Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36), the sponsor of the enhanced cannabis offense penalty ordinance, is pictured at a City Council meeting on April 15, 2026. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday passed a measure to enhance penalties on drug dealing near schools and in parks to crack down on problematic spots in communities citywide.

A bird's eye view of the downtown Greyhound bus terminal is pictured. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The City Council’s housing committee on Wednesday will consider myriad city land sales, two designations that could pave the way for developments to secure tax breaks and the purchase of a bus terminal downtown.

The Committee on Housing and Real Estate will meet at 12:30 p.m.

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50), chair of the Committee on License and Consumer Protection, is pictured at a City Council meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday approved an ordinance reducing the number of licenses and eliminating an allowed location available for alcohol sales along Chicago’s lakefront.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2), chair of the Committee on Public Safety, is pictured at a City Council meeting on April 17, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety will hold two subject matter hearings Tuesday and take up a measure to crack down on drug dealing near schools, parks and playgrounds.

The public safety committee is set to convene for a hearing at 10 a.m. and will reconvene a meeting recessed last week at 11:30 a.m. to take up outstanding business.

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50), chair of the Committee on License and Consumer Protection, is pictured at a City Council meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday will take up measures to amend the number of liquor licenses allowed along Chicago’s lakefront and to renew a location-based ban on short-term rental housing.

The committee will meet at 12:30 p.m. in Room 201A at City Hall.

From top left, Jennifer Custer, Jessica Biggs, Victor Henderson, Hilario Dominguez and Sendhil Revuluri are running for CPS Board President. [Campaign photos]

Of the five candidates competing in the first at-large Chicago school board election, two are current members of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education, one is a former board member, one sits on the board of a local charter network and the fifth holds a key political role with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).

Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) questions members of DOB and CFD during a zoning committee hearing on single-stair apartment reforms on June 4, 2026. [Livestream]

Citing fire safety concerns, representatives from the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) and Chicago Fire Department (CFD) on Thursday threw cold water on a proposal from a North Side alderman to allow some mid-size residential buildings to have just one exit stairway, creating an uphill battle for housing advocates that support it. 

Proponents plan to continue to negotiate, as they believe the ordinance will help increase the city’s housing stock, make it easier and cheaper to build, drive down rents and incentivize larger, family-sized dwellings.

Ald. Matt Martin (47), sponsor of the single-stair reform ordinance, is pictured at a City Council meeting on April 15, 2026. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards on Thursday will hold a public hearing on a proposal from a North Side alderperson to allow some mid-size residential buildings the flexibility to only install one set of exit stairs, a policy that could make it cheaper to build housing.