The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill includes $15 billion to fund lead service replacement efforts, and $3 billion will flow to states and cities in 2022, officials announced.
Stories by heather cherone
Chicago Vaccine Mandate Upheld for Most City Employees, Firefighters
The ruling gives the unions’ employees until Dec. 31 to get their first shot of one of the three approved COVID-19 vaccines, and until Jan. 31 to get the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer BioNtech vaccines.
Retired Judge Picked by Mayor to Probe Botched Raid Finds No Wrongdoing by Lightfoot
Mayor Lori Lightfoot did not purposefully conceal information about the handling of the February 2019 raid that left Anjanette Young handcuffed while naked and pleading for help, according to the results of a probe ordered by the mayor released Thursday.
Chicago to Pay $2.9M to Anjanette Young To Settle Botched Raid Lawsuit
The Chicago City Council agreed Wednesday to pay $2.9 million to resolve the lawsuit brought by Anjanette Young after police officers handcuffed her while she was naked and ignored her pleas for help during a botched raid in February 2019.
As Lightfoot Decries Segregation, City Council Defies Aldermanic Prerogative to Approve Apartments
The proposal from Glenstar at 8535 W. Higgins Road will build the 41st Ward’s first affordable housing in decades amid a cluster of hotels and office mid-rises along the Kennedy Expressway near O’Hare Airport and steps away from the CTA Blue Line.
City Council Green Lights Sports Betting at Chicago’s Pro-Sports Arenas
A full-court press from the owners of the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks helped the measure backed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot hit the jackpot despite the opposition of Chicago billionaire and Rivers Casino Des Plaines operator Neil Bluhm.
Indicted Ald. Carrie Austin Collapses During City Council Meeting
Indicted Ald. Carrie Austin (34th Ward) collapsed during Wednesday’s City Council meeting and was treated by former firefighter Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st Ward) before reviving and being taken out of the Council Chambers on a stretcher.
COVID-19 ‘Surging Again’ Across the Country: Chicago’s Top Doc
Chicago's updated travel advisory includes 42 states, announced Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Zoning Committee OKs Far Northwest Side Apartments, Dealing Blow to Aldermanic Prerogative
The committee vote represents a nearly unprecedented rebuke of the decades-old tradition of giving alderpeople the final say over housing developments in their wards.
Ald. Burke Faces Key Hearing in February, As Trial Slips to 2022
Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and massive amount of evidence, Ald. Ed Burke's criminal trial will not take place until 2022 at the earliest.
Aldermen Set to Pay $2.2M to Settle 3 Police Misconduct Cases
Alderpeople are poised to pay $2.2 million on Wednesday to settle three lawsuits claiming Chicago police officers used excessive force in 2014, before officers were required to wear cameras and record their interactions with Chicagoans.
Measure to Allow Sports Betting at Chicago Pro-Sports Arenas Advances
A full-court press from the owners of the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks on Monday helped push the measure backed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot over the goal line.
Council Committee Endorses Proposal To Pay $2.9M to Anjanette Young To Settle Botched Raid Lawsuit
On Monday, members of City Council's finance committee unanimously endorsed a recommendation to pay $2.9 million to Anjanette Young to resolve the lawsuit she brought after police officers handcuffed her while she was naked and ignored her pleas for help during a botched raid in February 2019.
Affordable Housing Showdown Set Amid Federal Probe
Members of the Chicago City Council have until Friday to respond to 10 questions posed by federal officials probing whether aldermanic prerogative has created a hyper-segregated city rife with racism and gentrification.
Supporters of Push to OK Sports Betting at Stadiums Double Down as Questions Swirl About Casino Impact
A furious round of lobbying is happening behind the scenes at City Hall over the proposal to allow the Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks and Sky to operate sportsbook operations on their home turf.
Chicago May Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccine in ‘High-Risk Settings’: Top Doc
Dr. Allison Arwady said “preliminary conversations” were taking place with representatives of business groups about requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test for diners or revelers, but no decision had been made.
Outdoor Dining Set to be Extended in Chicago as COVID-19 Pandemic Rages Once Again
Restaurants and cafes could continue to serve customers outdoors through 2022 under a proposal set to be considered at Wednesday's City Council meeting.
Aldermen Set to Consider Settling Lawsuit Filed by Anjanette Young Over Botched Raid
The agenda for the meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee set for 10 a.m. Monday does not identify the amount the city would pay Anjanette Young and her attorneys to resolve the case, an indication that a final agreement is close, but is not yet final, sources told WTTW News.
Omicron Variant Detected in Chicago, Officials Announce
The omicron variant of COVID-19, which is believed to be highly transmissible, has been detected in Chicago, state and city health officials announced Tuesday.
Measure to Allow Sports Betting at Chicago Pro-Sports Arenas Remains Stalled Despite Mayor’s Backing
A measure that would allow five of Chicago’s professional sports teams let fans place bets at their home arenas and during games stalled again Tuesday despite the support of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, amid concerns that it could kneecap long-delayed efforts to build a casino in Chicago.
Chicago Facing ‘Very Significant’ COVID-19 Surge, As Omicron Variant Looms, Top Doc Says
Even as the threat posed by the omicron variant of COVID-19 has yet to materialize in Chicago, the city is enduring a “very significant” surge of COVID-19 fueled by the holiday gatherings and indoor events, Chicago’s top doctor said Tuesday.
City, State Officials Set to Launch New Round of Rental Assistance Program
The programs administered by the Chicago Department of Housing and the Illinois Housing Development Authority will provide 18 months of rental assistance up to $25,000, officials said.
‘Let the People of Chicago Decide’: Latino Caucus Moves to Force a Referendum on Ward Maps
By filing the map crafted by the Chicago Latino Caucus with the city clerk’s office, the alderpeople ensured that the June 28 primary election ballot could ask voters to decide what the ward map should look like for the first time in 30 years.
City Council Misses Deadline to Approve New Ward Map as Black Caucus Unveils Proposal
The City Council met briefly Wednesday afternoon, allowing Rules Committee Chair Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) an opportunity to unveil the map drawn behind closed doors and supported by the City Council’s Black Caucus.
City Council Poised to Miss Deadline to Approve New Ward Map Amid Racially Polarized Debate
Negotiations over a new ward map that will shape Chicago politics for the next decade remained deadlocked Tuesday, with no sign of a possible compromise less than a day before the deadline set by state law.
‘The Sky Is Not Falling, At This Point’: City Officials Brace for Omicron COVID-19 Variant
Chicago's updated travel advisory includes 38 states, announced Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
