Good morning, Chicago.

After months of tensions between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump, the pontiff has announced that he hopes to make his first papal visit to the United States “soon,” or at least within a “couple of years.”

In an interview with NBC that was broadcast Wednesday night, Leo — an American citizen — also said that while there was “great significance in being the first American pope,” he thought of himself more “as the pope who happens to be American.”

Asked if he was planning a formal trip to the United States, Leo said, “They will see me there,” adding that “by coincidence” he had been looking at a calendar “for the next couple of years.”

“Nothing is set in stone yet,” he said, “but I certainly hope to be there soon.”

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Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: the Chicago school board passes a $9.96 billion budget after a divisive debate, what’s next for the Medinah Temple after Bally’s moves into its permanent facility and what to know for Day 2 of Lollapalooza.

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The Trump administration is ending a Medicare drug subsidy program. Here’s how it could affect costs.

Millions of older adults on Medicare prescription drug coverage could face steeper monthly costs in 2027, after the Trump administration concludes a temporary subsidy program that has helped offset premiums for the past two years.

Streets and Sanitation employee Jose Montano places rat poison in an alley near 2100 South Wentworth Avenue in Chicago on July 30, 2026. The city’s rodent control strategy is “unlikely to achieve long-term control of the rat population,” according to a new audit. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago lacks rat prevention plan, city watchdog finds

The city’s rodent control strategy is “unlikely to achieve long-term control of the rat population,” according to a new audit from the city’s inspector general.

After divisive debate, Chicago school board passed $9.96 billion budget banking on uncertain state funding

After a divisive debate, the Chicago Board of Education approved the district’s $9.96 billion budget yesterday, adopting an amendment that anticipates $150 million in state funding to reverse school-level cuts.

The district’s 2026-27 budget originally included the layoffs of 760 teachers, department cuts and a midyear spending freeze to close a $730 million deficit. The controversial amendment eliminates the spending freeze and plans to undo at least some of the planned layoffs.

But it’s unclear whether additional state funding will materialize.

Medinah Temple owner ready to roll the dice again on post-Bally’s future for historic River North building

For more than a century, historic Medinah Temple has stood as Chicago’s exotic monument to adaptive reuse.

The Moorish-style amphitheater topped by two massive copper onion domes has hosted the annual Shrine Circus, recording sessions for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and, after flirting with demolition at the dawn of the new millennium, a furniture store.

Operating as a temporary casino since September 2023, the ornate 132,600-square-foot building on Wabash Avenue will soon need to reinvent itself again after Bally’s moves into its permanent facility next year.

Related:

• Vintage Chicago Tribune: Medinah Temple through the decades

Northbrook residents continue speaking out against razing shopping plaza to build condos

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Chicago baseball report: James Triantos a hit in Cubs debut — and Jordan Hicks a triple-digit threat for Sox

The Cubs might lament leaving a couple of wins on the road as they return to Wrigley Field with a homestand against two title contenders.

Today, the White Sox continue their stretch of 13 consecutive games against teams with a .500 record or better, beginning a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.