We trail Mayor Lori Lightfoot as she outlines her safety plan for the holiday weekend and addresses the controversy over her security detail.
Stories by paris schutz
Spotlight Politics: Mayor Lightfoot vs. the Council Machine
May 22, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued a stern warning to City Council members in her inaugural address. Our politics team tackles that story and other headlines in our weekly roundtable.
Lightfoot Recounts Ancestor’s Tragedy in the Jim Crow South
May 20, 2019 | Paris Schutz
The little-known story of Lori Lightfoot’s grandfather who was murdered in the Jim Crow South nearly 100 years ago.
Lightfoot Rewards ‘Reform’ and ‘Old Guard’ Alderman in Council Shake-Up
May 17, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot releases her picks for committee chairmanships, proposing that Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) lead the Finance Committee that was led for decades by Ald. Ed Burke (14th).
Spotlight Politics: Lightfoot, New City Council Prepare to Take Over
May 15, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot and some Chicago aldermen are already in a stare down over aldermanic power. Our politics team tackles that story and other headlines in our weekly roundtable.
Lightfoot, Aldermen Battle Over Aldermanic Prerogative
May 14, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Lori Lightfoot campaigned on forcing change in the City Council, and now she is looking to take away the unilateral power aldermen have to influence decisions in their wards.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Joins ‘Chicago Tonight’ for Exit Interview
May 13, 2019 | Paris Schutz
To his supporters, Rahm Emanuel was the brash, bright, big-city mayor who unapologetically raised Chicago’s profile as a global city. To his critics, he was a heavy-handed, top-down leader. On Monday evening, the outgoing mayor joins us in discussion.
Controversial Minister Louis Farrakhan Speaks at St. Sabina
May 9, 2019 | Paris Schutz
The Nation of Islam leader who was recently banned from Facebook spoke Thursday in a wide-ranging sermon that hit upon some of the anti-Semitic and black nationalist themes he has come to be known for.
Spotlight Politics: Illinois Finds $1.5 Billion in Budget Money
May 8, 2019 | Paris Schutz
A new wrinkle on the age-old tale of Illinois’ pension mess. Our politics team digests the top stories of the week.
Former Mayoral Candidate Faces New Questions About Campaign Spending
A WTTW News exclusive
Apr 17, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Amara Enyia received big donations from some music superstars during her bid for mayor. But state election officials are now looking into exactly how that money is accounted for.
Chicago Developer Linked to Ald. Burke Faces Bribery Charge from US Attorney
Apr 15, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Federal prosecutors allege a Chicago developer steered business to 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke in exchange for Burke’s help getting a City Hall permit.
Spotlight Politics: Warm Send-Off for Mayor Emanuel
Apr 10, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Mayor Rahm Emanuel gets a warm send-off from his colleagues at his final City Council meeting. Our politics team tackles that and some of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering over Lincoln Yards.
City Council Approves Massive TIFs for Lincoln Yards, The 78
Apr 10, 2019 | Paris Schutz
After months of debate, the controversial $1 billion public subsidy for Lincoln Yards is now law. City Council approved the measure hours after Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot softened her opposition to the project.
Emanuel, Lightfoot Strike Deal on Lincoln Yards Vote, Rankling Aldermen
Apr 8, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot cut a deal on Lincoln Yards, confusing aldermen who were set to make a key vote Monday.
Burke’s Finance Committee Paid Aldermen’s Phone Bills, Travel Expenses, Records Show
Apr 4, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Ald. Ed Burke, arguably City Council’s most powerful member for much of his 50-year reign, had various ways of dishing out perks and favors to colleagues. One of those, apparently, was to help some aldermen pay their bills.
Mayor-Elect Lightfoot Mends Fences on Day One of Transition
Apr 3, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot wasted no time getting ready for her new job. Just hours after her historic victory, Lighftoot met with city leaders and talked about plans for a transition of power.
Lori Lightfoot Makes History as Chicago Mayor-Elect
Apr 2, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Lori Lightfoot has become the first African-American woman elected mayor of Chicago, defeating her opponent, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, in a landslide.
Mayoral, Aldermanic Candidates Try to Close the Deal
Apr 1, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Chicago’s historic 2019 election will soon be over, ushering in big changes to city government.
Osundairo Brothers’ Former Attorney Speaks Out
Mar 27, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Many people were surprised by the abrupt dismissal of charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. Among them, Gloria Schmidt, the former attorney for the brothers whose testimony was key to the case.
The Choice for Mayor 2019: Lori Lightfoot
Mar 26, 2019 | Paris Schutz
From humble beginnings in Massillon, Ohio, to a high-powered federal prosecutor. We bring you an in-depth profile of mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot.
Mueller Report Summary Finds No Trump Collusion With Russia
Mar 25, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Political fallout over the report’s findings is just beginning. Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti joins us with legal analysis of the document.
Lightfoot, Preckwinkle Clash on Campaign Cash
Mar 21, 2019 | Paris Schutz
The back-and-forth over political donations during Thursday’s forum was the latest in a series of contentious public appearances between Chicago mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle.
Aldermen Seek to Curb Burke ‘Staff-Loaning’ Habit
Mar 20, 2019 | Paris Schutz
The former chair of the City Council Committee on Finance is no stranger to scrutiny. But now, Ald. Ed Burke’s practice of loaning out employees to work for aldermen is coming under fire.
Why Aldermen Who Need Extra Help Call Ed Burke
A WTTW News Exclusive
Mar 14, 2019 | Paris Schutz
For years, Ald. Ed Burke ran what amounts to an employee loan-out program from his perch as head of City Council’s powerful Finance Committee. “It’s a way of exercising control,” said one City Hall staffer.
City Council OKs Lincoln Yards, Police Academy
Mar 13, 2019 | Paris Schutz
Two major projects – both of them controversial – got the full City Council vote Wednesday in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s second-to-last meeting.
Lincoln Yards Project Passes Another Hurdle
Mar 7, 2019 | Paris Schutz
The massive $6 billion Lincoln Yards development has nearly passed through all of its regulatory hurdles.