Stories by Heather Cherone

U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis is the second federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois to find that federal agents have presented unreliable testimony about their actions and the actions of Chicagoans in response to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation effort.

Allowing CPD to spend unlimited sums of taxpayer money is a “crazy way to run a city,” said Justin Marlowe, a professor in the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, and the director of the Center for Municipal Finance.

Mayor Brandon Johnson blocked the city’s watchdog from searching for gifts he accepted on behalf of the city without reporting them as required, as required by the city’s ethics ordinance, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said Tuesday.

The proposal is opposed not only by business groups but also labor organizations, including the Chicago Federation of Labor, which are concerned that the measure would snarl new and expanding businesses in red tape, preventing them from creating new jobs.

U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis had ordered Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino to appear in her courtroom every weekday at 6 p.m. to recap the events of the day and inform her of any use of force.

“From the public health perspective, it is about protecting the children and protecting adults who don’t really know what is in the products they’re consuming,” Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige said.

A West Side resident, Remel Terry has been a member of the commission, better known as the CCPSA, since it was launched in 2022.

“Our Chicagoland neighborhoods are being bombarded with tear gas, invaded by unidentified masked men in unmarked vehicles, thugs who are intimidating workers and children and grandparents, most of whom are Black or Brown, most of whom have committed no offense at all,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.

Chester Wilson, 59, was former Ald. Carrie Austin’s chief of staff when he was indicted in July 2021 alongside his boss, once one of the most powerful politicians in Chicago.

Kat Abughazaleh, who is running to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, and Catherine “Cat” Sharp, who is running to represent the 12th District on the Cook County Board, were indicted alongside 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and three others.

U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis ordered Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino to appear in her courtroom at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Required by the terms of the consent decree, the federal court order designed to compel CPD to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers, the study is on track to be completed on time, by the end of the year, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said.

Four members of the 1863 tactical team named in COPA’s letter have been stripped of their police powers, according to a department spokesperson.

The judge’s order came less than 24 hours after Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino fired tear gas at a crowd during an aggressive raid in Little Village.

City crews are going to have to sharply increase efforts to remove the lines from homes and two- and four-flats to comply with state and federal requirements, Department of Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner said.

The incident, which took place in the heart of one of Chicago’s wealthiest and most tourist-friendly neighborhoods, marks the second straight day that federal agents have deployed tear gas against Chicagoans and the sixth time in 21 days.

If agents deployed tear gas without a warning, that would violate an order issued by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis two weeks ago.

Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $267 million to resolve lawsuits alleging Chicago police officers committed a wide range of misconduct so far this year, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News.

“Donald Trump is counting on your silence,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “We are counting on your courage.”

“These federal agents are operating lawlessly, demonstrating utter disregard for our constitutional rights,” Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward) said.

State Rep. Hoan Huynh, a candidate to represent Illinois’ 9th District in Congress, said he was in Albany Park when he was confronted by six Border Patrol agents.

As aldermen kicked off nearly a month of hearings by quizzing the mayor’s finance team for more than four hours, several alderpeople said they were shocked by the amount of money the mayor had proposed taking from the city’s tax increment financing districts.

We take a look at five of our favorite places in Chicago said to be haunted by the ghosts of politicians — and their scandals.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Ellis said Thursday she was “not happy” that immigration agents appear to have violated her order not to use tear gas and other weapons against journalists, protesters and anyone not posing an immediate threat to immigration enforcement agents.

In all, CPD’s budget is set to swell to $2.1 billion, increasing by $37.9 million to cover the cost of salary increases required by agreements with unions representing members.

The Trump administration told the Supreme Court that it wanted to deploy 300 members of the Illinois National Guard and 400 members of the Texas National Guard.