Chicago News

  • article-image
    The flag of Cook County is pictured outside the county government building in downtown Chicago. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

    The Cook County Economic Development Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing on a substantial amendment to the 2020 Annual Action Plan during its Wednesday morning meeting, and on Thursday, the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues and County Commission on Human Rights will meet.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    The finance committee met in council chambers Monday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

    The City Council Committee on Finance on Monday approved $74 million in TIF assistance for various developments across the city.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    A rendering of the proposal for 1200-1234 W. Randolph St. [City of Chicago presentation] 

    The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards will meet for its final regularly scheduled meeting under its current chair, Ald. Tom Tunney (44), Tuesday at 10 a.m. 

    Aldermen will vote on a nearly 400-unit residential building on the Near West Side and a coffee roastery and brewery in Pullman that will employ veterans, among other proposals. 

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    The City Council’s ethics committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

    The City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight on Tuesday will hold two separate hearings on the process of publishing reports by the Office of Inspector General and on the city’s lack of a chief administrative officer.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image

    The City Council’s budget committee approved more than $12.8 million in grant allocations. The proposal to use TIF funding to help rehab the Congress Theatre could move a small step forward Tuesday.

    BUDGET COMMITTEE — The City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations during its meeting Monday approved a substitute ordinance (O2023-1387) that if approved by the City Council on Wednesday would appropriate $12.8 million in grant money within Fund No. 925 for the city’s Department of Housing, Department of Public Health and Office of Public Safety Administration. Under the ordinance, the housing department would accept $4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG program, $2 million from HUD for the South Shore Homeownership Preservation program and another $2 million from HUD for the Prairie District Affordable Housing program. The public health department would allocate $133,000 from the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation for its Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement — Behavioral Health program and another $200,000 from the National Football League Foundation for its Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement — Social Justice program. The public health department also stands to allocate $199,000 from the Illinois Department of Public Health for the Tobacco Free Communities program and nearly $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Public Health Crisis Response Program.  Additionally, the city’s Department of Family and Support Services is accepting $1.2 million from the Illinois Department on Aging for the Area Plan on Aging program. The Office of Public Safety Administration was awarded $702,000 by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the Emergency Management Assistance program. 

    CONGRESS THEATER TIF — After facing an initial delay, the ordinance (02023-1340) allocating $27 million in tax-increment financing dollars to redevelop the Congress Theater in Logan Square is set to take a step forward Tuesday. The City Council Committee on Committees and Rules will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to consider rereferring the proposal to the proper committee after Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) banished it to the rules committee in March citing concerns about whether the development would bring quality jobs, according to reporting from Block Club. The developer plans to renovate the building at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the 1st Ward as a live performance venue with affordable residential units, retail and restaurants space and office space. According to the ordinance, 14 of the proposed 16 residential units will be built to be affordable.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    Aja Favors and Andreas Safakas [City of Chicago livestream] 

    Two new nominees for the Chicago Police Board selected under a new process that begins with the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability are one step closer to officially becoming members of the board.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    A voter casts a ballot during primaries in Chicago in June 2022. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

    Turnout for Chicago’s municipal runoff broke records in several ways and included an apparent boost in young adult turnout. A clear choice between mayoral candidates and convenience in casting a ballot could be two major drivers of that.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    The finance committee will meet on Monday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

    The City Council Committee on Finance on Monday is set to consider approving nearly $74 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) assistance for various developments across the city ranging from park improvements to the building of affordable housing.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image

    Chicago’s Office of Inspector General on Friday issued a notification on its urging of the City Council to adopt procedures for aldermanic transitions. The council’s budget committee will consider allocating $4.5 million in grant funding for various city departments. And the license committee will meet to consider a proposal regarding hiring and permits for people with past convictions. 

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    DNAinfo/Casey Cora

    During Thursday’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meeting, a brief squabble emerged over a proposed ordinance (O2023-1325) from Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) that would tweak the Comiskey Park permit parking area during events.  

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    Aldermen and advocates for a municipal sidewalk plow program held a news conference in March. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

    Aldermen were initially scheduled to hold a hearing on a proposal to create a municipal sidewalk snow plowing pilot program, but the ordinance’s lead sponsor said they will wait until Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson takes office in May to move forward with the proposal. 

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    Ald. James Cappleman (46) speaks about his ordinance calling for annual reports on efforts to combat homelessness during a Thursday Health and Human Relations Committee meeting. [City Council Livestream]

    The City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations approved a measure calling for annual reports on efforts to combat homelessness and codification of a citywide task force to address gender-based violence.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    Aldermen will meet virtually Friday to vote on two police board appointments. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

    Aldermen will take an initial vote Friday on two proposed new members of the Chicago Police Board who will fill two vacancies on the board.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image
    Ald. James Cappleman (46), who is sponsoring a measure to require quarterly reports on efforts to combat homelessness, is pictured in City Council Chambers during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2023 budget address. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

    The City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations on Thursday will consider a measure to require regular reports on efforts to combat homelessness and a measure to establish a gender-based violence task force. 

    Additionally, the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will consider an extension of the boundaries for parking restrictions around the Comiskey Park area during events at Guaranteed Rate Field.

    To Read More Please Login or Join
  • article-image

    The incoming Chicago mayor has named key leaders on his transition team. And the City Council will consider a resolution to call for a hearing on increasing equity among the city’s technology vendors and Chicagoans served by city technology.

    To Read More Please Login or Join