Olivia Olander

Illinois Democratic lawmakers take on activist role amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown Illinois lawmakers have reaccelerated their activist origins as they find themselves unable to change things from within and have no role in broader immigration policy-making.

As Trump’s federal agents continue raiding homes and businesses and marching on city streets to crack down on illegal immigration, many members of Illinois’ legislative branch — typically confined to the guardrails of government — have shifted into rabble-rouser mode.

📝 @olivia0.bsky.social

Illinois Democratic lawmakers take on activist role amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown Illinois lawmakers have reaccelerated their activist origins as they find themselves unable to change things from within and have no role in broader immigration policy-making.

Illinois Democratic lawmakers take on activist role amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown. A profile of these times from @olivia0.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/i...

Chicago Bears’ stadium efforts run out of time in Springfield, but suburban lawmaker says deal was close The Illinois General Assembly approached a deal on related property tax legislation, Rep. Mary Beth Canty said, widely seen as easing a potential Chicago Bears move to Arlington Heights.

The Bears' stadium efforts ran out of time in Springfield, but a suburban lawmaker said a deal was "super close and just ran out of time."

📝 @olivia0.bsky.social

Latest transit proposal would hike tolls, tax ride shares to avoid $771 million fiscal cliff Illinois lawmakers consider a toll hike and other measures to address an expected $771 million financial shortfall for Chicago-area public transit.

Good evening Bluesky from beautiful Springfield IL! Here’s the latest transit proposal as we await a full budget www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/29/i...

AmeriCorps cuts leave Chicago programs serving kids facing diminished summer In Illinois, cuts to AmeriCorps will leave some programs for the summer shuttered or scrambling for volunteers.

AmeriCorps cuts leave Chicago programs for kids facing diminished summer. @olivia0.bsky.social with a look at how Trump budget cuts are affecting real people
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/21/i...

Democratic digital creator likely facing field of local politicians to succeed US Rep. Jan Schakowsky In 9th Congressional District race, digital creator Kat Abughazaleh has an unconventional campaign but is already facing more traditional, grassroots candidates.

@katmabu.bsky.social is running for 9th dist in IL to replace
@schakowsky.house.gov. But many with more local connections will soon join the race. A look at the burgeoning campaign and new details about Kat from @olivia0.bsky.social and @danvock.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/12/9...

Lawmaker calls for study of AI-powered cameras in effort to make DuSable Lake Shore Drive safer State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz is pushing a measure for greater safety measures on DuSable Lake Shore drive including potential research on AI powered cameras.

Lawmaker calls for study of AI-powered cameras in effort to make DuSable Lake Shore Drive safer. @olivia0.bsky.social with the details
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/l...

Gov. JB Pritzker’s $300M proposal seeks to attract developers to abandoned sites that now draw only vandals Gov. JB Pritzker announced a $300 million pitch in February to make an old prison site and four other vacated state properties ready for economic development.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s $300M proposal seeks to attract developers to abandoned sites that now draw only vandals. @jeremygorner.bsky.social @olivia0.bsky.social report
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/10/s...

‘Something should be done’: Illinois Democratic lawmakers hear from public frustrated about President Donald Trump’s initiatives Although Democrats are out of power in D.C., anxious Illinoisans want lawmakers to step up to block Donald Trump initiatives.

Citizens are ramping up their political activity in response to the early days of the new Trump admin. Republicans got a backlash at town halls. There’s also dissatisfaction over inaction from Democrats. By @danvock.bsky.social and @olivia0.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/09/s...

My story with @olivia0.bsky.social on the growing activism of Chicago area residents upset by Trump’s actions, and how elected Democrats are responding

People with developmental disabilities can wait years for community placements, state records show Across Illinois’ seven remaining state operated facilities for people with developmental disabilities, more than 200 were seeking placement elsewhere as of last month.

People with developmental disabilities can wait years for community placements, state records show. An important story from @olivia0.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/03/s...

People with developmental disabilities can wait years for community placements, state records show Across Illinois’ seven remaining state operated facilities for people with developmental disabilities, more than 200 were seeking placement elsewhere as of last month.

While advocates give @govpritzker.illinois.gov credit for putting more attn on moving folks from larger state-operated develop cntrs to smaller homes, the fights for placement underscore ongoing struggles. By @olivia0.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/03/s...

Week in Review: Donald Trump Returns to the White House; Bears Hire New Head Coach Donald Trump returns to the White House and immediately exercises his executive powers. And the Chicago Bears name a new head coach.

Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review: Donald Trump Returns to the White House; Bears Hire New Head Coach, with @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social @bpopetv.bsky.social @olivia0.bsky.social @lynnsweet.bsky.social & host @amandavinicky.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/01/24/w...

Relatives of kids in DCFS care would have better access to state assistance under proposed legislation A bill aimed at making it easier for relatives to get licensed as foster parents for family members is poised to pass in Springfield.

Relatives of kids in DCFS care would have better access to state assistance under proposed legislation, good story by @olivia0.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/26/i...

Debris from Freedom Center demolition falls into the river at Bally’s casino site Conservationists alarmed as winds blew debris into floating gardens of the Wild Mile; cleanup underway.

