It’s Tuesday and a piping plover has returned to Waukegan beach. Dry off from yesterday’s storms with these stories from WTTW News.
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Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino stands with federal immigration enforcement agents during a skirmish with protesters in Little Village neighborhood, Chicago Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez / Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
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The name of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old college student who was killed in a drunk driving incident by an undocumented immigrant, has become synonymous with the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement operations in Illinois after they named “Operation Midway Blitz” in her honor.
Her mother says Abraham would have “hated” this.
Denise Lorence on Monday testified that the Trump administration’s use of her daughter’s name in association with months of aggressive immigration raids in Chicago and northern Illinois “added a level of despair I didn’t know could exist.”
“They preyed on vulnerable communities,” Lorence said, “and they preyed on Katie, who had no say in the matter.”
Her testimony came Monday as part of a two-day hearing held by the Illinois Accountability Commission.
Some backstory:
Julio Cucul-Bol, whom authorities said entered into the country with false documents, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with Abraham’s death.
While Abraham’s father supported the Trump administration’s use of his daughter’s name, Lorence said she was never asked for permission.
She told the commission Monday that Abraham was “insightful, outgoing, compassionate, caring (and) witty,” but now she is only being remembered for her connection to Midway Blitz.
“This is what Katie is associated with,” she said after the commission played a compilation of federal agents dragging people from cars, tear gassing residents and pointing firearms at those recording them. “This is what my family has been dragged into.”
Gov. JB Pritzker created the Accountability Commission in October, tasking it with creating a “public record of abuses” committed by the president, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, border czar Tom Homan and Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino.
A federal judge in Chicago late last year found that the force repeatedly used by immigration agents “shocks the conscience” and showed “no sign of stopping.”
A coalition of elected officials, community organizations and others are seeking a special prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes committed by federal agents during Midway Blitz. But thus far, no agents have been charged in connection with the operation.
The commission has spent the last several months collecting evidence and witness testimony and is set to issue its final report by this week.
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Chicago Police investigate the scene outside of Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago, Saturday, April 25, 2026, after a shooting. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
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Murder charges have been filed against the man accused of killing Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew and critically wounding his partner in a shooting Saturday at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital.
The Chicago Police Department on Monday announced the charges against 26-year-old Alphanso Talley. He now faces 20 felony charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, robbery and kidnapping.
“Though this does not bring solace to this tragedy, it does bring the first step in accountability,” Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a statement Monday. “I want to thank every officer who quickly responded to take this offender into custody and every detective who worked tirelessly during this investigation to secure charges.”
Bartholomew was fatally shot Saturday, allegedly by Talley, who was receiving treatment at the North Side hospital while in police custody. His partner was also shot and, according to Snelling, is still “fighting for his life” as of Monday.
The officers had transported the suspect, who had been arrested for suspicion of robbery, to the hospital for observation. The suspect fled from the hospital after the shooting. Police have not said how he was able to get a gun.
More context:
The hospital said in a Facebook posting Saturday that an individual in custody of law enforcement was brought to the emergency department for treatment and was “wanded upon arrival,” following the protocols. He was escorted by law enforcement at all times, the hospital said.
It said that the man later fired shots at the law enforcement officers and exited the hospital building.
Snelling said police investigating the shooting had recovered three weapons.
The other victim is a 57-year-old officer with 21 years of service, Snelling said.
“This shooting was a stark and heartbreaking reminder of the dangers our officers face all too often on this job,” Snelling said. "I encourage every Chicagoan to join us in supporting our officers and their families in these difficult days ahead."
Talley had a hearing scheduled Monday, which has been continued to Thursday, according to county prosecutors.
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after the first day of his corruption trial on Oct. 22, 2024. (Andrew Adams / Capitol News Illinois)
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A federal appeals court has upheld Michael Madigan’s landmark corruption convictions, meaning the former Illinois House speaker will remain in prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday said it has upheld Madigan’s convictions on charges of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud that were reached after a four-plus month trial early last year.
The court in its 29-page ruling noted that prosecutors called more than 50 witnesses and presented more than 1,000 exhibits at trial, and that from this “mountain of evidence,” jurors could “reasonably infer … that Madigan conspired to receive bribes.”
“This was not politics as usual or ordinary lobbying,” the court wrote in its ruling. “The trial evidence exposed a sustained and concealed arrangement to exchange enormous political influence within the Illinois General Assembly for over $3 million of benefits for political allies.”
The longtime speaker was sentenced last summer to 7.5 years in federal prison.
The court’s ruling comes days after it ordered new trials for two former Commonwealth Edison officials who were convicted of conspiring to bribe Madigan to earn his backing on critical energy legislation.
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Back in the Day: April 28, 1941 - Chicago Congressman Wins Supreme Court Case to Ban Racial Bias on Railroads
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Arthur W. Mitchell was the first Black man elected to Congress as a Democrat. He served from 1935 to 1943, representing Illinois' 1st District in the U.S. House in Chicago. During his first term, he was traveling from Chicago to Hot Springs, Ark. on the Rock Island Line and was asked to vacate his first-class Pullman car and move to the segregated section of the train, citing an Arkansas law. Mitchell, a lawyer, sued and the case eventually made it all the way up to the Supreme Court. Mitchell, who co-argued his case before the court, won the suit on this day in 1941—85 years ago. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that, under the 1887 Interstate Commerce Act, Black people
are entitled to equal accommodations on all of the nation’s railroads. Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes wrote that what happened to Mitchell was "manifestly a discrimination against him in the course of his interstate journey and admittedly that discrimination was based solely upon the fact that he was a Negro." Mitchell, who died in 1963, called his victory "a step in the destruction of Mr. Jim Crow himself.”
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This Week’s Staff Recommendations
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Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers highlight their favorite things in Chicago. This week, it's Dan Lambert, managing editor of digital news, on restaurant desserts.
Dan Lambert: Yes, I did leave room for dessert.
As I was running down the list of potential ideas for this week’s recommendations, I did so between bites of a late afternoon chocolate chip cookie. In a moment of inspiration, I realized that what I really wanted to talk to you about today was desserts. Specifically, restaurant desserts that come after an already filling meal. Yes, hand me that little menu sheet and I shall force myself to make room for these worthwhile indulgences.
You know the classic Greek pastry baklava. What you also need to know is Ithaki Estiatorio’s version. The newest Greektown entry takes the familiar textures and flavors of traditional baklava and smashes them inside frozen Greek yogurt for a tangier and lighter (subjective) version. Honorable mention to their lemon possets. 315 S. Halsted St.
When you go to the city’s best Southern restaurant, you want the classics done well. Virtue in Hyde Park fulfills these expectations. “Millie’s Puddin’” is the platonic idea of the dish. Nilla wafers and all. No need to reinvent what’s already perfect. 1462 E. 53rd St.
Speaking of Southern, let’s stay on theme and travel down to Maple Tree Inn in south suburban Homewood where Cajun cuisine is the focus. Here we shall order both the bananas foster bread pudding and the warm peach cobbler, which is elevated with a cool amaretto semifreddo. 18849 Dixie Highway
Maxwells Trading is basically a no-skip menu. But of particular importance is the Basque butter cake with its contrasting textures and deeply satisfying richness. 1516 W. Carroll Ave.
And sometimes a classic is all you need. Restaurant: Shaw’s Crab House. Dish: Key lime pie. It is a scientific fact that tart desserts are fine to eat no matter how full you are. 21 E. Hubbard St.
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What Chicago neighborhood has the best food? Tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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