Good morning.

Vacation season is wrapping up as the school year begins and Labor Day approaches.

But in the midst of summer's late days, the editorial board takes note of some awful fatal accidents involving helicopter tours abroad as well as in this country. At the very least, folks ought to check safety records of operators before climbing onboard.

And the board is enthusiastic about federal plans under the Trump administration to improve Amtrak service, particularly in the Midwest and even in our city. This editorial covers a lot of ground!

Opposite the editorial page, a professor and medical student at the University of Chicago Medical Center offer a compelling counterpoint to the vaccine skepticism emanating from the White House.

I'm a big fan of the Chicago Public Library, so I heartily recommend checking out a piece on the many benefits of the system you may not have been aware of, by library foundation board chair Michael Fassnacht and President and CEO Eva Giglio.

And, lastly, what do today's anxious debates about artificial intelligence, the equally anxious back-and-forth a century ago about the use of recorded music and the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park have to do with each other? An American conductor living and working in Finland will satisfy your curiosity on that front.

We have letters from readers as well, as per usual.

Speaking of which, construction on Chicago streets and bridges this summer has created headaches for many — arguably more than usual. We'd like you to hear from you about your frustrations in that regard. Click below to send us a letter. (Be sure to review our guidelines.)

Have a good Thursday, and we'll be back here tomorrow.

— Steve Daniels, editorial board member

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