It’s already Friday. Lock in for the weekend with these stories from WTTW News.
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The Chicago skyline is pictured in a 2020 photo. (Credit: Aerial_Views / iStock)
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With climate change fueling more frequent, more severe storms, the risk of urban flooding is on the rise as well.
Cities across the globe are exploring nature-based flood mitigation solutions, and Chicago is no exception.
Officials with the city's Department of Environment recently released an updated Green Infrastructure Strategy, the first revision to the document in more than a decade. The update was required as part of an EPA permit issued in 2024, and it was developed in partnership with various other city departments, private consultants and advocacy organizations.
According to Jackie Rigley, senior water policy advisor for the Department of Environment, Chicago's vulnerability to flooding stems from the fact that two-thirds of the city is covered in impervious surfaces such as roofs, roads and sidewalks that funnel water into the city's sewers.
During heavy rains, backups in this system can result in flooded basements and untreated wastewater being released into the Chicago River or even Lake Michigan.
Green infrastructure, on the other hand, manages water where it falls, relieving the burden on sewers. These nature-based solutions include permeable alleys, green roofs and native gardens.
Many of these solutions can already be found throughout Chicago, but they're often implemented piecemeal by different agencies and even private entities.
What's needed, Rigley said, is a more cohesive approach, one capable of systematically undertaking more of these projects, in the communities that need them the most, while also maintaining the green infrastructure already in place.
More context:
The updated strategy calls for several actions.
Chiefly, the city needs to build a detailed inventory of existing green infrastructure: what it is, where it is, when it was installed and what routine maintenance is needed.
The lack of a plan for long-term care of green infrastructure projects limits their effectiveness, experts said during a virtual presentation of the updated strategy.
“There must be a shift in the way green infrastructure maintenance is prioritized, valued and addressed,” said Danielle Gallet, founder of Waterwell, who consulted on the strategy update.
Funding for maintenance should be factored into future green infrastructure projects, and sources should also be identified for maintenance dollars and responsibility should be assigned, she said.
The revised document also calls for greater cross-agency coordination and collaboration, and recommends the creation of a green infrastructure team.
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Sponsor Message
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Experience the timeless magic of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved musical South Pacific. Winner of 10 Tony Awards, this sweeping wartime romance is filled unforgettable songs like "Some Enchanted Evening," "Bali Ha’i," and "I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair." See it April 29 – June 14, live on stage at Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora. Tickets start at just $31 when purchased in person. It’s the perfect night out! Get your tickets now at ParamountAurora.com.
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(WTTW News)
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The Trump administration has put renewal applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients on “processing holds.”
Some of the program’s more than 500,000 beneficiaries, often referred to as “Dreamers,” have waited months for an answer only to see their deadline pass without a decision. Now they’re stuck in a type of limbo in which their work authorization disappears, oftentimes along with their driver’s license, and their ability to stay in the U.S. is at risk.
Isaias Perez is a DACA recipient and teacher at Chicago Public Schools. His DACA status does not expire until 2027, but he still feels the anxiety of applying for renewal.
“It’s a heavy feeling of uncertainty on a day-to-day basis,” Perez said. “It is a feeling that is not rare, and that is very familiar to us DACA recipients.”
Perez said going through the DACA renewal process, especially when applications are being processed slowly, makes planning a normal life difficult.
“Everyday actions, like renting an apartment or committing to certain professional events, do make me rethink, like, ‘Would I be able to fully commit myself to this?’” Perez said. “It is the uncertainty more than anything, more than fear, it is the uncertainty and lack of stability and being able to plan a 30-year future on a two-year permit.”
Some backstory:
DACA grants those who qualify two-year renewable permits to live and work in the U.S. It does not confer legal status but is meant to offer protection from deportation.
When DACA was introduced in 2012, many in immigrant communities hoped the program would turn into a pathway to citizenship. David Canola, also a DACA recipient and Chicago Public Schools teacher, moved to the U.S. when he was 10. He described the recent changes to DACA as “heartbreaking.”
“I’ve been waiting for that path,” Canola said. “As long as we do our due diligence, as long as we stay according to law in good faith, we’re gonna receive something out of that. But we’re still waiting.”
