Lightfoot's Top Official at Center of City Hall Scandal
Lori Lightfoot's former chief operating officer allegedly used his position to land his son an internship, then steered $10M to that contractor.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Politics
The latest politics coverage from Chicago and Chicagoland.
Chicago Woman Shot by Border Patrol to Testify in Congress
Marimar Martinez, shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago, will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on April 22.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago's New Zoning Chair Vows to Clear Backlog Fast
Ald. Gilbert Villegas takes over Chicago's zoning committee, pledging to clear 100+ stalled projects and declare Chicago open for business.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Paul Goodrich at Center of Chicago Intern Contracting Scandal
Ex-Mayor Lightfoot's chief operating officer Paul Goodrich allegedly secured his son a paid internship and pushed $10M in undeserved taxpayer payments.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
O'Neill Burke Emails Reveal Federal Alliance Amid ICE Probe
Emails show Cook County State's Attorney O'Neill Burke avoided criticizing Trump to protect federal law enforcement relationships during Operation Midway Blitz.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Bears Meet Hammond Mayor at Proposed Indiana Stadium Site
Bears chairman George McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren visited Hammond's Lost Marsh site, signaling a cross-state move remains a real option.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Why Chicago's Flooding Problem Is Getting Worse
Chicago's flooding crisis is intensifying. New research shows intense rainfall has increased sevenfold over a century, overwhelming aging sewer infrastructure.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin Detained in Kuwait: Press Freedom Crisis
Award-winning journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been held in Kuwait for seven weeks. His arrest raises urgent questions about press freedom and media bias.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Council Demands Hearings on ShotSpotter Replacement
Three aldermen pushed a resolution demanding hearings into why Chicago heads into a second summer without a gunshot detection system despite $13.9M budgeted.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Emails Reveal Why O'Neill Burke Wouldn't Denounce Trump
Internal campaign emails show Eileen O'Neill Burke avoided criticizing Trump over fears it would cost her the Cook County state's attorney race.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
HUD Blocks Walter Burnett From Becoming CHA CEO
HUD rejected waivers needed to appoint retired Ald. Walter Burnett as CHA CEO, citing conflict-of-interest rules tied to his council role and landlord payments.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Pritzker's Plan to Restructure Illinois Gaming Board
Gov. Pritzker's proposal to dissolve the Illinois Gaming Board would eliminate public oversight of a multi-billion dollar gambling industry.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago School Board Election 2026: What You Need to Know
Chicago voters will elect all 21 school board members for the first time. Here's what's at stake and why this election matters for 320,000 students.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Broadview IL Struggles With Costs of ICE Detention Facility
The Chicago suburb of Broadview faces mounting costs and political pressure after its ICE detention facility became a flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago City Council Picks Villegas as Zoning Chair
Chicago City Council elected Ald. Gilbert Villegas as Zoning Committee chair, dealing Mayor Brandon Johnson another political defeat amid ongoing power struggles.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Council Fails to Override Subminimum Wage Veto
Chicago City Council fell four votes short of overriding Mayor Brandon Johnson's veto of a measure to freeze the tipped worker subminimum wage phase-out.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Broadview Faces $400K ICE Facility Costs With No Reimbursement
Broadview absorbed nearly $400,000 in unexpected ICE facility costs, about 10% of its discretionary budget, with no federal contract or reimbursement in sight.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Villegas Named Chicago Zoning Chair, Ending Months-Long Impasse
Ald. Gilbert Villegas will chair Chicago's zoning committee after a months-long deadlock left over 100 proposed zoning changes stalled since October.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Advocates Push to Protect Restaurant Workers
Chicago advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to protect restaurant servers from harassment and retaliation amid renewed pressure on city officials.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Delivery Robots: What You Need to Know
Delivery robots from Coco and Serve Robotics are multiplying on Chicago sidewalks, sparking debate over safety, regulation, and pedestrian access.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Region Needs More Public Funding for Flood Protection
A private foundation urges state and local governments to boost funding for nature-based flood protection across the five-county Chicago metro area.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Illinois Civil Commitment: No Trial, No Verdict, No Release Date
Illinois holds 500+ people under civil commitment with no conviction required. Critics say the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act has drifted from its purpose.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
CPS May 1 Closure Fight Tests Incoming CEO Macquline King
Chicago Public Schools interim CEO Macquline King rejected calls to close schools May 1, setting up a showdown with the board and Chicago Teachers Union.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
How Raymond Lopez Became Conservative Media's Favorite Chicago Dem
Ald. Raymond Lopez has embraced federal immigration raids in Chicago, earning conservative media fame while dividing his Southwest Side constituents.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Council Committee Backs 20% Cab Fare Hike
