Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Poll: Chicago Mayor Johnson's approval rating among lowest ever
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is just six months into his term, but according to a new poll, residents are unhappy with his performance.
Johnson defeated Paul Vallas in an April runoff election for the Chicago mayor’s office. Since then, Johnson has dealt with migrant issues, crime, and budgetary problems.
Chicago Sun-Times: Brandon Johnson’s first budget sails through City Council
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $16.77 billion budget breezed through the City Council on Wednesday amid concerns about police staffing and where Chicago will turn without an infusion of state and federal help for the migrant crisis.
The final vote was 41-8. It was somewhat surprising that it wasn’t unanimous, considering the budget holds the line on taxes and increases spending for an array of popular programs.
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Brandon Johnson deflects questions over proposal tying homeless tent removal to City Council votes
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday deflected questions about a City Hall controversy in which a top adviser tried to persuade an alderman to vote for parts of Johnson’s progressive agenda by tying those votes to the administration’s willingness to remove homeless camps in the alderman’s ward.
The mayor was responding to questions from reporters about the proposal, which was made by top aide Jason Lee to Ald. Bill Conway, 34th, a day after the Tribune first reported on the discussion. Conway criticized Lee’s efforts and said it was an inappropriate quid pro quo.
WTTW: Chicago to Limit Migrants to 60 Days in City Shelters as Part of New Approach to Crisis: Johnson
Migrants who make their way to Chicago will be limited to no more than 60 days in city shelters, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Wednesday, launching a new approach to the humanitarian crisis that has engulfed the city.
Johnson made the unanticipated announcement at a news conference after the Chicago City Council voted 41-8 to approve his 2024 budget, which sets aside $150 million to care for the more than 21,200 migrants sent to Chicago from the southern border, many on buses paid for by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
WBEZ: One year before Chicago’s first school board election, key details remain unresolved
Chicago education advocates landed long-sought legislation in 2021 to create the city’s first-ever elected school board. But with the first elections now a year away, many details of this new board are still unresolved — including even a few settled points that now appear open to negotiation once again.
Springfield lawmakers opened up the structure and timeline of the school board elections during the veto session last week that featured dueling proposals and boiling frustration.
Fox 32: Magnitude 3.6 earthquake hits central Illinois: USGS
A 3.6-magnitude earthquake hit Illinois Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At first, some people in La Salle thought it was a plane crash, someone pounding on the door, or even a chemical explosion, but no one ever guessed it would be an earthquake in north central Illinois.