Chicago welcomes immigrants bused out of Texas with open arms

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Good morning, Chicago —

Here's the latest news from around the area ahead of the weekend.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday promised to help the city's new "neighbors" gain stability by providing resources to the dozens of Venezuelans who arrived Wednesday after being sent on buses chartered by Texas officials. The 79 immigrants, which include individuals seeking asylum, were greeted in Chicago with food, fresh clothes and a place to take a hot shower, Lightfoot said. Still, the immigration status and future of many of the individuals seemed unclear. Many plan to reunite with friends or family in other parts of the country, while some will remain in shelters in Chicago, city officials said. Elvia Malagón, Tina Sfondeles and Fran Spielman have more here.

In other news, flight delays and cancellations coming in to Chicago this summer have gotten worse. Nearly one-quarter of all flights arriving at O'Hare Airport and Midway Airport between May and July — about 28,000 altogether — were delayed, according to data from FlightAware, an aviation intelligence company. More than 2,000 flights were canceled. Airline travel in to Chicago was especially fraught at Midway. In June, two of every five flights were delayed. Read the full story from WBEZ's Charmaine Runes here.

And a group of housing advocates has teamed up with Chinatown residents to propose an alternative site for a new Near South Side public high school that would make room for the city to still deliver promised public housing. The proposal pulls together a few separate ideas that have been floated in recent months in an attempt to alter Mayor Lightfoot's plan for a new $120 million school on former public housing land — a pitch that surprised and continues to anger some residents. Nader Issa has more on the new plan here.

Get even more news below, and thanks for reading.

Matt Moore, audience engagement specialist

Chicago welcomes immigrants bused out of Texas with open arms

Nearly 80 people seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border were sent to Chicago by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as part of his plan to move them to Democrat-led cities; Blasting Abbott's actions as racist, xenophobic, Lightfoot said, "We're ready. We are the village."

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Chicago flight delays: One in four flights to Midway, O'Hare airports delayed this summer

Airline travel in to Chicago was especially fraught at Midway. In June, two of every five flights were delayed.

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Advocates pitch new plan for Near South CPS high school without breaking housing promises

The proposal pulls together a few separate ideas that have been floated in recent months in an attempt to alter Mayor Lori Lightfoot's plan for a new $120 million school on former public housing land.

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