The Latest Breaking News from Lori Lightfoot

Sources said Lightfoot met Thursday with three finalists: Monique Scott, the former alderman’s sister; Trina Mangrum, chief of staff to Ald. Jason Ervin (28th); and former Chicago Bulls player Wallace “Mickey” Johnson.

The City Council’s Finance Committee was poised to force the mayor to stop issuing $35 tickets to motorists caught going 6 to 9 mph over the speed limit when Chairman Scott Waguespack abruptly recessed the meeting.

Decades ago, Chicago politicians curried favor with voters by distributing Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas hams. Garbage cans with an office-holder’s name on it were also a frequent freebie. But, the avalanche of federal stimulus funds has allowed Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Cook County Board President…

At the end of a year that marked most students’ return to in-person learning after two of the most challenging years in American education history, students seemed to have gained a new appreciation for school.

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

The River North Residents Association issued a wish list divided into eight categories. The most costly asks are infrastructure projects — led by the proposed Jefferson Street extension and construction of entrance and exit ramps off the Ontario-Ohio feeder.

Chicago police officials say they ‘anticipate’ acquiring two helicopters and might use private donations to help pay for them. First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter said it would be ‘ideal’ to have a much larger fleet, like Los Angeles has.

Considered to be the Oscars of the culinary industry, the coveted awards each year honor the nation’s best chefs, restaurants, restaurateurs, mixologists, bakers, cookbook authors, food writers and more.

The mayor campaigned on a promise to re-open six mental health clinics her predecessor shut down, but her 2020 budget kept them closed. Instead, she earmarked $9.3 million to increase capacity at the five remaining city clinics.

Quinn plans to spend the summer deciding whether to join the crowded field of candidates challenging Lightfoot. But he said that’s not why he’s pushing term limits now; he said just wants to hold Lightfoot to her own campaign promise.

Over the weekend, Pritzker stumps for out-of-state Democrats with a New Hampshire stop sparking more speculation about a presidential bid.