Mayor Johnson Declares May 8 Midway Day as Chicago Counts Down to Aviation Centennial

The Chicago Journal Staff 2 on May 9, 2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson declared May 8 as “Midway Day,” a new annual observance recognizing the moment Chicago first entered the age of aviation. The designation, announced Friday by the Chicago Department of Aviation, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the day Chicago Municipal Airport, the airfield that would become Midway International Airport, opened on May 8, 1926.

The new civic observance arrives as Chicago prepares for a broader centennial celebration of Midway’s formal dedication scheduled for 2027, and as the city continues to position its airport system as one of its most important economic engines amid intensifying competition for global aviation traffic.

A City That Moved People, Goods, and Ideas

The announcement frames Midway not just as an airport but as a defining symbol of Chicago’s identity as a city of movement and connection. Located on the southwest side, the original Chicago Municipal Airport opened on a single 320-acre site and quickly grew into the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic in the late 1940s, a title it would hold until O’Hare International Airport surpassed it in the 1960s.

“Chicago has always been a city that moves people, goods, and ideas,” Mayor Johnson said in the city’s announcement. “On May 8, 1926, that spirit took to the skies at Chicago Municipal Airport, which we now know as Midway. ‘Midway Day’ gives us a chance each year to celebrate that defining moment and the generations of aviation workers who have kept Chicago connected to the world ever since.”

Johnson’s framing places Midway alongside Chicago’s railroads and waterways as a foundational piece of the city’s economic infrastructure, a long-standing civic narrative the mayor has leaned on as he pushes Springfield for new revenue tools for the city.

From Carrier Pigeons to Modern Flight

The 1926 opening produced one of the more memorable symbolic moments in early American aviation history. According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, four carrier pigeons were released that day carrying a message to Washington, D.C., announcing the airport’s opening.

The release marked a deliberate transition from one of the oldest forms of airborne communication to the dawn of modern flight, an image that has been reanimated by city officials this week as a touchstone for the new observance. While May 8, 1926, represents Chicago’s first moment of flight at the airport, Midway’s facilities were not formally dedicated until 1927. The City of Chicago plans to mark that milestone with a centennial celebration next year.

Why Midway Still Matters

For Chicago, the airport system represents one of its most enduring competitive advantages. Today, Chicago’s airports, anchored by O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport, support hundreds of thousands of jobs across direct, indirect, and induced employment, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. They also serve as critical gateways for travelers, commerce, and global trade in the Midwest’s largest economic region.

“Midway is where Chicago’s aviation story began,” said Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Michael McMurray. “From that first symbolic message carried by pigeons to the global connectivity we deliver today, Midway has played a foundational role in shaping our city’s growth. As we look ahead to Midway’s centennial next year, this new observance gives us a meaningful way to connect our history to the future we’re building across Chicago’s airport system.”

Midway today serves more than 20 million passengers annually and operates as Chicago’s primary low-cost carrier hub, with Southwest Airlines as its largest tenant. The airport’s compact footprint, just 8 miles from downtown, has made it a critical asset for domestic travel and a continuing point of pride for residents of Chicago’s Southwest Side.

Looking Toward the 2027 Centennial

The City has signaled that Midway Day will serve as a recurring lead-in to a broader centennial celebration in 2027, when the airport’s formal dedication turns 100. The observance is designed to highlight Chicago’s aviation origins, recognize the contributions of aviation workers, and inspire future generations to pursue careers in aviation, according to the official announcement.

Aviation careers have become a focal point for Chicago workforce development efforts in recent years, with the Chicago Department of Aviation partnering with City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, and union training programs to prepare workers for jobs in aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, ground operations, and airport management. The new observance gives the department an annual platform to highlight those pipelines.

Civic Symbolism in a Year of Big Decisions

The announcement lands at a moment when Chicago’s civic identity has been a recurring theme in Mayor Johnson’s public messaging. Earlier this week, the mayor traveled to Springfield to lobby state lawmakers for new revenue tools for the city and to push back against any potential move of the Chicago Bears to suburban Arlington Heights. Both efforts have been framed by his administration as fights to preserve Chicago’s status as a global hub for jobs, sports, culture, and infrastructure.

