Just when you thought fall was imminent, Chicago gets hit with some mid-80s temperatures. Today, WTTW News explains the state’s assault weapons ban and asks Chicagoans what they think about immigration policy.
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Chicago City Hall. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
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On Monday, Chicago announced a hiring freeze complete with some overtime and travel cutbacks for employees. Right now, the city is staring down a $222.9 million deficit this year and a projected $982 million shortfall in the 2025 fiscal year. You might be wondering, "How did we get here?" Well, this is just the latest development in a financial crunch that goes back years. Here's the backstory of how we arrived at this point and what is on the horizon.
Why did this happen?
Annette Guzman, the city’s budget director, said this year’s deficit is driven by a drop in revenues from the State Personal Property Replacement Tax and an unpaid pension payment from Chicago Public Schools.
Per Guzman, the deficit is almost entirely due to the Chicago Board of Education’s decision not to contribute $175 million to the pensions of employees who are not teachers.
What could happen next?
Despite campaigning on a promise not to raise property taxes, Mayor Brandon Johnson has not ruled out a hike to deal with the gap.
CPD spent $293 million on overtime last year but Monday’s announcement on overtime cuts noted they will come from “outside of public safety operations.
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WTTW News Explains: Illinois' Assault Weapons Ban (WTTW News)
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Illinois is one of 10 states — plus Washington, D.C. — with a so-called assault weapons ban on the books. A 2023 law called the Protect Illinois Communities Act bans these guns from being purchased, sold or owned in the state. Naturally, it’s a hot-button issue. To help you get a deeper sense of the issue, WTTW News has created a handy explainer detailing the evolving definition of “assault weapons,” the arguments on both sides of the ban and the law’s uncertain future.
Some key facts:
An assault weapon is a semiautomatic firearm with the capacity to fire a lot of rounds quickly, according to the law.
Yes, that includes AR-15-style guns —like those used in the mass shootings in suburban Highland Park, as well as in Uvalde, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and elsewhere.
High-capacity magazines are banned too: The law defines them as anything with at least 10 rounds of ammunition for long guns; 15 for handguns.
Watch the Amanda Vinicky-penned video.
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Photo of the Southern Border (CNN)
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The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is set for tonight and hosted by ABC News. If you tune in, expect immigration, migrants and the border to take center stage. Harris has advocated for the bipartisan immigration reform bill that was proposed this year, but never made it to a vote while Trump has promised to build a wall and carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. The differences couldn’t be starker and Chicagoans from each political spectrum weigh in here.
Here’s Dulce Ortiz, board president of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, on Project 2025
Chuck Hernandez, the chairman of the Chicago Republican Party criticized Biden’s record on the border:
Want more debate previews? Check out this "Chicago Tonight" segment from Monday about what’s at stake as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris prepare for tonight's debate.
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Also From WTTW News:
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Illinois advocates for LBGTQ+ rights are pushing for the state’s high court to mandate that all lawyers, judges and other court personnel be trained on the legal needs of LBGTQ+ people. Amanda Vinicky has the full story here.
Four people were killed by gunfire in Chicago over the weekend, according to preliminary data from the Chicago Police Department.
Two political communications pros preview the Presidential debate on “Chicago Tonight.” In a tight race, tonight's debate could have a big impact.
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Back in the Day: September 10, 1999 - Indicted ‘Operation Silver Shovel’ Alderman Reports to Prison
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In 1996, Chicago news outlets — including “Chicago Tonight” — were closely covering the FBI's corruption probe called Operation Silver Shovel. Eighteen individuals, including six Chicago alderpeople, were indicted for accepting bribes from a government mole in exchange for permitting illegal landfills among other environmental misdeeds. On this day 25 years ago, one of those indicted, Ald. Virgil Jones (15th Ward), reported for a 41-month prison sentence in Wisconsin. Jones, who had served the
South Side ward from 1991 to 1999, was found guilty of extortion and tax violations for pocketing $7,000 in payoffs. Before his political career, Jones was a Chicago police officer who earned the nickname “Lock ‘Em Up Jones.” He was released in August 2002. Operation Silver Shovel was the subject of a popular 2018 podcast called "The City."
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With football season starting, where is your favorite place in the city to watch the Chicago Bears?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Other News From Around Town:
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Chicago's new Cannabis Research Institute aims to study how marijuana could help or harm people and the Chicago Tribune has the details.
Former NBA player Will Perdue will not return to Bulls studio shows when the team moves its broadcasts to the Chicago Sports Network set to launch Oct. 1, reports Chicago Sun-Times.
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City officials announce a hiring freeze. Our Spotlight Politics team dissects the budget and more.
With another school shooting, WTTW News Explains looks at the Illinois law banning so-called assault weapons.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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