This is interesting, to say the least.

The city is suing for millions in damages after the woman dubbed Chicago’s "worst landowner" had her property auction fail. blockclubchi.co/4rvPoJo

City Sues For Millions In Damages After ‘Worst Landowner’ Property Auction Fails It’s the latest controversy surrounding land owned by Suzie B. Wilson and her sister Swedlana Dass, who have been caught in a legal web since a 2023 investigation by Illinois Answers Project and Block...

Mayor Johnson said: "We took her to court and we won back millions of dollars for taxpayers and more than 800 lots across the South and West Sides of the city of Chicago.”

But he got the facts wrong.

My latest w/ @ctoner.bsky.social @blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/04/c...

City Sues For Millions In Damages After ‘Worst Landowner’ Property Auction Fails It’s the latest controversy surrounding land owned by Suzie B. Wilson and her sister Swedlana Dass, who have been caught in a legal web since a 2023 investigation by Illinois Answers Project and Block...

Great follow-up investigative reporting by @ctoner.bsky.social and @minabloom.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/04/c...

Chicago’s Domestic Homicides Surged Last Year Even As Overall Violent Crime Dropped Martina Mosby was the first of at least 63 people killed in domestic homicides in 2025. Experts say the increase is in part due to federal funding cuts to victim services programs.

The rise in DV homicides led one legal aid org to offer guardianship & POA services

“No one wants to think about the fact that your abuser might murder you, but it is a real truth, & you can be prepared for it"

My latest for @blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

this made my week, thank you!

mina's a really good reporter

Chicago’s Domestic Homicides Surged Last Year Even As Overall Violent Crime Dropped Martina Mosby was the first of at least 63 people killed in domestic homicides in 2025. Experts say the increase is in part due to federal funding cuts to victim services programs.

Powerful, important reporting by @minabloom.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

Chicago’s Domestic Homicides Surged Last Year Even As Overall Violent Crime Dropped Martina Mosby was the first of at least 63 people killed in domestic homicides in 2025. Experts say the increase is in part due to federal funding cuts to victim services programs.

While homicides and most violent crime decreased in Chicago in 2025...domestic violence climbed. Domestic fatal shootings specifically rose by 50%.

Martina Mosby was one of 63 people killed in a domestic violence homicide last year.

✍️ @minabloom.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

How The Feds Used Propaganda To Frame Their ‘War’ On Chicago: 'They're Lying Constantly' Homeland Security has sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists and experts said the agency has repeatedly distorted facts, misled the public and at...

Terrific, detailed report by Block Club Chicago about how Homeland Security has lied its ass off about its immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Nothing that Homeland Security says should be believed.

How The Feds Used Propaganda To Frame Their ‘War’ On Chicago: 'They're Lying Constantly' Homeland Security has sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists and experts said the agency has repeatedly distorted facts, misled the public and at...

DHS "has sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists & experts said the agency has repeatedly distorted facts, misled the public & attacked those who challenged its story"

@blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/04/h...

Feds Repeatedly Lied And Misled The Public During Chicago Immigration Crackdown, Federal Judge Rules CHICAGO — For two months, federal immigration agents unleashed "indiscriminate" force on peaceful protesters and others across the Chicago area — and

[Judge Ellis] repeatedly found testimony by Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino... not credible. Bovino was evasive, either giving “cute” answers to attorney’s questions or outright lying, the judge said in her [233-page] ruling.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/25/f...

📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

Beautifully told by @quinnmyers.bsky.social for @blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/24/h...

Thanks to @minabloom.bsky.social and @blockclubchi.bsky.social for this reporting. It is so important!

This definitely sums up my view: “The government says [the Illinois State Police] is there for our protection, but I don’t feel very protected,” Woolf said.

Just yesterday @govpritzker.illinois.gov was confronted by an alder saying "the State Police are arresting protesters."

Gov responded “They’re protecting our protesters"

He needs to start taking real action to protect his people if he wants to keep the incredible goodwill granted by his rhetoric.

Protesters Keep Getting Arrested At Broadview By State Police Despite Promise To Protect Free Speech About 80 protesters have been arrested at the ICE facility since barricades went up. Protesters and legal observers say the arrests run counter to the state’s stated goals of ensuring public safety an...

