Good morning, Chicago.
As it advertised its so-called Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security used social media to broadcast a now-familiar refrain.
In a string of posts on the platform X, the agency blasted state and local laws that restrict local authorities from participating in federal immigration enforcement. Officials included photographs of 11 men they called the “worst of the worst” who have been released from local jails and prisons, despite requests from ICE for administrative detainers.
Gov. JB Pritzker, in turn, has shot back that the Trump administration is trying to scare people, rather than work with officials to find real solutions to the city’s violence.
At its heart, the argument is rooted in long-held legislation, public policy and case law that separates immigration enforcement from local law enforcement activity – a wall that some experts and advocates say exists for good reason.
And law enforcement experts, legal scholars and advocates say any local jail or sheriff’s office, regardless of their state’s political posture toward immigrants, faces significant constitutional concerns in deciding whether to cooperate with federal authorities.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky and Madeline Buckley.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the new average life expectancy in Chicago, the anniversary of a Jordan meme and what to do in Chicago this weekend.
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Charlie Kirk, conservative activist from suburban Chicago, assassinated at Utah college event; shooter still at large
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was shot and killed at a Utah college event in what the governor called a political assassination.
Authorities say Kirk was killed with a single shot from a rooftop yesterday. Whoever fired the gun then slipped away amid the chaos of screams and students fleeing the Utah Valley University campus. Federal, state and local authorities were still searching for an unidentified shooter early today and working what they called “multiple active crime scenes.”
- Politicians who have experienced violence directly react to Charlie Kirk shooting
- What to know about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA
Gov. JB Pritzker ‘not convinced’ by President Trump apparent pivot on sending National Guard to Chicago
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker reacted with caution yesterday to President Donald Trump’s comments that he planned to deploy National Guard troops to a city and state where they would be welcomed to deter crime, unlike Chicago where Pritzker and local officials have called a presidential troop mobilization unnecessary, illegal and unwarranted.
“I’m not convinced that we’re not going to see military troops on the ground,” Pritzker said. “We don’t know. I mean, I wish the president would again recognize that military troops in American cities are something that just doesn’t belong. And he should not be ordering them into American cities.”
‘Illegal and unregulated products’ allegedly seized at Bensenville vape distributor, Attorney General Pam Bondi says
Federal agents raided a vaping products distributor in a west suburb over alleged ties to “illegal and unregulated products,” representing the largest seizure in a multistate effort, federal officials announced.
Average life expectancy in Chicago rebounds to 78.7 years, following worst years of pandemic
The highest average life expectancy ever recorded in Chicago was 78.8 years in 2019, according to the health department. In 2020, that number plummeted as Chicago and the nation grappled with the devastation of COVID-19.
- Updated COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Illinois. Who can get them?
- West Nile virus cases running higher than normal, prompting health warnings
Judge denies state request to vacate order barring release of video in CPD Officer Krystal Rivera shooting
In a reversal, Cook County prosecutors asked a judge to rescind a previous order that barred release of video and other materials related to the friendly fire shooting death of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera.
Tim Evans out as chief judge, to be replaced by Judge Charles Beach
After 24 years leading the Cook County judiciary in a historical role as the first Black chief judge, Tim Evans has lost reelection to Judge Charles Beach after Circuit Court judges delivered a surprise victory to Beach.
‘The greatest of all time’: John Cena makes a final trip to Chicago, where his WWE career started
On June 27, 2002, Kurt Angle issued an open challenge at Allstate Arena to a wrestler that he hadn’t faced before. “Now’s your chance to become a sensation just like me,” Angle said.
Out came someone to seize the moment — young, great physique and matching red trunks, shoes and kneepads. John Cena.
Fast forward 23 years to Cena’s latest appearance in the Windy City. The trumpets of his popular theme song were met with a deafening cheer from the crowd. He ran to the ring and did his signature salute. He stopped in the middle of his opening monologue and embraced the “thank you Cena!” chants.
Today in Chicago History: Bulls’ Michael Jordan inducted into Hall of Fame — and ‘Crying Jordan’ meme is born
On this day in 2009: Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan took shots — mostly good-natured ones — at everyone from University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith to Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf during his speech.
An image of Jordan becoming emotional at the event was soon turned into a “Crying Jordan” meme.
Books for fall 2025: Luigi, Ozzy and the great beyond
You know what’s scary this fall? How many new books are coming.
So many that no less than Thomas Pynchon, publishing’s favorite recluse, is back. Not to be outdone, even Harper Lee returns with a posthumous collection. But you know what’s scarier? How many new scary books are coming between now and November, and beyond. Horror, hotter than hot in recent years, will be approaching late-aughts-dystopian-sci-fi surplus this fall. ‘Tis the season, writes Christopher Borrelli.
What to do in Chicago: Lady Gaga, monster trucks and a Mexican Independence Day Parade
Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
