ICE’s Illinois arrests during Trump’s crackdown were among the nation’s highest — and most people arrested didn’t have criminal records. Here are 4 other findings our investigative team discovered from ICE's own data: blockclubchi.co/3YM9x1i

It's been a difficult year. Proud of these Chicago journalists for finding room for joy this season while raising money for those in need. @latrace.bsky.social @ctoner.bsky.social @mauriciopena.bsky.social + more

Bears’ cheese grater hats go viral after their win over Green Bay. The hat maker is struggling to fill demand. blockclubchi.co/4pKqxB2

We're thrilled to welcome reporter @jimrlynch.bsky.social, a Morgan Park native, to the @blockclubchi.bsky.social team, expanding our full-time coverage to Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park + Washington Heights. Send him your tips at [email protected]!

Border Patrol boss Gregory Bovino has left Chicago, according to reports. blockclubchi.co/4aqNZia

Where does your alderperson stand on ICE? City Bureau checked all 50: blockclubchi.co/4oZRDDe

BREAKING:

A cookie swap tradition has brought women together for 4 decades on the Far South Side. Since about 1978 — no one remembers the exact year — as many as 20 women have gathered in Pat Duck’s Hegewisch home to exchange home-baked treats, stories and memories. blockclubchi.co/4pHce0e

Chicago friends’ "Rich Auntie Trivia" celebrates the bougie Black women who make life more fun. blockclubchi.co/3XJguA2

The Ultimate Guide To Chicago Pizza 🍕 🍕 Here are 31 pizzerias — categorized by style of pizza they’re known for and listed geographically north to south — where you can have a moment of joy and togetherness over a slice: blockclubchi.co/4pXjTap

This week only: When you support Block Club, you not only get a free neighborhood print, but you’ll also be entered to win two orchestra center “Hamilton” tickets and a private Art Institute tour for two! SUBSCRIBE NOW: blockclubchi.co/4rofWx0

Delivery robots are taking over Chicago sidewalks, sparking debate and a petition to hit "pause." blockclubchi.co/3KmCRIu

Scammers are trying to extort Chicago restaurants with a "bomb" of fake negative reviews. blockclubchi.co/4pvp5lZ

In a note to staff, Business Insider EIC Jamie Heller says the publication is launching a pilot program called Business Insider AI News Desk that will use AI to “help publish quick news stories.” Several stories a day will now be “created by AI and edited by a person.”

NEW: In Chicago, the feds sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists + experts said DHS: • repeatedly distorted facts • misled the public • and attacked those who challenged its story. Must-read by @patrick-filbin.bsky.social + Mack Liederman:

NEW: Two Chicago police officers were investigated for sexual misconduct — then promoted. It wasn’t an oversight. Despite a decadeslong reform effort, the Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows for disciplinary records to be ignored.

NEW: A Little Village chamber leader thanked Border Patrol agents as they arrested neighbors, video uncovered by @blockclubchi.bsky.social shows. @franciagarciah.bsky.social reports: blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/03/l...

On Giving Tuesday, I'm asking you to support our nonprofit newsroom @blockclubchi.bsky.social. Every dollar donated will go straight to the reporters who help tell your neighborhood stories w/ accuracy, care + courage. Donate to support news that serves you first: blockclubchicago.org/cye-2025/

Black Friday deal: We're offering 20% all merch in our shop with coupon code blockclub20! New prints, totes, tees, hoodies + more. Support our local newsroom + local artists. Shop here: blockclubchi.co/3TtUvuF

Happy Black Friday! Amazon doesn't need your support this season. The small businesses that are the backbone of your community do. 🎁 @blockclubchi.bsky.social's 19 neighborhood-specific guides make it easy to shop local w/ hundreds of gift ideas: newsletter.blockclubchi.org/index.php?ac...

@blockclubchi.bsky.social's lawsuit against the federal government isn't only about protecting our journalists. It's about transparency. It's about the truth. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/25/f...

[Judge Ellis] repeatedly found testimony by Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino... not credible. Bovino was evasive, either giving “cute” answers to attorney’s questions or outright lying, the judge said in her [233-page] ruling. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/25/f... 📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

The feds repeatedly lied and misled the public during Chicago's immigration crackdown, a federal judge ruled in a scathing opinion. blockclubchi.co/3JVoFWJ

Beautifully told by @quinnmyers.bsky.social for @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/24/h...

