Mayor Brandon Johnson set to defend sanctuary laws during testimony today before GOP-led congressional committee The made-for-TV hearing will give Mayor Brandon Johnson a national spotlight to defend the city and policies that have largely been in place since the mid-1980s.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Democratic leaders from three other major U.S. cities are set to testify this morning before a Republican-led congressional committee holding a hearing on sanctuary policies for immigrants, setting the stage for a day that will be heavy on political theater.

Watch live: Mayor Brandon Johnson to testify on sanctuary city policies for immigrants Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joins New York Mayor Eric Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in appearing before Congress Wednesday.

Watch live as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joins New York Mayor Eric Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in appearing before Congress.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/05/w...

Patients reported sexual abuse by medical providers. Health care systems let them keep working. Over the course of a yearlong investigation, the Tribune found that well-known Illinois health systems have allowed workers accused of abusing patients to keep providing care.

The first of five finalists for the 2025 Shadid Award is the @chicagotribune.com team of Lisa Schencker, Emily Hoerner and @staceywescott.bsky.social for their series exposing how Illinois health care systems failed to protect patients from sexual abuse.
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/18/h...

We’re excited to announce five finalists for the 2025 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. These finalists distinguished themselves in a competitive field of nominations, telling stories with outstanding ethics, integrity and impact.

ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2025-shadid-...

Honored to have worked on this project with some very sensitive and smart journalists!

David Greising: Michael Madigan and Rod Blagojevich were products of a culture that tolerates lawlessness Yes, the corrupt Michael Madigans of the world must be punished. But better yet would be a reformed system that protects Illinoisans.

Commentary: The contrast between Madigan’s guilty verdicts and Blago’s pardon shows the difference between the rule of law and the tyranny of lawlessness.

No. 11 Michigan State turns Illinois’ festive night upside down as Tom Izzo earns Big Ten wins record Illinois’ late scoring drought and a Terrence Shannon Jr. banner mishap ruin a festive night in Champaign as Michigan State coach Tom Izzo earns the Big Ten wins record.

Illinois’ late scoring drought and a Terrence Shannon Jr. banner mishap ruin festive night in Champaign as Michigan State coach Tom Izzo gets Big Ten wins record:

I thought it was Jason Bateman for the first half of it …

Behind-the-scenes staff acrimony mirrors public tension between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker Gov. JB Pritzker’s chief of staff opted out of “scenario planning” meetings with her counterparts from the city and Cook County to get ready for President Trump’s second term.

The uneasiness between the two-term billionaire governor with rumored presidential ambitions who refers to himself as a “pragmatic progressive” and the rookie mayor who is the face of Chicago’s more left-wing progressive movement highlights some of the inherent tension among Democrats.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga reacts after striking out the last batter of the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 4, 2024, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

A fan holds a sign about a possible White Sox series sweep of the Angels in the seventh inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sept. 26, 2024, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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- Cubs Insider www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/29/s...

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Diana Simpson and Will Aronin: Chicago’s abusive towing practices flip American justice on its head Despite reforms, Chicago still holds cars for ransom, requiring people to pay everything before giving people their cars back.

Commentary: Chicago holds cars for ransom, requiring people to pay everything the city demands before giving people their cars back. The system flips American justice on its head by making people prove their innocence to escape penalties.

University of Chicago enters $130M partnership to develop new drugs The university and Deerfield Management are partnering on the initiative, called Hyde Park Discovery.

The University of Chicago is partnering with a health care investment firm that has pledged up to $130 million to help turn the school’s research and discoveries into medications more quickly.

Trump administration’s surprise federal funding freeze hits Medicaid while raising havoc and sowing confusion across Illinois Illinois Democrats vow to fight President Donald Trump’s freeze of federal grants and loans, calling it unconstitutional.

A judge temporarily blocked a Trump administration freeze on potentially trillions of dollars in grants and other federal spending but not before the president’s announcement of the plan caused tumult and confusion among Illinois government, social service agencies, nonprofits and universities.

What to know about ICE raids in Chicago — and what your rights are The immigration blitz was action long promised by President Donald Trump who made mass deportation central to his campaign.

Here’s what to know about the ICE raids in Chicago — and how residents, politicians and more are responding.

‘You’re Dr. Phil.’ TV personality says he joined immigration raids in Chicago for ‘transparency.’ The presence of ‘Dr. Phil’ at Chicago federal immigration raids raise questions about the propriety of the operation and highlight a presidency that favors reality TV.

Partway through answering questions Sunday during an immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago, a man who appeared to be in custody briefly stopped talking when he recognized the man with the Texas accent asking the questions.

“You’re Dr. Phil,” the man said to television personality Phil McGraw.

‘People are hiding’: Immigrants stay home from work to avoid potential ICE arrests When reports surfaced over the weekend that mass deportations could potentially begin in the Chicago area Tuesday, Martin Ramos informed his boss that he was taking time off from work, stocked up o…

The possibility of mass deportations has terrified the area’s undocumented immigrants, prompting many to skip work, keep their kids out of school and stay hidden. Their trepidation deepened when the Trump administration announced it would permit agents to make arrests at schools and churches.

