A.D. Quig –

Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th, from left, Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th, and Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th, speak outside chambers after Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered his budget address on Oct. 21, 2026, at Chicago's City Hall. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Chicago aldermen open budget hearings questioning if Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan is truly balanced

October 26, 2026 at 6:28 p.m.

Facing incredulity Monday from many aldermen who bucked Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget last year, his finance team defended his $17.6 billion 2027 spending plan.

Mayor Brandon Johnson arrives to deliver his budget address on Oct. 21, 2026, at Chicago City Hall. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

In Mayor Brandon Johnson’s fourth budget fight, is it ‘class war’ or reelection war?

October 26, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s usual critics piled on as soon as his fourth budget proposal leaked, but the appetite for another full-out revolt is missing — for now.

Pat Hynes, candidate for Cook County assessor, in his Lincoln Square campaign office on Oct. 21, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Cook County assessor favorite Patrick Hynes vows ‘stability,’ detente with appeals board

October 25, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Patrick Hynes, who ousted his former boss Fritz Kaegi in the Democratic primary, faces Libertarian Nico Tsatsoulis on Nov. 3 with backing from unions, business groups and property tax attorneys.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle listens during the County Board meeting on Oct. 22, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Cook County proposing $18 million renewal with controversial vendor Tyler Technologies

October 22, 2026 at 3:11 p.m.

If the County Board approves a renewal next month, Tyler Technologies will make up to $18 million more. That would bring its county taxpayer tab to $56.4 million from 2015...

A group of migrants exits a bus near a Greyhound station after being transported from Texas on Sept. 27, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

City property tax relief program funded by suing Texas bus companies that sent migrants

October 22, 2026 at 3:33 p.m.

Chicago is launching a property tax program setting aside $500,000 to pay for debt relief for households in three South Side neighborhoods.

Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, playfully does bicep curls with copies of the proposed budget after Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered his budget address on Oct. 21, 2026, at Chicago City Hall. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson pitches ‘Fair Share’ budget as investment in Chicago’s children

October 21, 2026 at 7:07 p.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson told aldermen Wednesday it's imperative to invest in Chicago's future generation in the next budget.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to the media at City Hall after his proposed head tax was voted down in a City Council committee meeting on Nov. 17, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson proposing corporate head tax again, sources say

October 20, 2026 at 5:29 p.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson will again propose Chicago hit big corporations with an employee head tax — with an exemption in poor parts of the city.

Mayor Brandon Johnson greets supporters before speaking at a news conference touting expanded hours for the CARE mental health first responder program on the Near West Side on Oct. 2, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Mayor Brandon Johnson fundraising trails challengers, campaign report shows

October 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Last quarter Mayor Brandon Johnson pulled in one of the lowest fundraising hauls out of the declared 2027 mayoral field.

After a City Council fight, coach house construction is now legal in many Chicago wards.

To spur housing growth, Chicago must attack prerogative, outdated zoning: report

October 13, 2026 at 5:09 p.m.

A local think tank is blaming Chicago’s aldermanic tradition of hyperlocal control of what gets built and where for “standing in the way” of making housing more affordable

The planned Amtrak maintenance facility site at the existing railyard near Rate Field is shown Oct. 6, 2026. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Who knew about Amtrak’s Bridgeport plans, and when did they know?

October 12, 2026 at 8:07 a.m.

Public records reveal some early awareness of Amtrak's Bridgeport plans by local officials, though questions remain about exactly how much they knew about its scope.

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