Nick Blumberg

Week in Review: ICE Agents Use Pepper Spray on Broadview Protesters; Loyola’s Sister Jean Retires ICE agents again fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters outside an immigration facility. And Illinois bucks the feds, recommending COVID-19 boosters for all adults.

Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review: ICE Agents Use Pepper Spray on Broadview Protesters; Loyola’s Sister Jean Retires, featuring @quinnmyers.bsky.social @monicaeng.bsky.social @sashaannsimons.bsky.social @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social & host @ndblumberg.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/09/26/w...

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will seek a third term in office next year amid growing questions about the Democrat’s ambitions for higher office.

WTTW News Correspondent @ndblumberg.bsky.social
also answers the possibility of a presidential run for Prtizker.

to.wttw.com/44vzTIF

Battery Case Dismissed Against Aurora Resident in Dispute With Former Mayor’s Campaign Team An Aurora resident who staunchly maintained his innocence on a charge of alleged battery against a member of former Mayor Richard Irvin’s campaign team had his case dismissed by a Kane County judge on...

"I told the truth right from the beginning."

In March, we told you about an Aurora resident facing battery charges--that he vehemently denied--after a dispute with some of former Mayor Richard Irvin's campaign team.

Today, his case was dismissed. @wttw.bsky.social

news.wttw.com/2025/06/04/b...

How Will State Overhaul Transit? Plus, Anti-Violence Efforts and Free Summer Movies by City Cast Chicago

I'm on City Cast Chicago today discussing the ways West Siders are addressing violence and its root causes with @ndblumberg.bsky.social and host Jacoby Cochran megaphone.link/CC3610260195

Read the @illinoisanswers.bsky.social series my story is part of: makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org

Illinois Lawmakers Unveil New Funding Sources for Chicagoland Transit, Aiming to Stave Off Disastrous Fiscal Cliff The measure, filed late Wednesday night, features a new menu of revenue sources to help keep Chicago-area buses and trains running. Lawmakers believe the measure will be enough to address the anticipa...

Shortly after unveiling a plan to restructure Chicagoland public transit, lawmakers filed a revenue measure aimed at staving off a budget gap that would have risked a "death spiral" -- and boosting funding beyond current levels @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/29/i...

CTA Paid Some Employees $1M for Remote Work They Could Not Complete, Watchdog Report Finds The Chicago Transit Authority has paid out more than $1 million over the past five years to vault operations employees for remote work, despite the fact that their work cannot be done remotely, a new ...

The state of Illinois’ Executive Ethics Commission published a series of inspector general reports, including one centered on CTA “time abuse,” which revealed some employees had been getting paid to complete no work.

Lawmakers Unveil Plan to Overhaul Chicago-Area Transit With New Oversight Agency, But No Solution for Fiscal Cliff The bill would replace the Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees CTA, Metra, and Pace, with a new entity called the Northern Illinois Transportation Authority. It would be charged with cre...

Lawmakers just released a bill overhauling Chicagoland public transit that would effectively replace the RTA and make CTA, Metra, and Pace focused on operations — but no word yet on much-needed revenues @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/28/l...

From Budget Shortfall to Transit Funding, State Lawmakers Launch Into Final Week of Spring Session The Illinois General Assembly returned from the long weekend break for its final week of the spring session. Lawmakers have until May 31 to pass a revenue and spending plan with a simple majority of v...

It's crunch time for Illinois lawmakers racing to make a May 31 deadline to pass a budget and close out the spring session. Here are some of the key issues we'll be watching @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/27/b...

The DC shooting, the DOJ investigating Chicago, an AI debacle, and much more with the great @tinasfon.bsky.social @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social @mitchtrout.bsky.social & Mariah Woelfel — 7p and streaming anytime from @wttw.bsky.social

Full story here: news.wttw.com/2025/05/14/a...

At the CTA's monthly board meeting, Ald. David Moore warned directors not to be a "backbiting snake" and push back against Mayor Brandon Johnson's rumored choice for the next CTA president, city COO John Roberson @wttw.bsky.social

Opportunities like that come around so infrequently! Seemed wrong to miss it 😂

A Pope from Chicago, a win for the mayor, fights over CPS and CTA leadership and much more with the great panel of @bpopetv.bsky.social @katpham.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social & Justin Laurence — 7pm on @wttw.bsky.social or streaming anytime!

Transit Advocates Call for a Transparent CTA Leader Search as Board Takes No Action at Quickly Scheduled Meeting The Chicago Transit Board took no action on the potential appointment of a new agency president at a hastily scheduled special board meeting Thursday afternoon, despite widespread concern the meeting ...

Rumors are swirling about Mayor Johnson’s pick to run the CTA — but at a quickly scheduled board meeting Thursday, directors took no action and advocates called for a transparent search for a candidate with transit experience @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/05/08/t...

George Ryan’s legacy, Gov. Pritzker’s call to action, Mayor Johnson’s Springfield wishlist and more with the fantastic Rachel Hinton @lkpwrites.bsky.social @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social & @heathercherone.bsky.social — 7pm on @wttw.bsky.social and streaming online!

Dick Durbin, Pope Francis, Johnson vs. Emanuel and much more on the Week in Review — 7p or streaming anytime on @wttw.bsky.social with the great Rick Pearson @sskedreporter.bsky.social @quinnmyers.bsky.social and @cptime47.bsky.social

In Chicago Appearance, Fed Chair Jerome Powell Warns of Tariff-Sparked Uncertainty and Asserts Agency’s Independence From Politics Speaking at an Economic Club of Chicago luncheon Wednesday, Powell said that despite the instability, the nation’s economy is still in a “solid position,” in particular its labor market. But he acknow...

