Good afternoon, Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson touted his Springfield agenda as both “modest” and beneficial to the whole state of Illinois during a short stop to the statehouse today, where he will surely face steep headwinds to accomplish what he wants for Chicago during a tough state budget season.
This is Johnson’s first visit to the General Assembly since May 2024, when he came home with lackluster results for the city. Faced with ongoing reluctance from lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker, the mayor has fine-tuned his message this time to make the case that helping Chicago will help the rest of the state.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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Gov. JB Pritzker urges Democrats to protest at GOP congressional offices in response to President Donald Trump
Pritzker was joined by Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the unsuccessful 2024 vice presidential nominee, Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Kathy Hochul of New York in an hourlong, live-streamed question-and-answer event hosted by the MeidasTouch Network. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- Downtown alderman considering Cook County Board run against Preckwinkle
- Despite Trump’s order, Chicago consent decree mandating police reform ‘will remain in effect’
President Donald Trump’s tariffs loom over the economy as shipments from China fall
American businesses are canceling orders from China, postponing expansion plans and hunkering down to see what trade policy surprises President Donald Trump plans to spring on them next. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson goes bald in DirecTV commercial as it pitches streaming
- Glencoe 6-bedroom with herringbone marble foyer: $3.8M
Chicago Stars fire coach Lorne Donaldson amid one of the franchise’s worst starts in history
In his debut NWSL season, Lorne Donaldson led Chicago to the playoffs with a 10-14-2 record. But that success quickly dried up for the Stars, who started the 2025 season with a 1-5-0 record. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- Chicago White Sox are sending Colson Montgomery back to Arizona for 1-on-1 work: ‘Let’s go and attack this now’
- Shota Imanaga exits his start with cramps in both legs in Chicago Cubs’ 9-0 win
Column: As State Street’s closes for repairs, an appreciation of our bridges over the Chicago River
The river is why we are here; it has for hundreds of years played a crucial role first for transportation, fishing, and farming and later as a shortcut between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, creating Chicago. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- Column: 50 years ago, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ showed us what comedy needs — and doesn’t
- Constellation announces new Sound & Gravity festival of jazz and avant-garde
A Palestinian student at Columbia is released after arrest at his citizenship interview
A judge released a Palestinian student at Columbia University who led protests against Israel’s war in Gaza and was arrested by immigration officials during an interview about finalizing his U.S. citizenship. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world: