Michael McDevitt

Michael McDevitt, a native Bostonian, is returning to Chicago where he first attended Loyola University to join The Daily Line as a reporter covering City Hall and Cook County. Michael, 26, spent the last three years reporting on city hall and county government in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the state's second largest city, for the USA Today Network. He bills himself "a municipal government nerd" and expects to apply the skills he developed there to his new job.

While a Loyola student, Michael worked for the award-winning student newspaper, The Loyola Phoenix, as a reporter and graduating in the role of managing editor. Michael has interned with CBS Chicago’s investigative team and reported stories for the Sun-Times as an intern and freelancer. When Michael’s not sitting in a committee meeting, catch him rewatching “Better Call Saul,” playing with his cat, listening to a podcast while at the gym or trying a new coffee shop or craft brewery.

Bio

I Tweet, Therefore I Am. Covering Chicago & Cook County government for @thedailylinechi. | he/him | Bylines: @CrucesSunNews @USATODAY @Suntimes @PhoenixLUC.
OCT 18, 2022
Public Health Comm. Allison Arwady speaks before the City Council budget committee Monday. [City Council Livestream]

The City Council questioned the city’s health department about its mental health crisis response pilot program during a Committee on Budget and Government Operations hearing Monday.

One year into the launch of the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program, aldermen pressed Public Health Comm. Allison Arwady to expand the services citywide and said the department is too slow in its work to scale up the program. At the same time, Arwady expressed concern over securing more permanent funding sources for when grant funds run out in the future.

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Aldermen press Arwady on health department grant reliance, expansion of mental health crisis response pilot

Public Health Comm. Allison Arwady speaks before the City Council budget committee Monday. [City ...
OCT 17, 2022
Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. Cole Stallard speaks to the City Council budget committee on Friday. [City Council Livestream]

Aldermen pressed Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. Cole Stallard and staff on continuing to improve tree maintenance efforts during a late Friday hearing before the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

Under Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed 2023 budget, the Streets and Sanitation budget is set to rise to more than $310.6 million next year from more than $308 million in 2022. The department is responsible for tree maintenance, street cleaning, garbage collection, graffiti removal, towing and rodent control.

In 2023, the department’s number of full-time equivalent positions is proposed to rise to 2,258 from 2,234, according to budget documents.

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Streets and Sanitation still working to end tree trimming ‘nightmare’ as injuries cause delays: commissioner

Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. Cole Stallard speaks to the City Council budge...
OCT 14, 2022
Nolan Downey speaks before the Cook County Finance Committee’s public hearing on the 2023 budget Thursday. [Cook County Government Livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee convened for two public hearings Thursday on Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s proposed 2023 spending plan.

During the first hearing Thursday morning, funding to support health care access and equity and the county’s guaranteed basic income pilot program were two dominant topics among public speakers.

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Cook County health care budget, guaranteed income pilot net praise during Thursday budget hearing

Nolan Downey speaks before the Cook County Finance Committee’s public hearing on the 2023 budget ...
OCT 13, 2022
Department of Procurement Services staff speak before the City Council budget committee on Wednesday. [City Council Livestream]

The city’s Department of Procurement Services faced questions from aldermen on the City Council budget committee Wednesday, with a focus on boosting the number of minority groups awarded city contracts. Chief Procurement Officer Aileen Velazquez was joined by staff for the hearing before the Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

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Aldermen grill procurement department on contract equity for minority- and women-owned businesses

Department of Procurement Services staff speak before the City Council budget committee on Wednes...
OCT 12, 2022
CCPSA Executive Director Adam Gross and Commission President Anthony Driver speak before the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Tuesday. [City Council Livestream]

Members of the City Council questioned leaders of the city’s first-of-its-kind civilian police oversight commission Tuesday on their budget, staffing and scope of work during a three-hour hearing before the Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

While the commission’s executive director said he expects the commission’s workforce to grow in the years ahead, he couldn’t give an exact estimate of the future staffing needs and said more would become clear after the fledgling commission operates for a year.