Inside Chicago’s essential dive bars: Photos from 12 iconic watering holes. blockclubchi.co/3K7MYRi

Chicago's Essential Dive Bars Vol. 2: The History And Legacy Of 12 More Iconic Watering Holes blockclubchi.co/3XzrHDf

The @blockclubchi.bsky.social print deal you are obsessed w/ is back! 😍 Subscribe today + get a free neighborhood print of your choice by @chgohoods.bsky.social. 75+ to choose from, inc. a new Chicago dive bars print. Support local news + subscribe here: blockclubchicago.org/subscribe-pr...

A Chicago artist started his own postal service — and will deliver and read mail to anyone for free. blockclubchi.co/49CTREB

JUST IN: An appeals court has halted a judge's order restricting the feds' use of force during Chicago's immigration crackdown — for now. blockclubchi.co/3LMzcE4

Several Chicago newsrooms have been quietly collaborating to bring big ICE stories to the forefront. In this story today, we found that feds used chemical weapons on Chicagoans at least 49 times during immigration raids — even after a judge said to stop.

Chicago has great journalism. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/19/4...

I'm still on cloud nine after being honored this weekend with the Journalist of the Year award from the Chicago Journalists Association. It meant the world to be honored at the ceremony, where Tracy Baim was keynote and Jim Williams of CBS News Chicago received the Lifetime Achievement award.

President Trump defended the Saudi crown prince over the killing of Post opinion columnist Jamal Khashoggi, saying “things happen” and that he did not hold the leader responsible for the murder despite a U.S. intelligence report assessing the opposite.

8 years ago, a billionaire laid us off + shuttered our newsroom. We had no funding + no idea what nonprofit news was. But we had a dream to build @blockclubchi.bsky.social. Today, we were named Editor & Publisher's Best News Site. Never give up on your dream.✨ blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b...

We're thrilled to welcome @cplhouse.bsky.social to the @blockclubchi.bsky.social team as an investigative editor with The Watch! Crystal won the Lisagor Award for Best Community Reporting for us in 2024 for her story about missing basketball courts in Beverly. Excited to be working together again.

I’ll be on WTTW 11 tomorrow, Fri. 11/14 @5:30pm to discuss the news of the week as part of the Week in Review panel. Do tune in! @blockclubchi.bsky.social

@blockclubchi.bsky.social is proud co-publish this stellar investigation about the South Shore raid by our friends at @propublica.org. Despite claiming 2 immigrants arrested in the building belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang, federal prosecutors have not charged anyone they arrested.

You probably saw videos of a nighttime raid in Chicago. Agents rappelling from a helicopter, bursting down doors, questioning brown-skinned immigrants. We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua. www.propublica.org/article/chic...

Officials have revealed little about what led to the arrests. State Police haven’t fulfilled records requests for incident reports. Court records don’t include many details & few of the protesters arrested have appeared in court. @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/12/p...

Trump claimed Chicago’s "Miracle Mile" is failing — but data shows the Mag Mile is recovering. blockclubchi.co/47CU60X

Thank you, @reuters.com, for including my photo for @blockclubchi.bsky.social in yesterday’s Pictures of the Day from around the world. www.reuters.com/pictures/pic...

This Tedx Talk by @kataiyero.bsky.social has it all, from journalism's "Terminator moment" to the opportunity we have to turn it around — & make it better than ever. Grateful for her spotlighting @blockclubchi.bsky.social's story + our friends The Record North Shore www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzM...

Of note here: Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez has said he is considering a run for Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's seat as an independent. Garcia, no fan of Sigcho-Lopez, made moves to install his chief of staff as the only Dem to file to run. Ald. Mike Rodriguez is a Garcia protégé.

Hey, Chicago. Know of a way your neighbors are helping each other in light of the SNAP freeze? Stocking a makeshift pantry from your porch? Cooking meals for those in need? Hosting food drives? We want to hear about it. Please DM us here or email [email protected].

Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino and other federal immigration agents could be leaving Chicago this week, reports say. blockclubchi.co/4qT41qx

From @vanessalop.bsky.social: He worked hard to give me a home. ICE took his: How I lost my father to deportation chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...

The photo op came after federal agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the Chicago neighborhood — a Mexican-American enclave — numerous times over the weekend. At the Bean, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!'” “Little Village!” the agents shouted back.

Border Patrol agents posed at "The Bean" for an apparent photo op after a weekend of clashes in Little Village. blockclubchi.co/4oUHKae

Yesterday, a judge extended their order restricting federal agents' use of force against reporters in Chicago. It comes after 4 of our journalists were shot w/ pepper-spray bullets + our nonprofit newsroom @blockclubchi.bsky.social + others sued. This order protects us all:

NEW: Border Patrol boss Gregory Bovino tells agents in LA, "It’s our f–king city" in newly released video. blockclubchi.co/4oU0lTF