It’s not officially winter, but it sure felt like it this week. Chicago got a preview of what the season may have in store, with the city seeing 2 to 4 inches of lake-effect snow from Sunday night into Monday, while northwest Indiana was hit with 5 to 10 inches. What else happened this week? Let’s recap.
On Sunday, O’Hare International Airport airport had to cancel 400 flights and delay another 1,150 due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s order to cut service during the government shutdown. But that ended Wednesday, with eight Senate Democrats — including Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin — crossing party lines to pass the GOP’s plan to reopen the government. Durbin, who is not seeking reelection, faced a lot of criticism for his decision, including from Gov. JB Pritzker. Meanwhile, three Democrats who hope to take Durbin’s seat vowed to hold President Donald Trump accountable during a candidate forum on Thursday.
Democrats in the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill released several emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that suggest Trump may have known about his sex abuse operations. Quickly after, Republicans in the committee released 20,000 additional documents. Then, the House swore in Democrat Adelita Grijalva after a seven-week delay. Grijalva quickly provided the last signature needed to advance a petition forcing the chamber to vote on releasing the so-called Epstein files.
The top immigration official on the ground in Chicago, Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, is expected to leave the city and take most of his agents with him. But this change does not mean that the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts will end. In fact, U.S. Immigration and Customs agents took over several apartment complexes in Northbrook on Wednesday and arrested one man. Hundreds of people arrested during Operation Midway Blitz were released on bond by a federal judge after their cases were challenged under a consent decree that seeks to limit warrantless arrests.
Democratic congressional candidate and content creator Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh and five others plead not guilty to federal conspiracy charges that stemmed from protests at the Broadview immigration facility. Immigration agents’ weekend activity in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood inspired Gov. JB Pritzker to visit Tuesday, when he was confronted by progressive Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez, 25th, about his opposition to the mayor’s corporate head tax. Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, interrupted the tense exchange over the ongoing budget fight.
Speaking of tense, the City Council’s Finance Committee chair, Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd
More Top Picks Best Powered Usb Hubs For Pcs
, warned Mayor Brandon Johnson against moving forward with a vote on his budget plan and said that she does not support the $21-per-employee monthly head tax on companies. Earlier in the week, several aldermen questioned Ernst & Young and city officials on a report that gave the city ideas that could help close the budget gap.In a seeming reversal from what Chicago sports fans have come to expect in recent years, the Chicago Bears could be in playoff contention. The team notched their sixth win in seven games Sunday, with a 24-20 victory over the New York Giants. The city’s other teams weren’t as lucky: The Blackhawks ended their three-game winning streak against the Devils on Thursday and the Bulls lost to the Pistons on Wednesday, their fourth straight.
And in big news for Chicago’s dining scene this week, Alinea lost a Michelin star. The French guide announced that the modernist restaurant by award-winning chef Grant Achatz was demoted from three stars — its highest rating — to two stars.
Well, that’s all for this week! Here’s the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz, this time with excerpts and utterances from Nov. 9 to 15. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.