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Civilian police oversight commission leaders defend budget requests as staff vacancies persist

CCPSA Executive Director Adam Gross and Commission President Anthony Driver speak before the City...
OCT 11, 2022
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presents her proposal for the 2023 Forest Preserve District of Cook County budget during an address Friday. [Forest Preserve District Board livestream]

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced a $140.7 million proposed budget for the Cook County Forest Preserve District during a Friday address before the board of commissioners, and though she spoke fondly about the programs undertaken by the district, she urged voters to pass a tax hike at the polls this November to address “chronic fiscal issues.”

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Preckwinkle lays out Forest Preserve District budget, calls for yes vote on property tax levy hike

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presents her proposal for the 2023 Forest Preserve D...
OCT 07, 2022
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gives her 2023 budget address during a special board of commissioners meeting on Thursday. [Cook County Board of Commissioners Livestream]

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presented her proposed 2023 spending plan in a speech before the county board of commissioners Thursday morning, touting the $8.75 billion budget as a bold investment in addressing economic insecurity and the root causes of violence.

Preckwinkle noted the spending plan has been bolstered by a federal injection of pandemic relief dollars, which will allow the county to launch an array of new programs, including a basic income pilot the board president announced she intends to make permanent.

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Preckwinkle unveils $8.75B proposed budget with no new taxes

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gives her 2023 budget address during a special board...
OCT 06, 2022
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Democratic candidates speak at a Cook County Democratic Party news conference and voting event in Kenwood in June 2022 [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is set on Thursday to unveil her $8.75 billion proposed budget for the 2023 fiscal year — a plan she said spends millions on equity programs and pandemic relief without raising taxes or eliminating crucial services.

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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to unveil $8.75B proposed budget Thursday

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Democratic candidates speak at a Cook County Dem...
OCT 05, 2022

Cook County is reminding residents that applications will open this week for its guaranteed income pilot program. The City of Chicago has won its sixth straight award from a major travel magazine.

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News in Brief: Cook County guaranteed income pilot to start taking applications; Chicago nabs sixth straight ‘best big city’ title

Cook County is reminding residents that applications will open this week for its guaranteed incom...
OCT 04, 2022
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pictured on the city council floor on Monday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Mayor Lori Lightfoot used her budget address Monday to announce plans to establish an executive office dedicated to overseeing the city’s climate and environmental policies. But the announcement seems to fall short of a promise the mayor made during her first campaign.

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Mayor announces new climate and environmental equity office during annual budget address

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pictured on the city council floor on Monday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line...
OCT 03, 2022
Frank Chapman speaks during a news conference on Aug. 30, 2022 [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Longtime local advocates for police reform recognized Thursday as a “historic” moment as the city’s civilian police oversight commission met for the first time and elected a president and vice president, set its meeting schedule and announced an upcoming special meeting focused on the Chicago Police Department budget.

But some still urged the new commission to ensure it has an adequate budget and proper staffing level as it begins its work.

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Civilian police oversight commission elects president, VP as local activists note ‘historic’ moment

Frank Chapman speaks during a news conference on Aug. 30, 2022 [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] Long...
SEP 30, 2022
Cook County Comm. Donna Miller (D-6) speaks about a proposal to reduce property taxes for supermarkets which open in underserved areas during a board meeting Sept. 22, 2022. [Cook County Board of Commissioners Livestream]

A proposed property tax incentive class would attract and retain grocery stores in areas of Cook County that lack sufficient access to healthy food.

The Business and Economic Development Committee could take up the proposed ordinance as soon as its Oct. 19 meeting. If approved by the committee, it would still need the approval of the full Cook County Board of Commissioners. The item was referred to the committee during the Sept. 22 board meeting.

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Cook County proposal would create tax incentives for supermarkets in food deserts

Cook County Comm. Donna Miller (D-6) speaks about a proposal to reduce property taxes for superma...
SEP 29, 2022
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference Aug. 29, 2022. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

The civilian commission tasked with oversight of the Chicago Police Department will hold its first meeting Thursday.

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Inaugural meeting of civilian police oversight board slated for Thursday

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference Aug. 29, 2022. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]...

Bio

I Tweet, Therefore I Am. Covering Chicago & Cook County government for @thedailylinechi. | he/him | Bylines: @CrucesSunNews @USATODAY @Suntimes @PhoenixLUC.