BREAKING: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoes tipped wage freeze, setting up City Council showdown

A text from Gov. JB Pritzker to Comptroller Susana Mendoza is exposing a split between the two Illinois Democrats over whether the state should participate in a federal tax incentive program championed by Republicans and signed into law by President Trump.

Fritz Kaegi conceded defeat in his bid for a third term as Cook County assessor to rival Pat Hynes in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. And Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle declared victory against challenger Brendan Reilly.

With 90% of the estimated vote tallied, Daniel Biss had 29.6%, progressive commentator Kat Abughazaleh had 25.6% and state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview had 20.4%, leading the 15-candidate field, according to The Associated Press.

“I’m humbly grateful. My constituents saw through the mess the feds tried to put me in.” State Sen. Emil Jones III, who faced federal corruption charges, wins Democratic nomination for his South Side seat www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/17/i...

BREAKING: Donna Miller wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District, reports the Associated Press. trib.al/2O8q6sO

The 17-member Cook County Board is guaranteed at least four new faces next year thanks to two retirements and two ambitious congressional hopefuls.

Toni Preckwinkle is chasing history, trying to match the record tenure as leader of the Cook County Board. Her opponent in the Democratic primary is trying to make that longevity her biggest weakness.

Retirement of US Rep Danny Davis sparks scramble — and flood of PAC dollars — for seat @aliceyin.bsky.social w the rundown www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/11/r...

The Republican primary for governor four years ago was impossible to miss with massive spending and six candidates. This year, apart from candidate Darren Bailey, almost nothing is the same.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson departs Rainbow PUSH Coalition for the final time 930 E. 50th St., Chicago

Welcome to Hope House, a model for fostering children and teens developed by the Chicago-based nonprofit One Hope United. The premise is a stable household with a built-in support team to help the young residents thrive.

A public service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be held in Chicago on Friday, with former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden in attendance.

"Spreading of lies" "An incompetent leader" "She will not be missed in Chicago." "Don't let the door hit you on the way out" Illinois officials cheer Kristi Noem’s ouster at Homeland Security: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/t...

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker continued mounting their public pitches for where the Bears should build their next stadium in Illinois, even as the NFL franchise keeps up its Indiana flirtation.

Does Michael Mann's Heat 2 movie exist in the same universe as Thief, the Thief-iverse? Should we expect young high-strung Chicago Police Det. Vincent Hanna to bump into Frank, or to investigate the bombing of The Green Mill? Give the fans what they want, Mann!

All manner of cool places to pick up our guide but I would just note that two places to hang out and learn about judges are the Beer Temple and Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records. Could make a nice Saturday afternoon of it.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced she has endorsed Holly Kim to be her successor.

Today in Chicago History: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan indicted on federal racketeering charges

Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes has written an apology letter to the woman he was accused of pepper-spraying more than a year ago as she attempted to ring the doorbell of his west suburban home.

After downtown hotel owners banded together to offer to tax themselves and raise money to boost tourism, aldermen advanced their plan Friday.

The Chicago Fire, who are building a privately funded $750 million soccer stadium in the South Loop, have opened an experiential marketing center in the Wrigley Building.

Charged, acquitted and sued, former CPD Officer Pierre Tyler now seeks expungement in murder case chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/c...

Two ratings agencies have downgraded the city of Chicago and kept their negative outlooks intact, citing the city’s back-to-back budget shortfalls since 2023, reliance on “non-structural solutions” to patch up holes, stubborn gaps in future years.

Cook County Treasurer Pappas on allegation she used profane language while berating tech co. execs over botched prop tax system rollout: “I never claimed to be a nun." @adquig.bsky.social w the latest in her ongoing coverage of the fight. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/24/c...

The city of Chicago could be on the hook to pay drivers back millions of dollars following a class-action lawsuit that alleged it violated state law by tacking expensive late fees onto tickets for infractions like parking without a city sticker.

The Chicago Park District has proposed a $630 million plan to revamp Soldier Field once the Bears move on, pitching state officials on converting the 66,000-seat venue to a destination for concerts and other events. Story by @jeremygorner.bsky.social, @aliceyin.bsky.social and Robert McCoppin.

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced “Abolish ICE” as the winner of a citywide snow plow name contest. He had earlier given it a “full and complete” endorsement.

With an eye toward this election year and possibly the next, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker used his State of the State and budget address to outline a message of resistance to President Donald Trump and the need to push affordability against the economic moves of his White House.

A titan of civil rights remembered. An advanced look at tomorrow's front page, featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Political leaders across Illinois who mourned Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death and nodded to the decades-long movement he championed after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his mentor.

Illinois Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey rebukes national GOP for post mocking Pritzker's weight www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/16/g...

Chicago treasurer employee alleges political staff pushed office on anti-Trump US bonds boycott www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/16/c...

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has been one of the most vociferous critics of Tyler Technologies, the company that has been in charge of the rocky upgrade of the county’s property tax system, for more than a decade.

The coalition is set to include 11 separate working groups tasked with tracking the most controversial plans to cut spending and raise revenue

A trove of evidence was released Tuesday in the shooting of Marimar Martinez by a Border Patrol agent at the height of Operation Midway Blitz, including a body-worn camera video showing just before their vehicles collided and messages sent later by the agent joking and bragging about the shooting.

Today in Chicago History: Jackie Robinson West stripped of Little League baseball championship

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s remarks were the latest volley in the public back-and-forth between the two officials who are at odds over how to respond to federal immigration raids.

If the deals win final approval in a full City Council vote later this month, the city will have spent over $58 million through February on police-related suits.

A series of layoffs targeting City Hall custodians have sparked the latest budget back-and-forth between Mayor Brandon Johnson and aldermen.

The Chicago Bears say they’re seriously considering building a new stadium in northwest Indiana. Gary officials believe them, however fantastical or far-fetched.

Long-beleaguered Gary is serious about the Bears. Are the Bears serious about Gary? “The day that they officially made the announcement, I’ve been saying since that moment — it’s ours to lose.” 📝 @andrew-carter.bsky.social

A federal judge in Indiana has ruled immigration officials are unlawfully detaining a Chicago man acquitted last month of charges he offered money for the killing of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon addressed students at a private Christian high school on the Near West Side on Thursday, her latest stop on a national civics tour that some have criticized as bringing partisan politics into schools.

When she first registered pain that day, Marimar Martinez thought she’d been shot with pepper balls. She recounted the sound her back windshield made as it shattered and how she began to feel lightheaded.

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office on Monday said “a thorough analysis is being conducted” to assess the legality of a mayoral executive order that directs Chicago police to investigate potential wrongdoing by immigration agents.

Before Herb Kent “The Cool Gent,” Don Cornelius and so many others, there was Jack L. Cooper, who pioneered a Black radio empire in Chicago.

Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, was convicted in October of second-degree murder in the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, a shooting that generated national outrage.

Southwest Side Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez launched an independent run for Congress Wednesday against the chief of staff for outgoing U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia in the November general election.

TODAY: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he would prepare the city for the future prosecution of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino for creating “chaos” during the Trump administration’s surge of immigration agents in Chicago last year. My story (gift link) www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/28/m...