United's MileagePlus overhaul, effective April 2, 2026, gives big advantages to cardholders and trims rewards for casual flyers. The changes will alter how miles are earned and redeemed.

A medical emergency on Blue Line tracks near Washington suspended service through the Loop, blocked Dearborn at Madison and forced shuttle buses into service during the morning commute.

A modest $850K federal appropriation moves planning forward for the Weber Spur Trail, but land deals, engineering and a roughly $70M price tag mean construction is still years off.

A top mayoral aide urged aldermen to approve a proposed taxi fare increase that would add rush‑hour and overnight surcharges and raise per‑mile and time charges.

City Council approved a ceremonial move that will place a new Route 66 “Begin” sign at Navy Pier, with a March 25, 2026 dedication tied to the Toast to Harry Caray. The shift is framed as a centennial tourism moment.

A systemwide positive train control outage delayed Metra trains across Chicago during the evening commute; a CSX derailment in the south suburbs added to the disruption.

A City Council committee backed a pilot letting residents submit phone video of commercial vehicles parked in bike lanes, bus lanes and crosswalks; business groups warned it could hamper deliveries.

A new rupture at 143rd and Marshfield knocked out service to about 50 Dixmoor homes, underscoring months of patchwork fixes and calls for big funding. Crews are repairing the line but officials offered no timetable.

Aurora’s infrastructure committee will consider a near‑$169,000 design contract to replace a dilapidated fence along Orchard Road with a precast concrete sound wall. The vote would move a years‑old effort another step toward construction.

Chicago says it will begin awarding contracts this spring after dozens of bids to replace food and retail at O’Hare’s Terminals 1 and 3. The move could reshape the airport’s dining and shopping lineup.

City planners have moved to expand a Canal/Congress TIF to free roughly $50M to buy and rehab the Greyhound terminal at 630 W. Harrison St.; hearings start this spring.

NICTD plans to spend about $2.75 million to add gates, lights and bells at the Hegewisch South Shore station after the death of Grace Bentkowski. The work follows a diagnostic study and months of pressure from her family.

A Waymo-backed measure would greenlight autonomous-vehicle pilots in Illinois and could allow statewide robotaxi service after a three-year test, drawing both praise and fierce opposition.