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Chicagoans caught in narco violence in Mexico

Sunday night at least eight continue to shelter in place after car jacking and bombed car.

News

At least eight Chicagoans were sheltering in place in Puerto Vallarta on Sunday amid violent attacks throughout the region in response to the capture and death of the Mexican <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cartel leader" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/trump-mexico-colombia-venezuela-strikes-maduro" data-vars-content-id="0620688d-d624-485a-9556-6d28b5f1f789" data-vars-headline="Chicagoans caught in narco violence in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/trump-mexico-colombia-venezuela-strikes-maduro" target="_self">cartel leader</a> known as &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="El Mencho" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-drug-lord-killed" data-vars-content-id="0620688d-d624-485a-9556-6d28b5f1f789" data-vars-headline="Chicagoans caught in narco violence in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-drug-lord-killed" target="_self">El Mencho</a>.&quot;Zoom in: Lakeview resident Jonathan Pizer tells Axios that he and his husband Brad Lippitz were heading to go whale watching with two Chicago friends Sunday morning when their car was stopped.

Illinois lawmakers push back on Chicago Bears' Indiana stadium plan

IL Gov. JB Pritzker said he was surprised by the Bears' announcement Thursday.

The Chicago Bears publicly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expressed interest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" data-vars-content-id="3a84913f-bfe2-4c85-80a7-9d7f3f7a59a4" data-vars-headline="Illinois lawmakers push back on Chicago Bears&#x27; Indiana stadium plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" target="_self">expressed interest</a> in building a new stadium in Hammond, after Indiana lawmakers moved forward on a bill to lure them across the border.Why it matters: The &quot;Pride and Joy of Illinois&quot; could play football in a different state.

Axios Chicago poll: Should the Bears leave Illinois?

Take our ultimate poll about the continuing stadium saga in Illinois

While the Bears negotiate (again) for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new stadium site" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" data-vars-content-id="fef5ff15-c812-4d0a-b7a0-e4dd4b38e3cb" data-vars-headline="Axios Chicago poll: Should the Bears leave Illinois?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" target="_self">new stadium site</a>, we think it&#x27;s time to get your voice involved.State of play: We have a few questions for what we are calling the &quot;ultimate, hands down, definitive Bears stadium Axios Chicago poll,&quot; otherwise known as the UHDFBSACP.

Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Chicago this weekend

From dances to dumpling classes, here's where to ring in the Year of the Fire Horse in Chicago.

Culture

Mark the Year of the Fire Horse with art, music and food this Lunar New Year. Here are a few ways to celebrate in Chicago this weekend.

How much a babysitter will cost you in Chicago

Data shows Chicago parents pay less per hour than families in cities like SF and Seattle.

Money

If you&#x27;re looking for a babysitter in Chicago, you&#x27;re in for a cheaper night than parents in many other cities.

Immigrants pay far more in taxes than they use

A 30-year analysis finds immigrants pay billions more in taxes than they use in benefits.

A new 30-year analysis from the Cato Institute says U.S. immigrants <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pay billions more in taxes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/10/immigrants-taxes-map" data-vars-content-id="18ebf236-f283-4060-a821-9683ac7729c0" data-vars-headline="Immigrants pay far more in taxes than they use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/10/immigrants-taxes-map" target="_self">pay billions more in taxes</a> than they receive in benefits, and the trend has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="steadily grown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cato.org/white-paper/immigrants-recent-effects-government-budgets-1994-2023?utm_source=hootsuite&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_term&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawPyANdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjU0xvUm5GU3VWOW9qYmdkc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnVdXyjZqzhxMv5vlE8Ci13NT03lIG9K0Rp8eaa-Rd7IXkp-HhXF6QCiTtqs_aem_mZQpeUT7DErMG5t1yRv8vw" data-vars-content-id="18ebf236-f283-4060-a821-9683ac7729c0" data-vars-headline="Immigrants pay far more in taxes than they use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cato.org/white-paper/immigrants-recent-effects-government-budgets-1994-2023?utm_source=hootsuite&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_term&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawPyANdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjU0xvUm5GU3VWOW9qYmdkc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnVdXyjZqzhxMv5vlE8Ci13NT03lIG9K0Rp8eaa-Rd7IXkp-HhXF6QCiTtqs_aem_mZQpeUT7DErMG5t1yRv8vw" target="_blank">steadily grown</a> over the decades.Why it matters: Conservatives often <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cite consumption of benefits" data-vars-click-url="https://illinois.gop/icymi-jb-pritzker-puts-illegal-border-crossers-before-illinois-families/" data-vars-content-id="18ebf236-f283-4060-a821-9683ac7729c0" data-vars-headline="Immigrants pay far more in taxes than they use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://illinois.gop/icymi-jb-pritzker-puts-illegal-border-crossers-before-illinois-families/" target="_blank">cite consumption of benefits</a> as proof that immigration creates a strain on the economy, but the analysis from the Libertarian-leaning think tank suggests immigrants and their families actually create a net positive for the U.S. economy.

