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Pritzker revives Bears stadium talk in Chicago 

The Illinois governor suggested the legislature's veto session could help keep the Bears in the city.

Business

The Bears <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stadium drama" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/13/chicago-bears-new-stadium-hammond-indiana-nfl-pritzker-braun" data-vars-content-id="2003f906-66d9-4c59-b697-27ad32547575" data-vars-headline="Pritzker revives Bears stadium talk in Chicago " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/13/chicago-bears-new-stadium-hammond-indiana-nfl-pritzker-braun" target="_self">stadium drama</a> picked up steam again Tuesday night after a contentious debate between Illinois&#x27; gubernatorial candidates.The latest: After the debate, Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters he hopes state lawmakers will approve a tax incentive plan that could keep the Bears in Illinois — either in Arlington Heights or Chicago.<ul><li>Wait, Chicago?</li></ul>

Hotel strike continues ahead of busy tourism season

Six downtown hotels are already facing walkouts, with guests reporting delays and reduced service.

With <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="workers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/09/chicago-hotel-workers-union-contracts-expire-strike" data-vars-content-id="a3ba1cb3-97fe-4be5-9cd0-b0e4611553b3" data-vars-headline="Hotel strike continues ahead of busy tourism season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/09/chicago-hotel-workers-union-contracts-expire-strike" target="_self">workers</a> at six downtown Chicago hotels<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" already on strike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/10/09/chicago-hotel-strike-workers-union-tourism-marathon" data-vars-content-id="a3ba1cb3-97fe-4be5-9cd0-b0e4611553b3" data-vars-headline="Hotel strike continues ahead of busy tourism season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/10/09/chicago-hotel-strike-workers-union-tourism-marathon" target="_self"> already on strike</a>, their union, UNITE HERE Local 1, warns that thousands more could join the picket line.Why it matters: A larger hotel strike could disrupt Chicago&#x27;s tourism ahead of the traditionally busy holiday season, creating reduced services for visitors.Between the lines: It also comes on the heels of Chicago <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="earning the title last week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-tops-list-of-best-us-big-cities-for-10th-year-in-a-row/3998716/" data-vars-content-id="a3ba1cb3-97fe-4be5-9cd0-b0e4611553b3" data-vars-headline="Hotel strike continues ahead of busy tourism season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-tops-list-of-best-us-big-cities-for-10th-year-in-a-row/3998716/" target="_blank">earning the title last week</a> of &quot;Best Big U.S. City&quot; by Conde Nast for the 10th year in a row. State of play: Hundreds of housekeepers, bellmen, doormen and other workers continue to picket at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Palmer House, The Westin Chicago River North, Westin Michigan Avenue and Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="after going on strike Friday." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/10/09/chicago-hotel-strike-workers-union-tourism-marathon" data-vars-content-id="a3ba1cb3-97fe-4be5-9cd0-b0e4611553b3" data-vars-headline="Hotel strike continues ahead of busy tourism season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/10/09/chicago-hotel-strike-workers-union-tourism-marathon" target="_self">after going on strike Friday.</a>

City Council passes $260M police settlement

Alders also approved a Smart Streets expansion and failed to override a mayoral veto.

News

A record police settlement, new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bike lane enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/10/13/chicago-bus-and-bike-lane-ticketing-program-to-expand-" data-vars-content-id="4e7edf09-eff9-4b8a-9dd1-c3bf21a17b9d" data-vars-headline="City Council passes $260M police settlement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/10/13/chicago-bus-and-bike-lane-ticketing-program-to-expand-" target="_self">bike lane enforcement</a> and a veto override attempt headlined Chicago&#x27;s City Council meeting Wednesday.Why it matters: The decisions will shape where millions of Chicago taxpayer dollars are directed and how Chicagoans park.

Former Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass to shut down website

Kass is stepping away from his news site due to health problems.

