“[P]rosecutors acknowledged that there was a ‘virtual meeting’ on Sept. 26 — the day of the Broadview incident — between U.S. Justice Department lawyers in Washington D.C., the Chicago U.S. attorney’s office and other federal law enforcement agencies.” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/05/u...

US attorney’s office offers mea culpa in ‘Broadview Six’ case, says no further inquiry warranted

Prosecutors for embattled Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said in a court filing late Tuesday that while mistakes were made in the now-defunct “Broadview Six” case against immigration protesters,...

chicagotribune.com

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros argued late Tuesday that it’s unnecessary to appoint an outside lawyer to probe for misconduct or potentially impose sanctions in the tainted “Broadview Six” case that has created a lasting credibility crisis for his office.

Boutros acknowledges 'mistakes' in 'Broadview 6' case but says sanctions, special counsel aren't needed

chicago.suntimes.com

The full brief is remarkable. While the U.S. Attorney attempts to downplay the misconduct, he admits to discussing the incident with Main Justice as early as Sept. 27 and having the Oct. 9 grand jury transcript as early Oct. 14. The brief shows that the office repeatedly misled the Court.

Jon Seidel@jonseidel.bsky.social · 11h ago

New overnight: Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros’ office says the “Broadview Six” prosecutors have self-reported the events of the tainted prosecution to the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility as it argues against a special counsel. Full filing: cst.brightspotcdn.com/98/58/82c837...

Until Friday, the Office of Refugee Resettlement had a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice. Now it is replaced by a “law firm with 26 employees spread across eight offices… None of the lawyers for the firm list immigration law as an area of expertise...” www.politico.com/news/2026/08...

26-employee Texas law firm gets $150M to represent 24,000 children in immigration court

None of the Burke Law Group’s lawyers list immigration law as an area of expertise, per the firm’s website.

politico.com

“The new laws come a little more than a year after Illinois-based State Farm announced it was raising homeowners insurance rates an average 27.2% statewide. They also come two years after Illinois motorists saw an average 18% hike in their auto rates…” www.chicagobusiness.com/insurance/cc...

The CDC’s “foodborne surveillance network… played a key role in detecting and stopping both outbreaks.” But now it is under-resourced. www.newsweek.com/cyclospora-i...

Cyclospora outbreak is just the warning—experts fear what's coming next

Cyclospora has sickened thousands. But experts warn other foodborne illnesses could strike next—and hit harder.

newsweek.com

“The communication that schools received included a questionnaire asking universities to address how they are supporting national priorities, admissions criteria, cost of attendance, free speech and foreign influence, among other topics...” www.politico.com/news/2026/08...

Trump administration asks colleges to commit to education overhaul

Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s letter contains some similarities to a compact offered to and rejected by a small group of schools last year.

politico.com

You got to know when to fold ‘em. apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump says Pirro 'folded like an umbrella' in bid to drop Reflecting Pool vandalism charges

The move to dismiss charges against David Hearn was an embarrassing setback for the Justice Department and marked a rare moment during Trump’s second term of an aide or political appointee openly defy...

apnews.com

Federal Court Upholds Village of Oak Park's All-Electric New Construction Ordinance

Federal Court Upholds Village of Oak Park's All-Electric New Construction Ordinance

Federal judge rules Oak Park ordinance requiring new buildings to be all-electric is not preempted by federal law

earthjustice.org

“Right now, there is inadequate space in the building for the vehicles and equipment, and it is undersized for the people in the building, Melotte said, as the building was built in the early 1900s to accommodate horses and fire wagons instead of modern firefighting apparatus.”

Chicago Tribune@chicagotribune.com · 2d ago

Oak Park plans new, larger fire station to replace one on Augusta Street

“Across the government, regulatory and contracting carrots and sticks have been trained on other disfavored speakers,” ABC’s lawyers added… “[t]he tools vary; the objective does not: a media industry too fearful of official reprisal to report the news freely.” www.politico.com/news/2026/07...

ABC accuses FCC of ‘attempted censorship’

The network says the loss of its TV licenses would send a message to all media: “Accommodate the Administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price.”

politico.com

Good they covered Oak Park, despite calling us Oakbrook once! www.nbcchicago.com/video/news/l...

Oak Park could be first Illinois municipality to eliminate single-family zoning

A new proposal could make Oak Park the first Illinois municipality to eliminate single-family-only zoning for housing. JC Navarrete reports.

nbcchicago.com

www.oakpark.com/2026/07/29/s...

Oak Park moves forward with single-family zoning discussion - Wednesday Journal

In a marathon of a meeting that lasted past 1 a.m. Wednesday, Oak Park’s village board unanimously referred a consultant’s proposal on zoning changes to the Plan Commission to continue the conversatio...

oakpark.com

Oak Park Village Board meeting on now, including “receiving” the Opticos recommendations to eliminate single family zoning to make way for missing middle housing. Watch here: oak-park.granicus.com/player/event...

