Dilpreet Raju

Two weeks ago, CPJ reported on Anas Al-Sharif getting threats from the IDF to cease reporting. He didn’t, and now he’s dead.

He’s not the only journalist getting threats from the IDF. We partnered with @theintercept.com to document this horrific practice.

Massey Commission nears end, prepares recommendations Law enforcement work group details proposed changes for city, county policing

The SAFE-T Act had a long list of reforms for policing standards in Illinois, some of which could be reinforced in Sangamon County by potential Massey Commission recommendations.

www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion...

Former 'Alligator Alcatraz' worker describes 'inhumane' conditions inside In an exclusive report, NBC6 spoke with a former corrections officer who says she saw hundreds held in cages with no sunlight, backed up toilets and little access to showers.

A former “Alligator Alcatraz” worker says detainees are subject to “inhumane” conditions — packed by the hundreds into cages without sunlight, with overflowing toilets and limited access to showers.

'I just wanted to see a change,' Chicago youth reflect on their experience as  peacekeepers • The TRiiBE Dozens of youth peacekeepers completed a Peacekeeper training this summer. They marked its end with a graduation and hip-hop celebration.

I've been following GoodKids MadCity's Peacekeeper initiative for the last year. This summer, the program expanded to include 200 positions. Last week, they hosted a graduation celebration for participants who completed the six-week program.

thetriibe.com/2025/08/i-ju...

Re-upping this thread after reading @dilpreetraju.bsky.social reporting in the Illinois Times that Aetna will not offer ACA plans in central Illinois >>
www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion...

US links $1.9 billion in state disaster funds to Israel boycott stance The Trump administration said states and cities will not receive funding to prepare for natural disasters if they choose to boycott Israeli companies, according to an agency statement.

www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Gov. Pritzker Takes Bill Action Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the following bills into law:

Gov. Pritzker signed more than 120 bills into law today, almost one fourth of which are effective immediately.

Full list here:
gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker...

Two health insurers leave Illinois market Fewer insurance providers, tax credits raise concern around higher premiums

Health insurance is going to cost a lot more for many Illinoisans next year, thanks to the expiration of federal tax credits and exit of Aetna and Health Alliance, two major health insurers.

www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion...

Reduction in Northwestern’s Workforce: Leadership Notes - Northwestern University In response to challenges we have been articulating since November, Northwestern has taken several measures to protect the University’s long-term financial stability.

www.northwestern.edu/leadership-n...

Durbin warns of federal cuts impacting medical pipeline, research New federal tax plan limits government loans for medical school

Sen. Dick Durbin on Friday warned that aspiring medical students may have to either abandon their dream of being a doctor or take out high-interest private loans.

Currently, an individual’s cost of attendance is the limit of what one can borrow.

www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion...

Malnutrition rates reach alarming levels in Gaza, WHO warns Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July. Of 74 malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 occurred in July – including 24 children under five, a c...

www.who.int/news/item/27...

The result—an increase of executive power at the expense of legislative authority-does not stand alone. Just last week, this Court granted another stay allowing the President to ignore a federal statute. That decision permitted the President to push forward in dismantling the Department of Education, even though Congress created that agency and tasked it with performing vital functions. See McMahon v. New York, 606 U.S. (2025) (SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 1). If the majority had any valid basis for taking that action (relating, say, to the breadth of the District Court's preliminary injunction) it did not appear on the face of the Court's unreasoned or-der. See id., at _ (order) (slip op., at 1); id., at (SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 18). That order simply signaled that the President could carry on, even in the face of a conflicting statute. So too does this order, and with the same lack of care. The majority has acted on the emergency docket—with "little time, scant briefing, and no argument" —to override Congress's decisions about how to structure administrative agencies so that they can perform their prescribed duties. Wilcox, 605 U.S., at _ (KAGAN, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 5). By means of such actions, this Court may facilitate the permanent transfer of authority, piece by piece by piece, from one branch of Government to another. Respectfully, I dissent.

By a 6-3 vote, SCOTUS lets Trump fire the Dem members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who are protected against removal by statute.

Dissenting, Kagan says the majority is undertaking a “permanent transfer of authority” from Congress to the president.
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

Massey Commission makes plans for work to continue Commissioners question “distracting” proposal from consultants

The Massey Commission announced members of the Ferguson Commission will visit next month's hearing as it consider how to transition the commission into a nonprofit.

Commissioners questioned the value of a community partnership plan to address race relations.

www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion...

Here are the public news stations in Illinois that will experience the biggest hits from federal funding being cut, pulled from data compiled by Alex Curley of semipublic (semipublicco.substack.com/p/heres-how-...)