Fed Chair Jerome Powell told the Economic Club of Chicago to expect uncertainty and a likely increase in inflation amid Trump’s tariffs—and said the central bank is staying above the political fray, despite efforts to curb independent agencies @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/04/16/c...

Donald Trump’s Threats to Yank Federal Funding from Chicago Amount to ‘Terrorism,’ Brandon Johnson Says Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s efforts to strip federal funding from cities like Chicago with laws on the books designed to protect undocumented immigrants amount to ...

The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team of @heathercherone.bsky.social @ndblumberg.bsky.social & host @brandisfriedman.bsky.social on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s comments and more of the day’s top stories.

What happened this week? Well, a lot! Get caught up on @wttw.bsky.social at 7 tonight and streaming online with the fantastic @beckyvevea.bsky.social @vimiller.bsky.social @bloomberg.com’s Shruti Singh & @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social

2-Term Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin Concedes to Challenger John Laesch Irvin, who was first elected as mayor in 2017, garnered 47.5% of the vote to Laesch’s 52.5%, according to the unofficial results available late Tuesday night.

After two terms leading the state’s second most populous city, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin conceded to his opponent, Ald. John Laesch — who’s long accused Irvin of pay to play politics @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/04/01/2...

What a week it was! Get caught up on alll the news you might have missed with the killer @wttw.bsky.social Week in Review panel @heathercherone.bsky.social @adquig.bsky.social @cptime47.bsky.social & Jacoby Cochran! news.wttw.com/2025/03/28/w...

Chicago Police Department Brass Acknowledges Officers Failed to Document 211K Traffic Stops in 2024 A Chicago Police Department spokesperson blamed data collection errors and lax supervision for the unreported stops.

NEW: Chicago Police Department officials acknowledged to @wttw.bsky.social that officers failed to document 210,622 traffic stops in 2024, even as officials work to craft new rules that would limit the ability of officers to make certain kinds of stops.

Critics Accuse Richard Irvin’s Supporters of Underhanded Campaign Tactics in Aurora Mayoral Election As the Aurora mayoral election draws near, some say campaign tactics are getting extreme in the west suburb.

As the Aurora mayoral election draws near, some say campaign tactics are getting extreme in the west suburb. (via @ndblumberg.bsky.social)

Report Card Slams Budget Mismanagement, Safety Concerns at Fermilab as New Contractor Takes Over Fermilab received near-failing federal grades in its annual report card following a tumultuous year of budget mismanagement, safety concerns and leadership turnover. Whistleblower reports highlighted ...

Fermilab received near-failing federal grades in its annual report card following a tumultuous year of budget mismanagement, safety concerns and leadership turnover.

Whistleblower reports highlighted serious problems at the premier physics facility.

to.wttw.com/4bXec6D

Critics Accuse Richard Irvin’s Supporters of Underhanded Campaign Tactics in Aurora Mayoral Election As the Aurora mayoral election draws near, some say campaign tactics are getting extreme in the west suburb.

Stolen and defaced signs, charges of misleading campaigners, and a call to the police -- critics say supporters of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin's reelection bid are employing dirty campaign tactics @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/24/c...

Award-Winning CPS Art Teacher From Ukraine Raises Funds for War Effort in Her Homeland Elena Diadenko aids the war effort in her native country. When she isn’t teaching she raises funds through art-related events — although now she has a heightened sense of urgency due to the new admini...

WTTW News met artist and teacher Elena Diadenko three years ago, soon after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now, as in 2022, Diadenko aids the war effort in her native country. When she isn’t teaching she raises funds through art-related events.

to.wttw.com/41QeCHi

New Rules for Asthma Treatment Pit Insurer Against Some Patients, Providers in Illinois People with severe asthma insured by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois may soon face a new hurdle in accessing a treatment that providers say is critically important to keeping certain patients alive a...

Some severe asthma patients will face new hurdles to treatment under BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois rules set to take effect next month @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/21/n...

Transit Agencies Release Dire Warning on Looming Service Cuts; Bus and Train Lines, Overnight and Weekend Service Could Be Slashed The transit agencies came up with the doomsday models at the RTA’s behest, responding to calls from Springfield legislators who’ve demanded specifics about how bad it could get if transit goes over th...

How bad could transit cuts get? CTA, Metra, Pace outline doomsday scenarios if state lawmakers don’t plug a $770M budget gap @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/21/t...

Johnson Presses CPS Board to Make $175M Pension Payment, Reach Agreement With CTU The new 21-member, partially elected CPS board is set to vote Thursday on whether to make that pension payment and figure out how to pay for new contracts with the unions representing teachers and pri...

The @wttw.bsky.social News Spotlight Politics team of @heathercherone.bsky.social @ndblumberg.bsky.social@amandakaschube.bsky.social & host @brandisfriedman.bsky.social on the $175 million pension payment and more of the day’s top stories.

Judge Orders Chicago to Speed Up Efforts to Make Crosswalks Accessible to Blind Pedestrians; Just 85 of 2,713 Intersections Upgraded The order comes after a 2023 ruling in federal court that Chicago’s long-running failure to protect blind pedestrians violated the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, following...

NEW: A federal judge wants Chicago to make about 71% of its signalized intersections accessible for people who are blind or have low vision within ten years, an order that follows a class action lawsuit that found the city has violated the ADA @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/03/14/j...