Happy Friday, Chicago.

How likely is it that bird flu will spread to humans on a mass scale?

Dr. Robert Weinstein, an infectious disease specialist at Rush University Medical Center, and Dr. Cory Franklin, a retired intensive care physician, tackle this issue in a fantastic piece for our opinion page.

“The virus’s appearance in mammals should not stir panic, but we must resist complacency and strengthen public health surveillance efforts,” they write.

Also on the opinion page, Pamela Maass sounds the alarm over Chicago’s street festivals, which are struggling to survive. As donations drop, nonprofit-run events are forced to scale back — and Maass, executive director of the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, worries about their long-term viability without increased community support.

Columnist Elizabeth Shackelford explores what she calls President Donald Trump’s “war on due process” and what it means for American democracy.

Today’s editorial covers a major Chicago story: A judge has cleared the way for a titanic trial pitting old-school traders against CME Group. However it’s resolved, we hope Chicago’s standing as a global business center — and CME’s role as the world’s leading futures marketplace — remains intact.

Don’t forget to check out our letters from readers.

— Hilary Gowins, editorial board member

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