Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gives her 2024 budget address in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday to create eligibility criteria for the recently created Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, which will assist homeowners whose property taxes have spiked in recent years by providing one-time $1,000 payments.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36), right, who sponsored the Jan. 6 hiring measure, is pictured speaking to Ald. Andre Vasquez (40), left, at a council meeting April 7, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Workforce Development on Wednesday approved a measure to bar the city from employing anyone convicted after their in the riots that sought to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

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

A worldwide association of inspectors general recently adopted two position papers that reflect proposed changes the Chicago Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has suggested to increase the independence and effectiveness of her office’s work.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos is pictured. [Provided]

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos’ office on Wednesday launched a new public data dashboard that will allow people to view case statistics dating back five years. 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) is pictured at a City Council meeting in May 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday approved new regulations for tow truck companies that operate in the city to crack down on bad actors and approved a new geographical ban on hemp-derived intoxicant sales.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a press conference after introducing his Green Social Housing ordinance on Feb. 19, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

A City Council joint committee on Wednesday will consider a proposal for the city to establish an independent nonprofit that would serve as the developer for the city’s Green Social Housing program.

Ald. Anthony Quezada (35) is pictured during a City Council meeting prior to his confirmation on April 7, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council voted to confirm the appointment of Cook County Comm. Anthony Quezada (D-8) to be the next 35th Ward alderperson at a special meeting Monday, with the young progressive succeeding former Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and allowing Mayor Brandon Johnson to maintain a likely favorable vote in that seat for the remainder of his term.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) is pictured at a City Council meeting in May 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) will ask the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday to approve new regulations for tow truck companies that operate within the city to crack down on bad actors. 

The license and consumer protection committee will also consider a proposal to ban the sale of hemp-derived intoxicants, such as delta-8 products, in the Pullman-Roseland area. 

The Harris Trust and Savings Bank building at 111 W. Monroe St. is pictured. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development presentation]

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommended approval of a landmark designation on Thursday for another downtown building that’s set to undergo adaptive reuse to transform vacant office space into housing.

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

The mayor’s office and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) are asking for public feedback on an electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure framework plan they released this week. The Chicago Moves Electric Framework Plan aims to increase the availability of EV charging infrastructure and e-mobility services like e-bikes and e-scooters and reduce emissions from vehicles on the road, according to a news release.

Cook County Comm. Anthony Quezada (D-8) is pictured at a press conference in May 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday announced the selection of Cook County Comm. Anthony Quezada (D-8) to fill the vacant 35th Ward seat on the City Council.

Department of Planning and Development Comm. Ciere Boatright speaks at a press conference about ChiBlockBuilder land sales on April 1, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The city announced Tuesday it had made more than 400 vacant parcels available for sale and redevelopment, including lots that are meant for Missing Middle housing on the Far South Side, a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) site that would be turned into mixed-income housing in Lake View and industrial lots that could become mixed-use sites in Armour Square and New City, according to the mayor’s office.

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

Despite the city not receiving a $175 million reimbursement from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for a portion of its non-teacher pension fund, the mayor and his budget team weren’t sweating the lack of those funds Tuesday.

Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman speaks at a press conference at City Hall on April 1, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The city launched new debt relief initiatives Tuesday that will allow many vehicle owners and businesses to pay off ticket debt without having to worry about late fees or other penalties.

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) asks Environment Comm. Angela Tovar questions at a budget hearing on Dec. 3, 2024. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy will meet Wednesday to hold a hearing on environmental regulation enforcement and to set up a future hearing on single-use plastics.

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