Good morning, Chicago.

As Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched his campaign to run for Chicago mayor in 2027, he left one important detail unsaid: He’s also running for reelection in this November’s election.

The first-term secretary of state and mayoral candidate nonetheless responded with a succinct “No” when a reporter inquired after last month’s announcement whether it was hypocritical to ask millions of Illinois voters to return him to his statewide office while he also campaigned to lead the nation’s third-largest city. It’s a dynamic facing a North Side congressman running to unseat Mayor Brandon Johnson in the February 2027 race, as well as a Cook County elected official considering a mayoral run — and a situation that has emerged many times before in Illinois where insider Democratic politics rules the land.

But this year could be different as some critics are taking the opportunity to attack politicians for trying to have it both ways.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Alice Yin and Rick Pearson.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the latest Mayor Brandon Johnson administration exit, Cubs star Alex Bregman proves his toughness and our top 10 for Broadway this fall.

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Democratic megadonor Michael Sacks demands social media videos stop in legal letter

Billionaire and Democratic megadonor Michael Sacks sent a cease and desist letter to a company paying social media influencers for videos discussing his involvement in Chicago politics, documents obtained by the Tribune show.

Sacks sent the letter Sept. 14 to Good Influence, an advertising firm that specializes in connecting clients with social media influencers who create videos.

City Hall top lawyer out in latest Mayor Brandon Johnson administration exit

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporation counsel is retiring from City Hall, his office announced yesterday in the latest shakeup of his administration.

Mary Richardson-Lowry, a City Hall veteran from the Mayor Richard M. Daley days, has held the top lawyer role for over three years. To succeed her, Johnson has nominated Renee Hatcher, a law professor and director of the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at the University of Illinois Chicago, according to a news release. The City Council must approve Hatcher.

To fill staffing gaps, an Illinois nonprofit turns to parents already in the building

In CPS, perennial staffing imbalances have left some campuses without SECAs, teacher assistants and other support staff. While vacancy rates are at all-time lows, the district is still grappling with how to best recruit and retain workers for those roles. Paraprofessional turnover tends to be high across Illinois, driven partly by low hourly pay and minimal training.

So why not turn to parents already on campus?

Family-owned Marconi has been making giardiniera that tops your Italian beef for more than a century

Most everyone is familiar with the phrase, “you don’t want to know how the sausage is made.” But that doesn’t necessarily apply to toppings such as giardiniera, the quintessential Chicago mélange that adorns a well-dressed beef/sausage combo.

For more than a century, Marconi Foods, a family-owned purveyor in Des Plaines, has been making that giardiniera, and recently opened up its factory doors to show just how it’s done.

Column: A Chicago historian brings us more discoveries about Graceland Cemetery

Rick Kogan thinks of Adam Selzer as a historian, writer and tour guide. He is a native of Des Moines who spent time and college years near Atlanta before coming here, where he began working for a ghost tour operation and writing young adult fiction.

Four years ago he published a spectacular book, “Graceland Cemetery: Chicago Stories, Symbols, and Secrets.” In it he wrote, “Taken as a whole, these stories at Graceland present a unique lens through which to view American history. And there’s always more to find.” His latest discoveries are between the covers of his new “Graceland Cemetery Vol. 2.”

Today in Chicago History: Brookfield Zoo’s Ziggy the elephant goes outdoors for first time in 29 years

On this day in 1970: Ziggy, a 6-ton Asian elephant, got his long-deserved taste of freedom. Named for theatrical producer Florenz Ziegfeld, Ziggy was sold from one circus to another before he was moved to Brookfield Zoo in 1936.

A scary incident on April 26, 1941, however, led the zoo to chain him to a wall inside the Pachyderm House for 29 years.

Column: Cubs star Alex Bregman proves his toughness, while Bears QB Caleb Williams shouldn’t have to defend his

In a bizarre coincidence, Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams were injured around the same time on Sunday, writes Paul Sullivan.

It was a double punch to the jaw of Chicago sports fans — the old “Poom-Poom,” as Joe Maddon once referred to back-to-back home runs off closer Craig Kimbrel.

Related:

• Cubs 3B Alex Bregman won’t go on the injured list despite multiple facial fractures
• Caleb Williams ‘will likely miss some time’ — though Bears coach Ben Johnson not ruling out Week 3
• Tyson Bagent is in concussion protocol — the latest wrinkle for the Bears QB room

After years of preparation for the Presidents Cup, Medinah is ready for its moment

Joie Chitwood III has overseen 3½ years of meticulous preparation for this week’s Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club as the event’s executive director, but the international golf tournament’s arrival brings new and unavoidable pressures.

“This is an intense moment of time,” Chitwood said. “Everyone’s on adrenaline and caffeine. No matter how much time we had, this week was going to be this week.”

More than 30,000 spectators are expected daily during tournament play tomorrow through Sunday.

More on the Presidents Cup:

• Presidents Cup marks Frankfort artist’s 56th outing as signature artist at PGA major event
• What to know about this week’s Presidents Cup at Medinah

Chicago cookie guide: From home bakers to award-winning pastry chefs, our favorite cookies in Chicago

Believe it or not, the 40th annual Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest is right around the corner. In preparation for our favorite competition, the Tribune food team has assembled our favorite spots around the city for a sweet cookie treat.

From small pop-ups by home bakers to award-winning pastry chefs, here are some of our favorite places to stop for a cookie. And get your own recipes ready, as the Tribune Cookie Contest launches next week.

Top 10 for Broadway this fall, including Billy Crystal and Steppenwolf actors in ‘Downstate’

A number of Broadway shows, several with star names attached, are slated to open between now and the end of the year in New York City. Here’s an opinionated look at 10 you might especially want to see, and why, as Broadway’s 2026-27 season fires up for fall.