New from @jeremygorner.bsky.social & @rick-pearson.bsky.social: The IG report that forced Illinois state Rep. Harry Benton to resign may never be released, but @chicagotribune.com has details. Benton told a female lobbyist at a Chicago bar: “I may look like a five but I f— like a 10." ... 1/9

NEW: I wrote about Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious, abundance-coded housing plan. 4 units on basically any standard size Chicago residential lot? ADUs? Looser parking minimums? potentially yes, in our backyard >> www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/12/j...

Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules

A cornerstone initiative from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker would loosen zoning restrictions for multiunit buildings, drawing excitement from housing advocates but concerns from local officials.

chicagotribune.com

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has been one of the most vociferous critics of Tyler Technologies, the company that has been in charge of the rocky upgrade of the county’s property tax system, for more than a decade.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas held stock in company that has county technology deal

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas held stock for years in a company with a major contract working in her office, a potential violation of the county’s conflict-of-interest rules.

trib.al

Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., told the Tribune he opposed the Trump administration’s tariff policies “from an affordability standpoint, from an inflation standpoint and an open market standpoint.” But hours later voted against rescinding Trump’s tariffs on Canada.

Dan Vock@danvock.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Illinois Republicans weigh fealty to Trump as president’s agenda faces backlash and shutdown threat Check out my story with Rick Pearson for the @chicagotribune.com (gift link) www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/13/i...

Nice scoop by @jeremygorner.bsky.social and @petrellareports.bsky.social: JB met with Goodell last month during Packers playoff weekend. Gov says progress being made here in IL as team still talks about Indiana. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/09/p...

Gov. JB Pritzker talked Bears with NFL commissioner, says progress is being made to keep team in Illinois

While Indiana officials play up their efforts to lure the Chicago Bears across the border for a new stadium, Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday that he and his staff have made “progress” to i…

chicagotribune.com

A deep look at the history of Illinois’ 9th Congressional District and how this next election might change that. By @olivia0.bsky.social : www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/08/i...

Illinois 9th District race tests long Jewish legacy in 15-way Democratic Party fight to succeed Schakowsky

Illinois’ 9th Congressional District has an almost unbroken tradition of Jewish representation but that history now collides with a changing district and a crowded, high-stakes Democratic Party fie…

chicagotribune.com

“Liars use numbers.” The paradox of the GOP race for Illinois governor. Candidates campaigning against a crime wave that numbers show are down — and even Donald Trump now says nation is safe. By @rick-pearson.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/31/i...

Illinois’ Republican candidates for governor push crime as top issue despite data showing declines

The Republican race for governor features a paradoxical narrative in which candidates loyal to President Trump are campaigning against a crime wave he says no longer exists.

chicagotribune.com

“Liars use numbers.” The paradox of the GOP race for Illinois governor. Candidates campaigning against a crime wave that numbers show are down — and even Donald Trump now says nation is safe. By @rick-pearson.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/31/i...

Illinois’ Republican candidates for governor push crime as top issue despite data showing declines

The Republican race for governor features a paradoxical narrative in which candidates loyal to President Trump are campaigning against a crime wave he says no longer exists.

chicagotribune.com

Resharing this here from @danvock.bsky.social -- the overall cost for Operation Midway Blitz at $59M. Today, the CBO said the National Gd in Chicago cost was $21M. Our story a month ago said $19.4M. But the Nat. Gd is only a small portion of the total cost. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/04/o...

Cost of Operation Midway Blitz: $59M and counting

A Tribune review of court filings, databases and other public records detailing the scope of the incursion and typical costs shows how much the federal government has spent since September.

chicagotribune.com

Well-funded potential challengers already circling Mayor Brandon Johnson. He’s seen as weak and vulnerable, his union support divided by SEIU-CTU beef. Not as done as some fantasize, but he is in real trouble. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/w...

