John Byrne

Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commissioner and Cook County Assessor candidate Kari Steele speaks to media last May.

Cook County assessor candidate Kari Steele touts, then rebukes endorsement by controversial Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner

January 19, 2022 at 10:54 a.m.

Candidates in the Cook County assessor's race are sparring over the endorsement the challenger announced from a Northwest Side alderman who has faced criticism for offensive comments he made in...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks before Chicago aldermen during a City Hall meeting on Oct. 29, 2021. Under a budget rule passed under Lightfoot in 2020, property taxes are tied to inflation.

Inflation spike means higher property taxes for Chicago homeowners next year

January 14, 2022 at 5:28 p.m.

The ongoing spike in inflation is likely to drive an increase in Chicago property taxes next year. Under a budget rule passed under Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2020, property taxes...

Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, at a City Council meeting in 2019.

Ald. Edward Burke’s legal tab is $2.7M and growing as he awaits trial on federal corruption charges

January 8, 2022 at 5:00 a.m.

Embattled Ald. Edward Burke has spent more than $2.7 million on legal fees, tapping a deep reservoir of campaign funds built up over decades as he awaits trial on charges...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, shown Dec. 20, increased funding for programs such as mental health services, affordable housing and anti-violence efforts.

COVID-19 relief money is helping prop up Chicago’s 2022 budget. But with a sizable tax increase and an election year looming, what happens when that’s gone?

January 2, 2022 at 10:11 a.m.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2022 spending plan is upon us, with a heap of federal COVID-19 recovery money and a property tax increase propping up what she proclaimed "the most progressive...

Fraternal Order of Police members, city workers and supporters rally against a vaccine mandate outside Chicago City Hall ahead of a City Council meeting on Oct 25, 2021.

Vaccine mandate upheld for Chicago firefighters, other city workers

December 16, 2021 at 5:45 p.m.

An arbitrator has ruled that several unions, including one representing firefighters, must follow Mayor Lori Lightfoot's COVID-19 vaccination policy. The mayor announced her controversial mandate in August, requiring that all...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, shopping with 5-year-old Malia O'Neal Smith during "Christmas in the Wards" in Pullman Tuesday, said her proposed ordinance would encourage healthier choices for kids.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to require healthy drink options with kids’ meals is already taking effect statewide thanks to new Illinois law

December 16, 2021 at 6:23 p.m.

When Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced her intent Wednesday to require Chicago restaurants to market only healthy drinks such as water, juice and milk with kids' meals, she said the city...

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Cook County assessor candidate Kari Steele touts, then rebukes endorsement by controversial Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner

Inflation spike means higher property taxes for Chicago homeowners next year

Ald. Edward Burke’s legal tab is $2.7M and growing as he awaits trial on federal corruption charges

COVID-19 relief money is helping prop up Chicago’s 2022 budget. But with a sizable tax increase and an election year looming, what happens when that’s gone?

Vaccine mandate upheld for Chicago firefighters, other city workers

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to require healthy drink options with kids’ meals is already taking effect statewide thanks to new Illinois law

Mayor Lightfoot: Northwest Side affordable housing vote a win against ‘grip of segregation’

Anjanette Young botched raid settlement: ‘No amount of money could erase what Ms. Young has suffered’

Sports betting at Chicago stadiums gets the go-ahead

Chicago affordable housing project headed to council vote despite alderman’s objection to ‘complete overstep’