Longtime Chicago political columnist John Kass says he&#x27;s winding down his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="independent news website" data-vars-click-url="https://johnkassnews.com/" data-vars-content-id="02b1dbd3-512b-451d-8eee-847fc55d5337" data-vars-headline="Former Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass to shut down website" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://johnkassnews.com/" target="_blank">independent news website</a> after suffering five strokes in three years.Why it matters: Kass has been a prominent and sometimes polarizing voice in Chicago journalism for decades, first at the Chicago Tribune and more recently through his own conservative website and &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chicago Way" data-vars-click-url="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-way/id1081158077" data-vars-content-id="02b1dbd3-512b-451d-8eee-847fc55d5337" data-vars-headline="Former Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass to shut down website" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-way/id1081158077" target="_blank">Chicago Way</a>&quot; podcast.

Mayoral campaign reports show funding disparities 

But funds don't always determine winners in Chicago politics.

Illinois Secretary of State <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alexi Giannoulias" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/02/alexi-giannoulias-campaign-mayor-johnson-mendoza-quigley-pritzker" data-vars-content-id="40f918f2-9d05-4085-a70b-a947b045de52" data-vars-headline="Mayoral campaign reports show funding disparities " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/02/alexi-giannoulias-campaign-mayor-johnson-mendoza-quigley-pritzker" target="_self">Alexi Giannoulias</a> remains more than $16 million ahead of his likely mayoral competitors in campaign funds, according to recent filings.

2027 Chicago mayoral candidates take first step to City Hall

Several candidates face a suit over running for two offices, and some have received suspicious letters.

Politics

At least five mayoral candidates lined up outside the Chicago Board of Elections Monday morning to throw their hats in the ring for the city&#x27;s top job in 2027.Why it matters: The ritual — which saw <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hundreds lining up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DerZ-LbRojx/" data-vars-content-id="bea7c00e-61de-4abb-84f2-b7dccc8b4bec" data-vars-headline="2027 Chicago mayoral candidates take first step to City Hall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DerZ-LbRojx/" target="_blank">hundreds lining up</a> to file for other municipal seats — kicks off what promises to be one of Chicago&#x27;s most colorful mayoral races this coming February.

City Council to crack down on bike lane parking

City is poised to expand its automatic bike and bus lane ticketing program.

Double-parking in Chicago is about to get a lot riskier under an expected expansion of the city&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Smart Streets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/11/05/new-bike-lane-bus-parking-enforcement" data-vars-content-id="c6fdc30b-d6b5-4dd2-9530-36161273173f" data-vars-headline="City Council to crack down on bike lane parking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/11/05/new-bike-lane-bus-parking-enforcement" target="_self">Smart Streets</a> pilot program.Why it matters: The program, which uses cameras on CTA buses to help ticket people parked in bus and bike lanes, is aimed at speeding up bus service and protecting cyclists in the wake of obstructed bike lane-related deaths including <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="toddler Lily Shambrook" data-vars-click-url="https://abc7chicago.com/post/lily-shambrook-chicago-bike-lanes-lane-crash-toddler-killed-uptown/12713958/" data-vars-content-id="c6fdc30b-d6b5-4dd2-9530-36161273173f" data-vars-headline="City Council to crack down on bike lane parking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/lily-shambrook-chicago-bike-lanes-lane-crash-toddler-killed-uptown/12713958/" target="_blank">toddler Lily Shambrook</a>&#x27;s.<ul><li>Its expansion is likely to please traffic safety advocates and annoy delivery drivers and double-parkers. </li></ul>State of play: The City Council is scheduled to vote on a citywide Smart Street expansion Wednesday. <ul><li>With more than 30 co-sponsors already on board, the measure is widely expected to pass.</li></ul>

Pope Leo to meet Chicago Catholics fighting for immigrants

A delegation of 25 Catholics will visit the Vatican amid a legal fight over access to immigrants.

