Union Hill, IL Municipal and More

Democrats flip final Cook County Board seat

When Sean Morrison leaves the Cook County Board next month, so will any Republican voice on the government body. Cook County Democrats flipped his 17th District seat, which has been Republican since it came into existence in 1994. Only three Republicans – Herb Schumann, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and Morrison – have served the district over its 22 years.

Cook County, IL · 1d

hoodline.com

partner publisher · 14.7K followers

120-Year-Old Lake View Greystone Gives Way to Three-Flat on Janssen Avenue

A 120-year-old greystone at 3423 North Janssen Avenue in Lake View is set to come down, with the city issuing a permit to replace it with a new three-flat residence. The building, located in the Southport Corridor, will rise three stories plus a basement and include decks on nearly every level, along with a detached three-car garage topped by its own rooftop deck.

Chicago, IL · 11h

History Snob

Chicago Couldn't Move The Bean, but It Once Lifted an Entire City Block

Chicago has never been a city that shies away from unusual ideas, but its latest attempt to move a major landmark didn't exactly go according to plan. On November 8, 2026, hundreds of people gathered in Millennium Park to push the city's famous Bean sculpture seven inches to the left. Despite their enthusiasm, the 110-ton stainless steel structure didn't budge. The event was inspired by an internet conspiracy theory claiming someone was trapped inside the sculpture, but it also brought attention to a fascinating piece of Chicago history. More than 160 years earlier, engineers successfully lifted an entire row of enormous buildings several feet into the air. Unlike the recent gathering, this extraordinary undertaking wasn't a joke, and it actually worked. Why Chicago Once Needed to Raise Its Buildings During the mid-1800s, Chicago had a serious problem with its geography, particularly the swampy land on which much of the city stood. Its streets frequently turned into muddy disasters whenever it rained, making even ordinary transportation surprisingly difficult. Some roads became so waterlogged that horse-drawn wagons could barely navigate them, creating constant headaches for residents and businesses. Unfortunately, the muddy streets were only part of the problem, as the city's relatively

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WTTW - Chicago PBS

Caroling, Trees and the Christkindlmarket — Celebrate the Holidays With These Classic Chicago Traditions

From a mug of hot glühwein at the Christkindlmarket to a trip to the Walnut Room’s Great Tree, there are some Chicago activities that have become iconic holiday traditions. Read on for opportunities to shop, snack, carol and ride holiday trains. Christkindlmarket. The beloved German-style market is returning...

publisher · 6.0K followers

WBEZ

How a retired Chicago Army veteran found peace and purpose through baking

At 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, with most of Chicago still asleep, Quinton McNair already was in the kitchen. By 9 a.m., the 49-year-old had baked enough cookies, muffins and other treats to fill the display cases at his Hyde Park bakery. And McNair still had the rest of another long day ahead of him.

Pollutants in Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan, the largest freshwater lake in the world, is known for its urban coastlines and stunning views; yet, the lake has been polluted with 11 million pounds of plastic from industries with plants along the lake. Chicagoland citizens consume large amounts of microplastics as a result of this plastic...

Cook County, IL · 2d

southwestregionalpublishing.com

SXU honors Police Chief Dan Murphy for military service

Saint Xavier University Police Chief Dan Murphy has spent much of his life looking out for others. From his years in the U.S. Air Force to a 30-year career in law enforcement, Murphy has built his career around service, responsibility and protecting his community. Those years of service were recognized...

partner publisher · 229.4K followers

The Center Square

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker urged to act after driver with Illinois CLS charged in Kansas City crash

(The Center Square) – Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is urging Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to take corrective action after Kehoe said a truck driver who was in the U.S. illegally plowed into stopped traffic along U.S. Highway 71 in Kansas City last Monday and claimed the lives of a 35-year-old mother and her two young sons. Kehoe said Eldar Skander was operating an 80,000-pound semi under a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license issued by the state of Illinois in March 2025. The Department of Homeland Security said Skander is a Ukrainian national who was in the U.S. illegally. Skander is charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter. "When a state fails to vet applicants before handing over the keys to a commercial tractor-trailer, the consequences do not stop at the state line," Kehoe wrote in a letter to Pritzker on Friday. ICE nabs ex-con released from Stateville The Department of Homeland Security says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Mexican national who was released after serving prison time for a DUI crash that killed a Marine veteran in 2011. The Department of Homeland Security said ICE lodged a detainer with Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill for Vicente Torres Vasquez

Illinois · 6h

Block Club Chicago

publisher · 7.3K followers

Palmer Square Park’s ‘Helping Hand’ Sculpture Removed — But Neighbors Hope To Bring It Back

LOGAN SQUARE — For eight years, the big white hand sculpture seen at Palmer Square Park was a neighborhood symbol and became synonymous with the park’s identity. But last weekend, the “Helping Hand” sculpture was removed by artist Carrie Fischer, much to the dismay of neighbors. During the takedown, dozens of neighbors asked Fischer why she was removing the sculpture, she said.

