Stephen Montemayor
@smontemayor.bsky.social
News Editor for Block Club Chicago. Send me your tips: stephen@blockclubchi.org. Signal: @stephenmontemayor.95
A Year After ICE Killed A Father Outside Chicago, FBI Won't Release Any Info About Investigation blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/10/a... by @mollydevore.bsky.social
A Year After ICE Killed A Father Outside Chicago, FBI Won't Release Any Info About Investigation
Silverio Villegas González was killed during a traffic stop in Franklin Park. His family is working with lawyers and the Mexican Consulate to file a wrongful death claim against the federal government...
blockclubchicago.org
The County Prosecutors Who Became ICE Informants blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/25/t... via @injusticewatch.org & @wired.com
The County Prosecutors Who Became ICE Informants
Illinois prosecutors shared defendants’ personal data with federal immigration agents without criminal warrants, public disclosure, or legislative oversight.
blockclubchicago.org
Illinois Promised To Protect Immigrants. Local Officials Helped Deport Them Anyway blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/25/i... via @injusticewatch.org & @theintercept.com
Illinois Promised To Protect Immigrants. Local Officials Helped Deport Them Anyway
In over a third of Illinois counties, cops, sheriffs, and even prosecutors helped federal immigration agents route at least 150 people into the deportation system since Trump returned to office, despi...
blockclubchicago.org
SPJ has selected @blockclubchi.bsky.social and Stocktonia to share the 2026 Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award. Each will receive $5,000 for their work championing the First Amendment and a free press. Both will be honored at #SPJ26, Oct. 1-4 in Columbus, Ohio. ➡️ Read more: bit.ly/4gji19X
THC drinks gave a lifeline to local breweries. Will they go down the drain by year's end? blockclubchi.co/4zHRomT
Tow Truck Driver Refuses To Help ICE After Agents Crash Into Truck On Southwest Side blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/24/t...
Tow Truck Driver Refuses To Help ICE After Agents Crash Into Truck On Southwest Side
Ald. Julia Ramirez said agents rammed their SUV into a truck before arresting a man in McKinley Park. Rapid response groups reported to the scene and successfully thwarted an attempt to tow the agents...
blockclubchicago.org
16 teens were charged with trespassing at the Congress Theater days after a viral rave in the shuttered venue. blockclubchi.co/4qnqZX8
The Chicago US Attorney’s Office has been investigating a Democratic fund-raising firm once co-owned by the daughter of the judge in President Trump’s hush-money trial in New York, the NYT says. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/u...
Prosecutors Examined Firm With Tie to Judge in Trump Hush Money Trial
The U.S. attorney in Chicago subpoenaed a fund-raising firm that had been co-owned by the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who conducted the trial that led to Donald Trump’s felony conviction.
nytimes.com
Chicago police officers failed to find loaded handguns on people they arrested and searched at least twice since a previously arrested suspect allegedly fatally shot an officer at Swedish Hospital in April. New for @blockclubchi.bsky.social. blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/11/c...
Chicago Police Have Failed To Find Loaded Guns On Suspects Twice Since Swedish Hospital Shooting
A robbery suspect who managed to bring a gun into the hospital in April left one officer dead and another wounded, prosecutors said. Last month, jail staff found a loaded handgun on a man arrested 10 ...
blockclubchicago.org
“This week marks the 22nd anniversary of a moment that, for fans of Chicago music culture, will live in dysentery.” blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/08/2...
22 Years Later, Dave Matthews Bus Poop Incident Makes Chicagoans Laugh — And Groan
Dave Matthews’ tour bus emptied its 800-pound septic tank on people taking a cruise 22 years ago this week. The DMB poop incident is "now old enough to drink," one social media post pointed out.
blockclubchicago.org
NOW HIRING: @thetrace.org, in partnership with Block Club Chicago, is looking for a full-time staff writer to cover the impact of gun violence on Chicago’s neighborhoods. More info and apply here: blockclubchi.co/45zlN8W
Come work with me at @blockclubchi.bsky.social and @thetrace.org! We're looking for a full-time staff writer to cover the impact of gun violence on Chicago’s neighborhoods. blockclubchicago.org/the-trace-is...
The Trace Is Hiring: Staff Writer On Gun Violence In Chicago
The Trace, in partnership with Block Club Chicago, is looking for a full-time staff writer to cover the impact of gun violence on Chicago’s neighborhoods. The staff writer in this role, which is funde...
blockclubchicago.org
Rounds of powerful storms flooded basements, downed trees and caused widespread power outages throughout Chicago Monday. blockclubchi.co/4fla1Vu
ACT UP, a groundbreaking direct action group that fights AIDS, has returned to Chicago after a 30-year hiatus. blockclubchi.co/4bfn4W7
Emmett Till's 85th Birthday To Bring 'Radical Joy' At Closing Of Bronzeville Art Exhibition blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/22/e...
Emmett Till's 85th Birthday To Bring 'Radical Joy' At Closing Of Bronzeville Art Exhibition
“From Memory to Movement: Emmett at 85,” closing Saturday, is inspired by its curator’s promise to Mamie Till-Mobley — and by Chicago-area teens who explore social justice through storytelling.
blockclubchicago.org
Goose Island’s 2026 Bourbon County Lineup Revealed blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/21/g...
