Ald. Scott Waguespack (32), left, speaks with former Ald. Joe Moore before a City Council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

An ordinance introduced last week would disallow the city’s mayor and a slew of other appointed executive-level officials from holding dual employment with any of Chicago’s sister agencies. The proposal, sponsored by Ald. Scott Waguespack (32), was put forth in response to the news Mayor Brandon Johnson remains on leave from Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where he used to teach.

Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de Leon is pictured at a press conference Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

With President-elect Donald Trump taking office Monday afternoon and the City Council choosing not to make proposed changes to Chicago’s sanctuary city law last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson and city officials have laid out how the city will respond to federal immigration enforcement actions within city limits.

Frank Calabrese, left, sued Comm. Samantha Steele for wrongful termination. [Provided]

A former Cook County Board of Review employee will receive $180,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit he filed alleging he was retaliated against for refusing to obey “unethical and unlawful” directives from Comm. Samantha Steele (D-2). The settlement agreement was approved by the Cook County Board of Commissioners Thursday.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) attends a City Council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday delayed a vote on lowering the city’s default speed limit and tabled a vote on an ordinance to allow Chicago Police to inform federal immigration authorities of undocumented immigrants who are accused of committing serious crimes.

Ald. Bill Conway (34) attends a council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

A downtown Chicago alderperson introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would give the City Council oversight over the mayor’s appointments to the Chicago Board of Education similar to the confirmation processes for other mayoral appointments.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) is pictured at a council meeting on Dec. 16, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople at Wednesday’s City Council meeting are set to consider final votes on a package of proposals to lower the city’s default speed limit and examine more equitable enforcement of speeding and traffic laws. Two alderpeople also plan to call a vote on a measure to allow Chicago Police to work with federal immigration officials in criminal matters. The City Council meets at 10 a.m.

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 approved four appointments to the Chicago Police Board Tuesday. The committee had been slated to meet last week to vote on the appointees, but the meeting was rescheduled after a lack of a quorum.

Mayor Brandon Johnson delivers his 2025 budget address on Oct. 30, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Even before approving a budget that swapped a $300 million property tax hike proposal for a slew of fee, tax and fine hikes, along with spending reductions and efficiencies, Mayor Brandon Johnson has reiterated that progressive revenue sources are needed to keep Chicago financially stable to avoid squeezing working class residents.

A picture of the current state of the Lathrop Homes complex shown to finance committee members Jan. 13, 2025. [Finance Committee Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Finance on Monday approved multiple multimillion-dollar legal settlement proposals in police misconduct cases, the proposed expansion of a tax increment financing (TIF) district and fee waivers for a South Loop hotel renovation.

A rendering of the development proposed for 2222 S. Michigan Ave. is displayed during a zoning committee meeting Jan. 9, 2025. [Livestream]

While revenue generated for the city government by the temporary Bally’s casino has been below expectations, city officials believe the permanent casino is still a good bet, the City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity learned on Friday during its annual hearing on Chicago casino compliance reporting.

Finance Chair Pat Dowell 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 multiple multimillion-dollar legal settlement proposals in police misconduct cases and the proposed expansion of a tax increment financing (TIF) district. The finance committee meets at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

A rendering of the development proposed for 2222 S. Michigan Ave. is displayed during a zoning committee meeting Jan. 9, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards on Thursday approved new land use allowances for the Elston Corridor, a rezoning for a Motor Row District property owned by a former Chicago Bears player that is planned to become a mixed-use development. The committee also approved multiple other zone change and variation requests to accommodate new developments. 

Renderings of Bally's Chicago casino project. [Photo credit: Bally's]

The City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity on Friday will hold its annual hearing on Chicago casino compliance reporting.

Zoning Chair Walter Burnett, Jr. is pictured at a council meeting Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards will meet Thursday and consider proposed changes to the powers of the city zoning administrator, new land use allowances for the Elston Corridor and multiple zone change and variation requests to accommodate new developments. The zoning committee will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Ald. Marty Quinn (13) speaks during a license committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection approved on Tuesday an ordinance (SO2024-0014443) from Alds. Marty Quinn (13) and Silvana Tabares (23) to ban the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived products, such as those containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids that give the user a high, in the 13th and 23rd wards.

The measure also would prohibit the establishment of new smoke shops in those wards and ban the renewal of existing retail tobacco licenses there.