Chicago Tribune Opinion Friday, May 15, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Happy Friday, Chicago. Did you get a raise this year? Many didn’t — or, worse, lost their jobs amid continuing layoffs. In DuPage County government, meanwhile, they’re handing out raises like candy. The board chair in December will see her pay jump from about $137,000 to $185,000, the focus of our editorial today. Good work if you can get it. Our second editorial imagines a Chicago where families can grab McDonald’s at the new Chicago Fire stadium, even when the team’s out of town. In our commentary section, columnist Elizabeth Shackelford dresses down the ever-growing defense budget under President Donald Trump, which she deems fiscally and strategically unsustainable. Cognitive neuroscientist Ken Paller examines sleep apnea, a common but often misunderstood condition in which sufferers repeatedly stop breathing overnight. Too often dismissed as loud snoring, untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious long-term health problems. And 40 years after Chernobyl, Dr. Daniel Hryhorczuk warns that Russia’s war in Ukraine has heightened the risk of another nuclear disaster. 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 | | | | Taxpayers are entitled to ask what exactly they are getting in return for these raises. Better financial stewardship? Lower debt burdens? More efficient services? | | | | | The name McDonald’s Park beats Louisville’s KFC Yum Center and Hartford’s Dunkin’ Park. | | | | | Giving the Trump administration a massive increase in funding only dials up the risk of further aggression and provocative posturing. | | | | | Sleep apnea affects approximately 1 out of 8 people worldwide, and people often remain in the dark about what’s going on. | | | | | Since Russia began occupying the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, there have been several near-miss nuclear safety situations. | | | | | To restore the wild leek to its rightfully esteemed place in Chicago cuisine and culture, a homegrown solution may be required. | | | |
