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From Jungle To Joints: Rainforest Cafe Could Become A Weed Dispensary

If approved, the pot shop would sell medical and recreational cannabis at the former restaurant at Clark and Ohio streets.

River North, Gold Coast, Near North Side

History In The Making: Nicole Lee is Chicago’s First Chinese-American Alderperson

Mayor Lori Lightfoot selected Lee to replace convicted former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson to represent the 11th Ward, which includes Bridgeport and part of Chinatown. Her appointment was unanimously approved Monday.

Citywide

How Did Your Alderperson Vote At City Council? Track Their Decisions Here

Electronic voting makes it easier than ever to track how your alderperson is voting on certain issues, like a police settlement and controversial casino committee. We're rounding up their votes here to save you time.

Citywide

Lightfoot’s Hand-Picked Casino Review Group Gets Council Backing, Though Critics Blast ‘Undemocratic’ Process

The committee will oversee all facets of the Chicago casino proposal and is led by mayoral allies.

Citywide

Chicago’s City Council Votes Electronically For First Time After 185 Years Of Tallying Votes With Pen & Paper

The electronic voting system is part of a larger modernization of City Council business. Alderpeople also approved a $1.67 million settlement for Mia Wright, who was beaten by police at Brickyard Mall in 2020.

Citywide

Wicker Park Dispensary Owned By Black Women Gets City Council Approval, But Still Has Hurdles To Clear

The City Council signed off on a zoning change Wednesday, but the dispensary must secure a special use permit and wait out a court case about state cannabis licenses before opening.

Wicker Park, Bucktown, West Town

Developers Who Demolish Homes Near The 606, Pilsen Will Be Hit With Fees Through 2024 After Program Extended

The surcharge pulled in $120,000 from eight demolition permits over the past year, resulting in fewer demolitions, officials said. The program is an effort to slow gentrification in these areas.

Citywide

West Town Home Could Be Demolished After Key City Committee Overrules Alderperson

Ald. Daniel La Spata sought to block the demolition, but a City Council committee sided with the family who is trying to sell the house they've owned for more than five decades.

Wicker Park, Bucktown, West Town

Lightfoot Thwarts 2nd Challenge To City Workers Vaccine Mandate After Alderpeople Shun Meeting

Alderpeople who have criticized the vaccine requirement for city workers unsuccessfully pushed to scrap the mandate in October. Wednesday's meeting to consider changes to the policy was canceled after a few minutes.

Citywide

Chicagoans Could Vote On Ward Map For First Time In 30 Years As Alderpeople Send Rival Version To Ballot

Alderpeople who backed a ward map proposed by the City Council's Rules Committee are putting their map on the June 28 primary election ballot, going head to head with the map created by the Latino Caucus.

Citywide

Embattled Lightfoot Pick To Lead Police Oversight Agency Approved By City Council

Andrea Kersten's nomination was stalled for months after 20 alderpeople condemned a report from her agency that recommended discipline for a slain Chicago Police Officer.

Citywide

$1.67 Million Settlement For Woman Beaten By Police At Brickyard Mall Blocked By 4 Aldermen

Alds. Ray Lopez, Silvana Tabares, Felix Cardona and Nick Sposato blocked a vote on the police misconduct lawsuit settlement for Mia Wright, who was attacked when she went shopping at Brickyard Mall in 2020.

Belmont Cragin, Hermosa

Lightfoot’s Plan To Sue Gang Leaders To Prevent Gun Violence Hits Bump After Council Delays Vote

Alds. Chris Taliaferro (29th) and Anthony Napolitano (41st) punted a vote on the ordinance until the City Council's next meeting in March.

Citywide

Lightfoot’s Plan To Sue Gang Leaders For Assets To Prevent Violence Faces Tough Vote Wednesday

The proposal is one of several on City Council's agenda Wednesday that will put policing and police reform front and center.

Citywide

Lightfoot’s Plan To Sue Gang Members For Assets Clears Key Committee Hurdle, But Could Face A Tight Vote At City Council

The mayor proposed the ordinance as a way to fight violent crime. Critics have said it is too broad, relies on erroneous assumptions about crime and could open the city to civil rights litigation.

Citywide

Voters Should Decide On Chicago’s New Ward Map, Latino Caucus And Independent Group Say As They Join Forces To Push For Referendum

The head of the City Council Black Caucus fired back that the Latino Caucus map proposal would "reduce the gains the Black community has made in Chicago."

Citywide

Lightfoot’s Pick For Police Oversight Agency Clears Key Committee Hurdle In Tight Vote

Andrea Kersten's nomination to lead the Civilian Office of Police Accountability will be reviewed by the full City Council amid ongoing criticism over the agency's decision to include slain Officer Ella French in a disciplinary report.

Citywide

Mask, Vax Mandates Should Be Lifted Ahead Of Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Aldermen Tell City’s Top Doc 

Eleven alderpeople want mask and vaccine requirements relaxed by Friday, but city health officials say they can't drop their requirements before the state does.

Citywide

Alderpeople Emerge From Ward Remap Negotiations Sunday Without A Compromise

The two sides emerged without a compromise, sniping that the other wasn’t open to negotiations. If they can't compromise, Chicagoans will vote on competing proposals in June.

Citywide

New Ordinance Would Stop City From Charging Carjacking Victims Hundreds In Towing And Storage Fees

If your car ends up in a city lot after it was stolen, you can be charged a $150 tow fee and a $25 per day storage fee. The city lets victims appeal to get their money back, but they shouldn't have to, one alderman says.

Citywide
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