Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review: ICE Agents Use Pepper Spray on Broadview Protesters; Loyola’s Sister Jean Retires, featuring @quinnmyers.bsky.social @monicaeng.bsky.social @sashaannsimons.bsky.social @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social & host @ndblumberg.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/09/26/w...

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will seek a third term in office next year amid growing questions about the Democrat’s ambitions for higher office. WTTW News Correspondent @ndblumberg.bsky.social also answers the possibility of a presidential run for Prtizker. to.wttw.com/44vzTIF

"I told the truth right from the beginning." In March, we told you about an Aurora resident facing battery charges--that he vehemently denied--after a dispute with some of former Mayor Richard Irvin's campaign team. Today, his case was dismissed. @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/06/04/b...

I'm on City Cast Chicago today discussing the ways West Siders are addressing violence and its root causes with @ndblumberg.bsky.social and host Jacoby Cochran megaphone.link/CC3610260195 Read the @illinoisanswers.bsky.social series my story is part of: makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org

Shortly after unveiling a plan to restructure Chicagoland public transit, lawmakers filed a revenue measure aimed at staving off a budget gap that would have risked a "death spiral" -- and boosting funding beyond current levels @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/29/i...

The state of Illinois’ Executive Ethics Commission published a series of inspector general reports, including one centered on CTA “time abuse,” which revealed some employees had been getting paid to complete no work.

Lawmakers just released a bill overhauling Chicagoland public transit that would effectively replace the RTA and make CTA, Metra, and Pace focused on operations — but no word yet on much-needed revenues @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/28/l...

It's crunch time for Illinois lawmakers racing to make a May 31 deadline to pass a budget and close out the spring session. Here are some of the key issues we'll be watching @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/27/b...

The DC shooting, the DOJ investigating Chicago, an AI debacle, and much more with the great @tinasfon.bsky.social @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social @mitchtrout.bsky.social & Mariah Woelfel — 7p and streaming anytime from @wttw.bsky.social

Full story here: news.wttw.com/2025/05/14/a...

At the CTA's monthly board meeting, Ald. David Moore warned directors not to be a "backbiting snake" and push back against Mayor Brandon Johnson's rumored choice for the next CTA president, city COO John Roberson @wttw.bsky.social

A Pope from Chicago, a win for the mayor, fights over CPS and CTA leadership and much more with the great panel of @bpopetv.bsky.social @katpham.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social & Justin Laurence — 7pm on @wttw.bsky.social or streaming anytime!

Rumors are swirling about Mayor Johnson’s pick to run the CTA — but at a quickly scheduled board meeting Thursday, directors took no action and advocates called for a transparent search for a candidate with transit experience @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/08/t...

George Ryan’s legacy, Gov. Pritzker’s call to action, Mayor Johnson’s Springfield wishlist and more with the fantastic Rachel Hinton @lkpwrites.bsky.social @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social & @heathercherone.bsky.social — 7pm on @wttw.bsky.social and streaming online!

Dick Durbin, Pope Francis, Johnson vs. Emanuel and much more on the Week in Review — 7p or streaming anytime on @wttw.bsky.social with the great Rick Pearson @sskedreporter.bsky.social @quinnmyers.bsky.social and @cptime47.bsky.social

Fed Chair Jerome Powell told the Economic Club of Chicago to expect uncertainty and a likely increase in inflation amid Trump’s tariffs—and said the central bank is staying above the political fray, despite efforts to curb independent agencies @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/04/16/c...

The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team of @heathercherone.bsky.social @ndblumberg.bsky.social & host @brandisfriedman.bsky.social on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s comments and more of the day’s top stories.

What happened this week? Well, a lot! Get caught up on @wttw.bsky.social at 7 tonight and streaming online with the fantastic @beckyvevea.bsky.social @vimiller.bsky.social @bloomberg.com’s Shruti Singh & @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social

After two terms leading the state’s second most populous city, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin conceded to his opponent, Ald. John Laesch — who’s long accused Irvin of pay to play politics @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/04/01/2...

What a week it was! Get caught up on alll the news you might have missed with the killer @wttw.bsky.social Week in Review panel @heathercherone.bsky.social @adquig.bsky.social @cptime47.bsky.social & Jacoby Cochran! news.wttw.com/2025/03/28/w...

NEW: Chicago Police Department officials acknowledged to @wttw.bsky.social that officers failed to document 210,622 traffic stops in 2024, even as officials work to craft new rules that would limit the ability of officers to make certain kinds of stops.

As the Aurora mayoral election draws near, some say campaign tactics are getting extreme in the west suburb. (via @ndblumberg.bsky.social)

Fermilab received near-failing federal grades in its annual report card following a tumultuous year of budget mismanagement, safety concerns and leadership turnover. Whistleblower reports highlighted serious problems at the premier physics facility. to.wttw.com/4bXec6D

Stolen and defaced signs, charges of misleading campaigners, and a call to the police -- critics say supporters of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin's reelection bid are employing dirty campaign tactics @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/24/c...

