With one of Illinois’ largest political reporting teams, WBEZ’s Government & Politics desk holds elected officials and government bodies accountable. We cover the policy debates and political machinations happening at the state Capitol in Springfield, in Cook County government and at Chicago’s City Hall.
Amid complaints of disorder and disrespect, the council pushed off key votes on whether to rename Lake Shore Drive and a broad business package favored by the mayor.
As part of the efforts, the Treasury Department will inform states that they can use funds allotted by the American Rescue Plan to aid in reducing gun violence.
The plan would also create a guaranteed basic income for Chicago’s poorest residents, forgive debt from unpaid water bills and provide housing assistance. Left out are Chicago police, fire and emergency management departments.
President Biden set a goal of 70% of U.S. adults fully vaccinated by July 4. The White House is acknowledging Tuesday that it will likely come up short of that.
After political maneuvering kept Chicago aldermen from voting on the proposal to rename the iconic roadway after DuSable last month, the pitch is expected to be back Wednesday.
The West Side park’s project money is among more than $17 million in tax-increment financing a Chicago City Council committee approved for improvements to parks across the city.
Lacking needed votes even after last-minute changes, the long-awaited activist led-proposal to reform the Chicago Police Department was tabled.
“We can all finally celebrate. The whole country together,” says Opal Lee, 94, who has been working for years to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
More than a dozen Republican state attorneys general are suing the Biden administration over a provision in the American Rescue Plan that prevents states from using relief money for tax cuts.
Aldermen spent most of the meeting on one change — who gets to approve business signs — which some argued chips away at aldermanic prerogative.
