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Former Ald. Edward Burke, whose federal racketeering trial begins next week, has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in “consulting” fees in recent years from campaign funds he controls to one of his co-defendants, campaign records show.
Lawyers for Peter Andrews Jr., a key player for years in the ex-alderman’s 14th Ward Democratic organization, said money from Burke’s political funds was used by Andrews to cover his legal fees.
State law allows campaign funds to pay for legal costs, but a campaign finance expert told the Tribune it was unusual to see an arrangement in which funds are sent to another co-defendant, classified as “consulting” and then used for legal fees.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Ray Long, Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau.
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US House approves $14.5 billion in assistance for Israel, with no humanitarian aid included for Gaza
The House approved $14.5 billion in military aid Thursday for Israel, a muscular U.S. response to the war with Hamas but also a partisan approach by new Speaker Mike Johnson that poses a direct challenge to Democrats and President Joe Biden.
In a departure from norms, Johnson’s package required that the emergency aid be offset with cuts in government spending elsewhere. That tack established the new House GOP’s conservative leadership, but it also turned what would typically be a bipartisan vote into one dividing Democrats and Republicans. Biden has said he would veto the bill, which was approved on a largely party-line vote.
City panel votes to mandate 10 days of paid leave over opposition from major business groups
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s major paid leave package for Chicago workers moved to the cusp of approval after his City Council allies made some concessions that still didn’t allay the concerns of business owners who say the changes will be too costly.
Reporter ticketed for ‘hampering’ city employees with questions
Calumet City officials have issued municipal citations to a Daily Southtown reporter who they allege violated local ordinances by seeking comment from public employees on major flooding issues in the area.
The Southtown, which is owned by the Chicago Tribune’s parent company, published a story in which reporter Hank Sanders reported that consultants had informed Calumet City officials that their stormwater facilities were in poor condition before September’s historic rains caused flooding. Sanders has continued to report on the issue, drawing complaints from city officials, including Mayor Thaddeus Jones.
The indictment comes more than a year and a half after the FBI raided Riverdale Mayor Lawrence Jackson’s home.
The Bears are headed to one of the loudest stadiums in the league against a veteran defense that has thrived against the pass. It’s a big test, writes Brad Biggs.
Bears sign nose tackle Andrew Billings to a 2-year extension, keeping the run stuffer through 2025
When the Chicago Cubs signed shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year deal last offseason, they envisioned an ideal double-play partner for second baseman Nico Hoerner.
Year 1 of the Swanson-Hoerner tandem produced the elite play the Cubs needed after prioritizing their defense up the middle. The top defensive players have a knack for making difficult plays appear routine, something Swanson and Hoerner did often.
Column: Can the White Sox follow the Rangers’ World Series blueprint?
The Texas Rangers went from 94 losses in 2022 to their first World Series championship only one year later. How did they do it? And can the Chicago White Sox follow their lead?
Things to do around Chicago: Ringling Bros., the Children’s Film Festival and a toy fair
The circus is in town. Also a film festival just for kids and Dwight Yoakam in concert, and the Chicago Architecture Biennial is now open. Here are some things to do this weekend and beyond.
Column: Should movie theaters provide intermissions, even if filmmakers don’t?
Once upon a time in America, most movies of a certain duration, especially in their “road show” extra-long big city engagements at higher prices, embraced the intermission concept from the get-go. Filmmakers wanted all the bells and whistles: the overture; the intermission with intermission music; the entr’acte music; the exit music. It was an event, writes Michael Phillips.
