Molly DeVore

Know of a participating indie business missing from @blockclubchi.bsky.social list? Email newsroom@blockclubchi.org.

How Chicago Protest Music Is Meeting The Political Moment "Antifascist movements attract artists," one expert said. And Chicago has a long list of musicians who fit the bill, with a protest music history that goes back decades.

Bruce Springsteen has just released the anti-ICE protest song "Streets of Minneapolis."

Take a look at our history of local protest music: blockclubchi.co/4rkd2s8

Donate to Help Bring 5-Year-Old Liam Home, organized by sarai Orquiz Liam Adrian Cornejo Ramos is just 5 years old and currently in pre-K. Yesterday, he and h… sarai Orquiz needs your support for Help Bring 5-Year-Old Liam Home

Please help us bring Liam Adrian Cornejo Ramos (he’s only 5 years of age and is currently in pre-K. Yesterday, he and his father were kidnapped by ICE. This will help the family with legal services to help reunite Liam and his dad with their family.

gofund.me/be8a1b2ab

Chicagoans send 150,000 whistles to cities besieged by federal immigration agents On Friday, Emily Hilleren and Lauren Vega ferried a care package containing whistles and instructional zines to Minneapolis, the focus of the latest federal immigration action.

Holy shit the Sun-Times profiled my trip to the Twin Cities with @bibliogrrl.bsky.social!

Shout out to @mostlybree.kitrocha.com and @courtneymilan.com and @hankscorpio.bsky.social and @dansinker.com and all the incredible folks printing whistles and spreading the word.

Northwest Sider Breaks Birding Record Again — This Time With Rare Whooping Crane Sighting Norwood Park resident Tarik Shahzad spotted 296 species of birds in 2025, breaking the Cook County Birding Big Year record for the second year in a row.

He's done it again

I first wrote about Tarik Shahzad last year after he broke the Cook County birding record with 294 species

This time he did it with 296 species and his record-breaking bird was a whooping crane, an animal that was almost extinct 80 years ago

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/15/n...

Former Resident Of South Shore Building Raided By Feds Is Now Missing, Police Say Samantha Stamps, 56, was last seen near the Central Park Pink Line stop. She's been experiencing homelessness since the building was vacated, and is known to frequent areas in North Lawndale, police s...

Samantha Stamps is missing. She has experienced homelessness since her old building — raided by feds in September — was ordered vacated by a judge due to unsafe conditions.

Stamps was last seen near the Central Park Pink Line and frequents areas in N. Lawndale. blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/14/f...

Minneapolis schools cancel classes after Border Patrol clash disrupts dismissal at Roosevelt Minneapolis schools closed for the week citing safety concerns after an encounter involving armed Border Patrol agents near Roosevelt High School.

Minneapolis public schools canceled classes officials after Roosevelt High School said armed Border Patrol officers came on school property during dismissal Wednesday and began tackling people, handcuffed two staff members and released chemical weapons on bystanders
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 32 people who died in custody The deaths came as the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement, detaining a record number of people

ICE’s public violence should be a reminder that they commit brutal acts in private facilities too.

Every report has been horrific and we only have the smallest glimpse into the horrors.

Paterno’s Pizza Gets New Owners, But 'Heart And Soul' Of Beloved NW Side Business Will Remain Three generations of Paternos ran the Jefferson Park pizzeria, which began as a liquor store in 1954. The Patel family bought the restaurant and has pledged to "respect everything that made Paterno’s ...

“It’s going to take some adjusting, but it feels good to know that this place and everything that went with this entire family is going to stay alive"

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/07/p...

The first Far Northwest Side newsletter of the year is here 🗞️🍾

You can subscribe here: blockclubchicago.org/newsletters/

October Café Adds 2nd Location And 2 Coffee Shops Open On Far Northwest Side Kisbi Coffee is serving commuters inside the Jefferson Park Transit Center, and Ancient Grounds Coffee Co. has a new spot in Forest Glen.

Norwood Park's October Cafe is opening a second location in Gladstone Park later this month 🎃 ☕

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/06/o...

What is it like to live with pollution? Chicagoans document with disposable cameras. | Chicago Sun-Times This visual storytelling project takes us into Chicago's neighborhoods to see how environmental factors affect people's lives.

chicago.suntimes.com/graphics/env...

If you have some time this week, please take a look at this year-end project from @blockclubchi.bsky.social

I'm extremely proud of the work I'm able to do at Block Club and very grateful to part of such a hard-working team

The family of a biz owner says he was mistreated while in custody last week — and was set to be deported without their knowledge. Cheema’s family is fighting to stop his deportation to Pakistan over a 1993 removal order that his daughter says they “had no idea” about until her father was detained.