WTTW News met artist and teacher Elena Diadenko three years ago, soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, as in 2022, Diadenko aids the war effort in her native country. When she isn’t teaching she raises funds through art-related events. to.wttw.com/41QeCHi

Some severe asthma patients will face new hurdles to treatment under BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois rules set to take effect next month @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/21/n...

How bad could transit cuts get? CTA, Metra, Pace outline doomsday scenarios if state lawmakers don’t plug a $770M budget gap @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/21/t...

The @wttw.bsky.social News Spotlight Politics team of @heathercherone.bsky.social @ndblumberg.bsky.social@amandakaschube.bsky.social & host @brandisfriedman.bsky.social on the $175 million pension payment and more of the day’s top stories.

NEW: A federal judge wants Chicago to make about 71% of its signalized intersections accessible for people who are blind or have low vision within ten years, an order that follows a class action lawsuit that found the city has violated the ADA @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/14/j...

Chicago taxpayers have spent nearly $8.7M to defend and settle lawsuits alleging CPD officers committed a wide range of misconduct during the protests and unrest during the summer of 2020 that were triggered by the police murder of George Floyd, according to an analysis by @wttw.bsky.social news

Starting this spring, the CTA plans to equip buses on six rotating routes with cameras aimed at catching and ticketing scofflaws parked in bus lanes @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/12/c...

ICYMI:

Officials in charge of Chicago’s water system should warn residents that more than 1,200 water mains were buried under the city’s streets in spots too close to sewers & could pose a threat to the city’s drinking water if the system stops working, the city’s watchdog urged. @wttw.bsky.social

The cost of resolving lawsuits sparked by police pursuits has escalated significantly since 2019, while CPD has been subject to a federal court order to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers, according to a @wttw.bsky.social news analysis.

For months, Aurora's been promoting a new tourism app. City employees extensively aided in the app's development, even though Aurora has no formal contract with the app's owner, a firm led by a mayoral ally whose businesses have gotten millions in contracts & incentives @wttw 👇

BREAKING: The City Council votes 21-28 Wednesday to REJECT a push to lower the city’s speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, an effort supporters said would reduce deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes while opponents said was rushed and would lead to unintended consequences. @wttw.bsky.social

After this recommendation from Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, Ald. Matt Martin (the chair of the Ethics Committee) introduced a measure to make these changes; it was blocked from advancing by Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez, an ally of Mayor Johnson

The governor's proposal includes no general tax increases, cutting medical care for non-citizen adults aged 42-65, no plan for addressing Chicagoland public transit's $770M fiscal cliff next year, and much much more -- great roundup from @amandavinicky.bsky.social @wttw.bsky.social

Chicago violence prevention groups are credited with first approaching the work as a public health issue. Now, organizations across the country are refining that model and creating their own. to.wttw.com/3X58QzL

At her first CTA board meeting since taking over, the transit agency's acting president said leadership change is an opportunity "to set a tone that is responsive to what we know riders and stakeholders want to hear" @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/02/12/a...

BREAKING: a labor-backed bill to reform Chicagoland transit finances and governance w/o merging CTA, Metra, and Pace was announced this AM, co-sponsored by a previous merger advocate @wttw news.wttw.com/2025/02/06/l...

The @wttw.bsky.social News Spotlight #Politics team of @heathercherone.bsky.social @ndblumberg.bsky.social & host @amandavinicky.bsky.social discuss the hiring of those with Jan. 6 pardons and more of the day’s top stories. news.wttw.com/2025/02/04/m...

NEW: Mayor Johnson declined on Tuesday to immediately block those who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol from working in city jobs after most were pardoned by President Donald Trump Gov. Pritzker has banned them from jobs with the state of Illinois. @wttw.bsky.social

The Chicago Transit Authority says the $1.9 billion in federal funding it’s been promised for the Red Line Extension should be secure, despite the Trump administration’s sweeping freeze of grant money (via @ndblumberg.bsky.social) news.wttw.com/2025/01/28/c...

BREAKING: Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents attempted to conduct an enforcement action at Hamline Elementary School in Back of the Yards, Ald. Jeanette Taylor and Chicago Public Schools officials said Friday. @wttw.bsky.social

“This job can be very difficult, but the challenges that I faced have been eclipsed by the opportunity to work with a group of professionals who are among the best in our industry.” CTA Prez Dorval Carter says goodbye; chief of staff tapped as interim @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/01/15/c...

CTA President Dorval Carter bids farewell to the agency's board in his final remarks, calling his tenure the "honor of a lifetime." Carter's chief of staff of more than six years, Nora Leerhsen, was appointed acting president @wttw.bsky.social

“The downgrade reflects our view that the 2025 budget leaves intact a sizable structural budgetary imbalance that we expect will make balancing the budget in 2026 and outyears more challenging." @wttw.bsky.social

With Chicagoland transit facing down an estimated $750M budget gap -- and state lawmakers debating a merger of the current operators -- the RTA is out with a new reform plan it hopes will satisfy calls for governance change and improve rider experience @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/01/15/r...

Just after securing nearly $2B in federal funding for the Red Line Extension -- and after years of widespread criticism -- CTA President Dorval Carter announced he's leaving his post at the end of the month @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/01/13/c...