Another cold day. When will it end? Maybe tomorrow. Anyway, here’s the latest from WTTW News. A graphic that says "What is a Sanctuary City?" (WTTW News) Today, the Chicago City Council will weigh an effort to weaken Chicago’s protections for undocumented immigrants at the request of two alderpeople. Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) and Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) have long opposed the city’s status as a self-proclaimed sanctuary city as Chicago’s immigrant communities brace for mass deportations. Before today’s legislative efforts, let’s take a step back for some context. What’s a sanctuary city? For four decades, Chicago has held the designation of a sanctuary city — but what does it mean, and how has Chicago’s status endured? The term sanctuary city refers to any jurisdiction that discourages, limits or denies cooperation with federal immigration authorities. There are currently hundreds of sanctuary communities in America and 13 sanctuary states. While Berkeley, California, claimed the title of first sanctuary city in 1971, in Chicago, becoming and remaining a sanctuary city has been a bit of a mayoral tug of war. Mayor Harold Washington first declared Chicago a sanctuary city in 1985 via executive order. The order prohibited police and city employees from questioning residents about their immigration status and terminated cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Some argued the policy shielded convicted criminals from deportation, and in the 1990s, Mayor Richard M. Daley interpreted the policy to allow city officials to provide immigration information to the feds if the subjects were involved in serious crimes. Chicago’s sanctuary policies went from executive order to a strong law with the 2006 Welcoming City ordinance. In 2012, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City Council weakened the law, allowing police to work with federal officials in limited cases. Read more Chicago speed limit sign. (WTTW News) The Chicago City Council is set to decide today whether to reduce Chicago’s default speed limit to 25 miles per hour from 30 miles per hour, an effort to make the city’s roadways safer after a surge of deaths in recent years. Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) said last week he would ask his colleagues to vote Wednesday on the measure advanced by the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee in October after working for months behind the scenes to marshal support for the measure. Opponents of the change say it will only increase gridlock in Chicago, which already has the fifth worst traffic in the world, according to a recent report, and give city officials a way to ease Chicago’s financial crunch by hitting drivers who refuse to slow down with fines and fees. But La Spata and other transportation advocates say the change is designed to save lives, not generate revenue, and the time to act is now. Here's what else is on the docket: Read more Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez appears on "Chicago Tonight" on Jan. 14, 2025. (WTTW News) Just days before Christmas, Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez was terminated in a unanimous vote by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked Board of Education. This Wednesday, the city’s first-ever elected school board members will be sworn in. Martinez is still the CEO for the next six months under the terms of his contract. He joined WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” for his first sit-down interview since being fired. He talked his firing, his working relationship with Johnson and more. Read more Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW. Back in the Day: January 15, 2000 - Music Venue Lounge Ax Hosts Its Final Show On this day 25 years ago, a chapter of Chicago rock ’n’ roll history ended with the closure of the North Side venue Lounge Ax. Founded by Julia Adams in 1987, the club became a hotbed for indie rock, Americana, post-rock, and all things alternative when talent buyer Susan Miller joined the fold in 1989. The Lincoln Park club hosted the likes of the Replacements, Yo La Tengo, Neutral Milk Hotel and Wilco, whose frontman Jeff Tweedy married Miller in 1995. When it lost its lease after an investment banker bought the building, the final weeks of the spot were an all-out party culminating in the final gig featuring the Lounge Ax house band the Coctails and Dianogah. Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW. Local Live Music Recommendations for Jan. 15-Jan. 21 Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more. While there’s usually an early January lull for live music, Tomorrow Never Knows the indoor music festival hosted by several of the city’s independent venues fixes that problem. Most of the selections here are from that festival. Thursday, Jan. 16: Lutalo, runo plum, Sleeper's Bell at Schubas. Tickets. A talented Vermont-based songwriter headlines this bill in Lakeview. Thursday, Friday and Saturday Jan. 16-18: Cosmic Country Showcase with Cactus Lee at Judson & Moore Distillery. Tickets. Chicago’s premier country party has a special guest over three nights in Avondale. Friday, Jan. 17: V.V. Lightbody, Morinda, Lily Seabird at Gman Tavern. Tickets. All great singer-songwriters. Get there early for Burlington’s Seabird. Saturday, Jan. 18: Lawn, the Lipschitz at Gman Tavern. Tickets. The New Orleans indie rock band recorded their forthcoming album in Chicago. Adeline Hotel, Fran, Dave Vettraino at Hideout. Tickets. Introspective folk at its most ambient and thoughtful. Sunday, Jan. 19: For Frankie: Tedd Patterson, Ralphi Rosario, Derrick Carter, Lori Branch, Duane Powell, Michael Serafini at smartbar. Tickets. A celebration of the late house DJ Frankie Knuckles. What was your most memorable snow experience in Chicago? Tell us when, where you were and what happened. Email [email protected] with your responses and your answers might be published. The latest from City Hall on the speed limit vote and sanctuary city debate. 5:30 PM | 10:00 PM Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