Gorgeous bungalow in Oak Park, Illinois

Oak Park Trustee Derek Eder stated, like many, that elimination of single family zoning in Oak Park allows for “duplexes, 3-4 units, and ADUs.” However, the latest Board Agenda shows the proposal actually will allow up to 6 units to be built on much of the single family lots.

West Cook Connected@wcookconnected.bsky.social · last wk.

Progress on housing affordability

Oak Park Trustee Jim Taglia: “Oak Park residents deserve the opportunity to weigh in directly on the future of single-family zoning.” On 7/28, the Board will receive a consultant’s recommendation to eliminate single family home zoning in Oak Park— the 1st in Illinois. Next step: Plan Commission.

West Cook Connected@wcookconnected.bsky.social · last wk.

Your voice still matters

“Village officials said they were not able to provide a number or percentage of Oak Park residential lots whose capacity would change if the zoning rewrite goes through.” GIFT ARTICLE: www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/...

Referendum on single-family zoning turned down by Oak Park trustees

Referendum on single-family zoning turned down by Oak Park trustees   - Wednesday Journal

Tensions rose in Oak Park’s village hall council chambers as trustees voted against an advisory referendum on single-family zoning changes.

oakpark.com

The Oak Park Village Board voted 6-0 on my motion to draft a policy to end the practice of pretext police stops: pulling over drivers for non-safety related reasons like broken tail lights, missing registrations, or failing to properly use a turn signal www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/22/o...

Oak Park officials move toward restricting police stops for minor equipment infractions

Officials in Oak Park are eying a policy that would restrict police traffic stops related to vehicle equipment violations.

chicagotribune.com

When I was in Chicago I went to Oak Park for the Wright tour and took in the Hemingway House. The tour reminded me of the historian in Widow’s Bay. It starts out normal and just gets almost comically dark as it proceeds. In the end just pointing out all the suicides on a wall of portraits.

The new policy “would restrict police traffic stops related to vehicle equipment violations and other non-safety related reasons such as broken tail lights, missing or expired registrations, and license plate tags that are not completely visible.” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/22/o...

Oak Park officials move toward restricting police stops for minor equipment infractions

Officials in Oak Park are eying a policy that would restrict police traffic stops related to vehicle equipment violations.

chicagotribune.com

“MIMBY Oak Park” includes two former Historic Preservation Commission chairs, Lou Garapolo and Frank Heitzman, Bruce Lehman, a “lifelong Oak Parker who worked for the U.S. Treasury,” and Josh Klayman who taught at the University of Chicago and ran for trustee in 2019. www.oakpark.com/2026/07/21/m...

Maybe in My Back Yard? New group backs zoning referendum - Wednesday Journal

White postcards arrived in mailboxes across Oak Park last week, asking “SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED?” about ending single-family zoning.

oakpark.com

At the 7/21 Oak Park Village Board meeting Trustee Taglia will request an advisory referendum on the elimination of single-family zoning. Trustee Wesley does not support the referendum, but seconded it so it can proceed to a vote (and presumably fail). oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

Portions of the 7/14 Oak Park Village Board meeting minutes related to zoning changes are below, including a summary of public comments and plans for future engagement. The vote on whether or not to have an advisory referendum on zoning is tonight (7/21). oak-park.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=...

This is an excellent tool to see how proposed Oak Park zoning changes to eliminate single family home zoning will affect you. It was developed by residents who support the zoning changes, and frankly is better than any information the village has put out. rezoning.yesoakpark.com?fbclid=IwZnR....

Oak Park’s Proposed Zoning Map — look up any address

The Shape Oak Park proposal redraws the village zoning map, consolidating 21 districts into 13. Type any Oak Park address to see its zoning today, its proposed district, and exactly which rules would ...

rezoning.yesoakpark.com

Should be standing room only at the Oak Park Village Board meeting tonight (7/21) because of the issues of eliminating single family home zoning and restricting police from non-safety related stops. Get there early- meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Agenda: oak-park.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=...

A petition is circulating requesting an advisory referendum about eliminating single family home zoning in Oak Park: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...? The vote on whether or not to have a referendum on the issue is on the Village Board Agenda tonight (7/21).

Let Oak Park Vote

We, the undersigned residents of Oak Park ask the Village Board to please authorize a clear advisory referendum concerning the proposed elimination of Oak Park's single-family residential zoning distr...

docs.google.com

Up at the 7/21 Oak Park Village Board meeting— motion by Trustee Eder and seconded by Trustee Enyia for a policy to restrict police traffic stops related to equipment and other non-safety violations. Agenda item: oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

“Riders who violate the law by using the vehicles in inappropriate places, speeding or driving dangerously, not having proper credentials or being underage could face fines of up to $750 as Oak Park and other areas crack down…” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/16/o...

Oak Park officials move to address e-bike, e-scooter safety

The Oak Park Village Board is looking to increase education about e-bike safety as it brings local laws in line with state guidelines.

chicagotribune.com