It's already the middle of the week. Take a breather with these Wednesday stories about your city.
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(WTTW News)
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The leaders of the agency tasked with investigating misconduct by Chicago police officers created “a vacuum of accountability” by failing to follow its own rules while trying to clear a massive backlog of complaints, according to an analysis by the city’s watchdog.
In all, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, better known as COPA, closed 654 complaints naming 1,041 officers that were more than 18 months old between July 2023 and January 2024 as part of what former Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten called its Timeliness Initiative.
Closing hundreds of old complaints — without determining whether officers should be disciplined — did allow COPA to function more efficiently, according to the analysis, launched by former Inspector General Deborah Witzburg and released by her successor, Inspector General David Glockner.
But the initiative also “allowed misconduct to go unaddressed,” according to the analysis.
“By administratively closing hundreds of cases COPA may have alleviated its own burden, but it also created a vacuum of accountability within the police oversight system it is mandated to uphold,” the analysis concluded, warning the agency against implementing similar efforts in the future.
COPA Chief Administrator LaKenya White, who took over the agency in January but was the agency’s director of investigations during the initiative, defended the agency in a letter to the inspector general’s office, saying COPA’s caseload had “ballooned to an unsustainable level” by July 2023.
“The initiative resulted in smaller caseloads, which will lead to more meaningful case outcomes going forward,” White wrote.
More context:
COPA had 697 open complaints as of Monday, including one complaint from 2021, three from 2022, 13 from 2023 and 30 from 2024, according to the agency’s website.
The agency’s caseload peaked in 2020, with more than 2,000 open complaints, records show.
The analysis faulted COPA’s handling of the initiative in nearly every aspect, finding officials resisted oversight and failed to fulfill promises to operate transparently.
“Investigative shortcuts, like those taken within the Timeliness Initiative, risk damaging COPA’s institutional credibility as well as public confidence in its ability to appropriately investigate police misconduct,” according to the analysis.
The inspector general found the investigative files detailing the now-closed complaints were often incomplete, making “external oversight” of the initiative impossible.
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Mayor Brandon Johnson appears on “Chicago Tonight” on May 14, 2026. (WTTW News)
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Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Wednesday designed to ban purchases of guns and ammunition from firms that flout federal law and do not take steps to prevent weapons trafficking.
“This executive order is essentially using the city’s purchasing power to establish a more responsible procurement standards for firearms, ammunition and other related equipment, and to ensure that these vendors that we’re doing business with are complying with federal law on cooperating with law enforcement,” Mayor Brandon Johnson told WTTW News.
Just 5% of gun dealers can be tied to 90% of guns recovered at crime scenes, Johnson said.
The mayor’s office could not immediately tell WTTW News how much it spends on guns and ammunition annually.
Gun policy group the Brady Campaign has urged elected officials to use their procurement power to force gun companies to change how they do business, since cities and states spend millions of dollars to equip police officers.
With most gun control legislation blocked by Republicans at the federal level, and a U.S. Supreme Court that has repeatedly expanded the 2nd Amendment to prevent new restrictions on guns, the city will use the power of its checkbook to make changes, Johnson said.
“The city is taking action to ensure that our taxpayer dollars are not supporting firearm vendors that .. fail to meet basic public safety responsibilities,” Johnson said. “It’s one lever that I can use.”
What else happened?
Johnson on Tuesday said he was hopeful that an analysis by the city’s watchdog that found the city followed its rules while spending $269 million from Chicago taxpayers to care for the men, women and children sent to Chicago from the southern border will prompt a reevaluation of how he handled the humanitarian crisis.
Inspector General David Glockner determined city officials “accurately and transparently” reported what it spent to feed, house and care for 46,282 people who arrived in Chicago, between August 2022 and December 2024, according to a new report.
“I’m humbled that the work that I did has been validated,” Johnson said. “I don’t regret it. I don’t. It was the right thing to do.”
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(Juli Scalzi / iStock)
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Earlier this month, the U.S. House voted to end the twice yearly changing of the clocks by passing the Sunshine Protection Act.
The bill, passed 308-117, would make daylight saving time permanent in the United States unless states opt out before the act takes effect.
Illinois Democrats were divided on the issue, with eight ‘yes’ and six ‘no’ votes. All three Illinois Republicans voted in favor of the bill.
As the act makes its way to the Senate where it still needs approval, health professionals are voicing concerns. At the same time, members of the business community say there could be benefits to later sunsets.
