The Chicago Bears may be in the offseason, but the franchise dominated the news this week. On Wednesday, the Illinois House passed a proposal to help the team build a new $2 billion stadium in Arlington Heights (Chicagoans preferred stadium site), allowing the Bears to negotiate long-term property tax breaks. Plus, the NFL draft was this week.
To kick things off Thursday, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was picked first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, while the Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick. In the second and third rounds Friday night, Chicago drafted three other players. including a center and tight end.
It was a busy week down in Springfield. Other than the Bears legislation, House lawmakers passed a state redistricting amendment, sending it to the Senate. Democrats, however, failed Thursday to advance the so-called millionaire’s tax resolution. Back in Chicago, a Yellow Line train derailed on the city’s Far North Side during the evening rush hour Thursday, leading the Chicago Transit Authority to temporarily suspend service on a number of lines. But in better news, the agency broke ground Friday on the long-awaited Red Line Extension, which will bring CTA train service to the city’s Far South Side.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit over National Guard deployment in Illinois that was first filed nearly seven months ago has been dismissed by a federal judge with assurances that the Trump administration’s orders have been rescinded.
The U.S. extended its ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, with Pakistan urging the two nations back to the negotiating table. By Friday, President Donald Trump agreed to do just that, sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to meet with Iran’s foreign minister.
In other national news, the U.S. Senate passed a funding plan for the Department of Homeland Security — which has been shut down since February — sending it along to the House. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced he’s stepping down after nearly 15 years leading the tech giant. The president reacted to the news this week by simultaneously complimenting and insulting the outgoing executive. Such remarks have come under increasing scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers, with some considering invoking the 25th Amendment.
Elsewhere in the world of sports, Billy Donovan stepped down as coach of the Chicago Bulls, leaving the team after six seasons, White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami homered in five consecutive games, and the Cubs went on a run of their own, extending their winning streak to nine games — the team’s longest since 2016.
Those are the headlines! Here’s the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz, this time with excerpts and utterances from April 19 to 25. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
