Renderings show The 78 project featuring the Chicago Fire Football Club stadium. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved updated plans for a massive new stadium development in the South Loop and a new office-to-residential conversion downtown.

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

A group of two dozen business, nonprofit and civic leaders unveiled their preliminary recommendations Tuesday to address the city’s $1.2 billion estimated budget gap for 2026, which include both ideas to raise new revenue and cut spending.

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

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday narrowly advanced an ordinance to legalize video gambling in Chicago, a measure that, if approved by the City Council later this month, would allow many establishments with liquor licenses to add virtual poker, blackjack, slots and similar machines, although the proposal currently excludes taverns from participating. 

While some members called on the committee to wait another month to allow the city more time to prepare for implementation, proponents said the city has talked about legalization for years without any action. The committee voted 8-6 to advance a substitute version of Ald. Anthony Beale’s (9) proposal to establish a local licensing and regulatory structure for video gaming. 

From left, renderings of the 135 S. LaSalle St. and 105 W. Adams St. office-to-residential conversion projects. [Department of Planning and Development]

The City Council Committee on Finance on Monday approved a landmark $90 million settlement to resolve 176 lawsuits filed against the city tied to a disgraced ex-police sergeant and two massive tax increment financing (TIF) allocations to LaSalle Street Reimagined projects.

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

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday will consider an ordinance that would establish a local licensing and regulation structure for video gaming terminals, allowing the city to opt in to the state Video Gaming Act.

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

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 Monday will consider measures to allocate millions of dollars in tax increment financing (TIF) funds for two adaptive reuse projects downtown and to settle scores of police misconduct cases in a single, massive legal settlement. The committee will also hold a subject matter hearing on city pensions. 

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

The seal of the Cook County Forest Preserve District is pictured. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday referred an appointment to the district’s Conservation and Policy Council to a committee and approved other items, such as a habitat restoration grant and a new contract for energy delivery consultation.

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 Council Committee on Finance next week will consider approval of a “landmark” $90 million global legal settlement to close 176 federal police misconduct lawsuits against the city as a result of the conduct of disgraced former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts and other Chicago Police officers that were part of Watts’ tactical team. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry announced the proposed settlement, the first of its kind, Thursday morning.  

If approved by the full City Council, the corporation counsel said it would reduce the city’s long-term legal liability by hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Acting OPSA Executive Director Era Patterson, left, addresses the Committee on Police and Fire on Sept. 5, 2025. [Livestream]

On the second day of mid-year budget hearings at City Hall, alderpeople heard from several of the city’s public safety agencies. The Office of Public Safety Administration (OPSA) was among those that presented, and alderpeople got an update about an audit into the office’s medical leave division.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) is pictured at a City Council meeting in December 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Downtown Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) is running to unseat longtime Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in next year’s Democratic Party primary, he announced Wednesday. 

Ald. Jason Ervin (28), the budget committee chair, is pictured at a City Council meeting in April 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

As the city stares down a projected $1.1 billion budget gap in 2026 and a projected end-of-year deficit, the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Tuesday kicked off a two-week period of mid-year budget hearings, during which alderpeople will get the chance to ask the city’s finance leaders and department heads about how the city’s actual spending and revenue compares to what was projected at the outset of the year.

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

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s Office on Monday highlighted the release of an independent study showing an estimated $1.9 billion in savings to homeowners during the assessor’s tenure compared to his predecessor.

The seal of the Cook County Forest Preserve District is pictured. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will consider an appointment to the council that advises the district on conservation policy, a new contract for energy delivery consultation and the purchase of new equipment for the district’s police.

The board is set to meet no earlier than 10 a.m. at the Brookfield Zoo, and the board meeting will commence after the preceding Forest Preserves’ committee meetings.

Acting OPSA Executive Director Era Patterson, left, addresses the Committee on Police and Fire on Sept. 5, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Friday approved the mayor’s appointment to head the Office of Public Safety Administration (OPSA), sending the final confirmation to the full council later this month.

Cat Sharp is running for Cook County Board in District 12. [Provided by Cat Sharp's campaign]

Cat Sharp, who currently serves as Ald. Andre Vasquez’s (40) chief of staff, is seeking the Democratic nomination to vie for the open District 12 seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners next fall.