Kelly Bauer

The move only needs City Council's approval, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a tweet. She had previously opposed making Juneteenth a city holiday.

Just 156 cases were reported over the past day. New cases, hospitalizations and deaths have plunged as vaccines have become widespread.

This week is expected to be mostly sunny and warm in Chicago, though.

People getting vaccinated is still the best bet for ending the pandemic, reopening businesses and having the world return to normal, officials have said.

"Our city is back," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. “We are poised to roar back, to provide more business, more opportunity and, importantly, more jobs to Chicagoans.”

On Jan. 6, Chicago officer Karol Chwiesiuk sent a photo of himself and texted, "We inside the capital lmfao."

The incentives are meant to encourage people to get vaccinated — and to spend more time supporting Chicago businesses.

COVID-19 has killed more than 5,400 Chicagoans. But Friday marks a major milestone as capacity restrictions are lifted for businesses and major events can fully return.

“I invite all Illinoisans to feel the hope and joy of this moment while also recognizing that this pandemic is still very present for the world at large ...," Gov. JB Pritzker said.

Chicago — and the rest of Illinois — will move into Phase 5 of reopening Friday.

The bulk of new COVID cases in Chicago are among people who haven't been vaccinated, the city's top doctor said.

Fans of the Chicago Fire can get vaccinated at the Saturday event and they'll be given tickets to a game and can meet player Stanislav Ivanov.

The bulk of the city's new cases are coming in areas where fewer people are vaccinated, Dr. Allison Arwady said.

A new study shows birds are attracted to lit windows — which results in deadly collisions. Turning off half the lights at McCormick Place could result in a nearly 60 percent drop in birds crashing, Field Museum researchers found.

Chicagoans can get free milkweed seeds to help butterflies or oak tree saplings through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

The best thing people can do to protect children younger than 12 is to "get everybody vaccinated around them," Chicago's top doctor has said.

But there will be pockets of sunshine, and temperatures will stay in the 70s and even low 80s this week.

New COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have fallen in recent weeks as vaccines have become widely available.

It'll be the first time since March 2020 that life will return to a relatively normal state without capacity restrictions and everyone being required to wear masks.

The volunteers will answer people's questions, encourage them to get their shots and even help them make appointments.