$5K on an initial $1K goal. You people are great. I'd love to see get it as high as it can go before it closes in the next few days. blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/17/w...

Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino is back in Chicago as agents target the Southwest Side. blockclubchi.co/44y8Ax3

Megan Blomquist Sklenar founded City Kids Outdoors five years ago. The group hosts family hikes and nature play dates year-round.

“I want more people out in our nature here in Chicago.”

blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/05/t...

Some good food news: Gale Street Inn Reopens Thursday, Bringing Back Its Famous Ribs
via @mollydevore.bsky.social / @blockclubchi.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/04/g...

After a snowy Small Business Saturday, Chicago shop owners are urging neighbors to buy local. blockclubchi.co/3KwQFQB

Logan Square Restaurant Raising Money For Family Of Employee Taken By ICE Duri, a 19-year-old Crab Pad employee, and her father have spent weeks in overcrowded ICE facilities. Diana, Duri's mom, is struggling to pay the bills while supporting her loved ones.

Duri, a 19-year-old Crab Pad employee, and her father have spent weeks in overcrowded ICE facilities. Diana, Duri’s mom, is struggling to pay the bills while supporting her loved ones.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/01/l...

Neighbors Fought To Save NW Side Green Space. Now, The Dunning Read Natural Area Is Growing Twenty years ago, neighbors fought to keep 21 acres of green space from being turned into a Home Depot. Today, the Dunning Read Natural Area is an oasis of natural plants and important wetlands.

With a winding walking path, open prairie and freshly planted native trees, the land looks completely different than it did 20 years ago, when Cecilia LaPorta and other neighbors saved it from being turned into a Home Depot
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/25/n...

Chicago Immigrants Struggling With Mental Health After ICE Raids: 'They Want Us To Be Scared' Mental health professionals are providing impacted families with free support, workshops and guides, which some say have helped. But the trauma lingers.

Last week I sat down with Andrea, whose husband was recently taken by immigration officials. Despite navigating a new normal — and a complicated court system — she was all smiles as she told me about her family’s journey to Chicago&the support she’s received from neighbors. blockclubchi.co/3LLpUZ2

Loved Ones Remember John Thomas, 15-Year-Old Valedictorian Killed On Halloween: 'He Deserves More' The teen was shot and killed while riding his bike to his father's house for a night of trick-or-treating, his family told Block Club. No one is in custody and his mother is demanding answers.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/16/f...

Bond Fund For People Detained By Federal Immigration Agents Seeks Donations The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund launched in 2020 to provide bond assistance to people navigating the complex immigration legal system. That mission has become more difficult under the second Trump a...

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b...

Shop Local 2025: A Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Dunning And Edgebrook Gift Guide Far Northwest Side businesses carry everything from handmade soaps to vintage housewares.

Check out the Far Northwest Side local gift guide ⬇️ 🎁
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/s...

Proposed Crosstown Bike Trail Gains Traction But Needs Anti-Gentrification Measures, Some Say Thursday’s virtual town hall was the first of many to discuss the proposed 3.2-mile trail that would run through Old Irving Park, Irving Park, Portage Park, Kilbourn Park, Belmont Cragin and Hermosa.

Plans to bring a 606-style rails-to-trails project to the Far Northwest Side have gained support from elected officials, but many say anti-gentrification legislation needs to be put in place before the project comes to fruition.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/14/p...

Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino Left Chicago Thursday, Reports Say Federal officials previously said Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino wasn't leaving the city. CBS reported he now appears to be in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Bovino told Fox News he may return to ...

Federal officials refused to answer basic questions about Gregory Bovino's current whereabouts and their decision to move him. However, a North Carolina sheriff confirmed Border Patrol personnel are arriving in the Charlotte area. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/14/b... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

Chiquita Scoops, Corral House And More Open In Growing Gladstone Park Business Corridor An ice cream shop, pizza place and bar opened in Gladstone Park this fall, and Stefani's Bottega Italiana announced it will pause restaurant service.

Owner Joel Gonzalez, who grew up on the Northwest Side and is a Taft High School graduate, said he wanted to bring more Latino food options to the area.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/14/c...

A Chicago daycare teacher taken by federal agents has been released. blockclubchi.co/4hYKy3F

The St. Sabina food pantry is seeing "record-breaking numbers" as SNAP benefits falter. blockclubchi.co/43pVoK9