More than 37k residential properties on South and West sides -- in neighborhoods that can least afford it -- are set to see their property tax bills skyrocket due to increased assessments. @adquig.bsky.social and @alexnitkin.bsky.social with Tribune and @illinoisanswers.bsky.social t.co/HPvffZVsJ1

Among those handcuffed in a video promoted by DHS Sec’y Kristi Noem on X is Joe Botello, an AMERICAN citizen. @chicagotribune.com photog @staceywescott.bsky.social was there and we spoke to him. He was later released and “blessed that I’m still alive." Story: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/16/e...

From Washington, @danvock.bsky.social with a look at what might be in store for Chicago as soon as this week. “There’s this never-ending feeling of surveillance, fear and anxiety and then wondering, ‘What am I supposed to do about it?” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/31/t...

A CTA-focused North Side TIF dist has generated $400 million. And it’s still pretty new. Will Chicago use it for the next 20-plus years to pay off bills or shut it down once it pays off its CTA work? @adquig.bsky.social w/ a story you won’t read anywhere else: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/22/c...

Two weeks after arriving in ILL over the Texas remap fight, @jamestalarico.bsky.social spoke at Trinity church on the South Side (Barack Obama's old church). A rising Democratic political star, @olivia0.bsky.social spoke to him about the saga and its impact: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/17/t...

This is a key week for public broadcasting as the Senate prepares to vote on Trump's proposed cuts. The impact will be felt everywhere, but especially in downstate communities where public broadcasting is the primary source of news. By @danvock.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/16/i...

Pregnant and in Chicago w/o legal immigration status, Daniela Sigala isn’t sure her son will be a US citizen. Today’s Sunday read explores SCOTUS decision impact & Trump efforts on birthright citizenship by @nellsalzman.bsky.social and @danvock.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/06/s...

So @adquig.bsky.social and David Jackson at @injusticewatch.org have been writing about the troubled Tyler Technologies Cook County contract for months & now the political finger-pointing. 10s of millions over budget and delays. Latest in @chicagotribune.com: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/03/c...

So @govpritzker.illinois.gov picks former lawmaker and deputy gov Christian Mitchell as his lt gov running mate as Pritzker runs for third term as current Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton is running for US Senate. Developing story from @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/01/g...

Mayor Johnson’s inner circle worked with outside lobbyists not registered to lobby on behalf of the city in the General Assembly, a practice defended because their contracts were “pending.” @aliceyin.bsky.social, @jeremygorner.bsky.social, @adquig.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/30/m...

So @govpritzker.illinois.gov is hiring. Some on the short list to be lt gov: Deputy Gov Andy Manar, ex-Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, and state Rep. Lisa Hernandez. Story by @olivia0.bsky.social, @rick-pearson.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/30/g...

On Thursday, @govpritzker.illinois.gov will announce he's running for a third term as Illinois governor. Story by @rick-pearson.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/24/p...

When a tech firm -- whose 3 govt contracts have ballooned to $265M -- needed help they hired lobbyist Jay Doherty. He was later convicted in the ComEd 4 case. Folo of joint @chicagotribune.com/@injusticewatch.org by David Jackson & @adquig.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/11/c...

In late 2023, @govpritzker.illinois.gov pulled the plug over environmental concerns on building a migrant tent encampment in Chicago but also said the state won't have to pay for the work. New state budget says state paying $1.3M @petrellareports.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/10/s...

U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, in office since 2023, moved his district office to the first floor of a building on East 35th Street near Bronzeville owned by developer Elzie Higginbottom, a longtime Chicago political insider. Here's why that's potentially problematic. A 🧵1/10

@katmabu.bsky.social is running for 9th dist in IL to replace @schakowsky.house.gov. But many with more local connections will soon join the race. A look at the burgeoning campaign and new details about Kat from @olivia0.bsky.social and @danvock.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/12/9...

The Democrat-led Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday said Republicans waited too long to contest the 2021 redrawing of legislative districts that has maintained Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate. From @rick-pearson.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/09/d...

In a flurry of contracts inked a decade ago, some of Illinois’ most powerful political figures declared it was time to fix their obsolete and expensive computer systems. Here's the story about how none of those ideas went according to plan. 1/8 🧵

As Final 4 wknd arrives, @stacystclair.bsky.social and @jodiscohen.bsky.social of @propublica.org take a deep look at U of I's NIL deals and how the U has shrugged off a state law requiring greater disclosure of the money athletes are making off those deals. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/04/i...

In the first big race since Trump won in Nov, the Wisco Sup Ct election on April 1 has drawn support from billionaires on both sides — Elon Musk to @jbpritzker.bsky.social. Abortion a key issue. By @petrellareports.bsky.social and @angieleventis.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/23/w...

Remember Richard Irvin, the Aurora mayor who tried to become IL gov? Well @jbpritzker.bsky.social does. And his @illinoisdems.bsky.social are spending $ to get Irvin out of the mayor's office. By @petrellareports.bsky.social and @r-christian-smith.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/21/r...

Phones in classrooms, what do you think? Enjoyed working with @mollymorrow.bsky.social on this.

Springfield schools made a major change last year, enforcing a strict phone policy to combat distractions in the classroom. Teachers like Jill Friday saw a huge improvement in student engagement after the district required phones to be off and put away during class.

All you state flag discoursers can take a deep breath: the Tribune's new PAR intern Addison Wright has what surely must be the authoritative look at the flag-selection circus. Also, apparently the state has a "sesquicentennial flag." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/31/i...

