Chicago Tribune Opinion Friday, May 8, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Happy Friday, Chicago. McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal became a sensation as inflation crept ever higher, and the editorial board argues the company correctly recognized something many Americans still feel every day: Affordable meals matter. Today, engineer and writer Yunus Emre Tozal explores what Milwaukee Avenue’s next chapter could mean for Wicker Park and Bucktown, and how building design quietly shapes who gets to stay in a neighborhood as development pressures mount. Also in commentary, two Loyola University Chicago professors break down why war, oil shocks and supply-chain disruptions could make grocery bills even worse in the months ahead. And columnist David Greising writes that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s efforts to block the Chicago Bears’ move to the suburbs are an exercise in futility. Finally, here’s some free advice from me to you, dear reader: Don’t ask your mom what she wants to do for Mother’s Day. It might make her head explode. Keep it simple and show her how much you appreciate everything she does for the family. A handwritten note always goes a long way. Don’t forget to check out reader letters. — Hilary Gowins, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter | | | | Those extra value meals now actually offer extra value. | | | | | Diversity can’t be sustained through good intentions alone. It has to be built into physical form. | | | | | The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices soaring. This effect is rippling through the economy. | | | | | The mayor calls for a taxpayer-owned Chicago Bears arena, even though the megaprojects bill is custom-designed for an Arlington Heights stadium. | | | | | What lots of moms want on Mother’s Day: A day free of decisions. | | | | | Political debate largely ignores that U.S. interventions have destabilized nations, spurring immigration. | | | |
