Chicago celebrated a record 13 million shared bike and scooter trips in 2025, with Mayor Johnson and CDOT noting a rise in micromobility and expansion plans.

The University of Illinois trustees approved a modest tuition increase for incoming freshmen at UIUC and UIC, along with higher housing and fee rates. Current in‑state students keep their four‑year guarantee.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will keynote Chicago's MLK interfaith breakfast next Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson said. The event's theme centers on defending democracy.

Sen. Dick Durbin met with MWRD leaders to press the Army Corps for long‑overdue reimbursement for the Thornton Reservoir, which officials say is still owed about $200 million. The funding could free up local flood projects in the south suburbs.

Video of school board Vice President Carl Scott has parents demanding his resignation. District 159 will consider a resolution at Wednesday's meeting.

Chicago's Mayor Johnson denounced Trump's threat to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, calling it unconstitutional and vowing to fight for those funds in court.

The Chicago Bears are exploring stadium options in Northwest Indiana and Arlington Heights, surveying fans and considering economic implications of both sites. They're committed to privately funding the construction.

Illinois AG Kwame Raoul is asking a court to enforce an injunction to stop the USDA from obtaining private SNAP recipient data, despite a previous court order prohibiting this.

Scott County may maintain steady property taxes; the Illinois Department of Revenue reports a tentative equalization factor of 1.0000, indicating balanced assessments.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul is suing HHS for a policy seen as discriminating against transgender individuals by tying federal funding to compliance with an executive order.

Darren Bailey, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Illinois, plans to launch "Illinois DOGE," a program to audit and reduce state government waste and fraud.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson disclosed a late-December purchase of Palantir stock worth between $15,001 and $50,000, renewing ethics questions as Palantir works with ICE.

Chicago sues the federal government, led by Mayor Johnson and Attorney General Raoul, asserting illegal activities and civil rights abuses by immigration agencies like CBP and ICE in the city.