Inside the race to succeed Chuy Garcia, and only Latino-majority congressional district in the Midwest:

@JakeSheridan_ has you covered (while also juggling another budget and mayoral race!!)

chicagotribune.com/2026/10/22/ill…

Chief budgeteers of last yr’s rebellion against Johnson again gave a big thumbs down to (revamped) head tax. But the coalition did not seem eager to debut a counterproposal anytime soon.

Got any X-mas plans?

Full story with @JakeSheridan_ and @ad_quig: chicagotribune.com/2026/10/21/may…

Updated story one the mayor’s budget proposal, including the chaotic scene at City Hall today as some alders learned of the budget on their phones reading news reports while in official budget briefings.

“Because the program announced Tuesday is a pilot, the vendors do not need to go through the city’s competitive bidding process”
chicagotribune.com/2026/10/20/chi…

NEW: We have the key details about Mayor Brandon Johnson's Chicago budget proposal.

Another corporate head tax, with rebates in poorer areas. Borrowing $480 million to pay for police lawsuits. A PPLT tax hike to net $234 million. More in @chicagotribune: chicagotribune.com/2026/10/20/may…

Two massive SEIU chapters that were key in getting Brandon Johnson elected mayor are breaking away this time.

They are endorsing Alexi Giannoulias for Chicago mayor in one of the most important endorsements yet. From @byaliceyin & @talia_soglin: chicagotribune.com/2026/10/20/sei…

It’s an honor to be recognized as the Chicago Journalists Association Journalist of the Year, particularly after the past year.

I am blessed to work with an outstanding team @chicagotribune

Looking forward to the ceremony where we will honor so many more outstanding journalists

My latest: Chicago immigrant detainees write letters to Pope Leo as clergy prepare to visit him in Rome.

The handwriting is messy, the spelling faulty. Some cried as they wrote. Others were so excited that they struggled with what to say. Some did not know how to write at all, only a few words are legible.

But, still, the messages are all the same.

“Today they detained me, and I’ve been here for hours. I’m not afraid of what will happen to me; I’m afraid of not being with my family,” one immigrant detained at the Broadview processing center wrote to Pope Leo.

Read the full story : chicagotribune.com/2026/10/12/chi…

Johnson calls again for taxes on big corporations @JakeSheridan_ chicagotribune.com/2026/10/13/may…

"The Tamale Guy" delivered tonight's game ball in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Night!

NEW: The mayor hasn't said why he's asking for an eye-popping $401 million for police misconduct cases next year
But it seems the city has made a deal to resolve dozens of lawsuits in one of the biggest cop scandals in Chicago history
w/@JakeSheridan_
chicagotribune.com/2026/09/18/gue…

NEW: We uncovered the apparent driver of the $401 million Mayor Brandon Johnson budgeted for lawsuits.

Court records revealed Chicago reached a global settlement on police misconduct lawsuits involving disgraced CPD Det. Reynaldo Guevara. W/ @jmetr22b:
chicagotribune.com/2026/09/18/gue…

It's official: Mayor Brandon Johnson is running for a second term as Chicago's mayor.

An early test for Mayor Brandon Johnson's new push to resist data centers.

Johnson's administration nixing possibility of a data center at the Ford City Mall. The developer hoping to build on the blighted West Lawn land already added plans for a public plaza and bus stop.

I remember asking assistant coach Mo Cheeks, what’s harder to do? Workout after practice or before?? I only asked cuz by time I would get to the gym, Russ was already done in the morning and I usually got mine in after practice. Mo like, “coming in before practice is probably harder”…since then, it’s been my routine….a lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical. He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom. It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up. For 18 years. This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on…keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. I don’t care what happens, can’t erase what it was…The first YNs, finals run in our early 20s, all star games, seeing each other get injured and bounce back, the bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments, the whole thing, memorable!! …to the whole Westbrook family, Nina, the kids, mama Westbrook, big Russ, Ray, Donnell, everybody from luezinger high and ucla and many more that I’m forgettin, much love and Congratulations on a iconic career.

Oh guess that means it's time for the Air & Water Show again

TERRIFIC REPORTING: As Chicago's mayoral race takes shape, social media influencers step in — including for Brandon Johnson @chicagotribune @JakeSheridan_ chicagotribune.com/2026/08/10/chi…

The metadata in the Johnson-opposed aldermen’s ordinance — their official proposal, not a press release — lists One Future Illinois as “creator.”

One Future is a nonprofit & PAC.

I learned they compiled the policy with aldermen — what does that say about Chicago City Hall? 1/8

There’s no doubt for anyone working at City Hall that groups like One Future and Common Ground Collective are playing a key role with the aldermen opposed to the mayor.

They have helped organize aldermen, many already opposed to the mayor, against him with moves like this. 7/8

So, the takeaways:

1) Aldermen don’t have critical resources they need to craft legislation

2) Nonprofit/PAC groups with ties to big business have filled in and helped shaped legislation opposing the mayor in a way that’s sometimes not clear 8/8