Well-funded potential challengers already circling Mayor Brandon Johnson

A large and growing field of candidates is angling to take out Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is seen as very beatable.

chicagotribune.com

A reminder for Bears fans and reporters to behave yourselves this weekend. Don’t want a repeat of this even though it is absolutely fantastic. m.youtube.com/watch?v=CCyd...

Chicago Bears 1986 Playoff Loss JOHN DRUMMOND WBBM TV

YouTube video by Ironworker Jeff

m.youtube.com

I reached out to Hilton Hotels about the costs of housing ICE and Border Patrol agents in the Chicago area for this story, after there were protests at their properties. They never got back to me. But now they are canceling reservations for ICE in Minnesota

Dan Vock@danvock.bsky.social · 7mo ago

How much has Operation Midway Blitz cost the federal government so far? The Trump administration isn't saying, so for the @chicagotribune.com I came up with a rough -- but conservative -- estimate of $59 million and counting. Check out more at this gift link www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/04/o...

Thanks for reposting @hcrichardson.bsky.social. An important story that got overlooked a bit this weekend with all the other news.

Dan Vock@danvock.bsky.social · 7mo ago

How much has Operation Midway Blitz cost the federal government so far? The Trump administration isn't saying, so for the @chicagotribune.com I came up with a rough -- but conservative -- estimate of $59 million and counting. Check out more at this gift link www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/04/o...

How much has Operation Midway Blitz cost the federal government so far? The Trump administration isn't saying, so for the @chicagotribune.com I came up with a rough -- but conservative -- estimate of $59 million and counting. Check out more at this gift link www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/04/o...

Cost of Operation Midway Blitz: $59M and counting

A Tribune review of court filings, databases and other public records detailing the scope of the incursion and typical costs shows how much the federal government has spent since September.

chicagotribune.com

The Trump admin refuses to detail how much the immigration enforcement process in Illinois — Operation Midway Blitz — costs. So we looked at the numbers and came up with a conservative accounting: $59 million and growing. By @danvock.bsky.social. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/04/o...

Cost of Operation Midway Blitz: $59M and counting

A Tribune review of court filings, databases and other public records detailing the scope of the incursion and typical costs shows how much the federal government has spent since September.

chicagotribune.com

The payments to Jonathan Jackson’s 3 I Roadwork Inc. began in the year after he endorsed Gov. JB Pritzker’s first bid for governor in 2018. That endorsement came months after Pritzker’s campaign quietly hired Jackson as a $13,000-per-month political consultant.

Before Congress, Jonathan Jackson owned a construction firm. It got $750K from Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois.

State-funded work came after Jonathan Jackson was paid as a $13,000-a-month consultant for JB Pritzker’s 2018 campaign for governor.

trib.al

Latest from veteran reporters Chuck Neubauer and Sandy Bergo -- the political ties between US Rep. Jonathan Jackson and Gov. JB Pritzker. Before Congress, Jackson worked for JB's campaign and later got $750k in state funds for a construction co he owned: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/21/j...

The $750,000 grant: Why Jonathan Jackson’s construction firm received funding from Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois

State-funded work came after Jonathan Jackson was paid as a $13,000-a-month consultant for JB Pritzker’s 2018 campaign for governor.

chicagotribune.com

It’s fun when the Bears win.

So the kids are into Wolf Parade? Lots more where that came from Gen Z!

Operation Midway Blitz winding down in Chicago, sources say www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...

Federal Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and agents said to be leaving Chicago, sources say

Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was expected to depart Chicago within days, while most Border Patrol agents under this command would soon be redeployed elsewhere, three sources told the Tribune Monday.

chicagotribune.com

Attys alleging Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino violated a court’s restraining order when he personally threw tear gas canisters during an immigration enforcement action in Chicago’s Little Village this morning They included this still image: Story here: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/23/f...

