It’s the middle of the week. Catch up on all the latest headlines from WTTW News.
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(WTTW News)
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A key Chicago City Council Committee Tuesday called on U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign, saying he had lost the “public confidence” necessary to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Chicago.
The City Council’s Ethics and Government Oversight Committee’s endorsement sends the nonbinding resolution authored by Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward) that slams Boutros’ for botching the “Broadview Six” case, sparking a mass exodus of prosecutors, allowing grand jury “irregularities,” and breaches of trust with judges to the full City Council for a final vote on July 15.
Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) was the only member of the committee to vote against the measure calling for Boutros’ resignation. Sposato is one of two members of the City Council who are not members of the Democratic Party.
Rodriguez said he did not “lightly” call for Boutros to resign, but said he had no choice but to act because of the “continued erosion of trust and confidence” in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
“Public confidence in the just system is not optional. It is essential,” Rodriguez said.
A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois called the resolution a “publicity stunt.”
“The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros will not be bullied into dropping its public corruption matters or closing out its newly opened ones,” according to the statement. “The timing of these actions by the City Council Committee is not a coincidence, and will have no effect on the federal anti-corruption and anti-violence apparatus in Chicago.”
What else happened:
The City Council’s Ethics and Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously to advance a measure crafted by Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward) that would amend the city’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance to ban employees from using insider information to bet on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.
“Confidential information should not become an investment opportunity,” Knudsen said.
The measure is set for a final vote by the full City Council on July 15.
A proposal to honor Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV by renaming Northerly Island in his honor failed to take off Tuesday with several members of the Chicago City Council saying the headline-grabbing proposal was deeply flawed.
Chicago Park District rules prohibit parks — including Northerly Island Park — from being renamed for anyone who has not yet been dead a year.
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Sponsor Message
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The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns to Ravinia this summer for its 90th summer residency, featuring world-class performances, celebrated conductors, and unforgettable nights in the newly transformed Hunter Pavilion. Plan an evening of extraordinary music in one of Chicago's most beloved outdoor settings. Get tickets at www.ravinia.org!
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
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The Chicago Police Department spent more than its City Council-approved budget in 2025, costing Chicago taxpayers more than $162.5 million in unanticipated expenses, records show.
CPD has overspent its budget five years in a row, according to Chicago’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports from 2021 to 2025.
In all, CPD spent $1.98 billion in 2025, according to the city’s annual financial report. The department’s budget was $1.82 billion, records show.
Nearly three-quarters of the overspending, or $120.3 million, was attributed to the department’s personnel budget, even though CPD has more than 1,000 vacant positions, records show.
More context:
In all, CPD spent $285.8 million to pay officers to work extra hours in 2025, $185.8 million more than it had budgeted, according to a database maintained by the Office of the Inspector General.
In addition, CPD overspent its budget to defend and resolve police misconduct lawsuits by $48.5 million, according to the city’s annual financial report. Even though the City Council set aside $82.5 million to defend and resolve lawsuits against the police department, CPD spent a total of $131 million, according to the report.
CPD overspent its 2024 budget by $207 million, records show.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said in July 2025 that was “not acceptable” and vowed to rein in police spending.
Chicago’s 2026 budget set a $200 million budget for police overtime, an increase from the $100 million set aside in the city’s 2025 budget, records show. Through June 30, CPD had already spent $133 million, according to the inspector general’s database.
However, the city’s 2026 budget once again set aside just $82.5 million to cover the cost of defending and resolving police misconduct lawsuits.
Just six months into 2026, Chicago has spent more than $225 million to resolve more than 200 lawsuits alleging Chicago police officers committed a wide range of misconduct, according to a WTTW News analysis.
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Dr. Lisa Nee (Campaign photo)
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Cardiologist and whistleblower Dr. Lisa Nee launched a bid for Chicago mayor Tuesday, becoming the latest in a growing field of candidates vying to lead the city.
“I’m running because I believe we deserve a city where public service actually serves the public —where affordability is a reality, not a talking point, where you don’t need connections to get basic things done, and where honesty isn’t treated like a liability,” Nee said in a statement.
Some backstory:
Nee began her career as a nurse, and later became an interventional cardiologist, treating complex and high-risk heart conditions, according to a biography. While working at Hines VA Hospital, Nee spoke out about failures in patient care that put veterans at risk.
