Your trusted source for local Chicago, IL news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Federal agents arrested several immigrant rights organizers in Chicago's Southwest Side while they filmed ICE activity, according to local officials. The organizers were allegedly detained without cause and threatened by federal officers. Local leaders condemned the actions as a violation of First Amendment rights.
The Lake Street bridge in Chicago will close to car and pedestrian traffic for two years starting October 6 due to reconstruction. The Chicago Transit Authority's Green and Pink line services will continue, aside from two planned outages in 2026 and 2027. Detours will be established, and the bridge work coincides with the reconstruction of the Chicago Avenue bridge.
Pilsen residents and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez urge the city to deny Midwest Generation's request for demolition permits for parts of the Fisk Generating Station, citing environmental and health concerns. The city has yet to approve the permits, as neighbors demand better protections due to the area's history of pollution.
Block Club Chicago partnered with Half Acre Beer Co. to unveil Extra! Extra! Xtra Pale Ale, a 4.2% ABV brew featuring tropical fruit and pine aromas. The Block Party, set for Saturday at Half Acre in Bowmanville, will donate $1 from each pint sold to support local journalism.
Federal authorities intensified their actions in Broadview, arresting a journalist and deploying chemical weapons against protesters after the mayor criticized ICE's tactics. Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson urged the Department of Homeland Security to cease using chemical arms against residents, which she labeled as "making war" on the community. The escalating tensions have raised concerns about the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators.
A shooting in Uptown killed an 18-year-old man and injured a 27-year-old woman late Friday night. This marks the second teen fatality in the neighborhood in less than two weeks, following the murder of a 17-year-old boy earlier this month. Police have not made any arrests in connection to either incident.
Large groups of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents patrolled Downtown Chicago on Sunday, detaining a family at Millennium Park. Local officials condemned the militarized presence, with Mayor Brandon Johnson calling it a "brazen provocation" by the Trump administration. Witnesses reported armed officers intimidating residents as they marched through high-traffic areas.
Forty Acres Fresh Market opened in Austin, addressing food access issues in a neighborhood previously lacking grocery options. The Black woman-owned store aims to combat "food apartheid" by providing fresh produce and essential goods. Local residents expressed excitement over the store's potential impact on their community.
Bruce Sagan, a prominent Hyde Park newspaperman and arts patron, died at 96 after a brief battle with cancer. He founded the Hyde Park Herald and played a key role in relocating the Joffrey Ballet to Chicago. Sagan received a National Medal of Arts from President Joe Biden in 2024.
Neighbors in Back of the Yards rallied to support local tamale vendor Laura Murillo after her arrest by ICE agents. Organizers raised funds by selling her tamales, emphasizing community solidarity against federal immigration enforcement targeting undocumented individuals. Over 500 arrests have occurred in the Chicago area since the start of recent immigration operations.