A Chicago City Council committee approved a 20% taxi fare increase, the first in a decade, aimed at helping cabbies compete with Uber and Lyft.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago City Council Pushes Video Gambling Despite Warnings
Chicago's License Committee advanced video gambling citywide, ignoring Bally's warning that it could cost the city $4M annually and jeopardize the new casino.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Teens Deserve Support, Not Blame
South Shore resident Jack Murphy defends Chicago teens amid the teen takeover debate, arguing adults should support youth rather than criminalize them.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago Moves to Ban Officers With Extremist Group Ties
Chicago aldermen are voting on an ordinance to remove CPD officers linked to hate groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers from the force.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
College Education in Illinois Prisons: Barriers and Hope
Less than 2% of Illinois' 30,000 incarcerated people access college programs. Explore the obstacles and possibilities shaping prison education in the state.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Chicago's First Reparations Town Hall Draws Englewood Residents
Black Chicagoans gathered at Kennedy-King College for Mayor Brandon Johnson's first Repair Chicago reparations town hall in Englewood.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Skokie Woman Fabricated ICE Detention Story, Sheriff Says
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says Sundas Naqvi, 28, fabricated her ICE detention story that gained national attention. The FBI and Illinois State Police have been notified.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
Kirk Dillard Pushes for More Police on Chicago CTA
RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard is calling for increased police presence on the CTA, citing a staffing gap compared to New York's MTA and rising rider safety concerns.
By Chicago Gust Staff ★
César Chávez Murals Removed Across Chicago in 2026
Chicago removes César Chávez murals after assault allegations, replacing some with images of Dolores Huerta as Illinois honors her legacy.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago's Sidewalk Delivery Robots: What You Need to Know
Chicago residents are pushing back against Coco Robotics' sidewalk delivery robots, raising safety concerns and calling for city regulations.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Macquline King Confirmed as Chicago Public Schools CEO
Macquline King received a standing ovation after her near-unanimous confirmation as CEO of Chicago Public Schools, promising to build a bridge of excellence.
By Michael Kowalski ★
CPS Board Approves Macquline King as Permanent CEO
The Chicago Board of Education approved a three-year contract for Macquline King as CPS CEO at $380,000, passing with just one dissenting vote.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Tipped Minimum Wage Battle Reaches Tipping Point
Chicago's fight over the tipped minimum wage divides labor activists and workers, as servers fear higher base pay could reduce their total take-home earnings.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Mayor Johnson Vetoes Chicago Tipped Worker Wage Freeze
Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed an ordinance freezing tipped workers at 76% of minimum wage, leaving the City Council four votes short of an override.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Cook County SA Rejects ICE Abuse Special Prosecutor Petition
State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke calls petition for special prosecutor to investigate ICE abuses 'baseless' and 'illogical' in Cook County court.
By Danielle Okonkwo ★
CHA Commissioner Debra Parker Drops Lawsuit, May Resign
Debra Parker dismissed her lawsuit over a revoked housing voucher and says she is now considering resigning from the Chicago Housing Authority board.
By Michael Kowalski ★
West Suburban Medical Center Closes Temporarily in Oak Park
West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park announced a temporary closure and furloughs, leaving patients and staff scrambling with no clear reopening timeline.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Loyola Student Murder Sparks GOP Attack on Chicago Sanctuary Policy
A Loyola University Chicago student's murder has reignited GOP criticism of Chicago's sanctuary city policies amid ongoing immigration enforcement debates.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Sheridan Gorman Killing: What to Know About the Case
Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot near campus in Chicago. Here's what we know about her death and the ongoing murder case.
By Michael Kowalski ★
ICE Agents at O'Hare: Pritzker and Johnson Push Back
Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson condemn ICE deployment at O'Hare, escalating tensions between Chicago officials and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Trump Reacts to Loyola Student Sheridan Gorman's Killing
Trump invoked Sheridan Gorman's killing to push mass deportations as suspect Jose Medina missed his court date due to hospitalization with tuberculosis.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Lebanese-Americans Mourn Losses From War in Lebanon
Chicago's Lebanese American community grieves as families process losses from conflict in Lebanon, navigating mourning, political betrayal, and displacement.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Cook County Board of Review Primary: Steele vs. Nicholson
Samantha Steele faces Democratic primary challenger Liz Nicholson in Cook County's Board of Review race, while George Cardenas battles Juanita Irizarry.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Lebanese Americans Mourn as 1 Million Displaced
Chicago-area Lebanese Americans grieve lost loved ones and seek ways to help as Israeli strikes displace over one million people in Lebanon.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Mayor's Budget Director Got Illegal Property Tax Breaks
Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget director Annette Guzman collected illegal property tax breaks for five years on a South Loop condo she no longer lived in.
By Michael Kowalski ★
2026 Chicago Humanities Festival Lineup & Dates
Padma Lakshmi, Veronica Roth, Michael Pollan and more headline the 2026 Chicago Humanities Festival running March 24 through June 28.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Illinois Primary Election Day: Key Races to Watch
Illinois voters head to the polls in a primary election with competitive races for U.S. Senate, Cook County Board President, and Cook County Assessor.
By Michael Kowalski ★
SNAP Work Requirements Hit Older Chicagoans Hard
New SNAP work requirements now apply to adults up to age 54, hitting older Chicagoans on the South and West sides especially hard amid limited job prospects.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Mayor Johnson Fights to Protect Chicago Tipped Wage Phaseout
Mayor Brandon Johnson calls freezing Chicago's subminimum wage phaseout 'irresponsible' as a City Council vote looms on Wednesday.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago City Council Video Gambling Battle Takes New Turn
Chicago's License Committee rejected ward-by-ward video gambling bans requested by six mayoral allies, defying the longstanding aldermanic prerogative tradition.
By Michael Kowalski ★
CTA Riders Shoved onto L Tracks Once a Month, Data Shows
A Sun-Times analysis found 60+ riders shoved onto CTA L tracks since 2021, averaging roughly one incident per month on Chicago's train system.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Faces $27M Settlement in Deadly Police Chase Case
Chicago taxpayers may pay $27M to settle a deadly 2017 police chase case after the city's appeal backfired, tripling the original $10M jury verdict.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Developer Owes CTA $1M+ in Back Rent and Late Fees
Scott Goodman's Farpoint Development owes the CTA over $1 million in back rent and $11 million in late fees tied to a West Loop office lease.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Brooks Baldwin Sidelined by Elbow Inflammation
White Sox outfielder Brooks Baldwin has been out since March 6 with right elbow inflammation, putting his Opening Day availability in doubt.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Housing Authority Moves to Strip Board Member's Voucher
Chicago Housing Authority seeks to revoke Commissioner Debra Parker's housing voucher over fraud allegations, while also pushing for her removal from the board.
By Michael Kowalski ★
City Colleges of Chicago Students See Higher Graduation Rates
New research shows City Colleges of Chicago support program participants are graduating at higher rates and landing better-paying jobs than peers.
By Michael Kowalski ★
CTA Expands Safety Plan to Protect Federal Transit Funding
The Chicago Transit Authority unveiled a new security package with increased police presence and stricter enforcement to safeguard hundreds of millions in federal funds.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Security Guard Dies Breaking Up Fight at Hubbard Inn
Bryan Watson, 35, died after being pushed down stairs while breaking up a fight at Hubbard Inn. Police released the suspect without charges, sparking scrutiny.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Hamilton Returns to Chicago's CIBC Theatre Review 2026
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton returns to Chicago's CIBC Theatre through April 26, hitting harder than ever amid America's shifting political landscape.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Craft Brewery Closures 2026: What's Behind the Wave
Five Chicago-area breweries have closed or announced closures in early 2026, leaving the local craft beer industry on edge about what comes next.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicagoan Francisco Duilior Rebuilds Life After Deportation
After three decades in Chicago's Little Village, Francisco Duilior was deported to Mexico, revealing the human cost of immigration enforcement in 2026.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Security Guard Dies After Being Pushed Down Stairs at Hubbard Inn
A 35-year-old security guard died after being pushed down stairs during a fight at Hubbard Inn in Chicago's River North neighborhood early Monday.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Midway Blitz Spring Sequel Shows No Signs of Materializing
Federal threats to repeat Chicago's 'Midway Blitz' immigration enforcement surge this spring have not materialized, continuing a pattern of rhetoric outpacing action.
By Michael Kowalski ★
Chicago Stands Alone Among Major Cities in Giving Mayor Council Leadership and Veto Powers
Chicago operates under a unique governance structure that concentrates unusual power in the mayor's office, making it the only major American city where the mayor both presides over the City Council and holds veto authority, according to an analysis of municipal government structures.
By Michael Kowalski ★