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(WTTW News)
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Attorneys for the city of Chicago have agreed to settle a lawsuit from a second man who alleged disgraced former Chicago Police Department Detective Reynaldo Guevara coerced him into confessing he committed a gruesome double murder and kidnapping in 1998, records show.
The agreement averts a trial that had been set to start May 11 that would have asked a federal jury to decide whether Guevara coerced Arturo DeLeon-Reyes into confessing to a 1998 Bucktown double murder by striking him repeatedly in the head and lying about what he said during an interrogation that lasted nearly two days.
DeLeon-Reyes’ confession was overturned in 2017 after a judge determined the former detective told “bald-faced lies” while under oath.
DeLeon-Reyes, who was sentenced to life in prison, was convicted alongside Gabriel Solache, who was sentenced to death in 2000, records show.
In response to an inquiry by WTTW News, Chicago Department of Law spokesperson Kristen Cabanban declined to reveal how much it would cost taxpayers to resolve the lawsuits filed by DeLeon-Reyes and Solache until the agreement is presented to the Chicago City Council.
That indicates the agreements are each for more than $100,000. Settlements of less than that amount can be authorized by Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson Lowry, according to city rules.
Solache’s attorneys, with the People’s Law Office, and lawyers for the Chicago Department of Law reached a settlement to resolve his lawsuit against Guevara on April 28, court records show. Ben Elson, Solache’s lawyer, declined to comment to WTTW News.
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More From WTTW News:
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The Chicago Sinfonietta will take a break from concerts and pause artistic and educational activities after the end of its current season in order “to stabilize and grow its finances.” The long-running orchestra, which laid off seven staffers, plans to relaunch in 2027.
The remaining defendants in the “Broadview Six” criminal case no longer face felony charges after a federal judge Thursday morning officially dismissed the top count in the politically charged case.
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Back in the Day: May 8, 2021 - Tiffany Henyard Begins Term as Dolton Mayor
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On this day five years ago, Tiffany Henyard began her first and only term as mayor of the south suburban village of Dolton. A restaurateur and landlord who had previously served as an elected member of Dolton’s Board of Trustees, Henyard’s time in office was marked by a litany of controversies and scandals that led to her being dubbed “America’s Worst Mayor” by The Hill and Newsweek. Federal investigators flagged suspicious payments that Henyard authorized village funds to various contractors without through the proper channels, including $200,000 in no-bid payments to a family involved in an active corruption probe. A 2025 audit by Lori Lightfoot found that Henyard’s
financial mismanagement put Dolton $3.5 million in the hole. She was also accused of covering up a sexual assault of a village employee by a trustee, racking up five figures of credit card debt and billing taxpayers for trips to Vegas. She moved to Georgia days before her term ended in May 2025 and is now running for a seat on the Fulton County Commission, as a Republican, because her “core values didn’t line up” with the Democratic Party anymore.
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The 2026 Summer Festival Guide
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Northbrook Art in the Park (Courtesy of Amdur Productions)
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Every Friday, WTTW News highlights the festivals, events, activities and neighborhood gatherings to help you make the most of your city. Read the full list here.
Get ready for fun with this guide to neighborhood street fests, art shows, outdoor concerts, cultural celebrations and summer events of all sizes across Chicago and the suburbs. To submit an event for consideration, email edemarest@wttw.com. Here’s what’s on the docket this weekend:
May 9: Chicago Pickle Fest (Wrigleyville) | Map
May 9: Switch on Summer (Loop) | Map
May 9-10: Northbrook Art in the Park | Map
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What's your favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what you had to
say:
“Buena Vista on Broadway in Lakeview East! Family owned & run, & the food is great! Top-notch restaurant!” — Lisa A.
“Hay Caramba! Restaurant and Cocktail Bar in Park Ridge. They are family owned and operated. They have been in business for 34 years!” — Marlene S.
“Manchamanteles: Chef Geno's mole is the best I've ever had.” — @rosskittles
“Atotonilco. They've remained consistent in their delicious Al pastor tacos.” — @stefrfr
“Maravillas on 55th and Lake Park.” — @queen_madame_x
“Pacos Tacos in the Brighton Park neighborhood. Best tacos on the south side.” — @nrtek
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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