Jake Sheridan

Fighting Trump’s immigration blitz in Chicago, ward by ward Some Chicago aldermen are adding new duties: getting tear-gassed and handcuffed, organizing legions of volunteers, and standing guard near elementary schools.

Fighting Trump’s immigration blitz in Chicago, ward by ward. A story from @jake-sheridan.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com about aldermen opposing ICE www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/13/t...

Fighting Trump’s immigration blitz in Chicago, ward by ward Some Chicago aldermen are adding new duties: getting tear-gassed and handcuffed, organizing legions of volunteers, and standing guard near elementary schools.

Chicago aldermen have traditionally measured success by potholes filled, block party bounce houses delivered, votes counted.

But with Trump’s deportation blitz in full swing, some are adding getting tear-gassed and handcuffed and standing guard near elementary schools.

📝 @jake-sheridan.bsky.social

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near school on busy Northwest Side street The deployment of smoke canisters — some witnesses described it as tear gas — came as tensions boiled over on the city’s Northwest Side Friday afternoon.

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near a school on a busy Northwest Side street.

"It’s upsetting to see people being paid to attack our community for senseless stupid reasons.”

📝 @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @tesskenny.bsky.social

Chaos in Brighton Park. This is representative of the amount / direction of pepper and smoke sent into the neighborhood, in this case, for no reason I can discern other than because they were leaving. Feds had a clear path out in a different direction, and residents were vocal but not violent here.

Not sure I've done a political interview that's required more coordination, or a slower and better protected bike ride.

Always a fun day at work. Feel free to ask any questions (part 2/2).

Not my normal spot for an interview: the bike lane.

I talked with Mayor Brandon Johnson about cycling in Chicago. Here's how he sees bike infrastructure fitting into the city, told by him from atop a Divvy bike to @chicagotribune.com (part 1/2):

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks $90 million in settlement of suits tied to corrupt cop The first-of-its-kind deal, first uncovered by the Tribune in federal court records, would settle all outstanding wrongful conviction cases involving Sgt. Ronald Watts.

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks $90 million in settlement of suits tied to corrupt cop, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @jmetr22b.bsky.social w the details. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/11/m...

Downtown alderman announces run against Preckwinkle for Cook County Board president Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly formally announced his intent Wednesday to take on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the March 2026 Democratic primary

NEW: Ald. Brendan Reilly is officially running for Cook County Board President against Toni Preckwinkle.

He's focusing on crime to unseat Preckwinkle, a progressive who has been in office for 15 years. First reported by @adquig.bsky.social (gift link):
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/10/d...

One day. One new speed camera. $60,000.

Chicago's new speed cams are raking it in, early data shows. They captured $1.7M in three weeks in June, now the most-ticketed month in three years, as aldermen tout their safety impact. With William Tong for @chicagotribune.com:
t.co/EHnTVvdcF9

Should retired police be able to sell marijuana? Alderman says no, blocks dispensary Ald. Andre Vasquez cited “fundamental justice concern” with former police officers getting to legally sell marijuana after locking people up for selling pot.

Should retired police be able to sell marijuana? Alderman Andre Vasquez says no, blocks dispensary. Interesting, from @jake-sheridan.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/r...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new speed cameras see big early revenue as aldermen tout safety impact Speeding tickets from new automated cameras are quickly hurtling toward the $11.4 million benchmark Mayor Brandon Johnson is counting on for 2025.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new speed cameras see big early revenue as aldermen tout safety impact. Story by @jake-sheridan.bsky.social
and William Tong
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/07/m...

I definitely checked twice on this one, haha, thanks for taking the time to talk

:)

Fair point. I do hear often about safety through the lens of bike lanes, for instance, but I certainly meant gun violence and violent crime here.

I still think that's the issue I hear about most, but my language took up too much space. Will try to be more specific, thanks for sharing thoughts :)

The Laquan Effect Shootings in Chicago surged after the release of the Laquan McDonald video. They’ve shown “no signs of slowing.” What changed?

