the weekend so far

NEW: The Department of Homeland Security circulated a nationwide “Be on the Lookout” alert targeting comedian Ben Palmer, whose only offense was satire. Read the latest from @aurabogado.bsky.social, copublished with @us.theguardian.com. buff.ly/T9SQHg6

-the event he’s being indicted over happened 30 years ago -if anyone is responsible for the brothers to the rescue shoot down it’s the US FAA for failing to ground the planes for years -this is such an unwise & unnecessary escalation

Join us Wednesday, June 3, at Walls Turned Sideways for an informal conversation about certificates of innocence: what they are, why they matter, and how Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke is trying to make them harder to get. airtable.com/appxuo0SNj05...

Current reads

One thing we learned from reporting on Illinois’ property tax foreclosure system with the @raceandequityproject.org: Some homeowners — especially older adults — may not realize they’re behind on their property taxes until it’s too late.

Robert Hill spent a decade in prison before being freed in 2017. A judge denied his certificate of innocence petition, so he couldn’t get his conviction expunged. He’s afraid of getting pulled over by police who might see the case on his record. (w/ @boltsmag.org) buff.ly/GAxhSl8

I had the opportunity to profile Chicago's new poet laureate, Mayda Del Valle, for Humboldt Park Magazine. You can read the full piece (for free!) by entering your email address here: www.humboldtparkinchicago.com

From my story: Kevin Jackson served 23 years before his exoneration. Prosecutors want to block a court order formally clearing his name. He wants that in-part because he hopes it will help him get a passport. He's set on visiting Bora Bora, which he learned about in prison via Anthony Bourdain.

Senior reporter Maya Dukmasova and visual reporter Verónica Martinez won the 2026 McElheny Award for “Fake Science, Faulty Methods, Misleading Testimony." Judges applauded the skillful storytelling, which “weaved impactful scenes with science, accountability, and human stories.” buff.ly/WlNcREA

4️⃣ Online video is very popular amongst young audiences, but many still prefer to read Adults under 25 are more likely than older groups to favor listening to or watching news online, but the preference for reading is still ahead in most markets.

Today we published a report on younger news audiences. Authored by Craig T. Robertson, @amyrossarguedas.bsky.social @mitalilive.bsky.social and @richardfletcher.bsky.social, it's based on DNR and other surveys Full report reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/understandin... Seven findings in thread

Israel killed three journalists in one day in Gaza and Lebanon. This isn’t just a tragedy. It’s a pattern enabled by impunity — and by U.S. political and military backing. Israel has killed at least 257 journalists in five countries since 2023, according to @pressfreedom.bsky.social.

Today is the first annual Local News Day, a national day of action connecting people to local, independent, and trusted news sources. Join us in celebrating by subscribing to our free newsletter, sending our stories to a friend, or making a donation to support our work. givebutter.com/lasDtm

Check out our election results page to see the final percentage of the vote each Cook County judicial candidate received in the March primary. buff.ly/B2of5A4

Yesterday, the Chicago Board of Elections and Cook County Clerk's Office announced the official results of the March 2026 primary election. Our judicial elections results story is now updated to reflect who will fill each judicial vacancy in Cook County. www.injusticewatch.org/judges/judic...

Honored to be named as a finalist in four Lisagor categories, especially best newsletter. I’m biased but I think the Injustice Watch newsletter is informative AND beautiful. Subscribe! www.injusticewatch.org/subscribe/

Community engagement manager Charles Preston won the 2026 Dr. Timuel D. Black Award for Civic Engagement. The award recognizes those who demonstrate "a commitment to elevating community narratives, engaging in active citizenship, and building a more fair and just society." Congratulations, Charles!

NEW: The Illinois General Assembly is considering a trio of bills that would amend the state’s property tax sale laws. Here’s what’s in the bills — and what additional reforms advocates say are needed. (w/ @raceandequityproject.org) www.injusticewatch.org/project/take...

🗣️ CHICAGO! Who are your favorite creatives / videographers producing short (5-25 min.) documentaries?

We're bringing you live election results from the Cook County judicial races. Our page updates every 5 minutes. Follow along: 2026primary.injusticewatch.org/results

Election Day is tomorrow! Use our Cook County judicial election guide before you head to the polls. Don’t forget: You can bring your printed selections — or your phone — with you when you vote.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by! And huge thank you to the 61st Street Farmers Market for having us.

