Good morning, Chicago.
A Circuit Court judge ruled this week that Cook County misspent hundreds of millions of transportation dollars, a win for the trade association representing construction firms statewide.
Judge Alison Conlon ordered that the county’s use of $243 million in transportation tax revenues during the 2023 fiscal year violated the Safe Roads Amendment to the state constitution. The county unsuccessfully argued it could spend the tax dollars on other expenses tied to enforcing the rules of the road at offices such as the sheriff, state’s attorney, public defender and circuit court clerk.
The Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Alliance, a trade group representing construction, design and maintenance firms, originally filed suit in 2018 opposing that policy. They hoped to bar the county from using tax revenues it expected to collect from gas, parking lots, garages, and car purchases on anything but direct transportation projects. The county’s diversion of those dollars threatened their livelihoods, they argued.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s A.D. Quig.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including what to know about another round of snow hitting Chicago, Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts from the Senior Bowl and why the Tribune’s theater critic called a new play extraordinary.
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Trump’s border czar suggests a possible drawdown in Minnesota, but only after ‘cooperation’
The Trump administration could reduce the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota, but only if state and local officials cooperate, the president’s border czar said, noting he has “zero tolerance” for protesters who assault federal officers or impede the ongoing Twin Cities operation.
Seven detained outside West Loop Target as protesters demand retailer stand against ICE
Several people were detained at Chicago’s West Loop Target last night amid a protest outside the store to demand the retailer publicly denounce U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as it comes into the crosshairs over President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
The people were detained at the start of the protest as they tried to block exits and shut down the store, according to the People’s Lobby, which organized the demonstration. Chicago police confirmed to the Tribune that seven adults, three men and four women, were each charged with criminal trespass to property.
Slick roads in store as another round of snow sweeps across the Chicago area
Brace for another bout of snow, Chicago.
A winter weather advisory is set to go in effect today for much of the morning into the afternoon as a burst of accumulating snow sweeps through the Chicago area.
Chicago Public Schools approves buyers for two more closed buildings
The sales of the former Louis Daniel Armstrong Elementary in Austin and Ignace Paderewski Elementary in Little Village will net the district $155,500. Both properties have been shuttered since the city’s mass closures in 2013. The board voted unanimously in favor of the sales at its January meeting.
Chicago Reader, the city’s struggling alt-weekly, is going monthly under new owners
The Chicago Reader, the groundbreaking alternative weekly which has been on the brink of dissolution for years, will become a monthly in February under new owners, who are looking to reinvent the storied newspaper while turning red ink to black.
Illinois Democratic hopefuls for US Senate agree Trump poses constitutional crisis but other differences emerge
The three leading Democratic candidates vying for the March 17 primary nomination to the U.S. Senate agreed last night the nation is facing a constitutional crisis and hurled invectives at President Donald Trump, with each arguing they would be best equipped to rein in his administration if elected to Washington.
But in an hour-long debate, small yet distinct differences emerged among U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Lynwood and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
- Junaid Ahmed and Neil Khot take on fellow Democrat Melissa Bean in new ads for Illinois’ 8th District
- Top candidates for the US House in Illinois’ 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th districts for the 2026 election
Chicago Bears’ offseason priorities are open-ended. Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts from the Senior Bowl.
Ten thoughts from the Senior Bowl after Brad Biggs spent the last four days chatting with folks across the league.
- Bears guard Joe Thuney among 6 finalists for inaugural NFL Protector of the Year award
- Ian Cunningham leaving Bears front office for Atlanta Falcons GM job
After a terrifying fall, Red Panda retraces what went wrong — and the support that carried her back
Rong Niu has grown somewhat accustomed to the fanfare over decades performing at NBA, WNBA and college basketball games — her first halftime show was a Los Angeles Clippers game in 1993. Still, even after sports fans rallied around her following a frightening fall during a WNBA game in July, she can hardly put words to what the support means to her.
Review: ‘Stereophonic’ is a play about a ’70s band and the price you pay for genius
This is an extraordinary piece of theater, writes Chris Jones. It’s a deep cut into the agony and ecstasy of collaboration, and a profound meditation on the personal price you inevitably pay, and what you benefit, when you work with a combustible, volatile, insanely driven visionary.
Jazz trumpeter Marques Carroll’s pandemic dreams bear fruit on live album series
Marques Carroll has been a steady presence on the Chicago scene for decades. But, like so many others, the coronavirus pandemic made him take stock of his career. For the first time, he felt emboldened to funnel creative energy into his projects, giving impromptu porch concerts with a combo at his Bucktown home and writing music with renewed urgency.
While Carroll’s albums “Live from Andy’s” and “Live from Winter’s” may have come out in November, they owe their existence to that period.