There's some really interesting debate on why 2016 spiked. One answer points heavily to the release of the Laquan McDonald video — here's a 2017 story by the same WBEZ reporter who wrote the above story, @chipmitchell1.bsky.social, on that:
interactive.wbez.org/everyotherho...

Would like to hear more about what you mean here — what do you think I'm flattening? (not at all trying to be hostile, am curious!)

And just to be extra clear: I don't think there's any bigger issue in Chicago than violence & safety.

That's certainly what I hear from aldermen & everyday Chicagoans alike. Because of how important it is, it's critical to be clear about what trends are happening.

Powerful graphic: Chicago just saw its smallest summer murder total since 1965.

The city is on track to see one of its lowest murder totals in decades, a trend in play all year that continued through the city's most violent season. Murders are way, way down after a spike. Look:

Should cops be able to profit from selling weed?

Ald. Andre Vasquez blocked a group of retired police from opening a dispensary after community pushback. “There’s just something fundamentally unfair and unjust about it.” For
@chicagotribune: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/r...

There’s a deeper conversation to be had about Club Jroy • The TRiiBE Should Jroy be held accountable for a string of shootings that took place near a large street party he hosted on Chicago’s West Side?

Should local TikTok personality Jroy be held accountable for a string of shootings that took place near his West Side street party in Chicago?

We unpack the debate.

thetriibe.com/2025/08/ther...

Aldermen opting out of new tenant powers, but proponents defend anti-gentrification effort An ordinance aims to slow gentrification by giving tenants buying power and discouraging development that decreases density, but a pair of aldermen are opting out.

This story from @jake-sheridan.bsky.social unspools the controversy over a Northwest Side anti-gentrification ordinance. An interesting story about money, housing and public policy by our intrepid reporter.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/24/a...

This weekend, dozens of Chicago Tribune journalists will be on standby as huge protests promise to arise in our city.

At the same time, many of us will be organizing to fight buyouts. Our work is essential to democracy, and it's under attack. I'm grateful for my union today.

Hey, please follow back so I can message -- Chicago Tribune guild leader hoping to discuss something.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blasts Rahm Emanuel today:

Donald Trump's "playbook" of government cuts is the same strategy Emanuel executed in Chicago with school closings & "neoliberalism," Johnson said.

“A tyrant in the White House. We got here because someone gave him the script." Watch⬇️

Artists rip Mayor Brandon Johnson’s arts commissioner, department ‘dysfunction’ in letter The letter, posted to Instagram Wednesday as a petition people can sign, harshly criticizes Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth.

Yikes! 100 artists have drafted a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressing “deep concern” over alleged failures in his administration’s work for the arts community, ripping Dept. Head Clinée Hedspeth. By @jake-sheridan.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/10/a...

Charities across Chicago see huge shortage in coat donations as winter sets in: ‘We’re significantly thousands behind’ Nonprofits and community organizations that run winter coat drives say they are facing a serious shortage of donations this year as they try to help homeless and low-income Chicagoans weather the c…

Charities across Chicago are experiencing the same inexplicable decline: A shortage in winter coats. Is it donation fatigue? B/c the city has weathered warm winters recently? A mix of both? “We really can’t put our finger on what it is,” said one advocate. “We’re significantly thousands behind.”

With @adquig.bsky.social & @aliceyin.bsky.social, we take a look at the other problems Chicago must sort out — like a CPS budget & CTA financial cliff — the prospects of sustainable revenue in the future, potential of credit downgrades and more.

New here: Mayor Johnson pinned hopes for fiscal stability on meetings with Gov. Pritzker's team on "progressive revenue."

Such meetings have not been happening, a source close to Pritzker told me. More on Chicago's financial future, for
@chicagotribune:
t.co/aYh893GhWM

Hahaha. Apparently their brains are literally smooth!

Lions huddle on heated rocks. Penguins get a snow melt system & warmed pool. Koalas can't figure out when to go inside with their "smooth surface" brain, so zookeepers watch close.

On how Lincoln Park Zoo animals stay warm in winter, by @chicagotribune.com's Rebecca Johnson:
t.co/tiYg4uHjFH