In the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Illinois officials condemned political violence and urged for unity.

In Butler County, Pennsylvania, Saturday, just minutes into a political rally speech, Trump quickly halted his speech, grabbed his right ear and ducked behind a podium on stage in a rural field with thousands of supporters watching as at least eight gunshots rang out.

Multiple activist groups have sued the city of Chicago, alleging the denial of permits seeking to protest at the Democratic National Convention later this summer is unconstitutional and suppresses free speech.

The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court Friday by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Anti-War Coalition, Students for a Democratic Society at UIC and the United States Palestinian Community Network. The plaintiffs applied for parade permits with the intention of leading large-scale protests during the convention Aug. 19-22.

With two weeks remaining before a planned vote on Chicago Public Schools’ $9.9 billion budget proposal, Mayor Brandon Johnson has said he won’t accept staff cuts or forgo CPS’ $175 million obligation to contribute to the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund.

In an emailed statement Friday, a spokesperson for the administration said that the mayor is “aligned with CPS on the cost-saving measures and operational efficiencies” outlined in the district’s proposal released earlier this week. But, Johnson’s office added, “He is not supportive of cuts to critical support staff. As in previous years, budget amendments may be necessary to address concerns and account for increased costs.”

For all the usual stagecraft, the Republican National Convention that opens Monday is different from Donald Trump’s previous nominating affairs.

In 2016 and 2020, Trump was the underdog heading into fall and faced criticism from within his own party. This year, he will accept the Republican nomination with his party in lockstep behind him and Democrats in turmoil over President Joe Biden’s viability.

After years of trying to acquire the struggling River Oaks shopping center for redevelopment, Calumet City announced architectural plans Thursday for a complex that incorporates retail, restaurants and housing, despite the city still not owning the property.

Gregory Williams, president of the architectural firm Gregory Ramon Design Studio, presented the City Council with visions of a sprawling, modern campus surrounded by a park that would replace sprawling pavement.

A $6 million flood-prevention project now underway in Wheeling should end decades of soggy suffering for residents of one neighborhood.

Just when you think things couldn’t get wilder across northern Illinois, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake occurred earlier this morning.

This earthquake struck around 2:53AM, and was centered to the northwest of the village of Somonauk in extreme DeKalb County.