Chicago City Council members are being asked to greenlight a $27 million dollar settlement for yet another police chase gone wrong. Plus, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says he doesn’t want to raise taxes, but whether he needs to remains to be seen. A new study from UIC shows how safe people feel when guns are present.
The head of a nonprofit budget think tank says it’s time for the state of Illinois to raise taxes. A Black Jewish mom will be the 21st - and final - member of the Chicago school board. Plus, the Ireland and New Zealand national rugby teams will face off at Soldier Field this November.
Cuts to Medicaid could impact many Illinois including those living with HIV/AIDS. Plus, Defense lawyers in the federal ComEd bribery case want a federal judge to pause it based on action by President Donald Trump. Senator Durbin says the Trump administration’s cuts to the N-I-H would jeopardize the wellbeing of Americans everywhere.
The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory from 9 p.m. tonight through noon tomorrow. The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services has activated its warming areas at six community service centers this week due to cold temperatures. An international soybean research program at the University of Illinois is getting ready to close after the Trump administration put its federal funding on hold.
Hundreds protested outside Lurie Children's Hospital over the weekend over its pause on gender affirming surgeries for people under 19, Illinois lawmakers consider financial aid for people in college, the Chicago Sky are making some big offseason roster moves.
Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago is still pausing gender affirming surgeries despite a new court order. The state is suspending former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s government pension after his federal corruption conviction. Plus, find out how mammals, fish, and insects find love at the Field Museum.
Resignations continue from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s cabinet, what cutting USAID does to Illinois farmers, and the Driehaus Museum hosts its largest ever display of contemporary art.
Two Illinois Democratic lawmakers are teaming up this spring to try to address what’s known as the “wandering officer” problem. An annual survey shows the majority of American Jews say antisemitism has increased. Plus, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is once again searching for the coolest thing made in Illinois.
Illinois’ former House speaker Michael Madigan put on a smiling face after his corruption conviction. Illinois Republicans continue pushing for ethics reform after former House Speaker Mike Madigan is found guilty. Parents complain about a lack of a concrete plan to keep open seven Chicago charter schools, originally slated for closure.
Former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan is found guilty in 10 verdicts. National Heart Month is celebrated every February to raise awareness about heart health. Plus, some tips for driving safely in the snow.
County board members in Springfield have approved the settlement with the family of Sonya Massey. Faith-based organizations in the U.S. and in Illinois are challenging in federal court the removal of a policy that kept ICE from coming into houses of worship. Certain aspects of those 25% tariffs on foreign steel imports aren't favored by America’s largest steel union.
The University of Chicago is part of a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s move to cut billions in funding for medical research. A conference to accelerate climate action in the Midwest will debut in Chicago this summer. Plus, a winter weather advisory starts tomorrow.
President Donald Trump has pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Advocates in Chicago worry about the potential rise of vigilante activity because of anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from the White House. A tenants union on Chicago’s Northwest Side is protesting rising rents and looming displacement.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is suing the Trump administration along with attorneys general from 21 other states over Trump’s plans to cut funding for medical and public health research at universities. The family of a woman killed in yet another Chicago police chase gone wrong is slated to receive $27 million dollars. Karina’s Bill has now been signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker into Karina’s Law.
In the Illinois legislature’s spring session, The Clean Slate Coalition is hoping to cut through bureaucratic red tape that comes with relieving a criminal record. Legislation filed last week could boost partnerships between faith-based organizations in Illinois. Illinois broke another record for annual cannabis sales last year.
More than 160 employees who work on environmental justice or held positions related to DEI at the EPA have been placed on paid administrative leave. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced plans for another lawsuit against the Trump administration. Plus, county officials in Springfield have reached a 10 million dollar settlement with Sonya Massey’s family.
The Justice Department sues officials including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker over immigrant sanctuary policies. A Chicago school board member wants the next leader of the Chicago Public Schools to be a full fledged superintendent, not a CEO. Chicago Public Schools says an independent arbitrator sided with them in Chicago teachers union contract negotiations.
The Department of Justice is suing the City of Chicago, the state of Illinois and Cook County over their so-called sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with immigration authorities. Illinois House Democrats are doing what they can to oppose President Donald Trump – but their power is extremely limited. Virginia McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears franchise, died today at 102 years old.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to defend Chicago’s sanctuary city status on a national stage next month — in testimony before the House Oversight Committee. The Chicago Teachers Union says an independent arbitrator has sided with them on some key issues. An Illinois Congressman warns that Ukrainians will die if the Trump administration cuts off humanitarian aid to that country.
Mayor Brandon Johnson says he will travel to D.C. next month to testify before Congress. Chicago attorneys say they are exploring what appears to be violations of the Fourth Amendment during recent immigration raids. Plus, a winter weather advisory.
Illinois is moving to bar anyone who took part in the January 6th insurrection from state employment. Will Chicago follow suit? Chicago’s cultural commissioner was at City Hall defending Chicago artists yesterday. The city of Chicago releases bodycam footage showing police officers fatally shoot a knife-wielding man in a senior apartment building.
Hundreds of ducks and other birds are washing up dead along the Chicago area’s lakefront. An organization that represents Illinois’s largest private employment sector is worried about price hikes. Plus, Shakira is coming to Suenos Music Festival this May in Grant Park.
Chicago teachers say some of their students stayed home yesterday as part of a national protest called a day without immigrants. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s policy agenda for the first quarter of this year is absent of any bold ideas for progressive revenue, despite promises to push for new funding streams. Illinois lawmakers will try again to pass legislation merging the Chicago area’s transit authorities.
Mayor Brandon Johnson works toward a revised Anjanette Young ordinance, Illinois lawmakers introduce a measure to punish students who sexually assault other students at school, and Cook County says more information is needed to make south suburban property taxes more fair.
Educators in Chicago are calling on universities to protect international student protesters. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is directing the state not to hire anyone convicted of crimes connected to the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. Be prepared for a wild weather weekend.
The head of Chicago Public Schools says teachers union contract deal is closer than ever… the union challenges him to make it happen. The Chicago City Council is exploring how the city could regulate and tax the sale of hemp products. An Illinois Congressman says they’re worried the latest federal funding freeze debacle won’t be the last.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says he doesn’t support some changes to state pensions that unions are asking for. The head of Illinois’ largest university system says he is no longer using the term DEI because he “doesn’t know what it means anymore.” The Chicago Housing Authority is offering scholarships for students who live in public housing.
Venezuelan migrants will soon be considered undocumented-immigrants by the Trump administration. The move could boost deportation numbers. Chicago public schools are trying to figure out how one of Trump’s executive orders will impact the district. Local activists say President Trump is endangering the health and safety of the trans community.
President Trump’s administration says an effort to block immigration raids in Chicago is “unprecedented and fundamentally flawed.” The fate of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is now in the hands of jurors. Plus, reading scores for Illinois fourth graders continue to decline.
Top Illinois Democrats say President Donald Trump is lying as they continue grappling with his proposed freeze on federal aid. World Relief Chicagoland has seen a stop in its funding from the federal government for its refugee resettlement work, due to an executive order issued last week. Former Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus is heading back to Texas.
