Good morning, Chicago. The decorative downtown welcome banners are up, street closures are starting and thousands of delegates will soon touch down at O’Hare and Midway. T-minus five days until the Democratic National Convention officially takes over Chicago .
It’s been more than a year since Chicago was announced as the host city, and even just the past month has been a whirlwind for the party. The convention, which will take place at the United Center and McCormick Place from Monday to Thursday next week, will be a major moment for national Democrats as well as its local, de facto hosts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
All will be under pressure to make sure the massive made-for-TV event is pulled off without a hitch, as large groups of protesters are expected to march and the party performs a ceremonial but historic nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris. We’ve gathered everything you need to know about the convention, from whether streets in your neighborhoods will be closed (answer: probably yes, if you live near the United Center or McCormick) to how many conventions Chicago has hosted in the past (answer: probably more than you’d think). Here’s what to know about the DNC .
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Today’s eNewspaper edition A K-9 unit security officer and his dog patrol the CTA Howard Station in Chicago on May 15, 2024. The agency has more than 33,000 s.