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Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
How the George Floyd protests reshaped public safety in Chicago
The murder of George Floyd five years ago set off not just protests but full-scale riots around the country, including in Chicago. Why it matters: The protests fundamentally changed the way Chicago handles public demonstrations and protects communities. The city still uses some of the police tactics used in 2020, such as expressway ramp closures and curfews, to handle large-scale protests and celebrations. Flashback: On the night of May 29, 2020, mass gatherings grew unruly across the city, with riots sparking up in neighborhoods like Chatham and the South Loop. In the days following, downtown protesters set fire to police cars and looted several businesses along the Mag Mile. Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago police made the rarely-used call to bring in the National Guard and raise the bridges along the Chicago River to control protests. What they're saying: "That horrible series of days is a big milestone in my time as mayor," Lightfoot told Axios at a recent event. "We were faced with the kind of crisis that this city hadn't faced in decades, since the death of Martin Luther King. I made a lot of decisions in the moment, some of which I never would have thought I'd make, like calling in the National Guard." Lightfoot said the city knew major crowds were heading downtown but that the crowds were hijacked by people intending to fight the police and cause chaos. "I remember sitting at OEMC [911 Center] watching this mayhem play out all across the city," Lightfoot continued. "There was a CTA bus caught on Wacker Drive, going eastbound. The crowd was trying to flip the bus with passengers in it. That told me a lot about the moment we are in, which was part of why we had to raise the bridges to give our police department a chance to maintain public order." Yes, but: Lightfoot and then-police superintendent David Brown also authorized questionable tactics to control protesters, including kettling. There were reports of physical altercations with batons. The city shut down expressway ramps to deter protesters from coming downtown and instituted a rarely used curfew. Over 100 protesters were arrested and several officers were injured on the night of May 29 alone. Zoom out: Lightfoot used curfews again in 2022 to curb downtown teen gatherings, while Mayor Brandon Johnson and new police superintendent Larry Snelling used temporary curfews and kettling during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, according to protesters, but Snelling has denied using kettling. Expressway ramp closures and checkpoints have been utilized again for downtown celebrations, including the Mexican Independence Day caravans, while the City Council is debating " snap curfews" to give the police more power to deter large teen gatherings in the Loop. Since the looting on Michigan Avenue, many retailers have left the area or have hired extra security. The police just ended scarecrow policing — parking police cruisers on public roads with their flashers on to prevent crime — along the Mag Mile last year, after it had been used since the looting in 2020. Between the lines: Lightfoot says the protests left a lasting mark on her political career. "You can't be the mayor of Chicago because you want everybody to love you," Lightfoot said. "You have to make decisions that are in the best interest of the well-being of the city, not by just following which way the political winds are blowing. I feel proud of my administration's legacy, but I think that cost me a lot."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forecast: Continued cold, chance of passing flurries
Conditions will continue to be cold in the nighttime and overnight hours and there may be some passing flurries. Look for Thursday to again start with bone-chilling wind chills, possibly as low as -10 to -15 degrees. The day will give us generous sunshine that will help each that chill slightly by the afternoon, with highs peaking in the lower- or middle-20s. A fairly steady northwest wind at 10 to 18 mph, with some gusts near 25 mph, will keep wind chills in the single digits during the afternoon. Lake effect snow looks like it'll impact northwest Indiana overnight tonight and into Thursday morning. A Winter Weather Advisory for LaPorte County, Ind., kicked in at 3 p.m. Wednesday and is set to expire at 6 p.m. Thursday. Areas on the eastern side of Lake Michigan could see between 2 and 7 inches of accumulating snow. Weather Maps Weather & Climate News Interactive Radar Weather Bug Cameras 7-Day Outlook Weather Center Newsletter The current area of bitterly cold air will finally break down in coming days. A large area of frigid arctic air currently in place will slowly migrate back into eastern Canada by this weekend. The jet stream will become more westerly, delivering milder, Pacific-origin air. The City of Chicago coordinates a network of more than 190 public facilities available for warming. This includes participating Chicago Public Library locations, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department and City Colleges of Chicago facilities during business or designated hours. Department of Family & Support Services: The Chicago Department of Family & Support Services activates warming areas at the city's six community service centers when temps are 32 degrees or below. The warming areas are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reduced locations on holidays. Under extreme cold conditions, as defined by the National Weather Service and communicated by OEMC, warming center hours of operation at 10 S. Kedzie may be extended. Seniors are welcome at any of DFSS's 21 senior centers. DFSS partners with OEMC to use robocalls to inform seniors of key information regarding how to stay safe during extreme weather. Visit for senior center locations and hours. Those seeking a warm place to go after hours can also call 3-1-1 to be connected with available services. Individuals requiring emergency overnight shelter should also call 3-1-1. DFSS Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) teams and street outreach partners work proactively with unhoused individuals to connect with warming options, shelter and well-being checks. Residents are also encouraged to check on relatives, neighbors and friends during a winter weather emergency. All Community Service Centers (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) Englewood Community Service Center – 1140 West 79th Street. Garfield Community Service Center – 10 South Kedzie Avenue. Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center – 4314 South Cottage Grove. North Area Community Service Center – 845 West Wilson Avenue. South Chicago Community Service Center – 8650 South Commercial Avenue. Trina Davila Community Service Center – 4312 West North Avenue. Senior Centers (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) – visit for locations. Chicago Public Library locations, visit for hours and locations. Information about Cook County warming centers outside the City of Chicago area is available on the county government website at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Monday forecast: Cold Weather Advisory for Chicagoland, wind chills well below zero
Chicagoland is in the deep freezer to start the week, with a Cold Weather Advisory in effect until Tuesday morning. It's a dangerously cold start to Monday, with air temperatures hovering in the single digits to below zero and wind chill values ranging from minus-20 to minus-25. That's much colder than it was at the same time Sunday morning. Just after 5 a.m. Monday, the highest air temp reading in Chicagoland was just 5, while the low was minus-5. While it's clear out early Monday, it will quickly get mostly cloudy for the rest of the day, with light snow showers or flurries possible in southern areas. Air temps will fall below zero overnight, then Tuesday will dawn frigid again, with dangerously cold wind chills. Finally, by Tuesday afternoon, wind chills could get back to above zero, while air temps creep back up into the teens and then into the low to mid-20s for the latter part of the week. Here's a timeline of projected wind chills from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon: Weather Maps Weather & Climate News Interactive Radar Weather Bug Cameras 7-Day Outlook Weather Center Newsletter There's a chance for snow showers on Wednesday, with temps in the mid-teens by the afternoon. Temps will finally warm into the 20s by Thursday and Friday, with partly sunny skies. The early weekend forecast shows temps in the mid-30s by Sunday, which will feel downright balmy compared to the start of this week. Monday is Presidents' Day, so Chicago Public Schools and other area schools are closed for the day, anyway. But as dangerously cold weather settles into Chicagoland to start the week, you can click HERE for the latest update on school closings and delays around the area. The City of Chicago coordinates a network of more than 190 public facilities available for warming. This includes participating Chicago Public Library locations, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department and City Colleges of Chicago facilities during business or designated hours. Department of Family & Support Services: The Chicago Department of Family & Support Services activates warming areas at the city's six community service centers when temps are 32 degrees or below. The warming areas are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reduced locations on holidays. Under extreme cold conditions, as defined by the National Weather Service and communicated by OEMC, warming center hours of operation at 10 S. Kedzie may be extended. Seniors are welcome at any of DFSS's 21 senior centers. DFSS partners with OEMC to use robocalls to inform seniors of key information regarding how to stay safe during extreme weather. Visit for senior center locations and hours. Those seeking a warm place to go after hours can also call 3-1-1 to be connected with available services. Individuals requiring emergency overnight shelter should also call 3-1-1. DFSS Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) teams and street outreach partners work proactively with unhoused individuals to connect with warming options, shelter and well-being checks. Residents are also encouraged to check on relatives, neighbors and friends during a winter weather emergency. Warming Center Locations available Monday, Jan. 6 – Friday, Jan. 10: All Community Service Centers (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) Englewood Community Service Center – 1140 West 79th Street. Garfield Community Service Center – 10 South Kedzie Avenue. Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center – 4314 South Cottage Grove. North Area Community Service Center – 845 West Wilson Avenue. South Chicago Community Service Center – 8650 South Commercial Avenue. Trina Davila Community Service Center – 4312 West North Avenue. Senior Centers (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) – visit for locations. Chicago Public Library locations, visit for hours and locations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's Illinois approval rating • Missing teenager • Early voting in Dolton
