Good morning, Chicago.
President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to enact mass deportations — and his famous antipathy toward Chicago — have girded local immigration activists for the immediate aftermath of his inauguration.
But how would such an effort, which has not happened before in modern U.S. history, actually unfold? And how real are Trump’s threats to try to go after asylum-seekers, naturalized citizens and other groups on top of immigrants in the U.S. without legal permission?
Trump border czar Tom Homan has designated the nation’s third-largest city as ground zero for his plans to round up immigrants in the country illegally and other groups at an unprecedented scale, saber-rattling that could set up a high-profile showdown between progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson and the incoming Republican administration.
Chicago officials are mobilizing a legal and resource playbook to stop federal immigration agents from carrying out raids at businesses, shelters, police lock-ups and beyond.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Alice Yin.
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Speaker Johnson orders US Capitol flags raised to full height for Donald Trump’s inauguration
House Speaker Mike Johnson yesterday ordered that flags at the U.S. Capitol be raised to their full height on Inauguration Day, pausing a 30-day flag-lowering order following the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
The Republican leader’s decision means that President-elect Donald Trump will not take the oath of office for his second term under a half-staff flag, a prospect that he had previously complained about.
Pete Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, vowed yesterday to foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and confronted allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and questions about his derisive views of women in combat during a heated Senate confirmation hearing.
Hegseth repeatedly deflected the various misconduct allegations and instead focused on his own combat experience in the Army National Guard as senators determine whether the combat veteran and former TV news show host is fit to lead the U.S. military.
Chicago suffers credit downgrade following agency warning over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget
Ratings agency S&P has downgraded the city of Chicago’s general obligation debt, citing structural imbalance in the just-passed 2025 budget, limited options for new revenue down the line, and a lack of willingness among city leadership to cut spending.
A downgrade isn’t only a reputational hit; It could also increase the city’s cost to borrow money for long-term projects like Johnson’s $1.25 billion housing and development bond, which is slated to go to market early this year.
RTA proposes more bus and train service, fare hikes and stronger central agency as lawmakers prepare to debate future of transit
CTA trains every five to 10 minutes all day and better Metra service at midday, nights and weekends. One app for fares and transfers across services. Buses that can bypass traffic.
This is the vision for the future of transit set to be outlined today by Regional Transportation Authority Chairman Kirk Dillard at a lunch for the city’s business and political elite.
Overseeing the efforts would be a stronger RTA that would coordinate fares, service and construction projects among city and suburban bus and train agencies, he said. Paying for it would involve $1.5 billion for Chicago-area transit.
USDA documented insects, slime and ‘general filth’ at Boar’s Head plants, records show
Government inspectors documented unsanitary conditions at several Boar’s Head deli meat plants, not just the factory that was shut down last year after a deadly outbreak of listeria poisoning, federal records show.
Newly released reports from Boar’s Head plants in New Castle, Indiana; Forrest City, Arkansas; and Petersburg, Virginia, described multiple instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, dripping condensation falling on food, mold, insects and other problems dating back roughly six years. Last May, one inspector documented “general filth” in a room at the Indiana plant.
Promontory Point community group releases studies that support saving limestone steps
The Promontory Point Conservancy released the findings of three studies yesterday showing the limestone revetment at Promontory Point can be preserved and rehabilitated rather than replaced with concrete.
A favorite spot for many Hyde Park residents, Promontory Point, a park on the South Side, has been a community staple for more than 85 years. For decades, the community has gone back and forth with the city and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on whether to preserve and rehabilitate the historic limestone steps which protect the point from the battering waves of Lake Michigan or replace them with concrete.
Column: With embarrassing loss after embarrassing loss, is the Chicago Blackhawks rebuild leaving emotional wreckage?
A loss is just a loss, right?
Not necessarily.
If there’s anything this Chicago Blackhawks season has taught us, there are degrees to losing — and not just margins of victory, points in the standings or other statistical measures.
We’re talking about emotional damage.
Chicago basketball report: Allie Quigley inducted into DePaul Hall of Fame, and Bulls’ Torrey Craig still sidelined
Former Blue Demons and Chicago Sky star Allie Quigley was inducted into the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend, joining a class of six inductees as she was honored for her prolific Chicagoland career at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Recruited as an All-American out of Joliet Catholic Academy, Quigley led DePaul to four consecutive NCAA tournament berths from 2004 to 2008, including the program’s first-ever Sweet 16 in her sophomore year. She left the program as one of only four players to score 2,000 or more career points and remains its third all-time scorer.
An outsider no more, Intuit Art Museum opens this spring after $10 million makeover
Following an 18-month, $10 million renovation, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art will reopen this spring under a new name.
When the museum next opens its doors — scheduled for April 25, during EXPO Chicago weekend — it will be rebranded as the Intuit Art Museum. To mark the occasion, it hosts a major exhibition about artists who migrated to Chicago, taking up the new facility’s entire second floor.
Return to Taipei: A mom-and-daughter trip to Taiwan’s relaxed capital city highlights its creature comforts
Taipei is divided into 12 districts, and it’s convenient and cheap to get around by metro. Bigger metro stations are full of shops, so be prepared to be distracted. Eslite’s underground book street beneath Zhongshan station is a local favorite, and above ground, you can walk along Xinzhongshan Linear Park and explore the myriad offshoot alleyways full of hair salons, boutiques and snack shops.
2024 Readers’ Choice Food Awards: It’s time to nominate your favorite food spots from across Chicagoland
Awards season is here for much of the entertainment industry, and the Tribune food team is getting in on the fun: Nominations are now open for the 2024 Readers’ Choice Food Awards, where we give you, the readers, the opportunity to weigh in on the best food from last year.
We have 10 categories highlighting your favorites from 2024, from pop-ups to neighborhood bars to new restaurants.
After the nomination period ends Jan. 22, we’ll select five finalists in each category who will move forward to the final round, where readers can vote for their favorites. The voting period will run from Jan. 24 to Feb. 7, and we’ll announce the winners March 5.