Officials have revealed little about what led to the arrests. State Police haven’t fulfilled records requests for incident reports. Court records don’t include many details & few of the protesters arrested have appeared in court.

@blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/12/p...

Border Chief Bovino Calls Use Of Force By Immigration Agents In Chicago 'More Than Exemplary' During a pivotal federal court hearing on immigration crackdown tactics, other witnesses described being assaulted, threatened with guns, tear-gassed and shot with pepper balls.

When a lawyer asked Bovino if he stood by an earlier statement that use of force has been "exemplary," he said he would rate their performance even higher: "All uses of force have been more than exemplary.”

@blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/p...

Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order “Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing T...

Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order by @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...

Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order “Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing T...

"Ellis told Bovino that she wanted to see him every day during the immigration operation so he could report to her on any incidents that occurred.

'Yes, ma’am,' Bovino said."
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...

📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order “Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing T...

From @minabloom.bsky.social:

blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...

Hundreds Of Lots Owned By 'City's Worst Landowner' Went Up For Sale. But Only A Fraction Have Sold Parcels that belonged to Suzie B. Wilson and her sister accumulated $15 million in city fines for rat-related violations. Hundreds are still sitting empty without any promise of redevelopment.

What happened to the real estate empire of Suzie B. Wilson & her sister?

Just 1/3 of the roughly 800 vacant lots have sold, which leaves hundreds sitting empty and stagnant. And the city doesn't stand to recover much $$$ it's owed.

@blockclubchi.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/15/h...

COME WORK WITH ME!

Waiting To Learn: How Bilingual Education In Chicago Falls Short Chicago has been slow to provide many schools with what they need to serve English learners. The result: Students are left waiting for an education they’re legally entitled to, and teachers feel unpre...

Waiting To Learn: How Bilingual Education In Chicago Falls Short blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/05/w... via @reemadamin.bsky.social, @minabloom.bsky.social & Kae Petrin/ @chalkbeat.org & @blockclubchi.bsky.social

The American flag waves outside Nash Elementary School, 4837 W. Erie St. in Austin, on June 3, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Sylvelia Pittman, a 20-year teacher, speaks to her grandson Cahari at Nash Elementary School, 4837 W. Erie St., in Austin on June 3, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Teacher Corinne Lydon poses for a portrait at Nash Elementary School, 4837 W. Erie St. in Austin, on May 28, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Nash Elementary School, 4837 W. Erie St. in Austin, on June 3, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Chicago has been slow to provide many schools w/ what they need to serve English learners. The result: Students are left waiting for an education they’re legally entitled to, & teachers feel unprepared.

Important followup @chalkbeat.org @blockclubchi.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/05/w...

Waiting To Learn: How Bilingual Education In Chicago Falls Short Chicago has been slow to provide many schools with what they need to serve English learners. The result: Students are left waiting for an education they’re legally entitled to, and teachers feel unpre...

What’s going to happen to these kids, & what’s the school district going to do to help them?

That’s what Chalkbeat reporter Reema Amin and I were wondering last yr after we spent months reporting on the struggles of migrant kids in CPS.

So we kept reporting.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/05/w...

“The public health response has always been focused very much on: How do we help people once they get to a shelter, once they get to a police station or court house? But the reality is that the large majority of people are never going to get to those places"

-Sheerine Alemzadeh, HTA Co-Founder

Thank you so much for reading, and for sharing!

As Chicago’s Domestic Violence Crisis Deepens, Victims Suffer In Silence DeMarie' Williams didn't seek help from authorities before her boyfriend beat her to death, prosecutors say. As essential services for domestic violence victims are threatened by funding cuts, advocat...

A heart-wrenching story about the domestic violence crisis in Chicago as victims often suffer in silence. Read @minabloom.bsky.social recount the tragic story of DeMarie' Williams and how her story is sadly too common.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/05/20/a...

As Chicago’s Domestic Violence Crisis Deepens, Victims Suffer In Silence DeMarie' Williams didn't seek help from authorities before her boyfriend beat her to death, prosecutors say. As essential services for domestic violence victims are threatened by funding cuts, advocat...

You haven't heard DeMarie' Williams' story before.

She loved TikTok. Hung out at South Side beaches. Dreamed of becoming a lawyer.

At 19, she was allegedly beat to death by her boyfriend.

@minabloom.bsky.social on what's at stake as Chicago's domestic violence crisis grows — & who we're losing.