ago from a Chicago delicatessen, Levy has evolved into a leading sports and entertainment hospitality company with more than 300 venues in North America. Chicago-area sports venues served by Levy include Wrigley Field, United Center, Rate Field and Now Arena in Hoffman Estates. Levy is no stranger to big sporting events. Last year it provided the food and beverage service for Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, its sixth Big Game appearance in the new millennium. It also handles the hospitality at NASCAR's marquee race, the Daytona 500. A unique event on the NASCAR calendar, the third annual Chicago Street Race features an Xfinity Series race on July 5, and the nationally televised Grant Park 165 Cup Series race on July 6. For this year's Chicago Street Race, Levy will debut new offerings throughout the Grant Park footprint, including from its own Chicago restaurants, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap and River Roast. It will also bring a number of locally owned favorites to the race weekend, including Mr. Beef, Bronzeville Winery, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Robinson's Ribs and Josephine's Southern Cooking. Review: Lexington Betty Smokehouse barbecue in Pullman is not only resilient, but resoundingly good'The NASCAR Chicago Street Race highlights our city and the sport in a totally unique way, and it's been incredible to see fans rally behind it,' Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy, said in the release. 'We're so excited to help elevate an already wonderful event with a new level of food, beverage and hometown hospitality.' The Chicago Street Race will once again feature a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue, which will be closed off and lined with fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. But a relocated concert stage will replace the Skyline, a mammoth temporary structure along Columbus Drive that last year housed the most expensive suites overlooking the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain. Southern rockers the Zac Brown Band, scheduled to perform after the Xfinity Series race, are the only musical headliners on the bill for year three. But NASCAR is planning to add a miniature golf course and other family-friendly activities to the festivities. Street closings will begin this week for Chicago's NASCAR street race. Here's what to street closings for the streamlined buildout have been reduced to 18 days. The first shutdown is set for Thursday — nine days later than last year — with Balbo Drive closing down from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14. Single-day general admission passes start at $99 — a third less than last year — while premium grandstand reserved seats are priced at a nearly 50% reduction. Children 12 and under are free both days, with an accompanying adult. rchannick@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla (TSLA) to Halt Gigafactory Texas Output Again Amid Inventory Pressure
Tesla (TSLA, Financials) will halt production at its Gigafactory in Texas for the first week of July, marking the second production pause at the facility in two months, according to reports. The shutdown, which affects the Model Y and Cybertruck lines, will begin June 30 and extend through the week of the July Fourth holiday. Employees were reportedly offered paid time off or training opportunities during the pause, which Tesla says will allow for "maintenance and improvements." The move comes as Tesla continues to deal with slower demand and rising inventory levels. Earlier this month, the company was reported to be renting overflow parking lots across the U.S. to store unsold vehicles. Cybertruck production has already been scaled back in 2025, with unit sales reportedly down 50% year over year even as the vehicle became eligible for federal tax credits and cheaper variants were introduced. Tesla also experienced a 13% drop in total deliveries during Q1 2025, citing the Model Y design refresh as a production bottleneck. However, recent estimates suggest Q2 deliveries could be down as much as 20% from the prior year, raising questions about the health of demand despite elevated production capacity. The company has been operating most of its global factories at about 60% utilization since 2024, citing persistent inventory buildup and uneven market conditions. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