Videos shared on social media showed a crane bring down a wall, causing white granular material to spill into the river and bring protective netting down with it. As it hit the water’s surface, the debris produced a dusty cloud and then settled, floating on the river as cranes ground to a halt.

Amazon delivery drivers in Skokie and six other facilities go on strike Thursday The walkout at the Skokie delivery station and six other facilities nationwide is set to begin at 5 a.m., with workers at other Amazon locations “prepared to join them,” the Teamsters said in a new…

Update:

Amazon delivery drivers in Skokie and six other facilities go on strike.

“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” Teamsters president Sean O’Brien said in the news release.

Amazon delivery drivers in Skokie and six other facilities set to strike Thursday The walkout at the Skokie delivery station and six other facilities nationwide is set to begin at 5 a.m., with workers at other Amazon locations “prepared to join them,” the Teamsters said in a new…

Hundreds of drivers at an Amazon facility in Skokie are planning to strike Thursday morning, potentially disrupting holiday deliveries in an effort to get the online retailing giant to recognize their affiliation with the Teamsters union and negotiate a labor contract.

Grubhub agrees to pay $25 million to settle claims it misled customers, restaurants and drivers Grubhub has agreed to pay $25 million and stop alleged practices including misleading consumers on feeds under a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Grubhub is expected to pay $25 million and stop practices including tacking on "junk fees" to orders, FTC Chair Lina Khan announced downtown yesterday.

Most of that $$$$ will go back to customers, drivers and restaurants, the FTC said. @chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/17/g...

Chicago Stars and Sky make the case for equality in a stadium public funding bill hearing Members of the Chicago Stars and Sky organizations testified Monday in support of a bill amendment to ensure public stadium funding equality.

Members of the Chicago Stars and Sky organizations testified Monday in support of a state bill amendment to ensure public stadium funding equality.

📝 @mmontemurro.bsky.social
📝 @olivia0.bsky.social

.@govpritzker.illinois.gov on the state flag redesign contest: "I really like our current flag. I also like the designs that were put forward. I don't want to sound too political about that, but... I think a lot of a lot of effort was put in to that."

Gov. JB Pritzker promises to protect immigrants, but says those convicted of violent crimes need to go Pritkzer says immigrants will be protected in Illinois, but those found guilty of violent crimes should be deported.

After President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar threatened mass deportations would begin in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker said Illinois would protect immigrants while also saying he shared a desire to deport those convicted of violent crimes. @olivia0.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/11/g...

State anti-book-ban law leads some school districts to forsake grants to maintain local control Several Illinois school districts have chosen to pass on state grant funding that would require them to comply with an anti-book-banning law.

Starting this year, public libraries in Illinois had a choice: adopt principles against book bans or give up state grants.

A number of school districts appear to have taken the latter option. Latest @chicagotribune.com w/ Jeremy Gorner www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/08/i...

State anti-book-ban law leads some school districts to forsake grants to maintain local control Several Illinois school districts have chosen to pass on state grand funding that would require them to comply with an anti-book-banning law.

Illinois politicians mandated that school districts adopt anti book banning principles or give up (pretty modest) state grants. A small number of districts said: Keep your money. Interesting story by @olivia0.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/08/i...

State anti-book-ban law leads some school districts to forsake grants to maintain local control Several Illinois school districts have chosen to pass on state grant funding that would require them to comply with an anti-book-banning law.

Starting this year, public libraries in Illinois could adopt principles against book banning or give up state grants. A number, many in conservative areas of Illinois, appear to have chosen the latter. By @olivia0.bsky.social and Jeremy Gorner:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/08/i...

reposted with nicer thumbnail✨

For ex-Stateville inmates, prison transfers mean disruption, separation from families Stateville prison was emptied due to decrepit conditions. For some inmates, that has made family visits difficult and disrupted educational programs.

As Illinois looks to modernize and rebuild Stateville max security prison, I talked to inmates who were transferred downstate (and their loved ones) about how that the multiyear project has already both changed and disrupted their lives. @chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/02/s...

As Illinois looks to modernize and rebuild Stateville max security prison, I talked to inmates who were transferred downstate (and their loved ones) about how that the multiyear project has already both changed and disrupted their lives. @chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/02/s...

For ex-Stateville inmates, prison transfers mean disruption, separation from families Stateville prison was emptied due to decrepit conditions. For some inmates, that has made family visits difficult and disrupted educational programs.

As Illinois prepares to demolish and rebuild Stateville prison, inmates were moved to other prisons around the state. @olivia0.bsky.social with a good story looking at the disruption to families. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/02/s...

Mayor Brandon Johnson says he doesn’t tolerate behavior that got his ex-spokesman terminated but offers little else Mayor Brandon Johnson said his administration does not tolerate the behavior that got his spokesman, Ronnie Reese, terminated but offers no other details.

Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and Mayor Brandon Johnson responds to Ronnie Reese scandal the Tribune broke Tuesday morning. By @aliceyin.bsky.social, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @royalpratt.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/27/m...

Chicago’s first snow of the season!
#ILWX @blockclubchi.bsky.social