Acting Chicago Animal Care and Control Executive Director Susan Cappello speaks at a city animal shelter press conference next to Mayor Brandon Johnson on Feb. 25, 2026. [Livestream]

Alderpeople on the City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations on Tuesday advanced the appointment of the mayor’s nomination to lead Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) even as multiple animal care and rescue organizations criticized conditions at the city shelter during the appointee’s tenure as the interim leader.  

But some other animal adoption and care organizations defended acting CACC Executive Director Susan Cappello, who has been with the animal control agency for over two decades and has served as the interim leader of CACC for over three years. Cappello was formally nominated by the mayor last month. 

Chicago Animal Care and Control Executive Director Susan Cappello speaks at a city animal shelter press conference next to Mayor Brandon Johnson on Feb. 25, 2026. [Livestream]

Alderpeople on the city’s health and human relations committee Tuesday will consider whether to advance the mayor’s nomination to lead Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), who has drawn some criticism over her management of the animal control agency on an interim basis. 

The committee will also consider multiple mayoral appointments to the Chicago Advisory Council on Equity, the Chicago Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ Issues and the Chicago Advisory Council on Veterans. 

The Committee on Health and Human Relations will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Ald. Anthony Beale (9) is pictured during a City Council meeting Dec. 16, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Since the Illinois Gaming Board opened its video gambling application process to eligible businesses in Chicago, almost 200 applications have been filed, according to public Illinois Gaming Board data.

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

The City Council on Wednesday will consider a measure to protect access to the ballot box to honor the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., who passed away last month.

The special council meeting, at which the memorial ordinance will be voted on, will be held March 11 at 12:30 p.m. in chambers at City Hall.

City Hall is pictured. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Chicago Department of Environment on Thursday launched a revamped energy benchmarking program for city buildings, which will include an expanded workforce and an online portal to streamline the reporting process for the affected businesses.

Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry speaks at a news conference flanked by Mayor Brandon Johnson on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The city’s law department said it would review an incident in which the department refused to give the Chicago Office of the Inspector General (OIG) access to hiring records for certain top employees but turned them over in response to a public records request when it didn’t know the OIG was behind it, according to a new advisory from the OIG.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) is pictured at a City Council meeting in January 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday approved an ordinance hiking fines for animal cruelty and voted down a measure to enhance penalties for minors that violate curfew and engage in other disruptive, destructive and illegal behavior and hold parents more accountable. 

The committee did not decide on a measure to enhance penalties for behavior that disturbs the peace where an offender conceals their identity.

A Peoples Gas truck is pictured. [Provided]

The city’s gas utility told the City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy on Tuesday that the state’s directive for the company to retire and replace aging pipeline infrastructure necessitated their latest rate hike request.

A Peoples Gas truck is pictured. [Provided]

Alderpeople on the City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy on Tuesday will hold a hearing on Peoples Gas’ rate hike request and its new program to identify and replace pipes that are most at risk of a failure.

The environment committee will meet at 11 a.m. in Room 201A at City Hall.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15), pictured at a City Council meeting in January 2025, has three ordinances before the public safety committee Tuesday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday will consider an ordinance hiking fines for animal cruelty, a measure to enhance penalties for minors that violate curfew and engage in other disruptive, destructive and illegal behavior, while seeking to also hold parents accountable, and a measure to enhance penalties for behavior that disturbs the peace where an offender conceals their identity. 

The public safety committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in council chambers.

Finance Chair Pat Dowell (3) is pictured during a City Council meeting on June 12, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Finance on Friday advanced a proposal to create a new local taxing district within the city’s busiest tourist areas to generate revenue to be reinvested in the promotion of the city’s tourism and convention industries.

City Hall is pictured. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Two rating agencies downgraded the city of Chicago’s credit this week, citing continued under-reliance on structural fiscal solutions to its budget gaps, growing pressure on city finances due to pension obligations and uncertainty from a number of unproven revenue sources passed in the City Council-driven budget plan.

Finance Chair Pat Dowell (3) is pictured during a City Council meeting on June 12, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Finance on Friday will hold a hearing and vote on a proposal to create a local taxing district to help promote the city’s tourism and convention industry.

Chicago Animal Care and Control Executive Director Susan Cappello speaks at a city animal shelter press conference next to Mayor Brandon Johnson on Feb. 25, 2026. [Livestream]

The mayor and several alderpeople traveled to Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) on Wednesday to extol the leadership and qualifications of the agency’s newly appointed director, whose selection has drawn some criticism.

Earlier this month, Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed CACC Executive Director Susan Cappello following a long tenure as the agency’s interim leader, which predated Johnson’s ascension to the fifth floor. Cappello has worked for the city for 36 years — including more than two decades with the animal control agency — and previously served as a deputy CACC director.

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg speaks to City Club of Chicago on Aug. 26, 2025. [Livestream]

As Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s tenure comes to an end in a little over a month, a committee of experts and stakeholders are evaluating candidates to fill the position.