Illinois and Trump: 1 year, 51 lawsuits later
Good morning, Chicago. ✶
???? Below: On the anniversary of President Donald Trump's second inauguration, Illinois Democrats reflected on the legal battles it has waged — while GOP officials promised more to come.
????️ Plus: Mayor Brandon Johnson keeps the meter running, a long-neglected Frank Lloyd Wright house hits the market and more news you need to know.
???? Keeping score: The Bulls beat the Clippers, 138-110.
⏱️: A 9-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ⛅
Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow and a high near 31.
TODAY’S TOP STORY ????
1 year, 51 lawsuits later, Illinois Democrats lament ‘chaos’ of second Trump administration
By Mitchell Armentrout
Personal fight: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul choked up Tuesday while recounting the state’s first year of legal battles against the second Trump administration, including the effort to limit birthright citizenship — which felt personal to the son of Haitian immigrants. But there’s a personal issue for just about anyone among the dozens of fights between his office and the White House, the Democrat said in marking a year since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
51 lawsuits: Raoul’s office has joined or filed 51 lawsuits challenging administration policies since then, and has submitted more than 100 amicus briefs, to push back against sweeping funding cuts, military deployments in Chicago, restrictions on gender-affirming care, environmental protection rollbacks, and other Trump priorities.
Points of pride: Raoul pointed to Trump’s failed effort to federalize the National Guard to patrol the streets of Chicago as "an example of why to remain optimistic." Trump gave up that effort, for now, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to lift a lower court’s block on the deployment. Perhaps the premier fight for Raoul’s office in 2026 is the legal challenge against an "occupation of Illinois and Chicago" by an influx of federal immigration agents.
GOP celebrates: The same policies lambasted by Raoul and other Illinois Democratic leaders were celebrated by the White House as among "365 wins in 365 days." The Illinois Republican Party said, "President Trump returned to office to clean up Joe Biden’s mess ... and he’s just getting started!"
IMMIGRATION ✶
Opening statements expected Wednesday in Bovino murder-for-hire trial
By Jon Seidel
First trial: Federal prosecutors in Chicago are preparing to deliver opening statements Wednesday in the first trial tied to Operation Midway Blitz, but are doing so after a judge barred more key evidence of an alleged murder plot aimed at U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino.
Stage set: A jury of eight men and six women, which includes two alternates, has been chosen to hear the case against Juan Espinoza Martinez, the man accused of offering $10,000 for Bovino’s murder.
Key context: Prosecutors pressed forward with the trial Tuesday after a damaging ruling last week from U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow. She barred any attempt to tie Espinoza Martinez to the Latin Kings street gang after the feds acknowledged they wouldn’t try to prove his membership in it.
More headlines:
- Sen. Duckworth travels to Portugal and Poland to strengthen Illinois National Guard ties
- Chicagoans send 150,000 whistles to cities besieged by federal immigration agents
WATCHDOGS ✶
Chicago police officer accused of beating teen faces firing after criminal case is tossed
By Tom Schuba
Facing dismissal: After having his criminal case dropped ahead of trial, a Chicago police officer now faces dismissal for allegedly beating a teenage boy after he crashed a stolen car during a chase in Woodlawn in January 2021.
The charges: Police Supt. Larry Snelling filed formal disciplinary charges against Officer Jeffery Shafer last month, alleging Shafer had engaged in an improper pursuit, attacked the 17-year-old driver, verbally assaulted another person and failed to turn on his body camera. Shafer and his partner, Officer Victor Guebara, were previously charged criminally, but Guebara hasn’t faced similar disciplinary charges filed with the Chicago Police Board, records show.
CITY HALL ????️
Mayor Johnson drops out of competition to buy back parking meters
By Fran Spielman
Plan parked: Mayor Johnson said Tuesday that City Hall has dropped out of the competition to take back Chicago parking meters after determining the $3 billion asking price "would have made a bad deal even worse."
Key quote: "The price is too high and requires debt service payments that extend too far and impose too much risk. Chicagoans would most likely end up footing the bill, yet again … The more we looked into it, the more problems emerged," Johnson said.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED ????️
- Amazon retail store: The e-commerce giant is set to open what it calls the "first-of-its-kind" retail store in Orland Park after receiving final approval from the village’s board Monday night. The estimated 230,000-square-foot store will sell general merchandise, household items and groceries.
- Lurie halts care: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital is among several hospitals being referred by Trump administration officials for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services office of inspector general, prompting them to further restrict gender-affirming care.