Goose Island’s 2026 Bourbon County Lineup Revealed
The brewery's annual Black Friday release of barrel-aged stouts will make barleywine fans happy, while this year's swings include apple crisp and pineapple upside down cake riffs.
blockclubchicago.org
SCOOP: After pardoning hundreds of allies over the course of his 1st 18 months back in the White House, Trump this month quietly rejected clemency applications from nearly 6,000 people who mostly lacked connections & had been waiting in a queue at the Justice Department.
Trump Rejected Nearly 6,000 Clemency Applications Amid Hope of Pardon Wave (Gift Article)
Expectations were raised for a raft of pardons in connection with the country’s 250th birthday but the president granted fewer than 20 on July 3.
nytimes.com
Things I didn't know despite living all my life in Chicago: Block Club's Rory Quealy reports on what's apparently not just the lakefront promenade, but the "Concrete Beach" north of Oak. Plus these two great pics from Arthur Maiorella and Colin Boyle. blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/20/c...
Some police departments in the Twin Cities suburbs left Flock camera data accessible to far-flung law enforcement agencies. Those agencies searched the data for immigration purposes at the height of last winter’s brutal federal crackdown.
Police searched Twin Cities license plate cameras for immigration enforcement during ICE surge
Federal agencies were able to access the typically confidential data through partnerships with law enforcement around the country.
startribune.com
Abraham Bolden, the 1st first Black Secret Service agent to guard a president, was honored with a sign unveiling in Auburn Gresham. blockclubchi.co/4aX9CGg
Failed Immigration Cases Leave Chicago Prosecutor’s Office Reeling www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/u... via @nytimes.com
Failed Immigration Cases Leave Chicago Prosecutor’s Office Reeling
Prosecutors have fled the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago, angry about the cases they’ve been told to bring against protesters and immigrants.
nytimes.com
An MSG database tracked and categorized hundreds of celebs, famous Knicks superfans, and even some of Taylor Swift’s wedding guests. Labels included “LGBTQIA,” “DO NOT HOST,” and low to high “risk.”
Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities
An MSG database tracked and categorized hundreds of celebs, famous Knicks superfans, and even some of Taylor Swift’s wedding guests. Labels included “LGBTQIA,” “DO NOT HOST,” and low to high “risk.”
wrd.cm
Chicago Police Promised To ‘Fix’ Secret Traffic Stops. A Year Later, The Problem Has Only Gotten Worse blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/16/c... (via @boltsmag.org & @injusticewatch.org)
Chicago Police Promised To ‘Fix’ Secret Traffic Stops. A Year Later, The Problem Has Only Gotten Worse
As Chicago’s top cop steps down, police are making fewer traffic stops. But our new investigation finds most stops are still not being reported to oversight agencies, despite a state law mandating dis...
blockclubchicago.org
It’s ready…. pH1 releases at 5pm on Friday, July 24th at Mousetrap. @smontemayor.bsky.social sat down with our co-founder and wild yeast wrangler John Laffler to discuss all things pH1 in this nice @blockclubchi.bsky.social article. blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/17/o...
Off Color Brewing’s Wild Ale From Iconic pH1 Barrel Is Ready. Block Club Got A 1st Taste
After aging a wild ale for more than a year in the famed barrel credited with popularizing wild and sour ales, Off Color co-founder John Laffler is throwing a release party July 24.
blockclubchicago.org
Fourteen months ago, @offcolorbrewing.bsky.social received the iconic pH1 barrel. It filled it with beer and stamped a little mouse on the vessel. Now, the wild ale is ready for release. We sat down w/@jalaffler.bsky.social for an first taste after bottling day. blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/17/o...
Off Color Brewing’s Wild Ale From Iconic pH1 Barrel Is Ready. Block Club Got A 1st Taste
After aging a wild ale for more than a year in the famed barrel credited with popularizing wild and sour ales, Off Color co-founder John Laffler is throwing a release party July 24.
blockclubchicago.org
After months of refusals, the Justice Department has turned over a substantial amount of evidence from the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to state investigators in Minnesota.
Feds quietly share evidence in Good and Pretti shootings with Minnesota investigators
The evidence includes the SUV Renee Good was driving and is considered comprehensive.
bit.ly
The Shedd Aquarium is rescuing 10 beluga whales from a shuttered Canadian park. blockclubchi.co/4wA3egg
Pitchfork Sues Co-Founder, Saying He Misappropriated $564K After Fest Shuttered blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/10/p...
Pitchfork Sues Co-Founder, Saying He Misappropriated $564K After Fest Shuttered
A federal lawsuit filed this week accuses Mike Reed of secretly transferring the money from an official Pitchfork account to another one he controlled.
blockclubchicago.org
Chicago Tribune and other media outlets are asking for “serious sanctions” against OpenAI, saying the company destroyed evidence and intentionally hid its ability to locate stolen news stories in training data and responses to ChatGPT users, according to a new motion filed Thursday.
Chicago Tribune seeks ‘serious sanctions’ against OpenAI as deception alleged in copyright lawsuit
chicagotribune.com