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Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (right) appears on “Week in Review” on Nov. 24, 2023. (WTTW News)
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A federal judge ordered former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to testify on Tuesday about allegations that “code of silence” among Chicago Police Department officers led to a botched August 2018 raid of a Back of the Yards apartment that violated the civil rights of a family with four children — ages 4, 8, 11 and 13.
Emanuel, who served as Chicago mayor from 2011-19, is publicly weighing a run for president in 2028 after serving as U.S. ambassador to Japan. A spokesperson for the city’s Law Department, which represents the former mayor in this matter and vigorously opposed efforts to call him as a witness, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a text message to WTTW News, Emanuel erroneously said the raid occurred after he left office. Emanuel, who said he was traveling, did not otherwise respond.
Emanuel acknowledged in December 2015 during an emotional speech prompted by the outrage over the police murder of 16-year-old Laquan McDonald before the Chicago City Council that a “code of silence” among officers had prevented officials from holding CPD officers accountable for misconduct.
A 2016 probe by the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration found that “code of silence” allowed officers to act with impunity. That investigation led to the consent decree, the federal court order that requires CPD to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers.
More context:
A trial expected to last three weeks is set to start Monday to decide whether CPD officers traumatized Ebony Tate, her mother, Cynthia Eason, and four children on Aug. 9, 2018. If Emanuel testifies as scheduled on Tuesday, it will be the first time a former Chicago mayor will have to answer questions under oath in open court about allegations of police misconduct.
Lawyers for the city routinely oppose efforts by plaintiffs’ attorneys to force high-ranking former and current city officials to testify, since their sworn statements could expose the city to greater liability.
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley was deposed in 2018 about his handling of allegations that former CPD Commander Jon Burge, and the detectives he trained tortured and beat more than 100 Black men during his career. That deposition has never been released publicly.
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Marimar Martinez speaks in the Dirksen Federal Building after her federal charges were dismissed on Nov. 20, 2025. (Matt Masterson / WTTW News)
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A federal judge next week is expected to rule on a request from Marimar Martinez, the woman shot five times by a federal immigration agent last fall, to unseal videos, photos and other evidence from the shooting.
U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis gave federal prosecutors until Monday to respond to the request before she issues her ruling next Wednesday. But at a hearing Thursday, she dressed down the feds for their failure to remove or amend public statements describing Martinez as a “domestic terrorist” months after they voluntarily dismissed their criminal case against her.
Martinez was shot five times by Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum on Oct. 4 in Brighton Park. She survived, but was charged with assault before federal prosecutors abruptly moved to dismiss the case weeks later.
In his motion — which seeks to unseal body camera footage, photographs, electronic communications and other evidentiary materials from the shooting — defense attorney Christopher Parente argued the release of these materials was necessary to defend against the “regrettable and unyielding tide of misinformation from the federal government regarding her case.”
“While the United States voluntarily dismissed its formal prosecution of her with prejudice, as discussed below, government officials continue to prosecute Ms. Martinez’s character in the court of public opinion,” Parente wrote in the motion. “The ability to disclose the evidence in this case is paramount to Ms. Martinez’s ability to combat the continuing harm being done to her reputation.”
Some backstory:
Following the shooting, texts from the Border Patrol agent who fired at Martinez revealed he apparently bragged about the shooting to others, stating in one message that he’d “fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.”
Following the dismissal, Parente called the incident a “bad shoot” and said the agents involved had lied about what happened.
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(Tonelson / iStock)
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New work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program go into effect Feb. 1, threatening benefits for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisians.
Adults aged 18 to 64 without dependents under age 14 will be required to work, participate in SNAP Employment and Training programs or volunteer for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits. Previously, only adults aged 18 to 54 without dependents under age 18 had to meet those requirements.
H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” set these new SNAP requirements and made changes to many other federal programs when it was signed into law in July 2025.
Up to 340,000 Illinois residents are at risk of losing their benefits with the new requirements, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. Adults who do not meet the requirements can only receive SNAP benefits for up to three months in a three-year period.
As of September 2025, nearly 2 million Illinois residents were using SNAP benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Two Major Changes to SNAP
Most SNAP recipients must meet general work requirements by applying for and accepting available work, participating in SNAP Employment and Training and not voluntarily quitting or reducing work hours below 30 a week without good reason.
A smaller group of SNAP recipients known as ABAWDs, or able-bodied adults without dependents, must meet further requirements if they are not exempt.
H.R. 1 made two major changes by modifying the definition of ABAWDS and implementing more work requirements for the newly defined population, ending Illinois’ long-term work requirement waiver for existing ABAWDs, according to IDHS.
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More From WTTW News:
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Back in the Day: January 30, 1969 - Blackhawks Beat Flyers 12-0
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In 1969, the Philadelphia Flyers were a relatively new team playing their second season in the NHL, while the Original Six franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks, were entering their 43rd season in the league. On January 30, 1969, the Blackhawks defeated the fledgling Philly team 12-0 in an absolute rout at the Spectrum Arena in Pennsylvania. Doug Favell started the game in goal for the Flyers but was quickly pulled after allowing six goals in the first period. The Blackhawks’ goalie, Denis Dejordy, stayed perfect at 37 for 37 in saves. The score remains both the Blackhawks' best-ever win and the worst loss in franchise history for the Flyers.
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New Restaurants To Try During Restaurant Week 2026
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This Friday, WTTW News takes a break from our Holiday Events Guide to highlight some new local eateries showcased by our colleagues at WTTW Playlist.
WTTW Playlist: Now in its 19th year, Chicago Restaurant Week began last week. It boosts restaurants through the fallow period of early winter, with participating restaurants offering special multiple-course prix fixe menus for $30 at brunch or lunch and $45 or $60 at dinner. More than 500 spots in and around Chicago are participating until Feb. 8. You can find all of them at the Chicago Restaurant Week website, as well as menus.
It’s a bounty, so as a way of narrowing things down, we have compiled a list of participating restaurants that opened last year or in the waning months of 2024. We suggest making reservations, as places book up quickly. For the full list, click here.
Chapel Street Cafe and Restaurant
Chapel Street is an all-day cafe that opened a full year ago, inside Streeterville's Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile. It's an attempt to recreate the beloved cafes of its owner's Australian youth, with healthful breakfasts and heartier dinners.
Il Carciofo
Another new restaurant from Top Chef winner Joe Flamm, Il Carciofo spotlights the food of Rome in the West Loop, and opened in December, 2024.
Nic & Junior’s
Nic & Junior's is named for its two partners, who found fame in Texas, including with an acclaimed modern Brazilian restaurant. Now they're offering both fresh pasta and Brazilian flavors amidst skyscrapers in River North.
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Restaurant Week is in full swing. What’s your favorite place to grab
a bite in your neighborhood?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what you had to say:
“Sushi Plus Rotary Sushi Bar” — Lisa R.
“I like the Capital Grille in Rosemont. They have great food and attentive waitstaff. I always look forward to National Restaurant Week” — William G.
“Among those in Hyde Park participating in Restaurant Week, Virtue, but Mahari is looking like one that will be in the future. (Have only been there once, but it was great, even though it was shortly after opening, they were still ironing kinks out. Will be going back.)” — Janet H.
“I stopped by DPK (Dixiepura Kitchen) and had a great meal.” — Mels M.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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