Eileen O'Neill Burke addresses supporters at Moe's Cantina in River North after winning the state's attorney election on Nov. 5, 2024. [Provided]

Eileen O’Neill Burke, the former Illinois Appellate Court justice who will be sworn in as the next Cook County State’s Attorney next month, announced three key members of her transition team on Thursday.

Ald. Samantha Nugent (39) asks Budget Director Annette Guzman questions during a budget hearing on Nov. 6, 2024. [Livestream]

As the mayor and City Council negotiate alternatives to a $300 million property tax increase to balance the city’s budget and plug a $982.4 million gap, the prospect of repurposing federal pandemic relief funds could be back on the table.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

With most of the City Council prepared to vote down Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $300 million property tax increase proposal, nearly all budget committee hearings on the mayor’s 2025 spending plan were canceled until early next week as the administration seeks alternative ways to close a nearly billion-dollar budget gap. 

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) asks interim OPSA Executive Director Frank Lindbloom questions during a budget hearing Nov. 12, 2024. [Livestream]

The Chicago Office of Public Safety Administration on Tuesday defended the size of its budget against alderpeople who argued that its promises to promulgate cost savings for the city hasn’t panned out.

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg answers question from Ethics Chair Matt Martin, 47th Ward alderperson, during budget hearings on Nov. 9, 2024. [Livestream]

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has cut three percent of its non-personnel budget and slashed three vacancies in doing its part to help close Chicago’s nearly $1 billion budget gap heading into 2025, alderpeople were told Saturday. 

Department of Buildings Comm. Marlene Hopkins answers questions from Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) about staffing cuts and vacancies on Nov. 7, 2024. [Livestream]

The mayor’s “Cut the Tape” initiative, which aims to speed up the time it takes to get residential and commercial developments completed by cutting unnecessary city bureaucratic processes, is paying off with shorter permit processing times, alderpeople were told during the Department of Buildings’ budget hearing Thursday evening.

Staff from the Chicago Department on Cultural Affairs and Special Events attend a budget hearing on Nov. 8, 2024. [Livestream]

Alderpeople questioned staff from the Department on Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) on Friday about how the department could work toward securing additional revenue for the city as most of the council searches for options to avoid a proposed property tax increase from the mayor.

The Chicago Department of Public Health presents its budget to alderpeople on Nov. 7, 2024. [Livestream]

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has a glut of pandemic-era grant dollars funding multiple programs and hundreds of positions but is still figuring out how to keep some of those programs and positions going once that funding runs out, alderpeople heard during a budget hearing Thursday.

The Committee on Budget and Government Operations holds the first round of budget hearings on Nov. 6, 2024. [Livestream]

City Council hearings on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $17.3 billion 2025 budget began Wednesday with council members hearing from the leaders of Johnson’s budget and finance team on the budgets for the mayor’s office, budget office and finance department. 

During the hours-long hearing on Wednesday, some on the council budget committee questioned the Johnson administration’s proposal to hike property taxes to avoid layoffs and a reduction in services, saying he should have considered cuts instead.

MWRD Comms. Kari Steele, Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis and commissioner-elect Sharon Waller. [MWRD website/Waller campaign site]

Three Democrats retained their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago’s Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, and a fourth Democrat is set to replace an outgoing commissioner.

People United for Action Chairman Rod Wilson speaks alongside union-endorsed school board candidates at Chicago Teachers Union headquarters on Election Night. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

In the city’s first-ever Chicago Board of Education elections, candidates backed by the powerful Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) were leading or had won in just four of the 10 races on Tuesday night. Three races were seemingly on track to be won by candidates backed by groups in support of charter school and school choice, and three more were on track to be won by candidates that were not endorsed by the competing interests in the race.

An appointed Cook County commissioner won in an unopposed election Tuesday night. A Board of Review member won reelection, and the Circuit Court of Cook County will welcome a new clerk after Tuesday’s election. 

Cook County Comm. Tara Stamps (D-1) is pictured at a county board meeting in September 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Comm. Tara Stamps (D-1) was declared the victor Tuesday night in the special election to serve out the remainder of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s unexpired County Board of Commissioners term. The Associated Press called the race for Stamps just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cook County Comm. Monica Gordon (D-5) is pictured at a September 2023 board meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Comm. Monica Gordon (D-5) has won the race for Cook County Clerk, after the Associated Press called the race Tuesday evening.

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke speaks to reporters before filing her nominating petitions in the state's attorney race last December. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke has won the race to become the next Cook County State’s Attorney after being declared the winner Tuesday evening in the race to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The Associated Press declared O’Neill Burke the victor Tuesday just before 9 p.m.

In a statement after declaring victory, O'Neill Burke said she was "honored" to take on the role.