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. 

Ald. Anthony Beale (9) speaks in opposition to the mayor's 2025 budget plan during a City Council meeting Dec. 16, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

By a slim 27-23 margin, the Chicago City Council approved a $17.1 billion budget for 2025 on Monday.

The narrow vote helped the city avoid an unprecedented government shutdown nearly two weeks before a deadline and after weeks of negotiations between the mayor and alderpeople. It concludes a budget process that already began late but sets up a potentially similar contentious fight next year, multiple council members said. 

“With this budget, we put yet another down payment toward a better, stronger and safer future for the working people and families who call this city their home,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said at a news conference following the council meeting. “While the budget process may have been different from the past, it included truly unprecedented levels of collaboration and input from the City Council.”

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), one of the sponsors of the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance, is pictured at a City Council meeting in April 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council zoning committee on Monday approved changes to the Northwest Housing Preservation Ordinance, an anti-gentrification and affordable housing protection law that offers tenants the chance to buy their building before it’s sold to a third party.

MWRD Comms. Kari Steele, Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis and commissioner-elect Sharon Waller. [MWRD website/Waller campaign site]

Three Democrats retained their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago’s Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, and a fourth Democrat is set to replace an outgoing commissioner.

People United for Action Chairman Rod Wilson speaks alongside union-endorsed school board candidates at Chicago Teachers Union headquarters on Election Night. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

In the city’s first-ever Chicago Board of Education elections, candidates backed by the powerful Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) were leading or had won in just four of the 10 races on Tuesday night. Three races were seemingly on track to be won by candidates backed by groups in support of charter school and school choice, and three more were on track to be won by candidates that were not endorsed by the competing interests in the race.

An appointed Cook County commissioner won in an unopposed election Tuesday night. A Board of Review member won reelection, and the Circuit Court of Cook County will welcome a new clerk after Tuesday’s election. 

Cook County Comm. Tara Stamps (D-1) is pictured at a county board meeting in September 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Comm. Tara Stamps (D-1) was declared the victor Tuesday night in the special election to serve out the remainder of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s unexpired County Board of Commissioners term. The Associated Press called the race for Stamps just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cook County Comm. Monica Gordon (D-5) is pictured at a September 2023 board meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Comm. Monica Gordon (D-5) has won the race for Cook County Clerk, after the Associated Press called the race Tuesday evening.

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke speaks to reporters before filing her nominating petitions in the state's attorney race last December. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke has won the race to become the next Cook County State’s Attorney after being declared the winner Tuesday evening in the race to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The Associated Press declared O’Neill Burke the victor Tuesday just before 9 p.m.

In a statement after declaring victory, O'Neill Burke said she was "honored" to take on the role.