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It’s Wednesday, Chicago. Catch up on the latest stories from WTTW News.
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
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The significant increase in the number of times Chicago police officers have used force against members of the public since 2022 merits a “full-scale review,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office told a federal judge.
A coalition of police reform groups, which forced the city to agree to federal court oversight, told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer that the number of times officers have shot, Tased, struck or choked a member of the public violates the consent decree, the federal court order requiring officers to stop routinely violating Black and Latino residents’ constitutional rights.
What the data shows:
Chicago police officers used force against members of the public 3,044 times during 2025, an increase of approximately 6.4% as compared with 2024, according to CPD data provided to Pallmeyer.
Between 2023, when Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling took office, and 2025, the number of times police officers used force against a member of the public increased approximately 35.8%, according to CPD data.
Snelling has said the increase is the result of officers reporting those incidents accurately for the first time as a result of consent decree compliance.
More context:
Assistant Attorney General Mike Tresnowski told Pallmeyer during an April 14 hearing that there are “concerning trends regarding the increases in use of force” by CPD officers that merit additional scrutiny.
“We believe it’s appropriate to talk about a full-scale review of compliance,” Tresnowski said. “The review could involve pulling a representative sample of uses of force incidents and asking about each incident. Was this use of force reasonable? Was this use of force necessary? Was this use of force proportional? Was the use of force in line with the department’s commitment to de-escalation?”
Snelling told Pallmeyer he was concerned that such a review would not take into account that “officers are human beings and they will make mistakes.”
“Are there times where our officers have used excessive force? Yes, and we can look historically at some of those things,” Snelling said. “But is that the most common practice that every time an officer uses force that the force is excessive? No, what we need to do is look at what’s proportional, what is reasonable, under the totality of the circumstances test, to be applied.”
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Jahmal Cole appears on “Chicago Tonight” on April 20, 2026. (WTTW News)
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Not many Chicagoans can say they’ve lived in each of the city’s 77 community areas. But Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of the nonprofit My Block, My Hood, My City, is looking to do just that.
The activist and community organizer is entering his second year of Live 77, a project where he will live, eat and shop in every single Chicago community for one full month. He hopes to “travel the world without leaving Chicago” by the end of his 77-month journey.
So far, he has lived in 14 community areas — including Pullman, Bridgeport, Chinatown, North Lawndale, Humboldt Park and Rogers Park. Cole sat down with “Chicago Tonight” to reflect on his journey.
On what he’s learned so far:
“North Lawndale, everybody says it was really poor, but when I was there, I found it to be rich. It was rich in trust, rich in connections, rich in just a fabric between nonprofit organizations that existed. .... I’ve learned that people say Chicago’s really segregated. But when you actually break bread with people and have a kitchen-table discussion, you realize everybody’s trying to raise their family the best they can.”
On what he hopes will come of Live 77:
“I want to build relationships. There’s only so much virtual trust you can build on Facebook and Instagram. I want to build real connections. I want to understand the strengths and the challenges. I want to hear the stories. I want to hear the solutions from people with lived experiences. I want to create a road map of impact that can last for decades. … It’s a listening tour. I want to listen about how I can help people better.”
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Chicago City Hall is pictured in a file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
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A bird-friendly building ordinance has once again been introduced to the Chicago City Council, but advocates fear the measure was dead on arrival.
At the March 18 City Council meeting, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th Ward) invoked a procedure that sent the ordinance to the Rules Committee, a committee commonly known as the place where legislation goes to die.
Some backstory: Bird-friendly building legislation — intended to help stem the epidemic of birds killed and injured in collisions with Chicago buildings — was previously stymied in 2020. Back then, City Council kicked the issue to the Department of Planning and Development, instructing the department to give greater weight to bird-friendly mitigations within Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy.
It was a blow to bird advocates: Only 50 to 75 projects per year are subject to targets set by the Sustainable Development Policy, leaving scores of other buildings exempt from implementing any bird-friendly mitigations.
When Ald. Maria Hadden (49th Ward) held a subject matter hearing on the topic, she learned that the cost of bird-friendly building solutions wasn’t nearly as steep as it had been portrayed. Hadden and her co-sponsors introduced the new legislation in March.
What’s next: Hadden said she remains confident the legislation still has wings as there are several ways to move legislation out of Rules. She is still hoping for passage sometime this summer. “The legislative process is tricky,” Hadden said, but the ordinance is still “very much alive.”
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More From WTTW News:
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Back in the Day: April 23, 1966 - Fergie Jenkins Debuts for the Cubs
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In April of 1966, the Philadelphia Phillies traded their rookie pitcher, Fergie Jenkins, to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Adolpho Phillips and infielder John Herrnstein. Though hindsight is 20-20, the trade was a steal for the North Siders: Jenkins would go on to win 284 games in 19 seasons while Phillips and Herrnstein were both out of Major League Baseball within two years. On this day 60 years ago, Jenkins debuted for the Cubs in a game against Los Angeles. A relief pitcher at the time, Jenkins appeared in the third inning with the bases loaded and two outs. He immediately ended the threat by forcing the opposing batter to fly out. He stayed hot behind the mound, keeping the
Dodgers scoreless and retiring eight batters in the row in the middle of the game. He even helped on offense: he drove in a single and got an RBI, securing the win and leading the Cubs to a 2-0 victory. The then 23-year-old Canadian pitcher would go on to become a franchise legend, playing 10 seasons with the Cubs in two separate stints.
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This Week’s Live Music Recommendations
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, April 22:
Alice Phoebe Lou, Case Oats at the Vic. Tickets.
The Chicago folk-rock outfit opens up for the South African singer.
Thursday, April 23:
Chris Acker, The Montvales at the Hideout. Tickets.
The New Orleans songwriter makes a stop at Chicago’s coziest venue.
Thursday, Chris Conley at Metro. Tickets.
The longrunning post-hardcore band Thursday is playing on Thursday.
Frog, Feller at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
An uber prolific New York indie rock outfit enlists the rising local band for their Pilsen debut.
Friday, April 24:
The Hoyle Brothers at Empty Bottle. Free.
Want a matinee show? This honky tonk residency is always on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and always free.
Stuck, Landowner at Sleeping Village. Tickets.
This excellent Chicago punk band is celebrating the release of their 2026 album of the year contender, “Optimizer.”
Saturday, April 25:
Accessory, Facing, Cancer House at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The singer and guitarist in Dehd and NE-HI marks a stellar new LP with his solo project.
Friko, Chaepter at Metro. Tickets.
This energetic and galvanizing local rock band will release a new album called “Something Worth Waiting For,” and celebrate it with a show in Lakeview.
Field Medic, Georgia Maq at Subterranean. Tickets.
Perceptive and funny songwriting from artists who combine folk, pop, punk and indie rock.
Model/Actriz, Agriculture at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
Noisy rock music in Pilsen.
Sunday, April 26:
Maya Hawke at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
The star of “Stranger Things” and “Ken Burns: The American Revolution” also does songwriting.
Monday, April 27:
MJ Lenderman & Waxahatchee, Brennan Wedl at the Auditorium. Tickets.
Name a more iconic trio.
Tuesday, April 28:
Broncho at the Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The infectious and charming Norman, Oklahoma rock band hit the 10-year anniversary of its album “Double Vanity.”
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What would be your advice for someone moving to Chicago?
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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