A 24‑member mayoral task force has pitched a downtown congestion fee, a broad tax on consumer services, electricity surcharges and pension changes to close Chicago’s budget gap.

City Manager Tom Abbate says Police Chief John Lau was terminated after a preliminary review and a crash involving a city vehicle. Deputy Chief Tyler Wright is interim chief while the Florida Highway Patrol investigates.

Towson’s GBMC landed a $6 million gift to expand its pediatric emergency and inpatient units as child patient volumes have climbed in recent years.