Stories by Paul Caine
Former Chicago Immigration Judges Discuss Trump Administration Firings
| Paul Caine
In the past week, 17 immigration court judges across the country have been abruptly fired by the Trump administration — including in Chicago.
30 Years After Mass Heat Wave Deaths, Activists Question Whether Chicago Is Any Better Prepared
| Paul Caine
Thirty years ago, a heat wave settled over northeast Illinois. By the time the heat relented, 739 people had died and the city was using refrigerated trucks as makeshift morgues.
Week in Review: Pritzker and Johnson Warn of Fallout From Trump Cuts; Federal Agents Descend on Humboldt Park Museum
| Paul Caine
Federal agents descend on a local museum, with community leaders saying they meant to bully and intimidate. And the mayor and governor decry the president’s signature new spending bill.
Week in Review: Pritzker Launches Bid for 3rd Term; CTU Calls for More Borrowing to Avoid Cuts
| Paul Caine
Gov. JB Pritzker makes it official — he’s running for a third term. And the interim CPS CEO says Chicago schools face an even higher deficit than had been reported.
Week in Review: Johnson Vetoes ‘Snap Curfew’ Ordinance; CPS CEO Martinez Departs
| Paul Caine
The mayor vetoes a “snap curfew” measure aimed at curbing large teen gatherings. And Democratic members of Congress are turned away from an ICE facility.
Departing CPS Chief Pedro Martinez Says He Has No Regrets, Decries ‘Bullying’ by Mayor and CTU
| Paul Caine
Late last year, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked school board fired Martinez without cause after he refused to take out a $300 million loan to cover the cost of a new teachers’ contract — but he remained on the job for the last six months, as dictated by his contract.
Week in Review: Madigan Sentenced; Pritzker Defends Illinois’ Migrant Protections
| Paul Caine
Onetime political heavyweight Michael Madigan has his fate decided by a federal judge. And Chicagoans join nationwide protests against the Trump administration.
Week in Review: ICE Arrests Spark Protests; Johnson Renews Calls to Tax ‘Ultra Rich’
| Paul Caine
A chaotic scene as federal agents make a surprise mass immigration arrest. And Mayor Brandon Johnson says he’s confident public transit will get the funding it needs — but who will pay?
Week in Review: Scramble to Pass State Budget; Assisted-Dying Bill Advances
| Paul Caine
The Illinois House advances a bill allowing physician-assisted death for the terminally ill. And an overhaul of public transit in the Chicago area is lining up in Springfield.
Cook County’s Top Prosecutor Defends Tougher Pretrial Detention Policy
| Paul Caine
At her swearing-in ceremony six months ago, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke promised a tougher approach to tackling violent crime.
Week in Review: Chicago Man Charged in Murder of Israeli Embassy Staffers; DOJ Investigating City’s Hiring Practices
| Paul Caine
Chicagoans react after a local man is accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers. And the mayor waves off the latest Trump attack — this time, over hiring practices.
Week in Review: Pritzker Demands More Fight From ‘Do-Nothing Democrats’; Snap Curfew Proposal Stalls
| Paul Caine
The governor calls on Democrats to step up their game in opposing the Trump administration. And Mayor Brandon Johnson visits Springfield with a wish list for Chicago — is it too late in the session to land a deal?
Week in Review: Dick Durbin Passing the Torch; Highland Park Gunman Sentenced
| Paul Caine
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announces he won’t seek another term — setting off a scramble for the rare open seat. And Mayor Brandon Johnson is sounding the alarm on city finances.
Cambridge Astronomers Detect Tentative Signs of Life on Distant World
| Paul Caine
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers said they were able to detect signs of sulfur-based molecules called dimethyl sulfide or DMS, which on Earth are only produced by life, primarily marine phytoplankton.
Week in Review: City Council Blocks Jan. 6 Rioters From City Jobs; Police Misconduct Budget Almost Exhausted
| Paul Caine
Former President Joe Biden returns to the national stage — calling out the Trump administration’s actions on Social Security. And alderpeople are blocking Jan. 6 rioters from working with the city.
Trump’s Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms Tee Up Potential Constitutional Clash
| Paul Caine
Some of the nation’s largest law firms have recently been faced with a stark choice — cooperate with the Trump administration or face punitive executive orders.
Week in Review: International Students Targeted for Deportation; Alderpeople Push Back on Mayor’s Affordable Housing Plan
| Paul Caine
The Trump administration abruptly revokes visas for students at local universities. And state elections officials look into the Illinois Senate president’s campaign fund.
Trump Administration Cuts to NEH Grants Leave Illinois Humanities Facing $1 Million Shortfall
| Paul Caine
More than 1,000 grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities for cultural programs across the country were terminated by the Trump administration last week.
Week in Review: Chicago Teachers Poised to Approve New Contract; Trump Tariffs Tank Global Stock Markets
| Paul Caine
Stocks plummet after Trump’s sweeping tariffs. And after a long year of negotiations, Chicago teachers have a tentative contract deal.
Retirement Not in Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s Lexicon
| Paul Caine
“If I didn’t do this job, I’d pick another one and it wouldn’t be as interesting or challenging or as impactful,” said Toni Preckwinkle, who has led Cook County since 2010.
Week in Review: CTU Close to a Deal; Signal Group Chat Debacle
| Paul Caine
Chicago teachers appear close to a contract deal. Fallout over a shocking national security breach. And Sen. Dick Durbin's political future.
Duckworth Slams Fellow Democrats Over Continuing Resolution Vote; Hits Republicans Over Group Chat Intelligence Breach
| Paul Caine
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth previously called U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unqualified to lead the Defense Department and said he should either step down or be fired.
Week in Review: CPS and CTU Say They’re Close to a Deal; Sun-Times Loses 20% of Its Journalists
| Paul Caine
Tensions between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union are running hot, but as of Friday evening both sides say a contract deal is close.
Week in Review: Pritzker Says Education Department Cuts Could Cost State $3B; Downtown Shooting Revives Curfew Talk
| Paul Caine
What Trump’s Education Department overhaul could mean for Illinois students. And could an earlier downtown curfew cut crime?
Is the US Prepared for the Next Pandemic? Learning Lessons From COVID-19
| Paul Caine
More than 1.2 million Americans have died from COVID-19. Despite having one of the most sophisticated health care systems in the world, the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic fell well short when compared to other developed nations.
Week in Review: Johnson Testifies Before Congress; Trump’s Tariffs Put Markets on Edge
| Paul Caine
How Mayor Brandon Johnson did in his testimony before Congress. And what’s next for Deerfield-based Walgreens after being picked up by a private equity firm.
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