A community activist and the incumbent daughter of a City Council dynasty face off ahead of the April 2 runoff election.

For years, Ald. Ed Burke ran what amounts to an employee loan-out program from his perch as head of City Council’s powerful Finance Committee. “It’s a way of exercising control,” said one City Hall staffer.

Two major projects – both of them controversial – got the full City Council vote Wednesday in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s second-to-last meeting.

As Chicago voters prepare to head back to the polls, our series of forums continues with 5th Ward candidates Ald. Leslie Hairston and William Calloway.

We launch our aldermanic runoff forums with a reprise of the 2015 matchup in the 16th Ward between Stephanie Coleman and incumbent Ald. Toni Foulkes.

The massive $6 billion Lincoln Yards development has nearly passed through all of its regulatory hurdles.

The outgoing 20th Ward alderman is set to appear at a change-of-plea hearing on March 21. He was charged in 2016 with 15 federal charges including fraud, bribery and extortion.

We meet three political newcomers who upset longtime aldermen – plus a fourth candidate who won an open seat in Tuesday’s election.

Several incumbent aldermen were voted out of office and others are headed into a runoff. And despite scandals and investigations, some others prevailed.

Chicago’s longest serving alderman, has been re-elected to an unprecedented 13th term despite a highly publicized federal charge of attempted extortion.

With 160 candidates running for alderman, the Chicago City Council could be seeing a major makeover in May.

In addition to the very competitive and crowded mayoral contest, voters in all 50 wards are voting for alderman as well. We highlight some of the races to watch.

An obscure city commission voted Tuesday to approve a $900 million tax increment financing district that will help fund infrastructure upgrades for the proposed $6 billion Lincoln Yards development.

Opponents of the $6 billion proposal are calling for more affordable housing units. “Affordable housing is a crisis throughout the entire city,” said Ald. James Cappleman, who is spearheading the opposition.

Viagra, massages and toddler togs in the expanding corruption investigation at City Hall. Federal oversight is coming to the Chicago Police Department. An alleged hate crime involving a TV actor. And “Chiberia” paralyzes the city.

Shocking news from City Hall as the scandal touches the statehouse. Political reporters Carol Marin, Paris Schutz and Amanda Vinicky dive into the story in this week’s roundtable.