Chicago Daily Brief: South Side shooting, Pullman redevelopment, and election spotlight

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Chicago, IL – February 26, 2026 – A South Side shooting injures five as Pullman’s Hotel Florence gets a $100M revival and county politics heat up.


Local headlines to start your Thursday

Five injured in South Side shooting near Jackson Park

Chicago police and fire crews responded Wednesday evening to a shooting that left five people hurt across the South Side. Officials said victims were taken to area hospitals from multiple locations, including around Woodlawn and Grand Crossing. Investigators were still working to determine what led up to the gunfire, and residents near the scene reported a heavy police presence around a gas station at a busy intersection.

$100M plan to revive Pullman’s historic Hotel Florence

A long-shuttered landmark in Pullman is slated for a major comeback. State and local leaders announced a roughly $100 million redevelopment that would restore Hotel Florence as a boutique hotel and add new food-and-drink options and a larger arts and entertainment component nearby. Early plans call for construction to start in 2027 with an opening target in 2028, aiming to draw visitors while keeping the site’s historic character front and center.

Cook County Board president race heats up ahead of the March primary

The contest for Cook County’s top executive job is getting sharper as the March 17 primary approaches. Incumbent Toni Preckwinkle is seeking another term, while longtime Chicago alderperson Brendan Reilly is challenging her in the Democratic primary. Both sides are highlighting budget stewardship and management track records, with critics also pointing to past administrative headaches that affected county services.

Police warning after robberies tied to dating app meetups

Chicago police issued a public alert after a string of armed robberies in Woodlawn that allegedly began with meetups arranged through a dating app. In the reported cases, victims arrived at a set location and were confronted by someone displaying a gun and demanding property. Police urged residents to use extra caution when meeting strangers, choose public places, and tell someone where they are going.

Weekend look-ahead: Ravinia starts teasing its summer slate

Planning for summer is already underway in the north suburbs, where Ravinia has begun previewing parts of its 2026 lineup ahead of a fuller season announcement in March. For Chicago-area fans, it’s an early reminder that outdoor concert season will be back soon, even if the forecast still says winter.

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