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

Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry on Tuesday defended her department against recent allegations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that the law department routinely interferes in investigations that could be politically harmful to top city officials.

Ald. Michelle Harris (8), chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules, is pictured during a City Council meeting Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council rules committee on Tuesday re-referred ordinances to various committees, including an ordinance to implement the city’s Plow the Sidewalks pilot effort, a measure to remove economic disclosure requirements in specific cases, two hemp-related ordinances and a measure to allow the city to set up a new nonprofit housing development corporation.

Ald. Michelle Harris (8), chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules, is pictured during a City Council meeting Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council rules committee on Tuesday will consider moving forward on an ordinance to implement the city’s Plow the Sidewalks pilot effort, a measure to remove economic disclosure requirements in specific cases, two hemp-related ordinances and a measure to allow the city to set up a new nonprofit housing development corporation.

The Committee on Committees and Rules will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Ethics Committee Chair Matt Martin is pictured during a council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

A proposal from the City Council’s ethics committee chair was stalled by a mayoral ally after it was introduced at last week’s council meeting.

A proposed apartment tower in Lincoln Park was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission Thursday. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved a precursor to an upzoning of a portion of Broadway in Edgewater and Uptown, a large mixed-use apartment building in Lincoln Park and a corridor plan for a portion of 95th Street.

Ald. Anthony Beale (9) speaks at a City Council meeting Feb. 19, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Members of the City Council on Wednesday debated whether to keep a rule that has allowed members to participate in council and committee business and vote virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

Ultimately, the sponsor of the measure to remove the remote participation rule postponed a vote on it after promises from colleagues to work on a compromise to crack down on abuse of the rule.

From left, Alds. Bennett Lawson (44) and Bill Conway (34) attend a council meeting on Feb. 19, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday delayed the approval of an $830 million bond authorization to pay for various infrastructure improvements but voted down a reduction to Chicago’s default speed limit.

A proposed apartment tower in Lincoln Park will go before the Chicago Plan Commission Thursday. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The Chicago Plan Commission will meet Thursday to consider a plan to upzone a portion of Broadway in Edgewater and Uptown, a large mixed-use building in Lincoln Park and a corridor plan for a portion of 95th Street.

The plan commission will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) speaks with Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) during a council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday is set to consider a measure to reduce the default speed limit, a multimillion-dollar bond authorization and mayoral appointments to police oversight bodies.  

The council will meet at 10 a.m.

Renderings of the 1901 Project show an elevated pedestrian plaza and park space outside the United Center. [RIOS]

The multi-billion-dollar mixed-use project proposed for the area surrounding the United Center will head to the City Council for final approval Wednesday after being approved by the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards Tuesday. 

The zoning committee on Tuesday also approved a new performing arts campus in Uptown, a statutory change to allow for commercial-to-residential conversions and several mixed-use projects.

The vacant CFD station at 6411 S. Central Ave. in the 13th Ward. [Google Street View]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate briefly reconvened Tuesday to approve a land sale that did not get consideration at last week’s meeting.

Renderings of the 1901 Project show an elevated pedestrian plaza and park space outside the United Center. [RIOS]

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. and consider approval of the multi-billion-dollar mixed-use project proposed for the United Center area, a performing arts campus in Uptown and multiple mixed-use developments.

Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29), chair of the police and fire committee, is pictured. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Tuesday will consider appointments to fill vacancies on three of the city’s Police District Councils and new contracting powers for the fire commissioner.

The committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 201A of City Hall.

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

Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s office sent a scathing memo to the City Council ethics committee last week in which it recommended code changes meant to cease what the inspector described as obstructionist actions by the city’s law department to hinder investigations of the mayor and other top city officials.

County Assessor Fritz Kaegi speaks at a press conference on Jan. 29, 2025. [Livestream]

Twin pieces of legislation to help homeowners that have experienced significant spikes in their property tax bills were filed in the state House and Senate last week. The legislation is backed by the Cook County assessor.