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.

The City of Chicago’s Committee on Public Safety advanced a bill this month that would increase trespassing fines to between $250 and $1,000, up from between $100 and $500. The amendment to the current trespassing ordinance will now be discussed at the next full city council meeting scheduled for late September.

The ordinance, sponsored by Ald. Ronnie Mosley (21) is intended to take aim at squatters, but also can be used against those who trespass at other places. In the July 24 committee meeting, Mosley said it is aimed at someone who “is not only trespassing but is trying to conceal the fact by using forged documents or simply lying about their identity.”

Chicago alderpeople called for more aggressive action to oppose federal immigration activities in Chicago during a committee meeting Thursday, arguing the Trump administration is violating due process rights with detainments and deportations.

The upcoming selection of Zoning chair is setting up a proxy battle between the City Council’s Black and Latino caucuses, both who believe the coveted position should go to one of their members.

Mayor Brandon Johnson will be tasked with selecting his third zoning chair in August because of the departure of 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett. While the heads of the Black and Latino caucuses believe the spot should go to one of its members, vice chair Ald. Bennett Lawson, 44th, who is white, has also indicated he wants the job.

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen has announced that she will not seek a third term in 2027, opening a third spot on the County Board. Degnan, joins Commissioners Kevin Morrison and Donna Miller in deciding not to run for reelection to the board.

Chicago alderpersons weighed the benefits of legalizing video gaming terminals (VGTs) for gambling in city limits during a meeting Monday and considered other proposals for bringing in more city tax dollars.

While most of the media attention for who will replace Walter Burnett at the end of the month when the longtime 27th Ward Alderman steps down has been on his son, who he is pushing to be appointed, a longtime resident who ran against Burnett in 2019 wants Mayor Brandon Johnson to consider her for the upcoming vacancy.

The Cook County Democratic Party endorsed Lyons Township Assessor Patrick Hynes for Cook County Assessor, backing him over incumbent Democrat Fritz Kaegi and setting up a primary fight for the city’s top property tax official.

A coalition of Chicago alderpeople and advocacy groups unveiled a sweeping "Senior Tenants Bill of Rights" on Wednesday, aiming to address widespread complaints of neglect in housing for residents aged 60 and older. The ordinance (O2025-0018701), spearheaded by Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20), would impose strict new requirements on landlords and revive a standalone Department on Aging, separating it from the Department of Family and Support Services for the first time since 2011.

A proposal to legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide without requiring zoning changes was “deferred and published” during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, delaying a final vote until at least September.

A compromise ordinance (O2025-0016750) from Ald. Bennet Lawson (44) was scheduled for a vote after the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards approved the ordinance Tuesday, but opponents Ald. Marty Quinn (13) and Ald. Greg Mitchell (7) successfully moved to stall the measure.