“While progressive, immigrant-led coalitions are reshaping urban politics, there are unique demographic and institutional realities of each city. If there’s a critical lesson to be learned it is to recognize that political power — and its limits — are ultimately determined by results. Chicagoans are showing signs of Johnson fatigue, frustrated by (the mayor’s) divisiveness, excuse making and the general lack of results in addressing the city’s most critical issues.”

In the decision, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly did not indicate if he believed the homeowners would ultimately succeed in their case. But the judge said they had at least to this point shown that they deserved the chance to make the county defend the constitutionality of its so-called “tax sale” collection system and address the accuracy of the scandal-plagued property tax assessment system that underpins the operation.

“It’s an all-out attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt. And I don’t know how any alder who represents single-family dwellings votes in favor of this proposal because of quality of life — whether it’s parking, garbage or noise,” Ald. Marty Quinn said. “In my case, I’m fighting for a new police district. We have 250,000 residents who live in our police district. Now we’re going to be adding more residents without necessary police protection?”

A social media post encouraged followers to “bring 31^st Beach to the burbs,” telling teens to gather at Centennial Beach in Naperville. Naperville police say officers were at the beach just in case, but no disturbance occurred. It’s unclear whether the incident at Sunset Pool was related to the teen takeover planned in Naperville.

A ward that spans parts of Chicago’s West and Northwest sides went five months without a single murder earlier this year. What is different in the ward, said Ald. Jessie Fuentes, is the involvement some who might not otherwise be invited to the conversation about violence prevention — like members of gangs that would otherwise would not be collaboration with one another to keep the neighborhood safe.

While the number may seem high, it marks the lowest Fourth of July weekend toll since at least 2015. Although 2018 saw one fewer victim, that year’s holiday weekend spanned nearly six days due to the Fourth falling on a Wednesday.

Researchers say that exceptional clearances are supposed to be used sparingly, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Chicago. Overall, researchers have estimated that police departments clear 3 to 5 percent of cases through the exceptional means category; for homicide cases, that number is 6 percent. In Chicago, between 2010 and 2024, police deemed 13 percent of all homicides as “exceptional.”

At the Socialism 2025, Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates delivered a speech that mocked the Fourth of July and promoted militant activism—raising real questions about her focus as an education leader. “Fireworks? Ain’t no damn America.” “You build a militancy… if it has to go down, it goes down. You call the strike.” “So the reimagination of this place that we are trying to save—but kinda not, because we ain’t out here saving it.”

The Chicago Teachers Union won in its new contract 4 percent raises plus additional salary increases for experience and advanced degrees. Because the old contract expired last June, the raises cover a whole school year and will cost the district more than $100 million. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said “Retro pay is wages that are already earned and owed to the educator who worked the entire school year in good faith without a contract.”