Mental health experts warn of gambling addiction spike

Since Illinois expanded gambling in 2019, mental health providers have seen more people seeking help.

Since Gov. JB Pritzker signed a gambling expansion bill in 2019, sports betting and casinos have grown across the state, and mental health professionals are seeing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more people seeking help" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/14/sports-betting-gambling-young-men-crisis" data-vars-content-id="d6d94a00-a188-423f-a1db-61dcadb598e4" data-vars-headline="Mental health experts warn of gambling addiction spike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/14/sports-betting-gambling-young-men-crisis" target="_self">more people seeking help</a> with problem gambling.Why it matters: Chicago&#x27;s first permanent casino, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bally&#x27;s Chicago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/08/27/demolition-ballys-chicago-casino" data-vars-content-id="d6d94a00-a188-423f-a1db-61dcadb598e4" data-vars-headline="Mental health experts warn of gambling addiction spike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/08/27/demolition-ballys-chicago-casino" target="_self">Bally&#x27;s Chicago</a>, is slated to open this year, and the 2026 city budget passed last month could pave the way for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="video gaming" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/09/22/chicago-council-video-gambling-vote" data-vars-content-id="d6d94a00-a188-423f-a1db-61dcadb598e4" data-vars-headline="Mental health experts warn of gambling addiction spike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/09/22/chicago-council-video-gambling-vote" target="_self">video gaming</a> to be available in the city.

Chicago alders pass budget without head tax

Plan lops off the head tax, but mayor could still veto it.

Election

The Chicago City Council voted 30-18 to pass a historic alder-driven budget during a rare Saturday meeting. But Mayor Brandon Johnson could still veto it.Why it matters: If supporters of the passed budget are correct, the plan could protect the city&#x27;s precarious credit rating while keeping and attracting big local employers who were facing a monthly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$33 head tax" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/12/10/alders-push-back-on-mayors-new-head-tax-proposal" data-vars-content-id="78da3eb5-5cdf-4195-b4c4-2a8d932797ac" data-vars-headline="Chicago alders pass budget without head tax" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/12/10/alders-push-back-on-mayors-new-head-tax-proposal" target="_self">$33 head tax</a> as part of Johnson&#x27;s proposal.<ul><li>The move also illustrates a significant power shift in City Hall where decades of Chicago mayors have traditionally watched their preferred budgets sail through the council.</li></ul>

City Council delays hemp vote and shifts to budget battle

Alders revised their plan to address a $1.2B shortfall before the end of the year.

Wednesday&#x27;s final regular Chicago City Council meeting of 2025 ended quickly — after alders delayed a vote on the revised hemp ordinance — then shifted back into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="budget negotiation mode." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/16/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-budget-social-media-tax" data-vars-content-id="aa26bfa2-6ff2-4c77-ab4f-499acc844eb9" data-vars-headline="City Council delays hemp vote and shifts to budget battle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/16/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-budget-social-media-tax" target="_self">budget negotiation mode.</a>Why it matters: The moves underscore the urgency setting in as the mayor and council race to cover a $1.2 billion shortfall by the end of the month.<ul><li>If the mayor and council can&#x27;t agree on a plan, they risk triggering a government shutdown.</li></ul>

"Wild" ads target alders and Johnson on budget vote

PACs are flooding social media with attack ads after aldermen reject the mayor's budget.

Inflammatory ads are flooding social media following this week&#x27;s City Council committee vote rejecting Mayor Brandon Johnson&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plan to balance the budget" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/16/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-budget-social-media-tax" data-vars-content-id="85a035d2-3c65-483a-9e02-891e929a36fd" data-vars-headline="&quot;Wild&quot; ads target alders and Johnson on budget vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/16/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-budget-social-media-tax" target="_self">plan to balance the budget</a> with a corporate head tax and new borrowing.<ul><li>Some of the most provocative ads portray Johnson as a property tax hiker and progressive caucus co-chair Alderman Andre Vasquez as a President Trump puppet. </li></ul>Why it matters: The ad battle underscores how personal the head tax issue has become, how political action committees are fueling the fight and how desperately we need fact-checking of social media.