‘People are hiding’: Immigrants stay home from work to avoid potential ICE arrests When reports surfaced over the weekend that mass deportations could potentially begin in the Chicago area Tuesday, Martin Ramos informed his boss that he was taking time off from work, stocked up o…

“I feel like we’re grieving something that hasn’t even happened. Or like we’re waiting for something that’s going to happen that we know we’re going to grieve.”

📝 @nellsalzman.bsky.social, @taliasoglin.bsky.social and Laura Rodríguez Presa

Tails, duct tape and Chevy Camaros: Inside the FBI investigation of the ‘furries’ chlorine attack The Midwest FurFest convention was on as usual in December 2014 when people started to get sick. Authorities directed conventiongoers to evacuate and one person was seen fleeing the area wearing “a…

10 years ago a Furry convention in suburbs came under chlorine gas attack. @ckubzansky.bsky.social got FBI records on investigation, which included a dude saying he’d “been involved with Furries for the past 11-12 years and you make enemies during that time”
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/14/t...

Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers played Thalia Hall in a blues concert both serious and not Should you ever get the chance, start your new year with Bill Murray singing, his fists clenched, his arms thrusting furiously downward like they had nowhere to go, that doughy Wilmette mug scrunch…

There are few things in life as satisfying as Bill Murray singing, even if the man is no singer, writes Christopher Borrelli.

America’s oldest Black town is in Illinois — and it’s dying. But the fight has begun to save it. America’s oldest Black town is Brooklyn, Illinois. Once an Underground Railroad stop, it’s now dying. A race is on to save it.

America’s oldest Black town is in Illinois - and it’s dying. But the fight has begun to save it.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/05/b...

No. 22 Illinois men make a statement with a 32-point blowout of No. 9 Oregon on the road Tre White had 20 points and 11 rebounds as No. 22 Illinois made a resounding statement on the road with a 109-77 blowout of ninth-ranked Oregon.

Tre White had 20 points and 11 rebounds as No. 22 Illinois made a resounding statement on the road with a 109-77 blowout of ninth-ranked Oregon.

Illinois (10-3, 2-1 Big Ten) built a seven-point lead at halftime before opening the second half on a 22-6 run to pull away.

Chicago church stops hosting in-person Spanish services amid fears of mass deportations from Trump administration Lincoln Methodist Church moved its Spanish services online after the threats of mass deportations from the incoming Trump administration.

Lincoln Methodist Church moved its Spanish services online after the threats of mass deportations from the incoming Trump administration.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Our favorite stories pulled from the archives in 2024 We poured through the Tribune’s archives to say goodbye to WGN-TV chief meteorologist Tom Skilling; we explored how Chicagoans of bygone eras observed solar eclipses and dealt with cicada inv…

These were the best things @fotomather.bsky.social + I found in the @chicagotribune.com archives in 2024:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/02/v...

NHL Winter Classic: Everything you need to know, from how they build the rink at Wrigley Field to the food options A lot goes into the spectacle that is the NHL’s Winter Classic: “It’s going to be a hectic couple of days. But once we hit the ice for the game, business starts.”

** NHL Winter Classic: Blackhawks vs. Blues, 4 p.m. (TNT, MAX, TruTV) **

Everything you need to know, from how they build the rink at Wrigley Field to the food options to the free fan festival.

The Great 2024 Chicago Tribune holiday news quiz Think you know everything that went on this year? Get together with your loved ones this Christmas and have fun with our annual year-end news quiz.

Think you know everything that went on this year? Get together with your loved ones this Christmas and have fun with our annual year-end news quiz.

Column: The Chicago Bears’ great offensive line was once a poster. These days, there are only ‘help wanted’ posters. There’s no suspense in the Chicago Bears’ offseason planning. What should they do? Shop for offensive linemen.

The #Bears great O-line was once a poster.

These days, there are only 'Help Wanted' posters.

Taking a look at the line with Larry Borom expected to start at left tackle tonight. Hunch is Jake Curhan fills in at left guard.

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/26/c...

Corruption has burdened Illinois since its earliest days. But change is possible. Here's how. Illinois’ culture of corruption may leave many feeling hopeless. But elected officials, from Gov. JB Pritzker to township trustees, have the power to make a difference.

The state’s sordid history may leave many residents feeling hopeless. But as the Tribune’s reporting shows, elected officials across Illinois have the power to make a difference by shoring up weaknesses and closing escape hatches in the state’s ethics laws.

Ben Johnson has a ‘burning desire’ to be a head coach. Could the Detroit Lions OC be a fit for the Chicago Bears? Ben Johnson has a “burning desire” to be a head coach. The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is a compelling candidate for the Chicago Bears because of his intelligence and creativity…

Could the Bears be watching their next coach on the opposite sideline Sunday in Lions OC Ben Johnson?

"Uncommonly bright"
"Kind of a wizard"
"This guy is different — in a good way"

@bradbiggs.bsky.social's inside look at the man behind a super creative offense.

Chicago Board of Education votes unanimously to fire schools chief Pedro Martinez Chicago Board of Education voted Friday to fire Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez.

BREAKING: The Chicago Board of Education has unanimously voted to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.