The debate:
Eric Albrecht, senior advocacy program manager at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, says that an adjustment to permanent daylight saving time would be hard on the body. Albrecht says alternative health outcomes could include increased heart attacks, strokes and mental health risks.
Medical professionals aren’t the only ones sounding the alarm. Aviation and travel experts say that their industries could also be impacted. Similarly, construction workers and rideshare and delivery drivers noted that their early morning start times could lead to some dangerous conditions for workers if the sun is rising later.
Some business owners say the extra hour of evening daylight could bring more customers and create positive economic impacts. Trudy Leong, administrator at the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce, argues that those impacts do not outweigh health and safety risks.
Chicagoans could see sunrises as late as 8:18am in the winter months. Commuters also voiced concerns over increased traffic accidents that occur in decreased visibility.
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More From WTTW News:
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Chicago was hammered by a pair of storms on Monday that dumped nearly three inches of rain at Midway Airport, where wind gusts topped 70 miles per hour. Cleanup efforts are underway after the deluge overwhelmed sewer systems, flooding streets and homes.
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Back in the Day: July 29, 2016 - Obama Announces Jackson Park As Presidential Center Site
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A decade ago, President Barack Obama was in the final months of his second term. Per a longstanding tradition that began in 1939 with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, outgoing Commanders-in-Chief designate a site to hold their donated archives as well as personal and presidential papers. The buildings serve as both a museum, library and community gathering space. On July 29, 2016 — 10 years ago today — Obama announced that his presidential library would be at the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Jackson Park — the site of the 1893 World’s Fair. "Michelle and I are thrilled that the Obama Presidential Center will be developed in the heart of Chicago’s South Side, a
community we call home and that means the world to us," Obama said in a statement. He had fielded proposals from New York City, where he went to college, and Hawaii, where he was born, but landed on his longtime home where he launched his political career. Ground broke on the $850 million building in September 2021 and it opened in June 2026. For further reading on the Obama Presidential Center, click here.
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This Week’s Concert Recommendations
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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, July 29:
Blood Orange at House of Blues. Tickets.
The acclaimed songwriter makes a rare stop in Chicago. A Lollapalooza pre-show.
Ben Folds and the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Free.
The piano bard behind “Brick,” “Army” and “Song for the Dumped” will be backed up by a massive orchestra.
The Smashing Pumpkins at Riviera Theatre. Tickets.
The Chicago alt-rock heroes haven’t played Lollapalooza in 32 years. A Lollapalooza pre-show.
Wet Leg, Smut at the Vic Theatre. Tickets.
The English duo enlists a Chicago-based indie rock band for their late-night gig in Lakeview. A Lollapalooza pre-show.
Thursday, July 30:
Lorde, Wet Leg, Blood Orange, Little Simz, more at Lollapalooza. Sold out.
The nearly sold-out four-day massive festival takes over Grant Park this weekend.
Suki Waterhouse at House of Blues. Tickets.
The pop star and actress heads to River North. A Lollapalooza aftershow.
Friday, July 31:
CRASHwolves (CRASHprez + Manwolves), Starcharm at Kilbourn Park. Free.
The best music festival this weekend is a free Friday concert at a cozy Northwest Side park.
Chicago, Styx at Allstate Arena. Tickets.
Want to avoid the young people attending Lollapalooza? A Rosemont trip to see these two bands is a foolproof escape plan.
Saturday, August 1:
After, Sunshy at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
After the festival wraps up, go see the band After. A Lollapalooza aftershow..
Sunday, August 2:
Tate McRae, The xx, Turnstile, Water From Your Eyes, Squirrel Flower at Lollapalooza. Tickets.
The only day still on sale from the four-day massive festival taking over Grant Park this weekend.
Kaycie Satterfield, Morpho, Jane Hobson at Cole’s. Tickets.
Head to Logan Square for a low-key, but excellent bill of indie rock songwriters.
Cory Hanson at Hideout. Tickets.
The best rock show of the week is here.
Watchhouse, Gwenifer Raymond at Cahn Auditorium. Tickets.
Trek north to Evanston for an open-to-the-public show at Northwestern University.
Monday, August 3:
This House Is Creaking, Plush, Giant Pit of Glass at Empty Bottle. Free.
There’s nothing better than a free Monday show at the Ukrainian Village venue.
The Budos Band, Zeshan B at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Free.
OK, maybe a free Monday concert in Millennium Park might be better.
Tuesday, August 4:
Finom at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Free.
Expect harmonies, fantastic songs and decade-long chemistry from one of Chicago’s best duos.
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What’s the most underrated neighborhood in Chicago?
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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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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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