Illinois soy farmers wait for sales and support

Farmers hoped for quick relief after China's pledge, but sales have yet to return.

Business

Illinois soybean farmers breathed a sigh of relief last month when <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="China agreed to resume" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/30/trump-china-soybeans-deal-visit-bessent" data-vars-content-id="7122fec4-e6c9-4de9-a98c-d1e0ea4952d7" data-vars-headline="Illinois soy farmers wait for sales and support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/30/trump-china-soybeans-deal-visit-bessent" target="_self">China agreed to resume</a> strong soybean purchases in the coming years, but the relief has now turned to worry.Why it matters: As the state that produces the nation&#x27;s largest soybean crop and sells them primarily to China, Illinois has hundreds of millions of dollars on the line.<ul><li>The state sold <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1.4 billion of soybeans to China" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/SenDuckworth/posts/china-bought-14-billion-in-soybeans-from-illinois-last-year-but-now-noneinstead-/1422758912548531/" data-vars-content-id="7122fec4-e6c9-4de9-a98c-d1e0ea4952d7" data-vars-headline="Illinois soy farmers wait for sales and support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/SenDuckworth/posts/china-bought-14-billion-in-soybeans-from-illinois-last-year-but-now-noneinstead-/1422758912548531/" target="_blank">$1.4 billion of soybeans to China</a> last year.</li></ul>

Residential property taxes to pay for Loop slump

Median residential property tax bills surged 16.7% to cover commercial losses.

Homeowners are footing the bill for major Loop commercial property value losses in the long-delayed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cook County property tax bills" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/05/05/property-taxes-hit-low-income-areas" data-vars-content-id="0c12a24a-2ad9-4059-a7f5-9fe0bcc91357" data-vars-headline="Residential property taxes to pay for Loop slump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/05/05/property-taxes-hit-low-income-areas" target="_self">Cook County property tax bills</a> that started hitting mailboxes last week, according to an analysis by the Cook County Treasurer&#x27;s office.Why it matters: The 16.7% rise in median residential property tax bills (to $4,457) represents a record city increase (in at least the last 30 years) and adds to rising grocery, energy and housing prices.

Cities adapt laws to shield immigrant workers

Some towns are changing laws to protect workers amid growing fears of immigration raids.

After recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration raids across the city" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/13/schools-churches-neighborhood-immigration-ice-raids-trump-pritzker" data-vars-content-id="f7267950-fe4b-4d9c-99c1-f46bcebce8ba" data-vars-headline="Cities adapt laws to shield immigrant workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/13/schools-churches-neighborhood-immigration-ice-raids-trump-pritzker" target="_self">immigration raids across the city</a> and suburbs, lawmakers and employers are trying novel strategies to protect workers.Why it matters: Immigrants — whether they have authorization to work here or not — are being apprehended <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="by the thousands across Chicago" data-vars-click-url="https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chicago-3k-arrested-immigration-crackdown-border-patrol-chief-dan-bovino-says/18076935/" data-vars-content-id="f7267950-fe4b-4d9c-99c1-f46bcebce8ba" data-vars-headline="Cities adapt laws to shield immigrant workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chicago-3k-arrested-immigration-crackdown-border-patrol-chief-dan-bovino-says/18076935/" target="_blank">by the thousands across Chicago</a>.

Rent in Chicago is rising faster than in other major cities

Despite a national rental cooling, Chicago renters are still seeing hefty year‑over‑year increases.

Real Estate

You&#x27;re not imagining it. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rent in Chicago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/03/11/helping-chicago-most-rent-burdened-residents" data-vars-content-id="8f245fba-2d50-4995-963a-7dc43ef1dcd4" data-vars-headline="Rent in Chicago is rising faster than in other major cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/03/11/helping-chicago-most-rent-burdened-residents" target="_self">Rent in Chicago</a> is through the roof and rising faster than in other major cities, and there&#x27;s not much relief in the suburbs either.Why it matters: Rent in Chicago has increased by 6% since last year and 35% since before the pandemic, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Zillow report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.zillow.com/research/september-2025-rent-report-35634/" data-vars-content-id="8f245fba-2d50-4995-963a-7dc43ef1dcd4" data-vars-headline="Rent in Chicago is rising faster than in other major cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.zillow.com/research/september-2025-rent-report-35634/" target="_blank">new Zillow report</a>. This could make the city less desirable for transplants when comparing housing costs.