After leaving clinical practice, Nee earned an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and currently works as a healthcare and public policy advisor.
Nee grew up in Humboldt Park, graduated from Loyola University Chicago where she ran Division I track, and now lives on the North Side with her husband, children and two dogs, according to her biography.
Her campaign priorities include: making Chicago affordable for working families, trusted leadership for a safer city and fiscal responsibility that protects the next generation from inherited debt, according to a news release.
“I’m not running because it’s the next step in my career,” Nee said in a statement. “I’m running because I’ve spent my life seeing what happens when systems fail people — and I’m done accepting it.”
Other confirmed mayoral candidates include State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas, Chicago Housing Authority board member Matt Brewer, and businessmen Joe Holberg and Liam Stanton.
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More From WTTW News:
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Back in the Day: July 8, 1989 - Nirvana Plays First Chicago Concert
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In 1989, a scrappy grunge band from Washington state called Nirvana had signed to the Seattle record label Sub Pop and embarked on their first extensive U.S. tour. On this day 37 years ago, they stopped in Chicago to play Wicker Park’s Club Dreamerz and open up for local post-punk outfit Precious Wax Drippings. According to some accounts, very few fans showed up and hardly any of those in attendance had heard of the Kurt Cobain-fronted group. (At this point, drummer Dave Grohl had yet
to join the band). They played cuts from their debut LP “Bleach” like “About a Girl,” “Negative Creep” and their “Love Buzz” cover and even performed a track that would appear on their breakthrough 1991 album “Nevermind” in “Polly.” Local live music archivist Aadam Jacobs recorded the performance and you can listen to the show here.
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for July 8-14
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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.
Wednesday, July 8:
Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, John Doe Folk Trio at Northerly Island. Tickets.
The songwriting icon just enlisted local guitarist Joel Paterson into his band.
Suitor, Current Union TM, Alga, Bath Drawers at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
Some of the most exciting rising indie rock bands all on one bill.
Beach Bunny, Friko at Taste of Chicago. Free.
Two of Chicago’s best rock bands kick off the Grant Park festival.
Thursday, July 9:
Original Koffee, Funadesi at Taste of Chicago. Free.
This Jamaican singer is excellent.
Dehd, Starcharm at Old Town School of Folk. Tickets.
These two local indie rock bands launch Square Roots Festival with a Thursday club show in Lincoln Square.
Blue Earth Sound at Top Note Theatre. Tickets for the early show and late show.
The groove-minded jazz project by Spun Out’s James Weir plays two shows at the Metro’s intimate top-floor theater.
Al Scorch at Hideout. Tickets.
The roots artist and social media personality starts a new monthly “Fantastical Residency” at the cozy venue.
Friday, July 10:
National Photo Committee, Krill at Kilbourn Park. Free.
The best free summer concert series is at a cozy Northwest Side park.
Common, Recoechi, Kaicrewsade at Taste of Chicago. Free.
A Chicago hip-hop legend headlines a Grant Park food festival.
The Bug Club, Golomb at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
The best indie rock show of the week.
Rebirth Brass Band at Martyr’s. Tickets.
This New Orleans mainstay plays two sets each night of their two-show run.
The Hoyle Brothers at Empty Bottle. Free.
Want a matinee show? This honky tonk residency is always on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and always free.
Friday, July 10 - Sunday, July 12:
Dehd, Margo Price, Deeper, Nick Lowe, Hurray for the Riff Raff, more at Square Roots Festival. Free.
Head to Lincoln Square (with a $10 suggested donation) for one of the summer’s best curated festivals.
Saturday, July 11:
Rebirth Brass Band at Martyr’s. Tickets.
This New Orleans mainstay plays two sets each night of their two-show run.
Sunday, July 12:
Julieta Venegas, Valebol at Taste of Chicago. Free.
Another excellent booking to close out the Grant Park food festival.
Cootie Catcher, Memory Card, Sacred Heart Academy at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
Guitar-pop in Ukrainian Village.
Monday, July 13:
Babe Report, Grocer, Patter at Empty Bottle. Free.
A free Monday show in Ukrainian Village? Sign us up.
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What's one touristy thing that every Chicagoan should do in the city?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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