For longtime South Siders, the new observance carries a particular resonance. Midway sits in a part of the city that has long fought for civic recognition equal to that of downtown landmarks. Designating May 8 as Midway Day formalizes a piece of that legacy.

For the broader city, it offers a connection to a moment when four pigeons, four wings, and a brand-new airport made Chicago a player in the future of aviation, and made Chicago aviation a centerpiece of the city’s identity for the century that followed.

Eugene Pallisco on Weight Lifting for Posture and Weight Loss

The Chicago Journal Staff on May 9, 2026

Weight-lifting is a form of resistance training that helps build strength, improve posture, and support healthy weight management. Fitness trainer Eugene Pallisco explains that it also plays a key role in correcting the physical strain caused by long hours of sitting and screen use. Many people develop rounded shoulders, tight hips, and reduced mobility from a sedentary routine, and structured strength training provides a direct way to address those imbalances while improving overall movement.

How Weight Lifting Improves Posture

Poor posture develops when certain muscle groups weaken while others tighten. Eugene Pallisco says, “Most posture issues come from imbalance, not just inactivity. Strength training helps restore that balance.” By targeting the upper back, core, and posterior chain, resistance training helps realign the body and support a more upright position.

Key exercises that support posture include:

• Rows to strengthen the upper back

• Deadlifts to engage the posterior chain

• Shoulder retraction movements to counter forward rounding

Over time, these movements improve spinal support and reduce discomfort linked to desk work and prolonged sitting.

How Weight Lifting Supports Weight Loss

Weight lifting plays a direct role in fat loss by increasing energy expenditure and improving metabolic efficiency. Building lean muscle raises your resting calorie burn, so your baseline energy use grows throughout the day. This effect supports gradual, sustainable weight loss while preserving strength and muscle mass.

The Science Behind Weight Lifting

Weight lifting works through mechanical tension placed on muscle fibers. This creates small amounts of stress that trigger muscle protein synthesis, a process where the body repairs and strengthens tissue. Eugene Pallisco explains, “Your body adapts to the demands you place on it. If the demand increases over time, strength and muscle follow.”

In addition to muscle repair, the nervous system becomes more efficient. This improves coordination, stability, and overall force production. Hormonal responses also support recovery, making consistent training a key factor in long-term progress.

Choosing the Right Training Load

Using the right weight is critical for both safety and results. The load should feel challenging while still allowing controlled movement and proper technique. Lifting too light limits adaptation, while excessive weight increases the risk of poor form.

A practical approach is to finish each set feeling challenged while maintaining full control of the movement. This ensures the muscles are being effectively stimulated without unnecessary strain.

Why Progressive Overload Matters

Progressive overload is the foundation of strength development. This means gradually increasing the demands placed on the body over time. That can involve adding weight, increasing repetitions, or improving execution.

Without progression, the body has no reason to adapt. Small, consistent increases lead to steady improvements in strength and muscle development.

The Value of Compound Movements

Compound exercises train multiple muscle groups at once, making them highly efficient. Movements like squats, presses, and rows build strength across the body while improving coordination.

These exercises also mirror real-world movement patterns, which support functional strength and daily performance.

Recovery and Its Role in Progress

Training creates the stimulus, yet recovery is where adaptation happens. Sleep quality, rest days, and stress levels all influence how effectively the body rebuilds.

Neglecting recovery can slow progress and increase fatigue. A balanced routine includes both structured workouts and intentional rest.

Nutrition as a Foundation

Nutrition supports every stage of training. Protein helps repair muscle tissue, while carbohydrates provide the energy needed for performance. Without adequate intake, progress becomes limited regardless of effort.

Hydration and overall diet quality also influence recovery and energy levels, making them essential components of any program.

Balancing Volume and Frequency

Training volume refers to the total amount of work performed, while frequency relates to how often you train. Both need to align with recovery capacity.

Too much volume or frequency can reduce effectiveness. A balanced plan allows for consistent progress while minimizing fatigue.

