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We’re loving the weather this week. Even if it’s not sunny today, it’s still nice not to need a winter coat. Take a minute from your day to check out these stories from WTTW News. |
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Mayor Brandon Johnson (far right) speaks at a news conference on Feb. 4, 2025. (Heather Cherone / WTTW News)
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Just one day after a Wall Street ratings agency issued a public vote of no confidence in Chicago’s finances, Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the City Council to borrow $830 million to repair Chicago’s crumbling streets, sidewalks and bridges.
Johnson used his weekly news conference Tuesday to urge the City Council to approve the deal, saying the work it would pay for would mean hundreds of jobs for Chicagoans and ensure everyone can move safely through the city.
Despite the full-court press to push the proposal over the finish line, it is unclear whether the proposal has the support of at least 26 alderpeople. If it fails, the city will have no way clear way to pay to repave roads, fix cracked sidewalks, renovate police and fire stations and replace police cruisers and fire trucks for the foreseeable future. An up-or-down vote is set for today.
Some backstory:
Chicago’s finances have been out of whack for decades, pinched by soaring pension costs, spiraling personnel costs and a massive amount of debt.
S&P, one of a handful of major ratings agencies, had urged city officials to demonstrate they were willing to tackle those structural problems head-on by closing a $982.4 million gap in the city’s 2025 budget by raising taxes or cutting spending — or ideally, both.
But the deal on the 2025 budget that squeaked through the City Council did neither, triggering the downgrade in the rating that agencies use to determine how much the city must pay in interest to borrow money, much like an individual’s credit score.
The debate over the proposed borrowing has also exposed the significant lack of trust between Johnson and some members of the City Council. Since 2020, the City Council has twice agreed to borrow a total of $3.25 billion to repair Chicago’s infrastructure with nowhere near as much controversy. |
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A sign in Ukrainian Village says "Peace for Ukraine." (WTTW News) |
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Monday marked three years since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, resulting in thousands of people being killed and millions displaced. Chicago’s Ukrainian Village is home to one of the largest populations of Ukrainians in the U.S.
Zoryana Smozhanyk left Ukraine with her family when she was 10 and found a new home in Chicago. Now, she has dedicated the last three years to speaking out about the ongoing war.
Smozhanyk is a co-founder of the Ukrainian Daughters Foundation, an organization raising money to send urgent aid to Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front lines. “A whole lot of requests center around unfortunately medical supplies and aid to get to as many people that have been injured, to save their lives,” Smozhanyk said. “And this isn’t just military personnel; there’s a lot of civilians on the front lines.”
WTTW News spoke with a group of Ukrainian American veterans like John Steciw. “They’re saying things now that Ukraine started the war, but that’s kind of nonsensical because we saw it on TV,” Steciw said. “We saw the whole invasion on TV. So, it’s tough.”
Steciw said his Ukrainian American post put together a humanitarian fund. For the past five years, UAV Post 32 Chicago has raised funds to support a military clinical rehabilitation hospital in Lviv, assisting wounded soldiers and individuals with long-term disabilities.
“I mean it’s devastated, completely devastated,” Steciw said, noting that towns he previously toured have been destroyed due to the ongoing war. |
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(m-gucci / iStock)
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Wondering how to catch the “rare seven-planet parade” being hyped for Friday? According to various experts, including NASA, it's not actually possible to view all seven at once. So what exactly is happening in the night sky? Let's zoom out.
What's a planet “parade” or alignment?
It doesn't mean planets are literally lined up in a row. But in simplest terms, what's happening is that multiple planets, all of which orbit the sun on different schedules, are visible at the same time from our vantage point.
What can I see?
The trio of Venus, Jupiter and Mars will continue to shine brightly together for the next few weeks. Neptune and Uranus are also out there and are technically “visible” along with the others, but we'll quote NASA here: “Claims about rare six- or seven-planet alignments which include Uranus and Neptune should be viewed with the understanding that these two distant planets will not be visible to the unaided eye.” In short: No telescope, no Uranus and Neptune. |
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Back in the Day: February 26, 1986 - Mayor Harold Washington Designates Casimir Pulaski Day |
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This coming Monday marks Casimir Pulaski Day, a holiday observed in Chicago that honors Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born cavalry officer killed in the Revolutionary War. The city is one of several in Illinois, including areas with large Polish populations like Bloomington and Du Bois, to celebrate the occasion. On this day 39 years ago, Mayor Harold Washington introduced a resolution to designate the first Monday in March as Casimir Pulaski Day. He boasted the nickname "The Father of American Cavalry" and though a Polish national, was instrumental in the Revolutionary War fight and was posthumously granted U.S. citizenship by President Barack Obama in 2009. During the first-ever Casimir Pulaski Day, Washington said this: "And that is why we honor Casimir Pulaski. Not only for his heroics in fighting for the freedom Poland was never able to achieve but for fighting for the freedom which America did achieve and thus forming a new homeland for Poland's people to come to." |
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Local Live Music Recommendations for Feb. 26-Mar. 4 |
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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.
Friday, February 28:
Stuck, Edging, Luggage at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
Three of Chicago’s best punk bands play Chicago’s best punk venue.
Saturday, March 1:
Model/Actriz, The Slaps, Accessory, blood club, Will Galvan, and more at Thalia Hall, Tack Room, and Punch House. Free.
This multi-room music festival is happening at Thalia Hall and starts at 4 p.m. It’s also totally free.
Sunday, March 2:
SML at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The experimental jazz band had one of 2024’s best albums.
Tuesday, March 4:
Twain, Esther Rose at Schubas. Tickets.
These two excellent acts stretch the boundaries of Americana and indie rock.
Feller, Lonnie, National Photo Committee at Subterranean. Tickets.
A chance to see a rising local indie rocker headline a Wicker Park venue. |
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The Oscars are on Sunday. What was the best movie you've seen recently? |
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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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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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