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Thanks for watching “The State of Our City” community event last night. Here’s a recap of the town hall conversation with Mayor Brandon Johnson and more stories from WTTW News.
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Brandon Johnson (left) speaks at a WTTW town hall event on Feb. 3, 2025. (Ken Carl / WTTW)
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Speaking at a town hall Tuesday about the state of Chicago hosted by WTTW and community organization My Block, My Hood, My City, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he would try again to convince Chicago voters to give the Chicago City Council the power to hike taxes on the sales of properties worth $1 million or more to fight homelessness. Johnson was joined on the panel by My Block, My Hood, My City founder and CEO Jahmal Cole; Great Cities Institute Director Teresa Córdova; Northwestern University professor and crime study expert Andrew Papachristos; Collins Academy High School Principal LaKenya Sanders-Sharpe; and Collins Academy student Damarion Spann.
During the town hall, Johnson blasted “corporations” and the “ultra rich” for the failure of the ballot measure known as Bring Chicago Home, which was rejected by 53% of Chicago voters in March. “Every issue that we are facing in this city requires investment,” Johnson said. A coalition of real estate and development groups campaigned vigorously against the measure but Johnson accused the opponents of Bring Chicago Home of capitalizing on the divisions exposed by the migrant crisis, which strained the city’s social safety net, worsened the city’s financial condition and exacerbated tension between Chicago’s Black and Latino communities.
The Trump response: Among other topics that included the migrant crisis, investing in the South and West sides and more, Johnson also celebrated Chicago’s resistance during the first weeks of the second Trump administration and accused the president of wanting to “work outside the constraints of the constitution.”
“I’m a baseball guy,” Johnson said. “The president continues to balk, which is an illegal deceptive move that a pitcher can make, that they shouldn’t do. We have to call him out for his balk. And at some point, we have to get him off that freaking mound.”
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Graphic that says “Chicago's Skyscrapers.” (WTTW News)
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Last summer, plans to build the next tallest skyscraper in the U.S. were approved by the city council of an unlikely place: Oklahoma City. Later this year, construction will begin on Legends Tower, a 1,907 ft skyscraper that will be 130 feet taller than the One World Trade Center in New York City, which is the country's current tallest building. That title used to be claimed by Chicago's Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, which was in 1974 not only the tallest building in North America but the world. And while Chicago isn’t going to reclaim the tallest building title, it is a city of firsts — everything from the first Ferris wheel to the first brownie and the world’s very first skyscraper.
The first skyscraper?
In 1885, the Home Insurance Building went up on the corner of Adams and LaSalle streets. This architectural marvel clocked in at a staggering 12 stories and 180 feet. OK, maybe not a skyscraper by modern standards, but for its time it was an impressive feat, supported by a steel frame reinforced with concrete.
Big shoulders, bigger buildings
As the years ticked by, the City of Big Shoulders became a city of big buildings. Builders got more ambitious, and the heights just kept on getting higher — the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Carbide and Carbon. Now, the Willis Tower, as we now begrudgingly call it, still holds the title of tallest in Chicago. The St. Regis, completed in 2020, is the city’s third tallest, while Trump Tower, completed in 2009, sits in the No. 2 spot.
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
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Chicago saw a slight uptick in the number of homicides through the first month of 2025 compared to the same time last year, while shootings decreased slightly. There were 38 homicides recorded throughout the city in January, an 8.6% jump over the same month in 2024, according to new data from the Chicago Police Department.
While fatal shootings increased, the number of total shootings (111) and shooting victims (130) recorded in Chicago last month were both below totals from January 2024 and both figures were the fewest since 2019. According to the CPD, overall violent crime decreased 18% through the first month of 2025 compared to last year.
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Back in the Day: February 4, 2015 - Cameras Debut in Cook County Courtrooms
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On this day 10 years ago, co-defendants Paris McGee and Toyious Taylor were given mandatory life sentences for the 2010 murder of Chicago police Officer Thomas Wortham IV. While the case was tragic and Judge Timothy Joyce called Wortham’s murder “horrid and horrific” as he gave out mandatory life sentences, the trial marked a first: the introductory test of cameras in Cook County criminal courtrooms. In 2012, the Illinois Supreme Court allowed cameras in the state’s criminal courtrooms, but it took Cook County almost three to figure out how a pilot project would work years as a behind-the-scenes debate dragged on over how the pilot program would work. The Wortham case was broadcast live at the Leighton Criminal Court Building by cable channel CLTV.
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Staff Recs: Joanna Hernandez’s 4 Favorite Coffee Shops |
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Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers recommend the things they love in Chicago.
Joanna Hernandez: My love for coffee began when I started my first reporting job in New York, after a friend recommended I try an iced lavender latte from a local shop in Brooklyn. I often wonder how I survived college without it. There’s something special about a great cup of coffee, especially when you can taste the unique tones of the coffee beans.
Casa Cactus is worth checking out if you love plants and a cozy aesthetic. It’s located in Albany Park and serves delicious Mexican pastries, from conchas to empanadas. Yum! One of their standout drinks is the café de olla, which takes you back to the classic flavors of Mexico. Another favorite of mine is the Casa Latte, made with piloncillo (a type of brown sugar) and spices—add some oat milk, and it’s absolutely delicious. They also host a variety of community events!
Two sisters run First Sip, a whimsical Vietnamese-style coffee shop in Uptown perfect for anyone who enjoys floral flavors. I highly recommend trying their ube latte and the lavender iced latte. They also offer a variety of teas and desserts. It’s a spacious place, ideal for hanging out or working.
A gem in the Back of the Yards neighborhood is Grano, a family-run Mexican business that brings a fresh perspective to Mexican culture with a modern touch. They offer a variety of freshly made Mexican bread, including a unique churro and horchata doughnut. Their coffee is locally sourced, featuring options from a classic cup of joe to mazapan and horchata lattes, all infused with traditional Mexican flavors
Jumping Bean in Pilsen is one of my go-to stops in the area. It’s an artsy coffee shop with a great selection of natural juices and tasty bites—their vanilla iced coffee is one of my favorites. Recently, I took my coworker there, and he tried a mollete for the first time. The traditional Mexican open-faced sandwich has a spread of refried beans and melted cheese. We added some soy chorizo and avocado with pico de gallo—chef's kiss!
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Chicago Restaurant Week is here until Sunday. What is your favorite memory of trying out a local restaurant? Tell us where and what you ordered.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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5:30 PM | 10:30 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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