Real estate investor Greg Bingham made a fortune taking Cook County homes through tax foreclosure. Along the way, he has been dogged by allegations of fraud, according to court records and a previously undisclosed probe by the Treasurer’s office. (w/ @raceandequityproject.org) buff.ly/e3qgChL

The Tampa Bay Times starts a monthly “book club” for news stories www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/the-...

Join us today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mouse Arts and Letters Club (555 W 31st St) in Bridgeport. The event is free and open to the public. No RSVP necessary!

The seizure of Washington Post reporter @hannahnatanson.bsky.social's devices likely killed far more stories than any court order ever could. Judge Porter should've done more to punish prosecutors, but he was right to call the raid what it was — a prior restraint.

🥕 Come visit us at Green City Market (3057 N. Rockwell St.) in Avondale! We’ll be here handing out print copies of the judicial election guide until 1 p.m.

I’m Cuban American. For the sake of both countries, Trump’s siege must end | Danny Valdes

US ICE arrested journalist in Nashville without arrest warrant, her lawyers say reut.rs/3MMO6ex

ICE has arrested and detained a Nashville journalist who reported stories critical of ICE. She’s married to a U.S. citizen and has been seeking asylum here after fleeing death threats in Colombia because of her journalism there. They’ve already sent her to Louisiana.

Last weekend, Injustice Watch reporter Kelly Garcia hosted a pop quiz at Bueno Days about Cook County judicial elections. How many did you get right? 👀

How to use our Cook County judicial election guide in four simple steps: 1️⃣ Enter your address to find your judicial subcircuit 2️⃣ Review the candidates 3️⃣ Make your selections 4️⃣ Vote! 2026primary.injusticewatch.org

Kansas is sending letters to trans people telling them that their licenses will be revoked as of tomorrow and that they risk arrest for driving on a suspended license. This is pure cruelty. www.erininthemorning.com/p/kansas-sen...

Print guides are here! Our team is hard at work delivering guides across the county. This morning, we stopped by the Cook County Jail to deliver more than 5,000 copies. We're leading civic education workshops for voters at the jail this week.

🚗 Volunteer with us! We need help distributing print copies of our judicial election guide across Cook County. buff.ly/ZRclFYE

an editor at Cleveland.com announces that they're "removing writing from reporters' workloads" (in the midst of a column criticizing a graduating student not understanding this is how the world works now: god forbid a student is looking to actually write) www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...

🗣️ Chicago-area community organizations! You can request copies of our judicial election guide to help folks in your network make sense of all the judicial candidates on their ballots during the March primary. Request print copies here: buff.ly/5Gp92Mu

Over the past year, the Trump administration has pressured Latin American countries to sever ties with Cuba’s internationalist missions — a key source of income for the island — by restricting visas for Cuban officials and foreign government officials linked to the medical teams.

📣 Our judicial election guide for the March 2026 primary is here! We spent months researching each candidate’s background, legal experience, political connections, conduct, and more — all so you can make informed decisions about who should be a Cook County judge. buff.ly/O4cRnL6

Reps. Nydia Velázquez & Delia Ramirez led House progressives today in introducing the New Good Neighbor Act, urging Congress to formally bury the Monroe Doctrine & replace it with a policy rooted in sovereignty & regional partnership. The resolution rebukes the Trump admin.'s illegal military op...

Russia to fly its tourists out of Cuba and then suspend airline operations due to fuel crisis reut.rs/4cn6mVS

🇨🇺 Cuba has warned internat'l airlines that it will run out of jet fuel w/in 24 hours, citing intensified US energy pressure, according to an official aviation notice seen by EFE. The shortage affects all of Cuba’s internat'l airports from Feb. 10 to March 11, w/ Jet A1 fuel unavailable nationwide...

Our next judicial election guide is coming soon, and we need your help to make sure it gets to voters in Cook County. Are you interested in distributing print guides? Do you want to canvass with us — and spread the word about why judicial elections matter? Volunteer here: buff.ly/gRQiNkg

Newsletter subscribers will get early access to our Cook County judicial election guide for the March 2026 primary. Sign up (it’s free!) here: buff.ly/0Upa6K8

Donald Trump on Thursday signed an Executive Order threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba. Stay tuned for Belly of the Beast’s coverage on the ground in Cuba. 🧵(1/4)

And make no mistake, an oil blockade is going to kill people. I don't just mean that it will likely cause rioting which leads to people dying. I mean that a breakdown of basic infrastructure, including the transport of water much of which is still done by truck, will lead to civilian deaths