“What’s different? The list of plaintiffs, for one thing: Protect Our Parks has been joined by a half-dozen new plaintiffs, all bona fide south-siders. They include the Nichols Park Advisory Council; author, critic, and University of Chicago professor W.J.T. Mitchell; and journalist Jamie Kalven. You read that right: the widely respected human rights activist and investigative reporter responsible for bringing the Laquan McDonald video to light is among those suing in hopes of getting the OPC to pick a different south-side location.”

A report from the University of Chicago found only seven percent of scavenger sale properties have been returned to the market since 2007; a disproportionate amount of which are in predominantly black and brown neighborhoods.

The complaint noted all of Jeanne Hedgepeth’s comments were on her personal Facebook page, and she did not identify herself as a teacher or employee of Palatine High School District 211. Further, none of the people she engaged with in those posts were District 211 students or employees.

After the first five months of this year outpaced 2020 in both shootings and murders, Matthew Saniie, Foxx’s chief data officer, said, “I don’t know if we’re at a point where we’ve established a new pattern of violence that we should expect in our city.”

Dr. Joe Schwieterman, an expert in transportation and urban planning, said the rise in shootings, specifically on the Dan Ryan, could end up having a major economic affect on the city. “We have enough problem right now with our image with crime without this sort of drive-by motorist risk.”

But while Chicago cut 400 officers in 2020, they’ve increased security for top city officials. OpentheBooks found over $17 million was spent between 2015 and 2020 to guard city officials. Mayor Lifghtfoot defended extra security near her home, saying her family received threats.

Among the 31 campuses deciding to reduce their in-school police force, seven have voted to fully remove officers. The remaining 24 have voted to retain one of two officers this coming year and use the savings from the force reduction for programs such as social workers and private security.

The Cubs’ partnership with DraftKings could put Major League Baseball’s first stadium sportsbook at Wrigley Field. But first, the City Council must lift the ban on sports betting in Chicago. Ald. Walter Burnett, whose ward includes the United Center, wants to do just that.

Ald. Nick Sposato said there’s enough Police Department oversight already. “We don’t need police reform; we need family reform. Families need to take ownership and start watching over their children.”

As more people pushed city leaders to re-assess which historical figures are honored throughout Chicago, Lightfoot announced earlier this year the future of more than three dozen statues and public art pieces would be assessed by a monuments and memorials advisory committee. Some of the work of that group has been shrouded in secrecy.

“Under The Chicago Way the people understand the rules. They know the political class lies to them. And the political class knows that they know.”