Good morning, Chicago. In the shadow of the 2001 terrorist attacks and in a city with persistent crime problems, then-Mayor Richard M. Daley pushed so-called Police Observation Devices as a game changer, one that would “stop violent crime before it occurs.” Two decades, hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of cameras later, an Illinois Answers Project and Chicago Tribune investigation has found that reality has fallen far short of those early promises. While installing thousands of police surveillance cameras has undoubtedly helped catch criminals and solve crimes, Chicago’s ever-growing system has yet to become the crime-fighting panacea Daley predicted. In the absence of any comprehensive analysis from the city, the Tribune and Illinois Answers did their own assessment of Chicago’s POD camera program. Read the full investigation from the Illinois Answers Project’s Madison Hopkins and the Tribune’s Joe Mahr. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Today’s eNewspaper edition Stateville Correctional Center is seen on Sept. 25, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) Stateville prison almost empty after state moves quickly to comply with court order The state is on track to have moved all but a few inmates out of Stateville Correctional Center by a court-ordered deadline Monday, marking the end of an era for the dilapidated century-old facility and a moment of relief for some former inmates who say they are still haunted by memories of their time there. For more than a month, the Illinois Department of Corrections has been transferring hundreds of Stateville inmates to prisons around Illinois, leaving the storied maximum security facility in Crest Hill, near Joliet, almost deserted. Horses run in the second race of the day on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Ill. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune) Downstate racetrack to move ahead with casino, while Hawthorne in suburban Stickney fights lawsuit A downstate horse track will go ahead with plans for a casino, leaving Hawthorne Race Course in west suburban Stickney still waiting to complete a deal for one. Accel Entertainment recently agreed to buy Fairmount Park Racetrack, now doing business as FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing in Collinsville, for $35 million. Accel, a video gaming terminal operator, plans to invest $85 million to $95 million for temporary and permanent casinos on the site, while retaining racing, creating a “racino.” Mayor Brandon Johnson, right, and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez prepare to ring the bells to welcome students back to school at Chalmers Elementary Specialty School on Aug. 26, 2024. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Inside Mayor Brandon Johnson’s stunning fight for control of Chicago schools as CTU contract talks stall The long-simmering standoff between City Hall and Chicago Public Schools leadership that just blew up in the public eye leaves Mayor Brandon Johnson caught between the union that bankrolled his campaign and the school system he’s charged with leading. The latest strife at CPS, stemming from the mayor’s unprecedented push to oust CEO Pedro Martinez in the midst of stalled contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union, raises questions about longer-term political fallout for Johnson, who’s already fighting on several fronts. Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with reporters after an announcement about J.P. MorganChase committing $10 million in low-interest loans to advance affordable housing development on the South and West sides on Sept. 10, 2024, in the Austin neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Top members of Gov. JB Pritzker’s communications team exiting Two top members of Gov. JB Pritzker’s communications team are leaving their jobs in his administration, the governor announced Friday. Jordan Abudayyeh and Jason Rubin, both deputy chiefs of staff, were among the longest-serving members of Pritzker’s administration, holding posts in the office dating back to the governor’s first campaign in 2018. Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago White Sox chairman, addresses reporters before introducing Chris Getz, senior vice president and general manager, at a press conference to announce Getz’s promotion to the new positions at Guaranteed Rate Field Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) ‘Failure’: How Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf described the record-setting season during Sunday’s final game “Failure” and “embarrassing” were two ways Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf described the Chicago White Sox’s record-setting 2024 season in a statement released Sunday. The Sox completed the worst season — in terms of losses — in modern-day MLB history Sunday with a 9-5 victory against the Detroit Tigers in front of a sellout crowd of 41,740 at Comerica Park. Lenyn Sosa hit a three-run home run for the Sox, who won five of their last six games for a final record of 41-121. The Sox finished with one more loss than the 1962 expansion New York Mets, who went 40-120. A Blackhawks fan snacks on fries in the second period of a preseason game against the Red Wings at the United on Sept. 25, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox have a new TV home. Here’s what to know about the Chicago Sports Network. Starting tomorrow, the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox will have a new TV home — but many in Chicago won’t be able to see it. Here’s what to know about the Chicago Sports Network. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates his touchdown pass to DJ Moore (left) against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Week 4 recap: Chicago Bears beat the Los Angeles Rams 24-18 as the offense finds its groove in the second half Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift broke out with 93 rushing yards and 72 receiving yards Sunday to fuel a 24-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field. The Bears offense totaled just 97 yards in the first half but broke out in the second half to finish with 264. The victory broke a two-game losing streak after back-to-back road losses. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams completed 17 of 23 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. Swift broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run with 12 minutes, 26 seconds to play in the fourth quarter to put the Bears up 24-15. That play immediately followed Williams’ 22-yard pass to Cole Kmet to get the Bears into Rams territory. It was Swift’s first touchdown as a Bear and came after he totaled just 68 yards rushing in the first three games. Column: With heightened urgency and an aggressive mindset, the Chicago Bears find needed relief with a win America First Committee members recruit on a Chicago street in March 1941. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) The attack on Pearl Harbor silenced a burgeoning ‘America First’ movement Early in World War II, a battle of words was fought by an unlikely political alliance headquartered in Chicago and determined to keep the United States out of the conflict. The message received a quick and enthusiastic response. (Oriette D'Angelo / Farrar Straus and Giroux)Garth Greenwell’s latest book is “Small Rain.” (Oriette D’Angelo / Farrar Straus and Giroux) Biblioracle: I didn’t think I liked autofiction until I read ‘Small Rain’ Today’s subject is autofiction, specifically, the autofiction that comes in the form of Garth Greenwell’s new novel, “Small Rain.” Despite being a portmanteau of “autobiographical fiction,” autofiction should not be confused with autobiographical fiction. There’s no definitive categorization of these differences, but John Warner distinguishes them this way. The Superdawg Drive-In neon signs and Maurie and Flaurie from the view of a vintage vehicle parked at the Norwood Park location on July, 28, 2006. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune) The secret lives of Maurie and Flaurie, the Superdawg rooftop icons in Chicago Maurie and Flaurie are still missing. When a crane plucked the couple off the roof at Superdawg Drive-In on Sept. 4, we were promised they would return after a “SuperSpa” experience in a few weeks. The figures have stood over the hot dog stand in Chicago for 76 years. A banner in their place reads, “MAURIE & FLAURIE WILL RETURN SUPER SOON!” But where are these beloved culinary and cultural icons? What’s happening to them? And what’s taking so long? First, we need to know about their history and secret lives.