Welcome to April, quotes readers! Right on cue, we’ve had plenty of showers, so expect lots of flowers next month. Well enough with the seasonal adages, let’s get into the news.
Much to the dismay of White Sox fans, the team’s home opener was delayed Thursday, with the game postponed a day due to the aforementioned weather. Turns out, it was worth the wait. In the 10th inning Friday, right fielder Tristan Peters hit a walk-off single for the Sox to beat the Blue Jays 5-4 at Rate Field.
Nationally, the Supreme Court heard arguments this week over the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn birthright citizenship. The justices appeared poised to reject those restrictions. Meanwhile, the record-long partial government shutdown is not over, but Transportation Security Administration officers started getting their paychecks this week following President Donald Trump’s executive order. While Congress fails to make progress on a funding bill, the president also promised to sign an order to pay all Department of Homeland Security employees. And on Wednesday, four astronauts embarked on humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than 50 years with the successful launch of the Artemis II mission. See photos from the journey, here.
Back on earth, the U.S. commander in chief provided an update on the Iran war in a prime-time address Wednesday night, saying American forces would “finish the job” soon, as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion.” The next day, Iran fired more missiles at neighboring states, and on Friday, the nation shot down two U.S. military planes.
In his 2027 budget released Friday, Trump proposed boosting defense spending
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to $1.5 trillion, a hefty increase amid the conflict in the Middle East. The president also fired Pam Bondi as attorney general on Thursday, promoting Todd Blanche, his former lawyer and the deputy attorney general, to acting leader of the Justice Department.But Washington wasn’t the only place with turnover. Chicago Public Schools’ second-in-command stepped down Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson removed the Chicago Housing Authority board chair from his leadership position, and the mayor’s first chief homelessness officer exited his administration after two years. Johnson’s team, however, made progress this week on two fronts related to housing and affordability: The administration unveiled its five-year plan for tackling homelessness in the city, and coach houses and granny flats were legalized.
Easter is upon us, and in recognition of the Holy Week, a judge allowed Chicago-area clergy members to enter the Broadview immigration processing center and minister to the detainees inside — despite the government’s objections. The west suburban facility was the center of protests during last fall’s Operation Midway Blitz, which led to roughly 3,800 detentions, according to Tribune analysis of recently released data. Nearly 2,500 people were deported during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in the city, and most of them had no criminal records.
It was also a busy week in the world of Chicago sports. The Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey on Monday after a series of religious tirades on social media, the Blackhawks were officially eliminated from playoff contention, and the Bears announced they’re aiming to open a new stadium by 2030 — whether it’s in Arlington Heights or Indiana.
Plus, Illinois beat Big Ten rival Iowa 71-59 last Saturday to advance to the Final Four, marking the team’s first appearance in more than 20 years. The Illini are now preparing to take on UConn this Saturday in Indianapolis, with the hope of moving on to the coveted NCAA Finals.
That’s all for this week. Time to test your knowledge with the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz for March 29 to April 4.
Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.