A political action committee with ties to Gov. JB Pritzker launched a “seven-figure” ad campaign Friday backing his two-time running mate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, in her Democratic primary bid for U.S. Senate.

The federal judge who issued a landmark preliminary injunction limiting the use of force by immigration agents agreed Thursday to take over a new lawsuit filed by the state and city of Chicago alleging a much broader swath of illegal actions during the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz.

The city is inviting potential sponsors to describe their interest in sponsoring a range of airport assets, including parking lots, elevators, family restrooms and airport shuttle buses and stops.

Spotted: Wintery Chicago sidewalk pineapple.

Today in Chicago History: Brown's Chicken murders — 5 employees, 2 owners found dead inside Palatine restaurant

Feds pull back on gang accusations against man charged in alleged Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino murder-for-hire plot www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/07/f...

Feds' statements after Minneapolis driver killed by ICE officer echo pattern from Midway Blitz in Chicago www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/07/f...

ICYMI: My story from yesterday looked at the costs -- and scope -- of Operation Midway Blitz, including at least $100,000 for tear gas and related munitions at Broadview; $243,000 for Border Patrol helicopters; $19 million for Guard troops that stayed on bases; and $30 million for detaining people

Cook County taxing bodies that have waited months to get their cut of property tax revenues will receive a partial payment in the coming days, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced late Friday.

Board of Review hopeful alleges incumbent offered her a job to withdraw

BREAKING: Supreme Court deals Trump a defeat on bid to deploy National Guard in Illinois

BREAKING: Mayor Brandon Johnson surrenders budget fight, will not veto opponents’ package

Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden’s maneuver came amid the City Council’s high-stakes budget battle — and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s push to frame himself as a defender against rising taxes. Harden was handpicked by Johnson last year to helm the hybrid school board.

The payments to Jonathan Jackson’s 3 I Roadwork Inc. began in the year after he endorsed Gov. JB Pritzker’s first bid for governor in 2018. That endorsement came months after Pritzker’s campaign quietly hired Jackson as a $13,000-per-month political consultant.

After the City Council was startlingly, refreshingly quick in its budget work yesterday, reassuring that today they have gotten back to their baseline of long-windedly pontificating and changing not a single vote in the process. #wordsarewind

Aldermen voted 29-19 on Friday to approve the revenue piece of an alternative 2026 spending plan that does not include Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporate head tax.

Red Line Friday commuter run 1225, Chicago style!!!

Northwest Indiana mayors and state officials are beaming with pride after the Bears announced their search for a new stadium location includes the region.

The Chicago Bears are considering a move to northwest Indiana amid growing concerns that Illinois lawmakers will not approve the financial incentives needed to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, a top team official told the Tribune.

President Donald Trump keeping 300 Illinois National Guard troops federalized until April despite no missions

To veto, or not to veto? That is the question facing Mayor Brandon Johnson as an alternative budget plan from defiant aldermen marches toward a vote. And his public absence Wednesday spoke volumes.

Aldermen attempting to pass their own 2026 Chicago budget over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s objections revealed that they will try to balance their plan with increases in liquor taxes, plastic bag fees and Uber charges, along with millions from ads on downtown bridge houses and legalized video gambling.

Just watched the entire convoy drive circles around a Menards at 26th and Cicero (or so) for several minutes without any agents getting out. They just detained someone out of a grey Cadillac a little further north on Cicero.

Chicago police officer acquitted of sexually abusing handcuffed woman

Political veteran George Cardenas has likely won his way back on the March Democratic primary ballot after resurrecting hundreds of petition signatures.

The Indiana Senate voted down the proposed map, which would have split the 1st District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, into two, and the 7th District, currently held by U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Indianapolis, into four districts.

Cook County’s system to give property tax breaks to businesses is set to expire in two years, and Board President Toni Preckwinkle is looking to revamp the program that has already shifted billions of dollars in tax levies into the wallets of homeowners and other property owners.

CTA board vacancy an opportunity for Mayor Brandon Johnson before he loses mayoral control of transit agency

Three years after a group of homeowners and community organizations filed suit claiming the county’s tax sale robbed them of their home equity, a federal judge has ruled the current system unconstitutional.

Speaking at a City Hall news conference, the mayor castigated the slim City Council majority and said that if those 26 aldermen are so confident in their counterproposal to his $16.6 billion spending plan for next year, then prove it.

The lead backer of the Chicago City Council’s push to grant police the power to declare curfews on teens anywhere, anytime says he plans to float a compromise to Mayor Brandon Johnson following a mass shooting and another fatal shooting he believes could have been prevented.

But despite the hefty fine, former inspector general Joe Ferguson is making no apologies for shedding light on the failed April 2020 demolition of the old Crawford coal-fired power plant’s massive smokestack.

Chicago officials ease capacity limit for Christkindlmarket; organizers say cap remains unsustainable

Humbled by personal tragedy, Republican Darren Bailey resumes his quest for Illinois governor

Within days, the metastasizing debate over who was responsible for the rising tax burden collided with deepening ideological rifts in Chicago and Cook County.

The Cook County Board swiftly approved a $10.12 billion budget for 2026 on Thursday. Like the last several years, the 2026 budget does not include any layoffs or new taxes, fines or fees.

Illinois National Guard housed at state site as questions about Trump deployment costs grow www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/i...

As many as five people were shot just outside the Chicago Theatre in the Loop late Friday night, according to Chicago police.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle won swift approval of her $10.12 billion 2026 budget on Thursday, calling its passage a protection against President Donald Trump’s cuts.

Gov. JB Pritzker meets pope in Rome, they discuss Trump Chicago immigration crackdown

Chicago homeowners are being walloped with a record property tax hike, with some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods absorbing the steepest increases even as downtown office owners see their bills fall, according to data from the Cook County treasurer’s office. trib.al/TpUsdS1

House admonishes Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García over ballot maneuver as most Democrats defend Chicago congressman

Police suspect the person in custody for Monday night’s attack is the same man who poured an unknown substance on City Hall over the weekend and lit it on fire, according to an arrest report obtained by the Tribune.

‘Loop puncher’ sentenced to seven years in prison for aggravated battery, burglary

Aldermen voted down Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget in a Monday committee vote, a historic display of rebellion against the freshman mayor who has been struggling to shore up support for his controversial head tax.

Record property tax increases slam Chicago homeowners as downtown owners see cuts www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/c...

Chicago police have announced charges against a man they say fled to South America during an investigation into a 2004 Gold Coast murder.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin acknowledged Friday that his vote, along with a small number of Democrats, to back a Republican-led measure ending the nation’s longest government shutdown last week could exacerbate divisions between party progressives and moderates.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Finance Committee chair delivered a public warning this week against his plans to forge ahead with the first vote on his 2026 budget, targeting his controversial head tax as a nonstarter with her.

DEVELOPING: The DOJs own data, provided as part of an ongoing lawsuit, appeared to show only about 2.5% of 614 people arrested by ICE on immigration violations in the Chicago area before Oct. 7 had criminal histories Story here: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/14/o...