Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) is pictured during a City Council meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

More than a dozen alderpeople introduced a measure (R2026-0022537) during Wednesday’s City Council meeting that would make Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) the permanent chair of the powerful Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. 

Lawson has served as acting chair of the committee for about half of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term. 

A rendering of the Bally's Chicago casino is pictured.

Revenue has continued to fall beneath expectations at the temporary Bally’s casino at Medinah Temple as progress continues on the casino operator’s permanent site, the City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity learned during its annual casino hearing Thursday.

Ald. Marty Quinn (13), sponsor of the hemp restriction ordinance, is pictured during a Jan. 15, 2025 council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday approved a measure to restrict the sale of hemp products that mimic the effects of cannabis but can be bought by anyone, including kids, at many retailers. The council also approved city financial assistance for a downtown adaptive reuse project, multiple legal settlements and land sales and an appointment to the City Colleges board.

Public Safety Chair Brian Hopkins (2) is pictured at a City Council meeting in April 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople at the City Council on Wednesday deferred final approval of a measure aimed at helping police respond to and deter unruly, sometimes violent, “teen takeover” events.

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

The City Council on Wednesday could take final action on the latest attempt from Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) to allow Chicago police to declare temporary time-and-place curfews to deter “teen takeovers” and is set to consider a measure to restrict the sale of hemp products that mimic the effects of cannabis that was delayed last month. 

The council will meet at 10 a.m.

Ald. William Hall (6) is pictured during a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday did not take action on multiple items on its agenda, including a measure from Ald. William Hall (6) that’s aimed at cracking down on the planning of “teen takeovers” via social media. 

Ald. William Hall (6) is pictured during a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday could take up a revised version of an ordinance that seeks to hold social media companies accountable for leaving up posts promoting “teen trends,” large gatherings of minors and young adults that sometimes turn unruly and violent. 

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

Ald. Matt O'Shea (19), chair of the Committee on Aviation, is pictured during a City Council meeting on Oct. 19, 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Aviation on Tuesday will consider a measure hiking some fines for security procedure offenses committed at the city’s airports and establishing new violations. 

The aviation committee is set to meet at 1 p.m. in Room 201A at City Hall.

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

The city’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on Friday approved several special use and variation applications that would allow new residential developments in Bridgeport, Douglass Park and Lincoln Park.

Renderings show the proposed master plan for the Foundry Park development site. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development presentation]

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved a proposed planned development application on the Near West Side and a proposed planned development amendment to accommodate the development of a site along the north branch of the Chicago River into multiple residential and commercial uses.

The approved items must next go through the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. 

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

The Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on Friday will consider several special use and variation applications that would allow new residential developments in Bridgeport, Douglass Park and Lincoln Park. The board will meet at 9 a.m. in City Council chambers.

A rendering of the proposed adaptive reuse project at 30 N. LaSalle St. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development presentation]

The City Council Committee on Finance on Wednesday approved a measure to delay the effective date of a new tax structure for sales of alcohol for off-premise consumption, financial assistance for a downtown office conversion project and a resolution to set a hearing on the creation of a tourism improvement district.

A rendering of three of the three-flats that would be built as part of the Simeon Manor project. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate on Wednesday advanced the renewal of a parking lot use agreement with a local yacht club and multiple city land sales under the “Missing Middle” infill housing program.

A rendering of the proposed adaptive reuse project at 30 N. LaSalle St. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development presentation]

Alderpeople on the City Council Committee on Finance on Wednesday will consider a measure to delay the effective date of a new tax structure for sales of alcohol for off-premise consumption, financial assistance for a downtown office conversion project and a resolution to set a hearing on the creation of a tourism improvement district. 

The finance committee will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Housing Chair Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) is pictured at a City Council meeting on June 12, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate on Wednesday will consider the renewal of a parking lot use agreement with a local yacht club and multiple city land sales under the “Missing Middle” infill housing program and hear a presentation on the city’s strategy to combat homelessness.

The committee will meet at 12:30 p.m. in Room 201A at City Hall.