Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36), who chairs the City Council Latino Caucus, outlined the caucus' 2022 budget priorities.

Leaders of the City Council Latino Caucus will push for a majority of the $1.9 billion in federal stimulus dollars to go to residents and businesses instead of using the windfall to pay off the city’s debt, according to caucus leadership. 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Ald. Jason Ervin (28) cut the ribbon on a new roller rink in West Garfield Park as part of an initiative to fight crime with youth activities and economic development.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago police leaders hosted a ribbon-cutting event on Friday for a new publicly backed roller rink in West Garfield Park, spotlighting a novel strategy they hope to use to wrest control of the highest-crime corridors in the city.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference on Thursday.

A multi-agency approach similar to how the city has addressed the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to help stem community violence, city officials announced on Thursday. 

The Chicago Landmark Commission gave unanimous approval to designating Blues musician Muddy Waters’ home as a Chicago Landmark. Mayor Lori Lightfoot challenges Ald. Gilbert Villegas’ (36) critique that city leadership lacks in Latino representation. 

Muddy Waters’ one-time home at 4339 S. Lake Park Ave. (Maxwell Evans | Block Club Chicago)

The Chicago Landmark Commission on Thursday is primed to approve landmarking Blues legend Muddy Waters’ home in Bronzeville. 

Inspector General Joseph Ferguson speaks at City Hall.

The city’s transportation department has failed to ensure records are accurate and complete in its billing system for commercial driveway permit fees, resulting in an annual revenue loss up to $1.5 million, a follow-up report from the city’s inspector general found. 

Chicago Public Health Comm. Allison Arwady speaks during a Tuesday news conference.

As other major cities are mandating vaccinations for city employees and people dining indoors or using gyms, the city’s public health commissioner said Chicago is not mandating indoor restaurants and gym patrons be vaccinated.

Advisory councils on bicycles and pedestrians haven’t met since the pandemic began. 

It has been more than one year since advisory councils meant to help steer the city’s discussion and decision making on bike and pedestrian issues last met. 

Malcolm Whiteside, the city’s deputy commissioner of forestry, and Cook County Board Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) discuss Chicago’s tree canopy [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Chicago’s new Urban Forestry Advisory Board could be the “answer to everything” for the leader of the city’s forestry bureau as he tries to grow Chicago’s tree canopy, he said.

City planning officials hope to sell this 26-space parking lot at 3840 N. Lincoln Ave. to a private developer. [The Daily Line/Alex Nitkin]

City planning and budget officials are hoping to raise at least $10 million by selling off a crop of city-owned parking lots in Lakeview, North Center, Lincoln Square and Portage Park to private developers.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners held its first all-in-person meeting of 2021 on Thursday. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ office isn’t moving fast enough to accommodate a surge of women seeking legal protection from their domestic abusers, multiple county commissioners said during a meeting on Thursday.

A report published by Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson found the Department of Streets and Sanitation has yet to implement actions to fix its weed-cutting program. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said an announcement on mandatory vaccinations for city employees is coming “shortly.” And Lightfoot cautioned against a new ward map drawn in a “backroom deal.” 

Aldermen are tasked with redrawing boundaries for the city’s 50 wards.

August marks the City Council’s annual summer break from official business, but aldermen have little time to rest this year. In addition to focusing on work in their wards, council members are gearing up to redraw boundaries of the city’s 50 wards. 

Cook County Comm. Larry Suffredin (D-13) speaking during a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee on Wednesday

The Cook County Board of Commissioners is poised on Thursday to delay the next property tax deadline until October and approve a framework for spending the county’s first round of American Rescue Plan dollars, among dozens of other measures, during the board’s last scheduled meeting until September.

From left: Chicago Police Officer Bob Long, Deputy Chief Thomas Mills and Cmdr. Sean Loughran speak during a virtual committee hearing on Tuesday.

Chicago Police Department leaders pledged Tuesday to push forward with a long-promised overhaul of its controversial gang member database but defended sticking with their existing system in the meantime, even as they faced a barrage of criticism from aldermen and advocates over its inaccuracy and disorganization.