It’s almost Friday, which means it can only be Thursday. Get ready for the rest of the week with these stories from WTTW News.

Good morning, Chicago. We survived the arctic blast but snow might be coming.  Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference on Jan. 21, 2025. (WTTW News) Illinois is suing to block President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, while state leaders brace for potential raids aimed at removing individuals in the U.S. without legal documentation. Federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials could be targeting as many as 2,000 Chicagoans, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday morning.

Good news: this freezing weather is almost over. Brew a pot of coffee and cozy up with these stories from WTTW News.  President Donald Trump signs an executive order on TikTok in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States Monday. With his opening rounds of memoranda and executive orders, Trump repealed dozens of former President Joe Biden’s actions, began his immigration crackdown, withdrew the U.S.

For a national holiday, it's a busy day. Today Donald Trump returns to office, and we remember the spirit and mission of Martin Luther King Jr. Trump International Tower and Hotel on the Chicago River. In the run-up to the presidential election, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson repeatedly warned that President Donald Trump would pose an existential threat to Chicago and its residents if voters returned him to the White House.

It’s the weekend. Brace for an arctic blast of freezing, near-zero temperatures coming soon. 

It’s warming up but don’t get too comfortable. It’ll be even colder soon enough.  Chicago's new hybrid Board of Education meets for the first time at the Chicago Public Schools Loop headquarters on Jan. 15, 2025. (WTTW News) Wednesday was a historic day in Chicago as the first-ever elected members of the Board of Education were officially sworn in, marking the first step away from mayoral control and toward a fully-elected body by 2027.

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.

It’s another day of blistering cold temps. Warm up with these local stories from WTTW News.  State Rep. Will Guzzardi speaks during a Jan. 13, 2024 news conference on new legislation. (Amanda Vinicky / WTTW News) Advocates in Illinois want the state to become the first in the U.S. to fully legalize the exchange of money for sex among consenting adults.

Hope you had a good weekend, Chicago. Today, a City Council committee will vote on millions in police misconduct and wrongful conviction settlements. Plus, the latest on the medical marijuana qualification list. 

Happy Friday. This snowy day marks the 2025 return of Patty Wetli’s weekly City in a Garden column and more local stories from WTTW News. Devoted stewardship turned a stretch of Montrose Beach into an incredible natural area. (Credit: Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Patty Wetli: Well that didn’t last long.