Religion

Pope Leo will meet this month with a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="group of Chicago Catholics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/11/20/trump-immigrantion-chicago-clergy-lawsuit-dhs-immigrants" data-vars-content-id="2ad9b153-2efc-4cbe-92a6-8e9e9c9e45d2" data-vars-headline="Pope Leo to meet Chicago Catholics fighting for immigrants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/11/20/trump-immigrantion-chicago-clergy-lawsuit-dhs-immigrants" target="_self">group of Chicago Catholics</a> who have been fighting for immigrant rights.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership" data-vars-click-url="https://www.csplaction.org/" data-vars-content-id="2ad9b153-2efc-4cbe-92a6-8e9e9c9e45d2" data-vars-headline="Pope Leo to meet Chicago Catholics fighting for immigrants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.csplaction.org/" target="_blank">Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership</a> (CSPL) has captured the pope&#x27;s attention with its fight to provide spiritual and pastoral care to immigrants in Chicago.

Illinois Fairs saw tons of visitors and bargains 

Illinois delivered some of the best bargains.

Things to Do

This month, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gov. JB Pritzker announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/19/illinois-state-fair-democrats-pritzker-durbin-gop-trump-rally-alexi" data-vars-content-id="ca70a206-1eb8-4866-81f9-6cc890d1fa61" data-vars-headline="Illinois Fairs saw tons of visitors and bargains " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/19/illinois-state-fair-democrats-pritzker-durbin-gop-trump-rally-alexi" target="_self">Gov. JB Pritzker announced</a> attendance totals for the 2026 State Fairs (one in Springfield and one in Du Quoin) topped one million for the second consecutive year, citing affordability as a factor.

What to know about Chicago's school board races 

Voters will pick the city's first fully elected board this year.

Education

Chicagoans will make history on Nov. 3 when they vote for the city&#x27;s first fully elected school board.Why it matters: After decades of the mayor controlling the board, Chicago voters will have a direct say in who governs the nation&#x27;s third-largest school district, potentially leading to more independent policies.

Illinois U.S. Senate election: Stratton vs. Tracy voter guide

The two candidates will take part in a forum on Oct. 20.

For the first time in 30 years, Illinois will not have a U.S. senator named Durbin. Why it matters: The midterm election will determine control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="53-47 majority" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/08/2026-midterms-congress-house-senate-predictions" data-vars-content-id="8eb4949b-fe5c-46c8-8666-45b00bc7c28d" data-vars-headline="Illinois U.S. Senate election: Stratton vs. Tracy voter guide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/08/2026-midterms-congress-house-senate-predictions" target="_self">53-47 majority</a>.The big picture: Sen. Dick Durbin is retiring after three decades in the Senate, paving the way for a new face to join Sen. Tammy Duckworth in Washington.

Illinois' statewide races: What to know before November

Democrats defend every Illinois executive office, with incumbents on the ballot in three key races.

Democrats hold all Illinois executive offices, and all but one race has an incumbent on the November ballot.

Trump says Chicago crime is worsening as homicides decline

President Trump posted on social media that Chicago was seeing unprecedented spikes in crime, but the numbers don't support that claim.

President Trump is again raising the prospect of federal intervention in Chicago, saying the city is suffering an &quot;unprecedented&quot; crime wave that&#x27;s &quot;getting worse by the day.&quot;Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s renewed focus on Chicago comes as the city is on pace to record even <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fewer homicides" data-vars-click-url="https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/02/chicago-pace-fewer-homicides-last-year-s-historic-low-police" data-vars-content-id="0cb64815-17d1-4fb7-a43b-af233af3274c" data-vars-headline="Trump says Chicago crime is worsening as homicides decline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/02/chicago-pace-fewer-homicides-last-year-s-historic-low-police" target="_blank">fewer homicides</a> than last year, when killings fell to their lowest level in 60 years.

Politics 🇺🇸

Mayoral campaign reports show funding disparities

2027 Chicago mayoral candidates take first step to City Hall

City Council passes $260M police settlement

City Council to crack down on bike lane parking

Pope Leo to meet Chicago Catholics fighting for immigrants