Former Ald. Walter Burnett (27) is pictured at a City Council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Mayor Brandon Johnson defended the change in one specific qualification standard for applicants to fill former 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett, Jr.’s seat on the City Council — a change that has been criticized as seeming to pave the way for Burnett’s son, Red Burnett, to be picked for the job.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is pictured at a City Council meeting on Dec. 16, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) released its proposed 2026 budget on Wednesday, which includes a plan to only reimburse the city for a pension payment the city makes on the district’s behalf to cover non-teacher staff if the state provides additional funding to CPS or if additional funding comes through by other means, such as the city’s declaration of a tax increment financing surplus.

Chicago Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski and Budget Director Annette Guzman speak with City Club CEO Dan Gibbons Tuesday. [Livestream]

The heads of the city’s budget and finance teams made the case for a more progressive tax system and other tax reforms as the means of alleviating the city’s ever-present budget gap.

José “Che-Che” Wilson is running for the Cook County Board of Commissioners in District 12. [Provided photo]

An advocate for LGBTQ rights and health access has entered the open race to succeed an outgoing member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

The Chicago Police Department emblem is pictured on the side of the Public Safety Headquarters in Chicago. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Illinois Appellate Court on Friday sided with the city in ruling that police arbitration proceedings be open to the public, a decision that, if upheld, the police board president said could lead to greater transparency when it comes to disciplinary decision-making.

However, the police union could appeal the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court, meaning the fight may not be over.

Alds. Gilbert Villegas (36), right, and Andre Vasquez (40) are pictured at a City Council meeting on April 7, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) is calling for the city’s main electricity provider, Commonwealth Edison, to testify before the City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy to explain its rate-setting and its readiness to accommodate increased electricity demand, especially as artificial intelligence (AI), building electrification and electric vehicle ownership becomes more common.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a news conference on April 1, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The mayor and leaders from the city’s economic development, aviation and tourism arms took a victory lap Tuesday following a record-breaking number of Lollapalooza attendees last weekend. During a news conference, Mayor Brandon Johnson and other officials touted recent gains the city had seen in hotel stays, airport traffic and interest in booking large events over the next decade or so.

Former Ald. Walter Burnett (27) is pictured at a City Council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

After three decades, the tenure of Ald. William Burnett Jr. (27) came to an end last week, but not before the city’s longest-serving council member reflected on his career — pointing to things he is proud of and things he still hopes are accomplished in his ward.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle announces a $2 million grant award to the Chicago Abortion Fund Tuesday. [Livestream]

Cook County Health plans to award grant funding to an organization that provides wraparound services to people seeking abortion care. The grant funding, announced Tuesday, stems from a county budget amendment approved last fall.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a press conference at the South Shore Cultural Center Monday morning. [Livestream]

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) on Monday announced an expansion of the Sustainable Community Schools program, with 16 new schools set to participate in the model, which seeks to nourish both students’ academic and non-academic needs by including wraparound services alongside a traditional school experienced through community-based organizational partnerships.

Chicago's skyline is pictured in this file photo.

Chicago has reduced the carbon emissions from large buildings by nearly 40 percent in less than a decade, according to a new report released Friday.

The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Health and Human Relations, passed two resolutions urging U.S. Congress to take action and touched on the impact of federal cuts on social services in its meeting on Thursday.

The City of Chicago has collected more revenue than expected, and cost cutting measures have driven spending down in 2025, according to a mid-year budget report Mayor Brandon Johnson released Wednesday.

The Chicago City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way called on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to crack down on smoking on public transportation in a meeting Wednesday.

City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado told the Chicago Committee on Education and Child Development Monday that despite losing some federal funding, the school system is healthy. 

However, the school system did plead for help with some things at the meeting on Monday.