1/6: Over 30,000 face losing their health insurance as @govpritzker.illinois.gov proposes cutting coverage for those 42-64 years old immigrants who are in the country without legal permission to balance the state’s budget, potentially leaving many uninsured again.

Quick🧵updating a story we did last year: Nearly $500M in taxable real estate value was added to Cook County rolls after an investigation by @illinoisanswers.bsky.social & @chicagotribune.com uncovered hundreds of mistakes in property assessments. The corrections come from an audit. 1/5

Here's our starter pack to follow Chicago Tribune reporters, photographers and editors. We'll keep this list updated as more members of our newsroom join!

Scoop: Washington Post editor Ruth Marcus says she’s resigning after a column on Jeff Bezos’s Wall Street Journal-like opinion pivot was rejected by Will Lewis

DuPage County and Sheriff James Mendrick reach $11M settlement over mother who died in the county jail after spending 85 days there awaiting transfer to a mental health center. A GOP candidate for governor, Mendrick declined to comment. By Jonathan Bullington: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/10/d...

Many Chicagoans felt anxiety when Mayor Johnson accepted an invitation to testify before Congress on sanctuary policies. He instead stuck to script on public safety and investments in the city. From @aliceyin.bsky.social and @jake-sheridan.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/07/m...

Citizens are ramping up their political activity in response to the early days of the new Trump admin. Republicans got a backlash at town halls. There’s also dissatisfaction over inaction from Democrats. By @danvock.bsky.social and @olivia0.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/09/s...

NEW -- Remember that reporter who asked Zelenskyy why he wasn't wearing a suit? His former "news" outlet has taken $192,000 from the Trump campaign -- nearly half of which took place while he was program director director there. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...

Incredibly proud the @chicagotribune.com's team that produced last year's "Culture of Corruption" series was named a finalist for the Toner Prize For Excellence in Local Political Reporting, one of the nation’s top journalism prizes. Great company and bravo to winner NJ.com

While advocates give @govpritzker.illinois.gov credit for putting more attn on moving folks from larger state-operated develop cntrs to smaller homes, the fights for placement underscore ongoing struggles. By @olivia0.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/03/s...

On Wed, the made-for-TV US House Oversight Cmte meeting will feature Chicago Mayor Johnson and several other Democratic mayors defending sanctuary laws. @aliceyin.bsky.social and @danvock.bsky.social detail the show biz behind it and what might be at stake: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/02/m...

Peter Goldsmith received notice President Trump’s administration had terminated the federal government’s agreement to fund the Soybean Innovation Lab at U of I. He wasn't alone in Illinois. Local impact of Trump's freeze/cuts by @petrellareports.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/28/t...

A powerless Democratic Party. Top Illinois Dems led by Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledge all they have is a megaphone and that they need the public's support to fight President Donald Trump and the GOP. By @olivia0.bsky.social, @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/28/d...

Wild week in Illinois/Chicago politics. Those wanting to learn more about recently pardoned ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, ck out the book I wrote with @jeffcoen.bsky.social. I'll also be on @wbez.org's weekly recap today at noon talking Blago and more: www.chicagoreviewpress.com/golden-produ...

What in the world was Dr. Phil doing at the immigrant raids in Chicago Sunday? He spoke to to @petrellareports.bsky.social but questions about how appropriate it was remain. Story w/ @nellsalzman.bsky.social @jake-sheridan.bsky.social for @chicagotribune.com: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/27/d...

Nice explainer on ranked choice voting, which supporters hope will lead to less political division in America but is running into problems in Cook County and Illinois, by @adquig.bsky.social, @tesskenny.bsky.social, Richard Requena: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/23/r...

What is perhaps most surprising — or misleading — about terms like “undocumented” and “unauthorized” is that as many as 40 percent of the people in this group do have some current authorization to live or work legally in the United States, according to FWD.us. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

A Chicago alderman has hired a worker who was previously put on do not hire from the Park District over lifeguard sex abuse scandal. @jake-sheridan.bsky.social with an interesting story about your government www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/21/o...

On his first day back in office, President Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of 1,500 defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, making good on a campaign promise that will affect dozens of Illinoisans. By @aliceyin.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/20/t...

On inauguration day, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ( and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker vow to push back on President Trump. Story by @aliceyin.bsky.social, @nellsalzman.bsky.social, @jeremygorner.bsky.social, Rick Pearson: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/20/m...

One week before Donald Trump becomes president again, Illinois' Congressional Dems look for ways to blunt some of the policies the president plans to install. Latest from @danvock.bsky.social for @chicagotribune.com: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/i...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s continued insistence on looking to Springfield as a magical pot of gold for additional city revenue is being greeted with a stern warning from one powerful voice — Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. By Rick Pearson: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/s...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s continued insistence on looking to Springfield as a magical pot of gold for additional city revenue is being greeted with a stern warning from one powerful voice — Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. By Rick Pearson: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/s...

Long-embattled CTA President Dorval Carter to retire. By @sfreishtat.bsky.social, @aliceyin.bsky.social, @royalpratt.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/13/c...

His video is appalling to impugn fact checkers like that. He could use all the tools if he actually cared and X is now a toxic waste dump. One thing is true: Fact checking does not work on a platform that cannot be sued and has been built to advantage the liars.

As someone who spent years reporting on Zuckerberg, I've struggled to find something coherent to say about today. Then @cwarzel.bsky.social reminded me of my old reporting. This is what a FB employee said to me in 2020 after Zuckerberg addressed workers following FB-enabled violence in Kenosha, WI.