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This Tuesday, read these stories from WTTW News on the consent decree’s progress, new invasive plant species and more. |
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Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling. (WTTW News) |
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A long-awaited study of whether Chicago police officers are efficiently and effectively deployed across the city to stop crime and respond to calls for help is nearly complete, officials said.
Required by the terms of the consent decree, the federal court order designed to compel CPD to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers, the study — conducted by Matrix Consulting Group — is on track to be completed on time, by the end of the year, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said during an online seminar held to update the public about the status of the study.
Snelling said the study is “one of the most comprehensive assessments of CPD’s manpower” and acknowledged it is long overdue. It is likely to be released publicly not long before the seventh anniversary of the implementation of the consent decree.
More context:
The cost of the study, estimated to be between $800,000 and $1 million, was covered by the nonprofit Civic Consulting Alliance, which is funded by some of the city’s biggest corporations.
“This is really going to help us as a department to figure out a better way of how we distribute those manpowers when we’re dealing with calls for service,” Snelling said.
The study will also help the department become “a little more transparent, or a lot more transparent,” Snelling said.
The study will help police brass determine “if we’re getting the best bang for our buck with our officers out there showing up, overtime, things of that nature, this is going to help us get to the bottom of that.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed spending plan for 2026 would double CPD’s overtime budget to $200 million.
In 2024, CPD spent a total of $273.8 million on overtime, 6.5% less than in 2023, according to a WTTW News analysis.
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Callery pear blossoms. (sharonshuping0 / Pixabay) |
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Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), beloved by landscapers for decades, is now officially an invasive species in Illinois. The tree is one of nine plants just added to the state's exotic weeds list on the recommendation of the Illinois Invasive Species Council, bringing the total to 34. Given its ubiquity in the nursery industry, Callery pear will become illegal to buy, sell, distribute or plant on Jan. 1, 2028, providing growers with a grace period to phase out their stock.
The other eight additions are banned immediately:
Some backstory:
“Exotic weeds” refers to plants non-native to North America that spread vigorously in the wild, degrading natural habitat and threatening the survival of native species. Many were introduced as ornamentals but ultimately escaped cultivation. In the case of Callery pear, the seeds of its fruit are carried by birds far and wide.
It's illegal to trade in any part of a noxious weed — from seed to root — without a permit, which are typically only granted for research purposes.
Illinois' Invasive Species Council was placed on hiatus in 2015 and reformed in 2020. It's composed of professionals from the public and private sectors who make formal recommendations to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture. |
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CNN anchor and journalist Abby Phillip appears on "Chicago Tonight" on Oct. 21, 2025. (WTTW News) |
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Who can forget that night in November 2008 when Barack Obama delivered his victory speech in Grant Park, having become the first Black person ever elected to the presidency? In the audience watching was a tearful Rev. Jesse Jackson. The civil rights leader-turned-politician had twice run for the office himself.
CNN anchor and journalist Abby Phillip details Jackson’s historic campaigns and political rise in a new book, “A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power.”
From Obama’s election to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns, Phillip argues that Jackson’s civil rights leadership and political career helped shape the country’s trajectory.
“I don’t think I and many other people realize to what extent Jesse Jackson paved the way,” Phillip said. “In the message, in the vision that he had of unity in a Democratic coalition – of using all the different parts of the rainbow of America and putting them together in one political party. He was largely responsible for that.”
It wasn’t until Obama became president that Jackson’s impact began to be recognized, Phillip said. |
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Back in the Day: October 28, 2005 - White Sox’s World Series Parade
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On October 26, 2005, the Chicago White Sox broke an 88-year championship drought, sweeping the Houston Astros 4-0 in the 2005 World Series. It was one of the most dominant runs in MLB postseason history and the South Siders' first title since 1917. Twenty years ago today, the team hosted a massive parade that started at U.S. Cellular Field (now Rate Field) that snaked around South Side neighborhoods like Pilsen, Bronzeville, Chinatown and Little Italy. It eventually ended at the Chicago Board of Trade, where representatives of the team held a rally that was emceed by Hawk Harrelson and the late Ed Farmer. Journey’s Steve Perry sang a rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and an estimated 1.75 million fans attended the celebration. |
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Learn about sponsorship opportunities. |
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This Week’s Staff Recommendations |
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Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers highlight their favorite things about Chicago. This week, it’s Crystin Immel, managing editor of TV news, on the best local spots to watch women's sports.
Crystin Immel: You’ve undoubtedly seen the merchandise… Everyone watches women’s sports. Despite women’s sports getting more attention in recent years it can still be difficult to find a place in Chicago to watch those games with fellow enthusiasts. So if you’re tired of begging bars to put women’s sports on their TVs, I’m here with the assist!
Whiskey Girl Tavern: Located in Edgewater, this spot has an all-around fun and welcoming vibe. It offers a great selection of inventive cocktails (whiskey-based and otherwise) with the bartenders always happy to provide recommendations. There’s plenty of space to settle in and get comfortable to cheer on your favorite team, women’s or men’s. I recommend the chicken tenders, sounds basic but trust me, and as a Buffalo Trace gal I have to recommend the “Let’s Go Buffalo” whiskey flight. 6318 N. Clark St.
The Globe Pub: Located in North Center, this British-inspired pub is a go-to place for soccer fans. They have a lively game-day atmosphere and plenty of TVs so even if you’re there a little late and left standing you still have a lot of angles to catch the game. The pub boasts 40+ beers on tap and offers an array of game-day staples for food. Plus, if you stay after the final whistle to catch dinner you can celebrate your team’s victory (or soak up their loss) with some bangers and mash or shepherd’s pie. 1934 W. Irving Park Rd.
Babe’s Sports Bar: This upscale women’s sports bar just opened, to much fanfare, in Logan Square. Branding itself as “A New Kind of Sports Bar,” this spot only shows women’s sports. Babe’s is a partner of the Chicago Sky, Chicago Stars Football Club, Chicago Tempest, Chicago Winds Women’s Football Team and the Windy City Rollers so they plan to show all their games. Don’t see a specific game on their online programming calendar? Make a request and they’ll try to add it. If you’re like me and not quite ready to say goodbye to the WNBA season, swing by this weekend to check out their Paige Bueckers lookalike competition– celebrating the league’s reigning Rookie of the Year. 3017 W. Armitage Ave. |
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What's the best Halloween costume you’ve ever seen? Bonus points if it was Chicago-themed.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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