Congratulations on surviving another chilly week, Chicago.
The week started with President Donald Trump appearing at the Daytona 500 on Sunday — kicking off another busy and controversial week for the Trump administration. They traveled to Saudi Arabia to speak with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine; signed more executive orders, including one on IVF; and gave schools a deadline for ending DEI-related programs. The Senate also confirmed Trump’s picks for secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick, head of the Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler, and FBI director, Kash Patel.
In Illinois, Gov JB Pritzker gave his State of the State address and presented a budget plan that includes no tax increases. Pritzker’s comments about the Trump administration’s targeting of minorities also went viral online, the Indiana House passed a bill aimed at redrawing the Illinois-Indiana border and new details emerged in a bribery case of yet another state legislator, Sen. Emil Jones III.
Locally, two aldermen delayed a vote on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s infrastructure plan. The City Council also debated an ethics reform ordinance, which does not have the backing of the mayor. Plus, the Tribune reported this week that the Chicago Housing Authority is owed millions in rent.
While former head coach Matt Eberflus made his first public comments since being hired as defensive coordinator by the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears announced their full coaching staff for the upcoming season Thursday. But bad news for Bears fans: Season ticket prices are going up.
In news from spring training, the the White Sox take on the Cubs on Saturday in the Cactus League opener for the Sox.
Even more news happened this week, but we know what you really want. Here’s the latest installment of the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz — this time with excerpts and utterances from the week spanning Feb. 16 to 22. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.