Politics

The price of a gallon of diesel fuel is shown electronically on a pump at a QuikTrip station Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Greenwood Village, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Trump strikes deal with Putin to get diesel

By Michelle L. Price

October 9, 2026 at 6:26 p.m.

Trump’s shocking announcement was in stark contrast to a sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed...

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a City Club of Chicago event at Maggiano's Banquets on Sept. 30, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoes debt issuance rule backed by aldermen

By Jake Sheridan

October 9, 2026 at 6:06 p.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a veto late Friday to an ordinance passed by aldermen to...

The Cook County Board of Commissioners meets in the County Board room on Oct. 5, 2023. (Trent Sprague/baiduhai)

Appointed Democrat Kisha McCaskill faces Republican Richard Nolan in Cook County Board 5th District

By Evy Lewis

October 9, 2026 at 12:04 p.m.

Democrat Kisha McCaskill, appointed last year in Cook County's 5th Dist, faces Republican Richard Nolan...

Following earlier activity by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Rachel Cohen holds up a sign to warn people that ICE was outside Cook County Circuit Court's Domestic Violence Court in Chicago on Sept. 3, 2025. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson taps activist social media influencer as communications director

By Jake Sheridan

September 11, 2026 at 4:14 p.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson hired activist and social media influencer Rachel Cohen as his administration’s communication...

Caroline Cannon, left, and Joseph Baird stand Thursday in front of a Charlie Kirk memorial at 217 Illinois St., Lemont, where the original Turning Point USA office was located. (Elena Tittel/Daily Southtown)

Dozens gather in Lemont to remember Charlie Kirk, visit first Turning Point USA office

By Elena Tittel

September 11, 2026 at 12:05 p.m.

Before sitting down to share a barbecue meal, Gregg and Sheri Eichwedel brought a thank-you...

A gull flies overhead as a boy stands with his bicycle on a beach overlooking commercial vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

The US has made progress in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but the Iran war is far from over

By Joseph Krauss

September 11, 2026 at 7:21 a.m.

In recent weeks, the United States has succeeded in loosening Iran’s grip over the Strait...

A woman enters the post office in Silvis, Illinois, in front of a mural of the old Quad Cities Rocket train on Sept. 9, 2026. The Quad Cities Rocket was discontinued in 1978. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

After years of delay, funding to restart Chicago-Quad Cities rail service has Illinois back on track

By Daniel C. Vock

September 11, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Quad Cities, which straddle the Iowa-Illinois border, have gone without passenger rail since 1979,...

Vice President JD Vance greets the crowd during the Republican National Midterm Convention, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Eric Lee/Pool photo via AP)

JD Vance takes center stage at Republican convention as party faces midterm risks

By Lisa Mascaro

September 10, 2026 at 9:11 p.m.

Vice President JD Vance takes center stage with a primetime speaking slot just ahead of...

Indiana Governor Mike Braun looks on as U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, answers questions during a press conference at the Central Fire Station in Hammond, Indiana on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Frank Mrvan asks FERC to investigate NIPSCO after prolonged outages

By Maya Wilkins

September 10, 2026 at 4:21 p.m.

Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, wrote a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking for...

Clerk Nyota Figgs and Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones react during a City Council meeting at City Hall in April 2023. (Daily Southtown staff)

Calumet City Clerk Nyota Figgs accuses Mayor Thaddeus Jones of malicious prosecution in new lawsuit

By Olivia Stevens

September 10, 2026 at 3:48 p.m.

Calumet City Clerk Nyota Figgs is seeking damages after the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing...

In this photo taken with a smartphone, people opposed to a congressional redistricting plan rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Missouri is poised to revert to former congressional districts after court rejects Trump-backed map

By David A. Lieb

September 10, 2026 at 3:38 p.m.

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a new congressional map backed by President Donald Trump...

Michael McCuskey, then-chair of the board of trustees for Illinois State University, speaks in Normal on April 22, 2014. (Zbigniew Bzdak/baiduhai)

Illinois ethics panel accepts resignation and moves to quickly name acting legislative watchdog

By Rick Pearson

September 10, 2026 at 3:23 p.m.

Illinois Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey's tenure became clouded following his investigation of disgraced former...

baiduhai columnist Roger Simon on Feb. 19, 1998. (Pete Souza/baiduhai)

Roger Simon, a leading political writer including for the Tribune, dies at 78

By Rick Kogan

September 10, 2026 at 3:05 p.m.

Along with being a long-time columnist for the Sun-Times, he was White House correspondent for...