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Yes, it’s only Tuesday. Let WTTW News guide you through a chaotic week with stories on ICE, the National Guard deployment and a one-on-one interview with Mayor Brandon Johnson. |
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Mayor Brandon Johnson appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Oct. 6, 2025. (WTTW News) |
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Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed Monday to resist President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, calling the president’s actions “illegal and dangerous.”
“In no way are we going to accept this,” Johnson said on WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight.”
The first of 400 members of the Texas National Guard and 300 members of the Illinois National Guard under federal control could hit Chicago streets as soon as Tuesday, lawyers for the Trump administration told U.S. District Court Judge April Perry.
Perry declined to immediately block the deployment after Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker sued to stop it, instead scheduling a hearing for Thursday.
Even as Johnson said Trump “has essentially declared war on Chicago,” local officials cannot stop the president from federalizing the Illinois National Guard and deploying them to Chicago alongside the Texas National Guard. Johnson signed an executive order Monday morning designed to prohibit federal agents from using city property during enforcement actions and to allow private property owners to deny entry to federal agents without a warrant.
Those prohibitions are already in place under state law and city ordinance, and local officials do not have the ability to place additional restrictions on federal agents, making Johnson’s action symbolic. But Johnson said the city would use the threat of legal action to stop federal agents — who local officials said have committed a litany of egregious offences against Chicagoans — from using school parking lots and parks to prepare enforcement operations.
“What’s happening in this country right now is a threat to our democracy and if the Congress or the Supreme Court, if they’re not going to hold this administration accountable, Chicago will,” Johnson said. “We don’t want a federalized occupation in our city.”
Johnson said Trump is attempting to terrorize Chicagoans by using Department of Homeland Security agents.
“We’re not going to be intimidated in Chicago,” Johnson said. “It’s my responsibility to stand up to tyranny and to make sure that we are defending the people of this city.”
What else happened?
On Monday, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling rejected claims his officers failed to respond to a pair of incidents involving federal agents in the city over the weekend, saying more than two dozen officers were affected by chemical gas deployed by the agents. |
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility officers stand guard outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) |
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Chicago-area journalists and protesters are suing the Trump administration, claiming Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have engaged in a “pattern of extreme brutality” they say is a “concerted and ongoing effort to silence the press and civilians” outside the agency’s Broadview processing facility.
The Chicago Headline Club, Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, Block Club Chicago and other media organizations and journalists filed the suit alongside protesters in federal court Monday, alleging their First Amendment rights have been violated.
More context:
“Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale or usurped states’ police power by directing federal agents to carry out an illegal mission against the people for the government’s own benefit,” the organizations wrote in a 52-page complaint.
Named in the lawsuit as defendants are: President Donald Trump, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE’s Chicago Field Office Director Russell Hott, Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others.
ICE agents have repeatedly deployed tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets against crowds of protesters outside the facility. Beyond affecting those protesters exercising their First Amendment rights, those munitions have also affected first responders, local police and media who are in the area.
In doing so, the lawsuit claims, federal agents have “aimed to suppress speech and dissent.” |
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A CTA train is pictured in a file photo. (AlbertPego / iStock) |
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No two fall color seasons are alike, but if there's one thing we can safely predict, it's that people will go gaga for foliage. At least one team of researchers has attempted to get to the bottom of this obsession with dying leaves and their conclusion was kind of simple: Looking at the multi-colored display makes people feel more relaxed.
Red, orange and yellow also happen to have positive mood associations, from warmth to enthusiasm to happiness. Looking for a little psychological boost? There are a number of local fall forecast resources that will point you in the direction of peak color.
The state of Illinois' fall color guide is powered by the Department of Natural Resources. It features weekly reports on foliage conditions in northern, central and southern Illinois, with information on the color progression of different species of trees. There's also an interactive map showing the general timing of peak foliage in various parts of the state.
Morton Arboretum updates its weekly fall color report every Wednesday, with real-time information on which species are turning color across the 1,700-acre site, including in the parking lots. Because this is the arboretum, the report also includes details on plant health and how stressors like heat, lack of rain, exposure to car exhaust or damage from last year's periodical cicada emergence are affecting this year's color. |
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Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson has signed an executive order that aims to set fixed protest hours outside of ICE’s west suburban processing facility.
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The reversible express lanes on the Kennedy Expressway resumed normal operations yesterday morning, offering some relief to inbound morning rush hour commuters after months of the express lanes remaining in the outbound direction during construction work.
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Back in the Day: October 7, 1991: The Harold Washington Library Opens |
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During his term as Chicago's mayor, Harold Washington had supported building a new central library in Chicago. Months before his death in 1987, Washington announced a design and build competition and the City Council issued $144 million in bonds to finance the project. On this day 34 years ago, Oct. 7, 1991, the Harold Washington Library opened its doors to the public. A postmodern design by architecture firm Hammond, Beeby and Babka, which took liberal inspiration from Chicago's existing historic structures, won the city's contract. Among the many design features is that the roof is ornamented by five massive owl sculptures by Raymond Kaskey. Named after Washington, the city's first African American mayor, the Harold Washington Library still stands as the city's central branch of the Chicago Public Library system. |
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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 in Chicago. This week, it’s investigative reporter Jared Rutecki on area grocery stores.
Jared Rutecki: In an era of grocery delivery apps, I still walk the aisles — not out of necessity, but because I love it. Chicago is packed with great markets, but these five specialty stores stand out (I will also miss so many classics, so apologies in advance).
H Mart
The first local location, a Super H Mart, opened about 20 years ago in Niles. Once centered on Korean goods, the chain now spans Asia. Stock up on kimchi, instant ramen and standout produce — especially mushrooms. Snacks and drinks create some truly mind-blowing possibilities. Don’t miss the housemade tofu or the in-store restaurants serving noodles, dumplings and Korean corn dogs. Locations in Chicago, Niles and Naperville.
Montrose Deli and Market
A Northwest Side staple for more than 30 years with additional suburban outposts in Niles and Roselle, Montrose offers a panoply of Polish and other Eastern European fare. There are fresh and frozen pierogi with every imaginable filling. Check out the virtual Polish buffet at the hot bar. The cooler is stocked with butter on top of more butter. Multiple locations.
Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market
Caputo’s is an Italian culinary wonderland launched in 1958, and has about 10 suburban locations. Think buckets of ricotta, giardiniera, housemade sausage and dreamy cannoli. Caputo’s makes sauces, mozzarella, burrata and dishes that taste like they came straight from nonna’s kitchen. Multiple locations.
Patel Brothers
Founded in West Ridge in 1974, now nationwide, the aisles here overflow with produce, spices and packaged goods from across the Indian subcontinent. Try the fresh gulab jamun, naan, paratha and the endless varieties of lentils. The frozen aisle is vast. The deli counter is also worth a stop, offering samosas and puffs filled with options including chili paneer, priced around $1 each. Locations in West Ridge and Niles.
Carnicerias Guanajuato
With four West and Northwest side locations, it’s the classic Chicago model: groceries up front with a taqueria in back. There is a large deli counter at this corner grocery store with a variety of Mexican pantry staples. Stock up on baked goods, corn husks, peppers and perfect avocados, then grab a burrito and horchata for about $13 at the efficient counter. Multiple locations.
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The Chicago Cubs have advanced to the National League Division Series round of the MLB postseason. What’s been your favorite moment of the season so far?
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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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