More than 37k residential properties on South and West sides -- in neighborhoods that can least afford it -- are set to see their property tax bills skyrocket due to increased assessments. @adquig.bsky.social and @alexnitkin.bsky.social with Tribune and @illinoisanswers.bsky.social t.co/HPvffZVsJ1

Among those handcuffed in a video promoted by DHS Sec’y Kristi Noem on X is Joe Botello, an AMERICAN citizen. @chicagotribune.com photog @staceywescott.bsky.social was there and we spoke to him. He was later released and “blessed that I’m still alive." Story: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/16/e...

US citizen says he was briefly detained in latest Chicago-area ICE blitz

An Elgin man who was born in Texas said he was handcuffed and placed in a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol vehicle, as part of the latest Chicago-area ICE blitz.

chicagotribune.com

From Washington, @danvock.bsky.social with a look at what might be in store for Chicago as soon as this week. “There’s this never-ending feeling of surveillance, fear and anxiety and then wondering, ‘What am I supposed to do about it?” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/31/t...

President Trump’s takeover of Washington, D.C., offers insights on what could be in store for Chicago

As the prospect of President Trump sending a surge of federal forces to Chicago rises daily, the Washington occupation provides insights into what a Chicago incursion could entail.

chicagotribune.com

A CTA-focused North Side TIF dist has generated $400 million. And it’s still pretty new. Will Chicago use it for the next 20-plus years to pay off bills or shut it down once it pays off its CTA work? @adquig.bsky.social w/ a story you won’t read anywhere else: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/22/c...

As CTA tax district rakes in huge amount of taxpayer money, decision looms over what to do with it

A North Side tax district is on track to pay off a major facelift of four CTA stations and the century-old infrastructure connecting them way ahead of schedule.

chicagotribune.com

Two weeks after arriving in ILL over the Texas remap fight, @jamestalarico.bsky.social spoke at Trinity church on the South Side (Barack Obama's old church). A rising Democratic political star, @olivia0.bsky.social spoke to him about the saga and its impact: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/17/t...

Texas Rep. James Talarico delivers South Side sermon as gerrymandering battle heightens profiles

Texas state Rep. James Talarico received almost a familiar welcome as he delivered a rare politician-led sermon to the historic Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side.

chicagotribune.com

This is a key week for public broadcasting as the Senate prepares to vote on Trump's proposed cuts. The impact will be felt everywhere, but especially in downstate communities where public broadcasting is the primary source of news. By @danvock.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/16/i...

Illinois public broadcasters in Chicago, and especially downstate, fear impact as Senate vote to cut funding looms

While Chicago-area public media outlets WBEZ and WTTW will get hurt if the Senate OK’s cuts, smaller stations in rural areas would get hit harder.

chicagotribune.com

Pregnant and in Chicago w/o legal immigration status, Daniela Sigala isn’t sure her son will be a US citizen. Today’s Sunday read explores SCOTUS decision impact & Trump efforts on birthright citizenship by @nellsalzman.bsky.social and @danvock.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/06/s...

Supreme Court ruling casts doubt on birthright citizenship for immigrant families in Chicago

High court’s decision fuels uncertainty about whether babies born to immigrants lacking legal immigration status will be considered American citizens, despite 14th Amendment.

chicagotribune.com

So @adquig.bsky.social and David Jackson at @injusticewatch.org have been writing about the troubled Tyler Technologies Cook County contract for months & now the political finger-pointing. 10s of millions over budget and delays. Latest in @chicagotribune.com: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/03/c...

Cook County’s troubled tech overhaul boils over, as political leaders start pointing fingers

The latest delays to the Cook County property tax system upgrade by controversial contractor Tyler Technologies is leading to fighting among county leaders.

chicagotribune.com

So @govpritzker.illinois.gov picks former lawmaker and deputy gov Christian Mitchell as his lt gov running mate as Pritzker runs for third term as current Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton is running for US Senate. Developing story from @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/01/g...

Gov. JB Pritzker selects former deputy governor Christian Mitchell as running mate

A former lawmaker and deputy governor, Christian Mitchell now oversees civic engagement at the University of Chicago. Current Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton is running for US Senate.

chicagotribune.com