WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap, July 31, 2026

Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods grapple with the closure of seven grocery stores. An estimated 400,000 music fans expected to descend on Grant Park this weekend for Lollapalooza. Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is coming under increasing scrutiny over his handling of sexual assault allegations against state Representative Harry Benton. While Governor Pritzker signs into law a bill that would let judges settle disputes over custody of pets. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. GUESTS: Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune transportation and labor reporter Heather Cherone, WTTW Chicago politics reporter Dave McKinney, WBEZ & Chicago Sun-Times politics and government editor For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop .