Barbara Flynn Currie, Illinois’ first female House majority leader and a progressive champion, dies at 85

Barbara Flynn Currie, Illinois’ first female House majority leader and a progressive champion, dies at 85

Court battles hit taxpayer wallets The costs of Chicago police misconduct have grown enormous as the city settles lawsuit after lawsuit using expensive private counsel to handle most of the work.

Over 10 years, Chicago has more than doubled how much it’s paying outside lawyers on reversed-conviction cases to more than $20 million a year.
The city argues it’s protecting taxpayers.
Is it working?
@joemahr.bsky.social and I take a look at the receipts:
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/29/c...

The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune Win 2026 Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting The Washington Post won the 2026 Toner Prize for national political reporting. The Chicago Tribune won for local political reporting. Ceremony set for March 23 in Washington, D.C.

Proud to be sharing this award with my fantastic colleagues @royalpratt.bsky.social @andrew-carter.bsky.social @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social @ckubzansky.bsky.social
Thanks @newhousesu.bsky.social
and to the entire Tribune newsroom for its immigration coverage
newhouse.syracuse.edu/news/the-was...

We are the humans who bring you this news, this public service. Happy Bargaining Season!

Chicago treasurer employee alleges political staff pushed office on US bonds boycott Mauricio Banuelos, a treasurer’s office portfolio manager, sent a complaint to the public integrity units of both the Illinois attorney general and U.S. Department of Justice.

Chicago treasurer employee alleges political staff pushed office on anti-Trump US bonds boycott
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/16/c...

March 2026 Cook County Judicial Election Guide | Injustice Watch Injustice Watch's guide to the March 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections.

📣 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

Carnegie library - Wikipedia

Thinking about Carnegie Libraries today.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegi...

Sports coverage is more than scores. It’s about the people, politics and cultural factors that drive it. Sports journalism adds vivid color and context to these dynamics. Without it, every sports fan suffers. Some of the best sports journalism all-time came from WaPo. Inexcusable loss.

The Real Story Behind the Midnight Immigration Raid on a Chicago Apartment Building The Trump administration has claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had taken over the building. But new documents make no mention of the gang and reveal federal agents had information about “ille...

New documents show a raid on a South Shore apartment complex was prompted by claims that immigrants were squatting in units — not that it had been taken over by Tren de Aragua — and was blessed by the complex's owner, @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social & @jodiscohen.bsky.social report for @propublica.org

Journalism organizations condemn the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort as vindictive attacks on press freedom • The TRiiBE Two Black journalists were arrested by federal agents days after both filmed an anti-ICE protest inside a Minnesota church.

Journalism organizations condemn the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort as vindictive attacks on press freedom

thetriibe.com/2026/01/jour...

I mean come on bsky.app/profile/cjze...

I suffered through years as a season ticket holder (who really went to games!) when I was at IU. This is surreal. Proud of these guys for toughing it out.

Local news >>>

NEW: Cook County Board candidate Cat Sharp says "the most responsible decision for me is to suspend my campaign" to defend against the conspiracy indictment brought against her and five others by the DOJ last fall.

Here’s what we learned from top Cook County candidates’ tax returns, ethics filings The Tribune requested the past four years of tax returns from the Democratic candidates for Cook County Board president and assessor.

The @chicagotribune.com is only local news outlet that regularly presses mayor/county board/governor to release their tax returns. Here’s what we learned from top Cook County candidates’ tax returns, ethics filings, by @adquig.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/05/h...

Ugh. Often rely on Curbed for reference re: aldermanic support or opposition to projects - super valuable resource on everything from investigative to daily projects. I hope this gets fixed.

64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz President Donald Trump’s federal immigration enforcement operation led to most surreal autumn in Chicago history. What happened during those 64 days will be remembered for a long time.

A long read from the Tribune: 64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz (gift link) www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...

He lives to fight another day! @adquig.bsky.social reports www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/15/g...

Johnson admin officials didn’t respond to detailed questions about why “60 fewer officers would be assigned to constitutional policing and reform efforts in 2026 than in 2025.”

THE 2025 HEISMAN TROPHY GOES TO FERNANDO MENDOZA 🏆

He is the first Heisman Trophy winner in Indiana University history.

I’ve been mixed on this show but this write-up does make me appreciate it more as someone who (often fruitlessly) professionally pokes around online.

The 8 officers have been named in 13 lawsuits filed by drivers who said they were improperly stopped and searched Downtown because they are Black, according to an analysis of court records by @wttw.bsky.social

Taxpayers have paid a combined $378K to resolve 6 of those lawsuits, records show.

Hi all. A little clarification: the Purdue student journalists did OFFER to do this but "Unfortunately and understandably, the IDS declined the offer, fearing expulsion of its student leaders and more firings of its professional staff." They printed and delivered a statement of solidarity instead

800 South and West Side lots owned by the "city's worst landowner" went up for sale at an auction.

But only a fraction have sold, leaving more than 500 lots still sitting vacant, a Block Club + @illinoisanswers.bsky.social investigation found. buff.ly/Kc9djFV

ICE tickets Chicago man with legal residency $130 for not having his papers on him: ‘It’s not fair…I’m a resident’ Under federal law, registered foreign nationals must carry proof of registration with them at all times. But prior to a second Trump administration, it was rarely enforced.

This @royalpratt.bsky.social story is essential and horrifying: a 60-year old man with heart problems originally from El Salvador was issued a $130 ticket by ICE in Rogers Park for “not having his papers” proving his legal status on his person.

"Once Brockman was handcuffed and placed in the van, the agents pulled out, clipping the rear bumper off of a stopped car partially blocking their path and speeding away past an approaching elongated CTA bus and through the busy intersection."

Federal agents fire guns at Chicago activist they accuse of ‘boxing in’ vehicle in Brighton Park Federal authorities shot a Chicago activist in Brighton Park on Saturday, but accounts differ on what happened before agents fired their guns.

Federal agents fire guns at Chicago activist they accuse of 'boxing in' vehicle in Brighton Park
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/04/i...

Prominent activist turned politician faces new scrutiny as lawsuit alleges sexual assault of teenage girl A survivor of sex trafficking has sued anti-violence activist and Dolton trustee Andrew Holmes, alleging he sexually assaulted her at age 16.

Our latest story about prominent Chicago activist turned politician Andrew Holmes, who is facing new scrutiny as lawsuit alleges sexual assault of teenage girl. Also details how some families felt exploited. With @alisonflowers.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/28/a...