- Fundraiser for educator: Loved ones of Linda Brown launched a program offering guidance to those enduring missing persons cases, in addition to a GoFundMe page, following the death of the Bronzeville special education teacher who died by suicide earlier this month.
- Union push: An estimated 100,000 ride-hailing app drivers with Uber and Lyft could be allowed to unionize in Illinois under a new bill filed Tuesday in Springfield. If passed, the Illinois Transportation Network Driver Labor Relations Act would allow gig workers to bargain with the rideshare companies for better pay, benefits and working conditions.
- O’Hare is No. 1: For the first time since 2019, O’Hare International Airport has topped Atlanta as the busiest airfield in the nation, city officials announced Tuesday.
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ????
Long-suffering Frank Lloyd Wright home hits the market for $350,000
By Lee Bey
Slice of history: The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Walser House, a 123-year-old Austin home that inspired the architect’s better-known works yet has spent the last two decades in shambles, is for sale. Asking price: $350,000.
On the market: The government-sponsored Federal National Mortgage Association — better-known as Fannie Mae — put the house on the market this past week, after receiving title to the foreclosed property in December following a court-ordered sale.
Realty check: The development potentially represents the best shot in more than a generation to revive the landmark two-story stucco home at 42 N. Central Ave. — provided the asking price, restoration costs of at least $2 million and a recent appraisal that valued the house at $65,000 don’t chase away prospective buyers. The home is vacant and uninhabitable.
Key context: Built in 1903 for printing executive Joseph Jacob Walser, the house is important because it brought together in a single design many of the elements Wright would use in later and larger Prairie School commissions.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ????⚾????
- A year with Johnson: One year ago Tuesday, Ben Johnson agreed to lead the Bears, becoming "everything that Chicago’s needed as a coach," QB Caleb Williams said.
- HOF Sox: Former White Sox center fielders Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltran were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
- Jones’ shifting role: The Bulls' Tre Jones likely will return to a reserve role once guard Josh Giddey returns from his hamstring injury.
- Rising star: Little-known senior Arnez Jones ramped up his breakout season Tuesday, leading North Lawndale past Farragut.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD ????
Today's clue: 1D: Adjective for Chicago's weather (and politicians)
BRIGHT ONE ????
Chicago will host monthlong UNESCO International Jazz celebration
By Courtney Kueppers
Chicago’s legendary jazz scene is preparing to shine on the world’s stage in April, when the city hosts the UNESCO International Jazz Day 2026 for the first time
Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Johnson joined other elected officials Tuesday to announce the lineup, an event that also featured music legends Herbie Hancock and Kurt Elling.
The global event will kick off April 1 with weeks of educational programming, master classes and special performances. The month will culminate in the All-Star Global Concert on April 30 at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House, which will feature more than 40 international artists including Hancock, Elling, Dianne Reeves, Ernest Dawkins, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Terence Blanchard.
Most events will be free and open to the public, with online registration opening March 1.
Hancock, the legendary jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, helped found International Jazz Day and chairs the event, the world’s largest celebration of the genre. This year’s iteration will highlight Chicago’s contributions to jazz, blues and global music.
"It was at my high school, Hyde Park Academy, that I first discovered jazz. I was sitting in an auditorium watching a talent show, and something clicked for me. That moment changed my life," Hancock said.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
What song or album best captures the sound of Chicago jazz? Tell us why. ????
Email us your answer (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
On Tuesday, we asked you: Nearly two decades after being privatized, Chicago’s parking meters are up for sale — should the city buy them back?
"Wouldn't it be great if some benevolent billionaires stepped in and bought the parking meters? They could slash prices in low income neighborhoods, be more cooperative with street festival and construction closures, and donate underutilized spots back to the city to convert to bike/bus lanes. Plus, they'd still likely turn a solid profit after all of that." — Joe Karamanski
"Chicago should definitely buy back the parking meters. No business or nonprofit would sell its assets for operating expenses, and it’s a disgrace that Mayor Daley did such a thing to the city." — Kelly Kleiman
"No, I do not believe Chicago should attempt to buy back these rights. The city would likely end up paying far more than they are worth, and the proposal itself feels like a distraction from our real priorities. The funds ... could be put to far better use. What the city needs is honest, clear thinking about how we fund essential city programs. That includes addressing our pension funding shortfalls — especially now, as we navigate the loss of ARPA federal dollars and the ongoing pressure of inflation." — Marie Waltz
"My answer is yes, but only if it actually makes sense on paper. This cannot be an emotional 'undo the bad deal' move. It has to be a hard-nosed business decision." — Ryan Kelly
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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