The Chicago Flag The Chicago flag, adopted in 1917, features blue stripes, white bands, and red six-pointed stars, symbolizing the city's geography and history. Designed by Wallace Rice, it remains a beloved and iconi...

www.architecture.org/online-resou...

To my own embarrassment, I have only today learned what the stars on the Chicago flag represent, per the Chicago Architecture Center:

Fort Dearborn
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
The World’s Columbian Exposition
The Century of Progress Exposition

What would folks suggest for a fifth star?

scoop by the indefatigable @taliasoglin.bsky.social, as the federal back-and-forth about security on Chicago public transit wears on....

Black Disciples vs. Gangster Disciples + Vice Lords, seen at 60th/Prairie

These things should break away from the market rather than break in or break bus shelters or break anything else for that matter.

Illinois deja vu? Appellate arguments for ex-Speaker Michael Madigan to focus on line between politics and bribery. On Thursday, attorneys for imprisoned former House Speaker Michael Madigan are expected to ask the appeals court for a reversal of his February 2025 conviction and 7 1/2-year sentence.

Only in Illinois alert: Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, pardoned by President Trump for an array of corruption convictions, has been paid $130k by ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore to lobby Trump for a pardon in her conviction of bribing House Speaker Michael Madigan
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/09/a...

We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8

We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today.

Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

They didn’t answer my questions about how to guarantee public access to web-only hearings or what the rationale was for the fact sheet was to begin with.

When I wrote the federal government about this situation, they told me that judges “may” admit non-parties to web proceedings. That’s an apparent backpedal from the fact sheet stating that those links are for immigrants and attorneys only.

Court observers were some of the first people to ID sea changes in how DHS is changing its approach to cases under the second Trump administration. And the number of virtual hearings is skyrocketing, but more and more judges are declining to admit observers to the web links where they take place.

Immigration court proceedings, like ordinary court proceedings, are presumed open with limited exceptions. There are fewer public records available from these courts, though, and the court system itself operates as a part of the executive branch.

It is difficult to overstate the amount of change and legal back-and-forth over different elements of immigration court in the U.S. right now — basic stuff like money bond, a meaningful appeal process and how much it costs to make that happen are all up in the air right now.

In Chicago, the issue is with access to virtual hearings — observers pin the recent spate of lockouts on a fact sheet that stated virtual proceedings are for parties only. Elsewhere, observers are having issues over physical courtroom access as well as digital. That’s so far not a problem here.

Immigration court observers — and their oversight — routinely locked out of process Legal observers are being digitally shut out of immigration court hearings at a moment of uncertainty for immigrants who are seeking to obtain legal status around the country against a tide of new pol...

Today in @chicagotribune.com: Chicago immigration court observers, who act as scouts into an increasingly uncertain landscape for immigrants seeking to stay in the U.S., are having a harder and harder time getting into court proceedings to do their work. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/30/i...

🚨 @illinoisanswers.bsky.social and @chicago.suntimes.com won a court case to release the records including body cam footage of last summer's fatal police shooting of Ofc. Krystal Rivera by her partner, Ofc. Carlos Baker.

Make a note: Stationery is booming as we seek out more analog experiences Stationerycore, as many call the culture, is having its moment, with devotees flocking to events such as the recent Chicago Stationery Festival in Ravenswood.

"This is like a Comic-Con, for people who like to write letters and have strong opinions on pens.”
Gotta love Chris Borelli and his forays into the millions of little subcultures that make up Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/26/c...

Whaddaya mean, your story isn't filed yet?

ICE lodges arrest detainer against suspect in Loyola student’s shooting death Loyola student Sheridan Gorman, 18, was fatally shot on the Loyola Beach Pier. No charges have been filed, according to Chicago police.

ICE lodged an arrest detainer asking Illinois officials not to release a suspect, who is a Venezuelan migrant, according to the agency, and who has been taken into custody in connection with Thursday’s shooting death of a Loyola University freshman.

Chicago police arrest Rogers Park man in Loyola slaying Chicago police have arrested a Rogers Park man in connection with Thursday’s fatal shooting of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman.

News: Police have made an arrest in the fatal shooting of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/21/l...

COPA said in response to a FOIA they did not process a relief of power memo for Ofc. Max Walzer, which indicates the move to strip him was a CPD decision. Shooting was March 9. Walzer was relieved March 13 per CPD spox

Chicago police officer in Humboldt Park fatal shooting is stripped of police powers A Chicago police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a driver earlier this month was relieved of his police powers Friday, CPD representatives confirmed.

News: CPD officer involved in fatal Humboldt Park shooting on March 9 was stripped of police powers four days later. COPA investigation is ongoing. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/19/c...

Chicago police questioning man in connection to fire that killed firefighter Michael Altman as CFD announces funeral The Chicago Fire Department announced that visitation and funeral services for Michael Altman are scheduled for March 26 and 27.

News: police are questioning a man in connection with a fire that led to the death of FF Michael Altman earlier this week. The man — ID’d in an internal bulletin and arrested this afternoon — is being held on an unrelated warrant per CPD sources. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/18/c...

Ah, today I have learned

?

Hey, bsky. Have you worked as an immigration court observer over the last six months — either in-person or virtually? If so and you're interested in speaking to me about that experience, my email is in my bio and I'd love to hear from you.

Attorneys in ‘Broadview Six’ case say conspiracy charges violates First Amendment, has ‘chilling’ effect Lawyers in the case against immigration protesters in Broadview say it criminalizes First Amendment rights to speech and assembly and creates a “chilling” effect on the public.

Attorneys in the "Broadview 6 (minus 2)" case say federal prosecutors have elevated misdemeanor property damage allegations into sweeping conspiracy claims that attempt to criminalize fundamental free speech and assembly rights
Story: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/16/a...

This weekend showed me a new divide within Gen Z: Those who had been familiar with BORGs since at least 2018 and those like myself who apparently spent undergrad under a rock (but had a great time informing people and police sources what the acronym stood for)
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/16/c...

Complaining about the finer points of local politics

A Skokie woman said ICE detained her for nearly 48 hours after landing at O’Hare. But is it true? A Skokie woman said ICE detained for nearly 48 hours after landing at O’Hare. Three separate law enforcement agencies say her story doesn’t add up.

A Skokie woman said ICE detained her for nearly 48 hours after landing at O’Hare.
But Tribune reporters @aliceyin.bsky.social @taliasoglin.bsky.social and @ckubzansky.bsky.social have found big holes in her account — and problems in her past.
Read this: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/11/o...

Hey Chicago wear head protection