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It’s Tuesday. Here are the latest headlines about your city from WTTW News. |
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Gov. JB Pritzker speaks alongside dozens of elected officials about threats to send the National Guard to Chicago in a news conference on Aug. 25, 2025. (WTTW News) |
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Gov. JB Pritzker blasted President Donald Trump Monday for “fanning the flames of division” in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and a close ally.
Kirk’s assassination had increased the fear and anxiety rippling across Chicago, where federal immigration agents have fanned out across the Chicago area to target undocumented immigrants in what federal officials have said is an effort to reduce crime and apprehend violent criminals, Pritzker said.
“People are frightened about the potential of military troops coming to our neighborhoods, people are fearful of masked men in unmarked vans who could grab them on a street corner because of how they look or how they sound,” Pritzker said after meeting with students attending the City Colleges of Chicago. “People are scared to go to work, they are scared to take their kids to school, they are scared to go to school themselves or go shopping.”
After listing a number of recent incidents of political violence against both Republicans and Democrats, Pritzker called for leaders of all political parties to work to end political violence by strengthening America’s democracy.
“This should come from the top, yet with each new crisis in recent years, we are reminded that we cannot rely on President Trump to tamp down the anger and the passion in the aftermath of political violence,” Pritzker said. “Instead, he actively fans the flames of division.”
In a video recorded from the Oval Office just hours after Kirk’s murder, Trump said that rhetoric from “the radical left” is “directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.” The president has promised a broad crackdown on critics and left-leaning organizations.
“Real leaders offer words of solace and calm,” Pritzker said, calling on Americans to “be loud for peace and compassion.”
Pritzker, who is running for a third term as Illinois governor and has not ruled out a run for president in 2028, has opposed Trump at every opportunity and accused his fellow Democrats of not doing enough to block the president's efforts.
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FBI investigators on the scene of a fatal ICE shooting in Franklin Park on Sept. 12, 2025. (WTTW News) |
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Gov. JB Pritzker also criticized federal immigration authorities over a lack of transparency days after one of their agents fatally shot a man during a traffic stop in suburban Franklin Park. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Friday targeted Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, whom the agency claimed had resisted arrest and dragged an ICE agent a “significant distance” with his car before being fatally shot.
“We need more information,” Pritzker said at a press event Monday. “We’ve asked ICE for all of the information around it, they have given very little.”
“If this were the Chicago Police Department, if this were the Sheriff’s Office in Cook County, if this were Illinois State Police, you would have had a lot more information already released,” the governor added, “but apparently ICE is unwilling to provide the transparency that I think the American public and the public here deserves.” Some backstory:
According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, ICE agents targeted Villegas-Gonzalez, whom they claimed had a history of “reckless driving," though the agency did not specify what exact crimes he has been charged or convicted of. He allegedly refused to follow the agents’ commands and drove his car at law enforcement, striking one agent.
The department said that agent was “fearing for his own life,” and fired shots, killing Villegas-Gonzalez. The agent survived but suffered serious injuries, according to DHS, though Pritzker on Monday said he’s received no further word on their status.
Pritzker claimed Villegas-Gonzalez was returning to his home after dropping off his children at daycare when he was killed. He said state and local authorities don’t have the resources to investigate federal law enforcement, and if ICE is unwilling to share additional details, it’s possible “we may never really know what the truth is.” |
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A box of Narcan naloxone nasal spray, which is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. (WTTW News) |
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Vending machines containing free Narcan will be placed at five CTA stations with the aim of expanding access to the life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, Cook County officials announced Monday.
The vending machines will be located at the 47th Street Red Line station, Wilson Red and Purple Line station, Jefferson Park Blue Line station, Harlem/Lake Green Line station and the Central Park Pink Line station.
Locations were selected based on heightened opioid-related emergency medical responses and input from surrounding communities and various community stakeholders, according to Chicago Transit Authority Acting President Nora Leerhsen.
The six-month pilot initiative is a partnership with CTA and Cook County Health. Officials and community leaders gathered Monday for a news conference at the 47th Street Red Line station, where one of the vending machines is installed. |
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Back in the Day: September 16, 2005 - Four Chicago Police Officers Fire More Than 40 Shots, Killing 23-Year-Old Suspect |
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On Sept. 16, 2005, a 23-year-old man named Emmanuel Lopez was driving to his overnight shift as a janitor in a sausage factory when his Honda Civic was pulled over after a traffic accident near Kedzie Avenue and 37th Place in Brighton Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Police said Lopez hit two officers with his car, pinning one under it, as he was fleeing the scene. Four officers then fired more than 40 shots at Lopez, with 16 of those bullets hitting him mostly in the back and head, killing him. While in 2008 after a nearly two-year investigation, Cook County prosecutors declined to charge any of the Chicago police officers involved, the case gained new scrutiny in 2015. The officer who arrived at the scene and filed the official report was Jason Van Dyke, the officer who shot teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times and was later convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated battery. In 2016, the City Council approved a $2.2M settlement to Lopez’s family.
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This Week’s Staff Recommendations |
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Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers highlight their favorite things about Chicago. This week, it’s “Chicago Tonight” correspondent and new mom Joanna Hernandez on her favorite places to bring a baby in the city.
Joanna Hernandez: Becoming a parent brings about lots of changes. As a first-time mom, I quickly realized that one of the biggest shifts is figuring out where to go and what to do with a baby. Gone are the days of spontaneous nights out, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite spots or fun adventures. In fact, Chicago is full of great places for family friendly fun.
Here are some of my top picks for places around the city where you can relax, enjoy a meal, and feel comfortable bringing your little one along!
Pizza Lobo: A Perfect Family Pit Stop
One of the first places I visited post-baby was Pizza Lobo, a lively pizza bar in Andersonville. The pizza is always great, and the atmosphere is spacious, making it easy to maneuver around with a stroller. 5457 N. Clark St.
Gallagher Way: Kid’s Activity + Food Combo In the Park at Wrigley
If you’re in the Wrigleyville area, this area offers green space for your little one to explore while you grab lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. Plus, if your baby needs to be put down for a quick nap, you’re steps away from a shaded area where you can relax. 3635 N. Clark St.
Chicago’s Public Parks: They’re My Best Friend
Lincoln Square’s River Park has been my go to. It feels like a gem within the hustle and bustle of the city. There’s a river along the trail where you can see people kayaking. It’s a nice place to have a picnic with your baby and relax! 5100 N. Francisco Ave.
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Where's the best place to get an Italian beef in Chicago? Tell us how you order one.
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