Chicago, IL · 12h

POLITICO

partner publisher · 546.3K followers

A political musical chairs game

Happy Veterans Day, Illinois. Today, and every day, we’re grateful to those who served. TOP TALKER WHAT IF? One big political move could trigger a chain reaction of vacancies in Illinois. From the governor’s mansion to City Hall and the county board, here’s how succession dominoes could fall. Starting at the top: If Gov. JB Pritzker were to run and win the presidency, he would resign as Illinois’ top elected official and incoming Lt. Gov. Christian Mitchell would take over as governor. No special election is required under the Illinois Constitution. That’s what happened when former Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn became governor in 2009 after then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was removed from office. If Mitchell moves into the governor’s office, his former office would “remain vacant until the end of the term,” per the Illinois Constitution. The calendar matters: If Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wins the Chicago mayor’s race next year, the governor would appoint someone to fill the seat, and a 28-month calculation would kick in: Under the Illinois Election Code , if more than 28 months remain in Giannoulias’ term, voters would choose a successor at the next general election. Otherwise, an appointee would serve out the term.

Illinois · 2d

Chicago Public Radio

The Rundown: Another sudden Johnson administration departure

Good afternoon! It’s Friday the 13th, and my black cat is displeased he didn’t get an extra-early breakfast to celebrate. Here’s what you need to know today. As Fran Spielman reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ashlee Gabrysch’s departure sent shock waves through City Hall and beyond, coming in the middle of a budget stalemate after just three months in the role. The move could trigger another drop in Chicago’s already shaky bond rating and scare investors away from the city’s bonds.

Chicago, IL · 4h

nadignewspapers.com

Opinion: The company you keep is latest controversy in 45th Ward

That’s how the topsy-turvy dynamics of the 45th Ward have been described by aldermen, committeemen and journalists in the past 25 years. It seems anything can blow up, at any time, into a “controversy.” Sometimes it’s an ex-alderman parking his boat on a city street, sometimes a politico using language out of “The Sopranos” when referring to women, and sometimes it’s the company you keep.

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Main Street Dollars

Homeowners 65 and older get an extra $60,000 off school taxable value in Texas, $20,000 in West Virginia, and up to $9,000 in North Dakota and $8,000 in Illinois

Homeowners 65 and older can have a slice of their home’s value taken out of the property tax calculation, and the size of that slice depends heavily on the state. Texas school districts must give an extra $60,000 homestead exemption, West Virginia exempts the first $20,000 of assessed value, North Dakota reduces taxable valuation by […]

Texas · 4d

CBS Chicago

partner publisher · 230.9K followers

Voters back referendum for Markham to take control of separate park district

A referendum on the midterm ballot asked voters if the city should take over the park district, with 92% voting in favor.

Markham, IL · 1d

CBS Chicago

partner publisher · 230.9K followers

New mural transforms Fulton Street viaduct in West Loop

A new mural was unveiled on Thursday on Chicago's Near West Side, bringing color and history to an often overlooked corridor.

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WTTW - Chicago PBS

Meet the 21 Members of Chicago’s First-Ever Fully Elected Board of Education

For the first time ever, Chicagoans have fully elected their Board of Education. With several new faces set to join the 21-member board in January following Chicago’s first ever citywide board elections, take a moment to learn more about who will be making critical decisions for Chicago Public Schools, its students and their families.

Streetsblog Capitol Hill

As NYC eases fire department control over street redesign projects, Chicago’s fire chief calls for “more conversations… with CDOT”

According to our colleagues at Streetsblog NYC, last Election Day, local residents gave robust support for ballot initiatives to speed up the process of installing bus and bike lanes. One of the five proposals from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency, which called for repealing bureaucratic speed bumps to safer street redesigns, passed with two-thirds of the vote.

southportcorridorchicago.com

Four-Story Development Proposed at 1015 W. Belmont Avenue in Lakeview

Another change could be coming to Belmont Avenue in Lakeview. A proposal for 1015 W. Belmont Avenue would replace an existing low-rise building with a four-story mixed-use development featuring seven apartments and ground-floor retail space. The current building is a narrow, older structure with a pitched roof and a brick...