Alds. Gilbert Villegas (36), right, and Andre Vasquez (40) are pictured at a City Council meeting on April 7, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) is calling for the city’s main electricity provider, Commonwealth Edison, to testify before the City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy to explain its rate-setting and its readiness to accommodate increased electricity demand, especially as artificial intelligence (AI), building electrification and electric vehicle ownership becomes more common.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a news conference on April 1, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The mayor and leaders from the city’s economic development, aviation and tourism arms took a victory lap Tuesday following a record-breaking number of Lollapalooza attendees last weekend. During a news conference, Mayor Brandon Johnson and other officials touted recent gains the city had seen in hotel stays, airport traffic and interest in booking large events over the next decade or so.

Former Ald. Walter Burnett (27) is pictured at a City Council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

After three decades, the tenure of Ald. William Burnett Jr. (27) came to an end last week, but not before the city’s longest-serving council member reflected on his career — pointing to things he is proud of and things he still hopes are accomplished in his ward.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle announces a $2 million grant award to the Chicago Abortion Fund Tuesday. [Livestream]

Cook County Health plans to award grant funding to an organization that provides wraparound services to people seeking abortion care. The grant funding, announced Tuesday, stems from a county budget amendment approved last fall.

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.