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside 20 other attorneys general, sent a letter to members of Congress today “urging the passage of legislation generally prohibiting federal immigration agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity…”

The full letter:

The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security in order to speed up the agency’s mass deportation efforts.

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Day three!! @reportforamerica.bsky.social

Albums You May Have Missed in 2025 - The Alternative The staff put together an alphabetical list of albums from the first six months of 2025 that we think deserve some more attention!

Feel like you haven’t heard enough good new music this year?? Fear not: here is our collection of 2025 releases you may have missed! www.getalternative.com/albums-you-m...

Chicago Department of Public Health warning of an increase in overdose response on the city’s West and South sides.

Sites mentioned include:
- Madison corridor from Kostner to Hamlin
- Near Pulaski and Roosevelt
- Near Central and Chicago Ave

- Around 63rd and Halsted
- Around 51st and King

Chicago Reader Volume 54, Number 36 Chicago Reader print issue of June 12, 2025 (Volume 54, Number 36)

New issue drop!

On the cover: Summer Theater & Arts

Pick up yours in person tomorrow or read the PDF now!

bit.ly/43G2St5

Passages Charter School shutters pre-k program - Chicago Reader The abrupt closure of Passages’s preschool raises questions about its future at a time when other charter schools across the city are closing their doors.

The abrupt closure of Passages’s preschool raises questions about its future at a time when other charter schools across the city are closing their doors. | ✍️ Dilpreet Raju

Kaage Newsstand, an Edison Park mainstay for 82 years, is closing The 6-by-6-foot newsstand that owner Mike Kaage’s grandfather bought for $100 in 1943 “has been my life since I was a little kid." Now 68, he plans to spend more time babysitting his grandkids.

chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...

Chicago Paid $62.5M to Family of Girl Killed During 2020 Chicago Police Chase: Records In all, Chicago taxpayers spent more than $117.8 million since January 2019 to resolve 29 lawsuits filed by Chicagoans injured during police pursuits, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW New...

Just five months into the year, Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $165 million to resolve more than two and a half dozen lawsuits, exceeding its budget to resolve lawsuits alleging police misconduct by more than 100%, city records show. @wttw.bsky.social

Better Government Association 4,759 followers 1w • Edited + Follow Save the Date! Join us for BGA's 2025 Annual Luncheon & Celebration on Friday, October 10 at the Four Seasons Chicago! Heather A. Steans, BGA Board Chair, shares: "At a time when truth and transparency are under attack, we're honoring The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation with the BGA's 2025 Watchdog Award for its unwavering dedication to investigative journalism. The foundation's work in recent years -doubling the number of investigative grantees and expanding newsrooms in Chicago and across Illinois-ensures journalists can hold power to account and safeguard our democracy. I'm also looking forward to the featured conversation between BGA President David Greising and Ambassador Rahm Emmanuel whose extensive government experience in local, national and international roles —and candor-will offer insight on government transparency, equity and accountability in these challenging times." Save the date-more event details soon! #BGALuncheon #DemocracyInAction #InvestigativeJournalism #Leadership #WatchdogAward #CivicEngagement

so @bettergov.bsky.social is giving out an investigative journalism award, and to celebrate they are bringing in RAHM EMANUEL to talk about government transparency

who is an expert i guess because as mayor he COVERED UP THE MURDER OF A CHILD

This Bay Area County Says It Cut Ties with ICE. This Program Says Otherwise. A widespread data-sharing program highlights financial ties between local police and immigration enforcement—and how even sanctuary jurisdictions still feed “the deportation machine.”

Some jurisdictions, like San Francisco and Wisconsin's Dane County, have withdrawn from this data-sharing program with ICE in recent years to keep from feeding more information into the federal deportation dragnet. But many others continue to participate. boltsmag.org/alameda...

Dozens of people were arrested protesting at the DNC. What happened to their cases? The city of Chicago continues to prosecute protesters, despite mounting losses and little punishment.

Mayor Johnson declines to tell Mariah Woelful of @wbezpolitics.bsky.social why his administration is continuing to prosecute protesters, despite mounting losses and little punishment
Background:

I believe that and all but.. theaiinsider.tech/2024/10/23/l...

Sasami Live in Chicago - The Alternative Touring 'Blood on the Silver Screen,' alt rocker Sasami Ashworth stopped by Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on May 12th. Check out Dilpreet's photos!

Killer shots of SASAMI!! by @dilpreetraju.bsky.social 🔥🔥🔥 www.getalternative.com/sasami-live-...

Raveena Live in Chicago - The Alternative Dilpreet caught Indian-American singer-songwriter Raveena at Chicago's Thalia Hall on May 10th. Check out his photos from the gig!

lush pics from RAVEENA’s sold-out Chicago show, by @dilpreetraju.bsky.social ‼️

www.getalternative.com/raveena-live...