The Latest Breaking News from Lori Lightfoot

Civic Federation taps former city inspector general Joe Ferguson as president

Ferguson replaces Laurence Msall, the public finance expert whose death in February left a giant hole in the watchdog landscape.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 12, 2023

Four years later, City Council finally poised to extend lobbyist requirements to nonprofits

Nonprofit groups complained they could not afford to jump through regulatory hoops or pay hefty fines for honest mistakes. On Monday, the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight passed a revised ordinance aimed at easing those concerns.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 11, 2023

Affordable housing development set for North Lawndale groundbreaking

Grace Manor, with 65 apartments, is expected to be completed in 2025.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 10, 2023

Assessment: Chicago’s mental health care model has too many barriers

Many care centers aren’t reachable by public transit, wait times are too long, and many couldn’t be reached by telephone, an analysis by proponents of reopening public health clinics shows.

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 13, 2023

Brandon Johnson wasn’t supposed to take campaign money from city contractors, but he did

A campaign aide calls it an “oversight” and says $46,500 is being returned, agreeing that the ethics rule is “a sound and necessary policy to ensure a fair government.”

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 10, 2023

Dr. Allison Arwady takes job with Biden administration focusing on overdoses, suicides after Chicago Mayor Johnson fired her

After leading Chicago through the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s public health commissioner was abruptly fired by Mayor Brandon Johnson. She joins President Joe Biden’s administration in January.

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 9, 2023

Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t pay a price for floor leader’s ouster, top aide says

One day after the mayor cast the tie-breaking vote that saved Ald. Carlo Ramirez-Rosa from a Council censure, senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee said it was not a mistake for Johnson to empower the chair of the Council’s Socialist Caucus as both floor leader and Zoning Committee chair.

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 8, 2023

‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum to reduce homelessness through tax on high-end property sales clears City Council

Tuesday’s 32-17 vote is a major political victory for Mayor Brandon Johnson. Next comes a battle between Johnson’s progressive coalition and the business community and real estate industry.

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 7, 2023

Chicago gets $336 million federal loan to replace lead water pipes

The money is expected to help the city replace 30,000 lead service lines — out of more than 400,000 — the largest number in the country.

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 3, 2023

How the near absolute power Edward Burke wielded absolutely paved the way for his alleged corruption

That power came from “scratch my back” Chicago politics. Burke’s clout emanated from the sheer force of his personality, the favors he did for other City Council members and the intimidation he wielded over his colleagues.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 31, 2023