A Practical Takeaway

Weight lifting provides a structured way to counter the effects of a sedentary lifestyle while supporting fat loss and better posture. Eugene Pallisco emphasizes consistency and progression as the key drivers of results.

When training is approached with proper technique, balanced programming, and attention to recovery, it becomes a reliable method for improving strength, movement quality, and overall health.

About Eugene Pallisco

Fitness expert and licensed trainer Eugene Pallisco works in Dallas, Texas. Since he began working with motivational fitness mentors in high school, Eugene has devoted a significant amount of time to sculpting and molding his training philosophy, which is centered on improving others. Before starting his private training firm in the fitness industry, he gained more expertise by working one-on-one with gym patrons after beginning as a group fitness teacher.

Disclaimer: The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical or fitness advice. Consult with a licensed healthcare provider or fitness expert before starting any new exercise or diet program, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. Results may vary based on individual circumstances, and proper form, technique, and caution should always be exercised during physical activities.

Inside SlashData’s 20-Year Mission to Decode Developer Trends and Shape the Future of Software

The Chicago Journal Staff on May 9, 2026

Technology moves fast. New tools, platforms, and trends appear almost every year. But while many companies focus only on what is happening now, few take the time to understand how things evolve over the long term. This is where SlashData stands out.

Founded in 2005, SlashData has spent more than two decades studying software developers. While others chase headlines, the company focuses on something more stable: data collected over time and actionable insights. This long-term approach allows them to see patterns that others might miss.

Developers are often the first to adopt new technologies. By studying their behavior, SlashData can understand where the industry is heading before those trends become obvious to everyone else.

Why Developers Hold the Key to the Future

Most people think about technology from the user’s point of view. But the real drivers of technology and those who set the trends are the developers behind every app, platform, or service, making decisions about tools, languages, and systems. These decisions shape the direction of the entire tech industry.

SlashData believes that developers are not just users of technology, they are its builders and early adopters. When developers start using a new tool or shifting their preferences, it often signals a bigger change ahead.

By focusing on developers, SlashData provides insights that go deeper than surface-level trends. It helps companies understand not just what is popular, but why it is becoming popular.

Building One of the Richest Developer Datasets

Over the years, SlashData has built a large and detailed dataset based on independent, recurring surveys and research. This dataset spans more than 20 years, making it one of the most comprehensive sources of developer insights available.

Collecting data is only part of the process. What makes SlashData different is how seriously it treats data quality. The company uses strict methods to ensure that responses are accurate and reliable. This includes filtering out low-quality or rushed answers and carefully designing surveys to get meaningful results.

This focus on quality is important. In today’s world, there is a lot of data, but not all of it can be trusted. SlashData’s approach helps companies rely on insights that are based on solid evidence.

Turning Data into Real Decisions

Data on its own is not enough. What matters is how it is used. SlashData works closely with companies to turn insights into actions. This could mean helping a company decide which features to build, which markets to enter, or how to improve engagement with developers.

Many of the world’s leading technology companies have worked with SlashData, including Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. These companies rely on data to guide important decisions, and SlashData provides the clarity they need.

The process usually starts with understanding the client’s problem. From there, SlashData designs research that answers specific questions. The result is not just information, but guidance that can be used in real-world situations.

Helping Companies Navigate the AI Era

The rise of artificial intelligence has made the technology landscape even more complex. There are new tools, new platforms, and new ways of working. For many companies, it can be difficult to know where to focus.

SlashData helps cut through this complexity. By studying how developers are adopting AI tools, the company can identify which trends are real and which are just hype. This allows businesses to make smarter decisions about where to invest their time and resources.

For example, understanding which AI coding tools developers prefer can help companies choose the right platforms. It can also guide product development and marketing strategies.

What’s Next?

After more than 20 years, SlashData continues to focus on the future. The company’s goal is not just to understand what is happening today, but to predict what will happen next.

By combining long-term data with careful analysis, SlashData helps companies stay ahead of change. In a world where technology evolves quickly, this kind of insight is more valuable than ever.