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Happy Friday, Chicago. End the hot and humid week with these stories from WTTW News. |
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News) |
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The Trump administration restored more than $1 million in frozen anti-terrorism funds to Chicago after city lawyers sued, claiming the funds had been illegally withheld, Chicago officials told WTTW News.
City lawyers sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in May to force the federal government to reimburse Chicago for what the city had spent to prevent nuclear attacks and protect the city from terrorism and authorize new expenses. That suit was joined 10 days ago by Denver, San Francisco, Boston and Seattle.
Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson Lowry said the federal government gave the city no explanation for its decision to send millions of dollars to Chicago and other big cities that officials held in a deep freeze for nearly six months. It's likely that President Donald Trump’s decision to join Israel’s war with Iran prompted a reconsideration of the decision to freeze the funds, Richardson Lowry said.
A bulletin issued Monday by the Department of Homeland Security warned “the ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States” and “the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.”
Some backstory:
Mayor Brandon Johnson called the Trump administration’s decision to stop grants from the Securing the Cities counterterrorism program from flowing to 13 big cities to help them prepare for nuclear or terrorist attacks “reckless.” The program started in New York in 2006 and expanded in 2018 after being approved by Congress.
Chicago and the other cities face an elevated risk of sustaining terrorist attacks, according to federal officials.
Richardson Lowry said the “safety and security” of Chicago residents and visitors would have been compromised had the Trump administration continued to withhold this funding.
“The notion that those funds were being held, and had been held since mid-February, was untenable and unsustainable, particularly for the third largest city in the nation,” Richardson Lowry said.
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Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to supporters at a campaign launch rally in Chicago on June 26, 2025, telling them in his speech “I have work to do.” (Andrew Adams / Capitol News Illinois) |
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Gov. JB Pritzker kicked off his campaign for a third term Thursday morning in the fieldhouse at Grand Crossing Park on Chicago’s South Side before beginning a two-day statewide tour that will take him to Rockford, Peoria, Springfield and Belleville before ending Friday afternoon in West Frankfort, according to an announcement from his campaign.
“When I was first elected, I told you I was prepared to be a happy warrior on behalf of our state, even if it meant going it alone. I suited up to face the carnival barkers and misery spelunkers and doom grifters,” Pritzker said. “I ran for governor in 2018 to change our story. I ran for governor in 2022 to keep telling our story. And I am running for governor in 2026 to protect our story.”
Pritzker fiercely defended his record in Illinois, and depicted the state as an oasis in a nation where freedoms are being attacked from all sides.
“We told the fascist freakshow fanatics to run their experiments on ending democracy somewhere else,” Pritzker said, triggering loud applause and cheers.
But while Pritzker’s announcement is one of the last pieces of the puzzle to snap into place before March’s midterm primary elections, it will do nothing to end talk that his ultimate goal is to win the White House in 2028. In his less than 30-minute speech, Pritzker only obliquely referred to his ambitions for national office. If he wins a third term, Pritzker will become only the second Illinois governor to serve more than two terms and the first Democrat to serve more than eight years in office. |
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(WTTW News) |
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Chicago Public Schools’ new interim CEO Macquline King on Thursday outlined the goals of her tenure, including passing a district budget and ensuring student success.
King, a former CPS principal who served as a senior education policy director under Mayor Brandon Johnson, officially took over as interim CEO last week and made her first public comments since her appointment during Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.
“I step into this role with a deep sense of responsibility and an unwavering commitment to the students, families and the educators who make this district extraordinary,” she said.
King spent 12 years teaching in CPS classrooms before serving as principal at Dumas Elementary School and Courtenay Language Arts Center. King then in 2022 took over her policy director role, in which she advised the mayor on “education initiatives, aligning resources and policies across CPS, City Colleges, and early childhood programs,” according to the city.
She was tapped for her new role earlier this month, as her predecessor, Pedro Martinez, exited Chicago last week — six months after he was fired by the board in late 2024 following a prolonged feud with Johnson.
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Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television’s most honored journalists, masterfully using a visual medium to illuminate a world of ideas through PBS series like "Bill Moyers Journal" and "Moyers & Company," died Thursday at age 91.
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Yes, that was “Check, Please!” host Alpana Singh on the new season of “The Bear.”
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Back in the Day: June 27, 1970 - The First Ever Pride Parade Happens in Chicago |
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Inspired by the revolutionary and pioneering activists at Stonewall in New York City a year earlier, 55 years ago today, the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago held its first annual Gay Liberation March to commemorate the uprising at Stonewall. This march eventually became the Pride Parade (which is happening this weekend in the city). It promoted equal rights, combated homophobia and raised awareness on the injustices, discrimination and issues facing the community. The initial march featured just under 200 demonstrators. It originated near Washington Square Park (nicknamed Bughouse Square) on the Near North Side. While they didn’t have a permit, marchers trekked down to Water Tower Place and then the Civic Center. One day later, New York City held its first Gay Liberation March. Pride marches continued throughout the ’70s and ’80s and continue on to this day. Head to pridechicago.org to learn more about this year's festivities. |
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Nature Calls: This Week’s Outdoorsy Events and Activities |
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Every Friday, WTTW News science and nature reporter Patty Wetli highlights the best ways to get outside.
Venture to historic Pullman on Saturday for a garden walk highlighting the community’s public gardens, including gardens managed by the National Park Service and the Historic Pullman Garden Club. Each site will offer a unique activity from guided tours of the former factory grounds to historical photo displays. The garden walk runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; stroll on your own or join a guided tour at 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance or $16 at the door.
Here’s an after-hours party that’s family friendly. Head to Ryerson Education Center in Riverwoods where Lake County Forest Preserves is keeping the doors open for a special night-time event: firefly viewing. Saturday, 8:30-10 p.m.
Check out the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s new exhibit “By a Thread: Nature’s Resilience,” designed to showcase the importance of biodiversity and the urgency of conservation efforts. Samples of the museum’s research collection will be on display and visitors will have a chance to try their hand at fieldwork-inspired activities. The exhibit runs through June 2026.
There’s something a little less intimidating about Shakespeare when the play is performed outdoors in a park, for free. Midsommer Flight kicks off its 12th season of Shakespeare in Chicago parks with “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens in the South Loop. Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Join a golden hour walk through the prairie at South Shore Nature Sanctuary, a six-acre natural area on the lakefront that’s rich with native plants and wildlife. The walk is being led by Switch Grass Paper. The event is free, but registration is required by emailing switchgrasspaper@gmail.com. Sunday, 5:30-7 p.m. |
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What’s your favorite public pool in Chicago? Tell us why. |
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here’s what you had to say:
Note: For some reason, the majority of the answers to our question about Chicago’s public pools were “Lake Michigan.” So, we polled the WTTW News staff on their favorites:
“Portage Park. There are indoor and outdoor pools. In 1972, it hosted the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, where Gold Medalist Mark Spitz set new world records.” — Marc Vitali, arts correspondent
“The Centennial Aquatic Center in Oak Lawn is a great place for family fun with multi-depth pools from 3ft to 12ft, a wading pool, a splashpad and an awesome 42ft water slide. But I don't know if I should tell anyone, cause I might not be able to get in now!!” — Ava Martin, assignment manager for “Chicago Tonight”
“Holstein Park’s outdoor swimming pool is a beauty. I also enjoy my neighborhood Smith Park’s pool.” — Josh Terry, newsletter producer
“Whealan Pool in Caldwell Woods on the NW Side was a favorite as a kid! Plus Superdawg is right around the corner." — Nick Blumberg, investigative reporter and “Week In Review” host |
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5:30 PM | 7:00 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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