Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) speaks during a committee hearing Thursday.

As a preview of budget discussions to come in the next few weeks, aldermen on Thursday prodded city officials on a potential new way to fill vacancies in the Chicago Police Department.

Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43) stands beside Mayor Lori Lightfoot after Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

The City Council in a split vote on Wednesday approved a controversial plan for a Chicago Fire soccer training facility to be built on land formerly occupied by public housing and delayed a vote on a proposal to allow banning of cars citywide.

Timmy Knudsen speaks during a committee meeting Tuesday.

Timmy Knudsen is set to be confirmed as Chicago’s newest alderman during Wednesday’s City Council meeting when aldermen are also set to consider a slew of additional measures approved by committees in the past month including a proposal that would allow booting of cars citywide.

Proposal for the Chicago Fire soccer facility [City of Chicago]

The City Council’s zoning committee on Tuesday blocked a controversial proposal for a Chicago Fire soccer facility on the former site of public housing, but the committee will reconvene Wednesday morning to “reconsider” the proposal, Ald. Tom Tunney (44), who chairs the committee, said Tuesday.

Aldermen during a Monday committee meeting approved funding for Grace Manor in the 24th Ward. [City of Chicago]

Aldermen on Monday approved paying $25.9 million for four settlements including a $15 million payment to the family of a woman who was killed during a police chase in 2020.

The Chicago Plan Commission last week approved plans for the Chicago Fire soccer training facility [City of Chicago]

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Building and Landmark Standards on Tuesday will consider plans for a Chicago Fire soccer training facility to be built on land formerly occupied by public housing, marking the controversial proposal’s likely last stop before a final vote in City Council.

Timmy Knudsen [Friends of Timmy Knudsen]

Timmy Knudsen could become Chicago’s newest alderman if his potential new colleagues approve his appointment during a committee meeting Tuesday.

Tobara Richardson speaks during a committee meeting.

Tobara Richardson is one step closer to becoming the city’s new deputy inspector general for public safety following approval from a key committee last week.

The City Council Committee on Public Safety approved Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s nomination (A2022-127) of Richardson and discussed vacant civilian positions within the police department being filled with sworn officers.

Aldermen are set to consider payments to settle lawsuits against the police department.

The City Council Committee on Finance is scheduled to consider paying $25.9 million for four settlements, three of which are related to the Chicago Police Department including a $15 million payment to the family of a woman who was killed during a police chase in 2020.

Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) speaks during a committee meeting Thursday.

A key committee on Thursday approved a controversial ordinance that if approved by the full City Council next week will allow private companies to boot cars in parking lots citywide.

Aldermen during a meeting of the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted 12-6 to approve the proposal (O2022-1217) from Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) to expand the legalization of car booting to the entire city.

The Chicago Plan Commission approved plans for the Chicago Fire men’s soccer team to build a training facility on a former site of the ABLA Homes.

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday gave its OK to a proposal for the Chicago Fire men’s soccer team to build a training facility on the former site of ABLA Homes public housing development.

Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29) chairs the public safety committee.

The City Council Committee on Public Safety will consider the appointment of a new deputy inspector general for public safety and a measure that takes a closer look at sworn police officers filling civilian roles in the police department.

A key City Council committee on Wednesday approved more than $9.5 million in new grant allocations, the biggest of which will help fund a Department of Family Support Services’ program that helps aging Chicagoans.

A rendering for the Chicago Fire soccer training facility [City of Chicago]

The Chicago Plan Commission during its monthly meeting Thursday will consider plans for a controversial Chicago Fire soccer training facility proposed for a vacant site of a former public housing development.

A CTA Red Line train passes through the 79th Street station on Aug. 9, 2022. (Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago)

CTA leaders are working to hire more staff and change outdated bus and train schedules to respond to complaints about unreliable service. “I do not want the solution to be, ‘Well, then let's just cut our service’,” Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) said.

CHICAGO — Aldermen grilled CTA leaders during a City Council hearing Wednesday as complaints mount about unreliable service on the city’s public transportation system.

The hearing before the council’s transportation committee comes as riders increasingly report ghost trains and buses, less service on their routes, security concerns and other problems on public transit.