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It’s Wednesday. Welcome the cooler weather with these stories from WTTW News. |
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(WTTW News) |
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Chicago Police Department officials agreed to revise proposed new rules and prohibit officers from searching vehicles based on the smell of raw cannabis, a coalition of reform groups told the federal judge overseeing efforts to reform the Chicago Police Department.
The coalition of police reform groups behind the consent decree — the six-year-old federal court order requiring the CPD to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers — told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer they had dropped their request that she order CPD leaders to revise a proposed policy designed to set new limits on when Chicago police officers can stop and search Chicagoans.
The coalition, led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, “applauds” CPD for amending the policy in late May, calling the latest version “an improvement” that reflects an agreement reached in August 2023 that prohibits officers from “conducting an investigatory stop or search of an individual based solely on an officer smelling cannabis/marijuana without any other specific and articulable facts of criminal activity,” in a court filing made Monday.
Some backstory:
The Chicago Police Department does not track how many traffic stops are conducted based on the smell of raw cannabis, according to documents obtained by WTTW News through the Freedom of Information Act.
In fact, CPD officers rarely stop Chicagoans on suspicion of unlawfully possessing cannabis or violating the law regulating the possession or use of medical marijuana, according to CPD data.
In the seven months between December 2024 and June 2025, just 70 traffic stops were conducted on the basis of suspected violations of laws governing the use and possession of cannabis.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in December that the scent of raw cannabis is enough for a police officer to search a vehicle, even though marijuana is legal in the state. Three months before that decision, the Supreme Court found that the smell of burnt cannabis was not probable cause for a search.
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A graphic that says, "Ranked Choice Voting" (WTTW News) |
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Dozens of American jurisdictions use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for public elections, reaching nearly 14 million voters. This includes two states, three counties, and 47 cities. The method allows voters to rank their candidates of choice in order of first, second, third and so on in order of preference. In the Chicago area, both Oak Park and Skokie plan to implement it in 2027.
One of those cities is New York City, where last night the Democratic primary for its mayoral election was held. While ranked choice results will be fully tabulated Tuesday (a candidate has to clear 50% of the vote on primary night to be declared the winner), it'll almost certainly lead to a general election showdown in November between leading Democrat New York State Rep. Zohran Mamdani and current Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent.
Here's how RCV works:
On Election Day, if a candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, that person wins the election outright. But if no candidate gets the majority of the vote, rankings kick in. The candidate with the smallest number of votes gets eliminated, and his or her votes are redistributed to the voter’s second choice, ensuring their vote counts.
Does everyone like it?
No. Nathan Atkinson is a professor of law at the University of Wisconsin. He’s not a fan of ranked choice voting. He said that for swing states like Wisconsin and Georgia, where there are a large number of voters on polar opposite sides of the aisle, this method would make it hard for candidates in the middle to ever get elected.
Have more questions?
Watch this WTTW News Explains video. |
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Jeremy Allen White as Carmy in "The Bear." (Credit: "The Bear" / FX) |
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Has “The Bear” been on your to-watch list forever, but you still don’t know what you’re getting into? Do you need a refresher on what Carmy has been up to and/or yelling about? Or are you a proud Chicagoan who has resisted the show, for what television program can do this fine and complicated city justice? Here’s a quick guide to “The Bear,” ahead of the season 4 premiere today on Hulu.
What is "The Bear"?
"The Bear" is a comedy-drama television program that stars Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto, a talented fine dining chef who returns to Chicago to run his family’s no-frills Italian beef joint after his brother’s unexpected death. It was created by Christopher Storer and premiered on FX back in 2022, and has won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards.
What influence does Chicago have on the show?
The answer is: lots. Chicago plays its own role as the setting of the series. The show is filmed in Chicago, and the exterior of the real-life beef stand Mr. Beef is used as the restaurant exterior in season 1. |
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Back in the Day: June 25, 2016: White Sox Hit Seven Home Runs, Tie Franchise Record, Still Lose |
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On this day in 2016, the Chicago White Sox made baseball history in more than one way. In a game versus the Toronto Blue Jays, the team hit seven home runs, tying their franchise record that was first reached in 1955. That said, all of their seven dingers were solo HRs, which meant that the South Siders couldn't score enough to prevent a 10-8 loss. The White Sox, along with the Tigers who accomplished the feat in 1995 and 2004, became one of the only teams in Major League history to lose a game when hitting seven home runs. "I don't think I've seen that before," then White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "But the bright side is we were swinging the bats." The current record for most home runs in a single game is held by the Toronto Blue Jays, who smacked 10 in an 18-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles in 1987. |
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for June 25-July 1 |
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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, June 25:
Mikaela Davis, Lily Seabird at Garcia’s. Tickets.
The acclaimed harpist and Deadhead brings her band to the new West Loop venue that caters to jam bands. One of Vermont’s best songwriters opens.
Thursday, June 26:
The Convenience, The Lipschitz, Wallplant at Cole’s. Tickets.
New Orleans indie rockers channel Spoon, the Fall and Omni on their excellent new album.
Friday, June 27:
Cloakroom, Bleached Cross, Illusion of Choice, Turquoise at Cobra Lounge. Tickets.
While they’ve thrived on pummeling stoner metal and noisy shoegaze, their latest LP takes the Indiana band to unexpectedly diverse and infectious places.
Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith at Constellation. Tickets.
Two jazz stalwarts join forces at the city’s best venue for improvised music.
Saturday, June 28:
Lifeguard, PARKiNG, TV Buddha, Bungee Jumper at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
These local headliners have a stellar new album out and will be performing “In the Round” in the middle of the crowd.
Sunday, June 29:
Greg Mendez at Beat Kitchen. Tickets.
Come see why this Philly songwriter earned Elliott Smith comparisons early on in his solo career.
“Weird Al” Yankovic, Puddles Pity Party at Ravinia. Tickets.
After taking in hours of parody songs, you might start calling him “Fun Al” Yankovic.
Monday, June 30:
Sudan Archives, Lido Pimienta, DJ Roxyo Sounds at Millennium Park. Free.
Nothing says summer quite like a free Monday concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. |
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What’s your favorite public pool in Chicago? Tell us why. |
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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