CHICAGO - President Donald Trump's approval rating among Illinois residents has increased slightly in his first weeks in office; a Detroit mother experienced a heartbreaking tragedy when two of her children died from apparent hypothermia; a missing 18-year-old who went missing was found dead in Chicago's south suburbs. These are the top stories on Fox 32's Week in Review. A new poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating in Illinois at 45% in his third week in office, reflecting a slight increase from his election day numbers. FULL STORY Less than three days have passed since a Detroit mother experienced a heartbreaking tragedy when two of her children died from apparent hypothermia during a freezing night in the city. FULL STORY An 18-year-old man who was reported missing from Chicago's far south suburbs was found dead Sunday afternoon in Will County. FULL STORY Residents in several suburban communities can now vote early in upcoming municipal elections. Among the key races is Dolton's mayoral contest, where incumbent Tiffany Henyard faces a challenge from Jason House, a senior village trustee. FULL STORY A Chicago doctor is accused of abusing a dog that was discovered barely breathing inside a crate. A cleaning woman found the malnourished Portuguese water dog, named Betty, inside a plastic storage bin placed in a bathtub, according to police reports. FULL STORY Three key Chicago agency leaders — the aviation commissioner, the executive director of OEMC, and the chief administrator of COPA — are stepping down. FULL STORY A water main break in Skokie flooded roads and neighborhood homes, prompting a boil water order in the area and some schools to shift to remote learning Friday morning. FULL STORY An Illinois woman has been charged with stealing jewelry, handbags and clothing from homes where she worked as a babysitter and selling the items on Facebook Marketplace. FULL STORY A Country Club Hills man is behind bars after sheriff's deputies searched his home and reportedly uncovered a stash of illegal firearms, drugs, and nearly $900 in cash. FULL STORY A high-ranking member of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel has been charged in Chicago with drug conspiracy, accused of trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. FULL STORY
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
3 top Chicago officials stepping down, days after Mayor Johnson warned of City Hall firings
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Days after Mayor Brandon Johnson warned that he would be hiring holdovers from prior administrations, three top city leaders announced they are stepping down. Johnson's office announced Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee will be retiring on April 15, while Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) Executive Director Jose Tirado "will be transitioning out of his position," without providing a specific departure date. Meantime, Civilian Office of Police Accountability Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten also announced her resignation on Wednesday. Rhee, who was appointed to her post in 2018 by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, oversaw the city's airports, and was leading an $8.5 billion renovation of O'Hare International Airport, including the addition of a new Global Germinal to replace the existing Terminal 2. "Throughout her decades-long career, Commissioner Rhee embodied the best of public service, and she has left an indelible mark on our airports and our city," Johnson said in a statement on Rhee's retirement. Johnson appointed Tirado as head of OEMC after taking office in 2023. Prior to that, he'd served as the agency's top deputy. He'd also spent more than 23 years with the Chicago Police Department before joining OEMC in 2022, rising to chief of the counterterrorism bureau. Johnson praised for helping oversee reductions in crime across the city, and for taking the lead on the city's hosting of the Democratic National Convention last August. "I wish him all the best in this next chapter as we look forward to building upon the progress we have made together," Johnson said. However, days earlier, Johnson had warned that he would be firing some top city leaders while speaking at a "Faith in Government" initiative at a South Side church, where he told the audience he wished eh "would have cleaned house faster" after taking office in 2023. The mayor said he "was trying to show Godly presentation" that he could work with holdovers from previous mayoral administration when he took office, and show that people "don't have to agree with me 100% to work within my administration." But the mayor said, in hindsight, "I wouldn't have done that." "If you ain't with us, you just gotta go. So now I'm in a position now where I'll be making some decisions in the days to come, because playing nice with other people who ain't about us, it's just a waste of exercise," he said. "So there's a whole bunch of people like, 'Oh, shoot. Who's about to get fired?' Well, you about to find out. Stay tuned." A source said Tirado submitted his resignation earlier this year, and will be taking a job with the Cook County State's Attorney's office. That suggests his departure might not be connected to the mayor's threatened firings. In a statement provided by Johnson's office, Tirado thanked his staff at OEMC, as well as the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department for their commitment to public safety. "I especially want to thank the 911 and 311 operators at OEMC, who are the first line of response to every public safety incident called into the City of Chicago. The importance of the work that they do cannot be highlighted enough," he said. Rhee also thanked her colleagues and staff at the city's airports "for their incredible dedication to public service." "I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me and am extremely proud of the work that's been accomplished to move our City and our airports forward," she said in a statement provided by the mayor's office. Johnson has yet to comment on Kersten's resignation. Kersten, who oversaw the city agency that investigates shootings by Chicago police officers and allegations of police misconduct, said in a statement that "it has been a privilege to lead this agency in the service of all Chicagoans and I am incredibly proud of the transformative work that has been accomplished during my tenure."
