Ald. Carrie Austin (34) speaks during a 2019 news conference [Heather Cherone/The Daily Line]

Ald. Carrie Austin (34) must return an illegal donation she received in 2018 and pay a $5,000 fine or risk facing a stiffer penalty, the Chicago Board of Ethics ruled on Monday.

However, the “probable cause for a violation” notice, approved unanimously by the mayoral-appointed board, represents a fraction of the $145,000 fine the board had voted to impose earlier this year.