1. Common Is Back in the Neighborhood

The elder statesman of hip-hop opens up on family, his intense new album, and his hometown. Chicago profiles the local music legend.

2. American Performers Get Standing Ovation in Iran

A Chicago puppeteer troupe made a rare visit to the country to perform at the Tehran Mobarak Puppet Festival. The Associated Press reports from Tehran City Theater.

3. Nursing Home Trial May Trouble Rauner Campaign

The candidate has been dogged by his company’s investment in a disastrous nursing-home launch. Next week its bankruptcy trial begins, just as the campaign is heating up. The Tribune digs through the court documents.

4. This Glorious Failure Could Yet Be Scotland’s Finest Hour

Chicago-based writer Irvine Welsh, famous for his depiction of Scotland in Trainspotting, reflects on the vote in his native land. Welsh predicts what comes next in The Guardian.

5. An Open Letter for Chicago’s New Archbishop, Blase Cupich

A veteran Chicago writer tells the city’s new Catholic leader that Chicago needs a pastor and teacher, not a disiplinarian. Patrick T. Reardon posts his dispatch for the National Catholic Reporter.

6. How Do You Find High-School Dropouts?

There are 50,000 of them, and the city’s trying to get them back into classrooms. WBEZ explains the strategy.

7. Cubs’ Owners Are Rebuilding While Root, Root, Rooting

Owning a baseball team was Tom Rickett’s dream as early as grad school, but can he make fans’ dreams come true? The New York Times checks on the progress in Wrigleyville.

8. Welcome to Chicago: Now Officially the Greatest Drinking Town in America

Bar DeVille and Maria’s Packaged Goods highlight a long-great bar city with a great new cocktail culture. GQ finds the best establishments in the city.

9. Indicted Police Commander Suspended From Duty 11 Times, Records Show

He’s also been the subject of six police-brutality lawsuits; settlements cost the city almost $300,000. WBEZ looks at Cmdr. Glenn Evans’s history.

10. Mike Nussbaum is 90 and Can Do More Pushups Than You

He’s been a full-time actor for almost 50 years—meaning he was already in his 40s when he started. And he’s still going strong. Chicago spends some time with one of America’s best stage actors.