Suspect charged in officer shooting following Prada crash-and-grab Deshawn Lucas, 33, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder. He also was wanted on a warrant. Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 10, 2024
Bally’s Medinah Temple ‘temporary’ casino will be around awhile, City Council critic says Ald. Brian Hopkins told the Sun-Times revenue from the Medinah site isn’t enough for Bally’s to begin building its permanent home in River West. Hopkins also offered an update on plans to revive Water Tower Place, a key fixture in his ward, on the Magnificent Mile. Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 16, 2023
Paid leave ordinance Council vote delayed The ordinance would require 10 days off a year — five sick days and five vacation days. Companies with 100 or more workers would be reqired to pay out up to seven days of unused time when employees leave. Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 7, 2023
After latest ‘street takeover’ on Lower Wacker, alderperson says it’s time to hold parents responsible for their kids Ald. Ray Lopez introduces an ordinance that would fine parents and require family counseling and community service for minors who commit a host of offenses. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 16, 2023
City Council sets special meeting for Friday on Israel solidarity resolution Citing security risks, Ald. Brian Hopkins tried to restrict public comment to virtual participation and close the public seating galleries. Mayor Brandon Johnson ruled that motion out of order, saying the public has the right to speak in person. Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 12, 2023
Developer reveals plan to build 36-story tower in Old Town Fern Hill is proposing 500 apartments in a zoning tradeoff that could limit new development on adjacent properties and attract a grocery store. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 27, 2023
Finance Committee OKs $25 million settlement to two men wrongfully convicted of 1993 murder of IIT hoops star Tyrone Hood would get $17.5 million after spending 22 years in prison. Wayne Washington spent 14 years behind bars and would get $7.5 million. But Ald. Brian Hopkins worried the City Council would be setting an unaffordable precedent. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 11, 2023
Did NASCAR pay enough to use Grant Park, downtown streets? Chicago Park District boss defends agreement The three-year agreement, with a two-year renewal option, calls for the Park District to receive a $500,000 permit fee. That pales by comparison to the $8 million to $9 million Lollapalooza pays every year to rent Grant Park. Chicago Sun-Times · Jul 7, 2023
City’s first responders gear up for NASCAR The closing of major thoroughfares for the stock car race in Grant Park will present challenges in getting patients quickly to area hospitals. Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 28, 2023
Divided City Council approves $1 million settlement in police shooting case “The sin of the police officer was he turned the body camera off a little too soon. ... We should not be paying this family a million dollars,” said Ald. Nick Sposato. But Ald. Chris Taliaferro disagreed: “Either we trust our lawyers or we don’t.” Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 21, 2023
19 City Council members push candidate for top cop; head of search calls it ‘completely inappropriate’ The criticism came after the alderpersons signed a letter expressing “disappointment and dismay” that the panel leading the search didn’t give a follow-up interview to the Chicago Police Department’s patrol chief. Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 21, 2023
In abrupt about-face, Finance Committee signs off on $1 million settlement tied to controversial police shooting In January, opposition from police union allies on the City Council allies forced then-Finance Committee Chair Scott Waguespack to yank the $1 million settlement to the mother of Sharrell Brown off the agenda. But Wednesday, it passed with little or no debate. Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 14, 2023
Center court? Early appointments show Johnson may turn out to be a pragmatic progressive “Being a progressive is not just about saying things. It’s about doing things. That’s always been essential to [Johnson’s] understanding of how you govern,” said senior adviser Jason Lee. Chicago Sun-Times · May 7, 2023
Brandon Johnson wins Chicago mayoral race “Chicago, how the heck are you?” Johnson called out, upon taking the stage at the Grand Horizon Ballroom, 2121 S. Prairie Ave., to claim victory. “Tonight is the gateway to a new future for our city.” Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 5, 2023
Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 31, 2023 $1M settlement in fatal police shooting stalls in committee Some City Council members were furious over plans to settle the lawsuit by the mother of Sharell Brown, noting the Civilian Office of Police Accountability concluded Brown was armed and posed a threat to Chicago police officers.
Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 18, 2023 City wants to use cameras to nail motorists who block bus or bike lanes, loading zones Nearly 20 years after a CTA experiment with bus surveillance cameras failed miserably, Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to try it again and then some in a designated downtown area.
Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 17, 2022 City Council approves casino deal, but … The Illinois Gaming Board has to ask some serious questions — that’s it’s job — about the Bally’s casino project when the body meets next year to take up the matter for approval. Chicago has to get this right.
Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 3, 2022 Four days before budget vote, Lightfoot goes on offensive against balking City Council members “People of good will need to stand up and say to these aldermen, ‘You can’t play it both ways. You can’t say I’m pro-law enforcement. I’m pro-public safety’ and not support the budget and the revenues,” the mayor said.
Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 19, 2022 Despite downtown gridlock, Chicago’s top cop defends his response to caravans of revelers for Mexican Independence Day “By and large, the celebration [had] thousands of cars — if not tens of thousands of cars — with very little violence, if any,” Chicao Police Supt. David Brown said Monday. “This was traffic congestion.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 22, 2022 Council approves cooling requirements for high-rises, benefits for spouses of first-responder suicides Ald. Maria Hadden’s cooling ordinance is intended to prevent a repeat of the three heat-related deaths at James Sneider Apartments in Hadden’s Rogers Park ward.
Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 21, 2022 Committee OKs new cooling requirements on high-rise, senior buildings to prevent repeat of heat-related deaths in Rogers Park The ordinance, backed by Ald. Maria Hadden, is aimed at preventing a repeat of the tragedy at James Sneider Apartments, where three residents died in mid-May.
Chicago Sun-Times · Jun 12, 2022 Street construction exposes wood paver blocks that formed city’s roadways more than a century ago Souvenir seekers have been making their way to the Gold Coast block where the wood pavers were uncovered.
Chicago Sun-Times · May 25, 2022 City Council approves Bally’s $1.7 billion casino in River West The plan for a casino along the Chicago River passed 41-7, but not before a screaming match between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, who accused her of being “more worried about campaign contributions than doing the right thing for the city of Chicago.”
Chicago Sun-Times · May 20, 2022 Lightfoot rushing to get City Council approval of Bally’s casino bid next week It’s an unusual timeline for any legislation to move through the council, and unnecessary at that, said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), who vehemently opposes Bally’s proposal to break ground at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street.
Chicago Sun-Times · May 20, 2022 Bally’s to chip in $2 million annually for public safety around temporary casino site — ‘totally insufficient,’ opponents say With crime among the top concerns of a vocal contingent of neighbors vehemently opposed to the development, the $2 million is meant to bolster security around the temporary site at a River North intersection that already has entrenched crime issues, opposing Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) has said.