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State Rep. Kambium “Kam” Buckner called on Metra to release the findings of an internal investigation, expressing his “deep disappointment” in the rail agency’s decision to withhold the results of the work of an outside law firm.
“At a time when fiscal constraints require us to scrutinize (transit) governance, operations and agency structures, this lack of transparency raises serious concerns,” he wrote in a letter to Metra’s board. “Simply put, you cannot ask taxpayers to pay for an investigation and then tell them they have no right to know the results.”
Buckner’s letter follows reports, including one from the Tribune on Monday, about Metra’s hiring of law firm McGuireWoods to conduct a $1.57 million investigation and refusal to make the findings public. The investigation stemmed from anonymous complaints made to Metra about the agency’s police department.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat.
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Local HUD workers terminated in recent Trump administration cuts
Frank Zhu had only been at his job with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for about six weeks but could already see himself making a career out of it.
Zhu was then blindsided in the middle of a work call when he received an email saying he was terminated from his role on Feb. 14. As a Chicago-based financial analyst in HUD’s Office of Public Housing, Zhu provided guidance to public housing authorities related to their financial health, including their use of federal dollars.
In anticipation of rush, DMV facilities to open on Saturdays for Real ID applicants
In anticipation of a rush for Real IDs ahead of a federal May 7 deadline, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office is opening 12 DMV facilities around the state on Saturdays and expanding hours at other facilities for residents who still need to register for the document.
The extended hours begin this Saturday and will run through May 10. Twelve of the facilities will be open to walk-in customers on Saturdays for the first time, starting at 7:30 a.m. In addition to the Chicago DMV at 7301 W. Lexington Ave., the facilities in Addison, Aurora, Des Plaines, Elgin, Joliet, Lake Zurich, Melrose Park, Plano, St. Charles, Waukegan and Woodstock will have Saturday hours.
Gov. JB Pritzker and state’s Democratic delegation in Washington say White House withholding $1.9 billion in federal funding
Gov. JB Pritzker joined both Illinois senators and the state’s Democratic congressional delegation this week in signing a letter that presses the White House for nearly $2 billion in federal funding they say is being improperly held up.
City Council passes Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $830 million infrastructure bond plan after pushback
The Chicago City Council narrowly passed a hotly contested $830 million infrastructure bond plan Wednesday backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Aldermen approved the plan in a 26 to 23 vote a day after Johnson’s administration proposed a version with clearer spending guardrails. While opponents decried the debt package as financially irresponsible, allies of the mayor defended it as a typical and crucial way to fund basic infrastructure work.
Jury seated in Highland Park parade shooting trial; testimony to begin next week
The final juror was selected Wednesday in the case of Robert Crimo III, setting the stage for next week’s trial of the man accused in the Highland Park mass shooting almost three years ago.
The panel’s final member was selected on the third day of jury selection, and the six alternate jurors were selected by the end of the day.
Landlord was withdrawn, agitated about Israel-Hamas war before boy’s slaying, ex-wife testifies
In the week leading up to 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi’s death, his landlord became withdrawn and agitated over the little boy and his mother renting rooms from him, the man’s ex-wife testified Wednesday.
Mary Connor, who divorced Joseph Czuba in 2024, said she didn’t understand his anger toward Wadee and his mother, Hanan Shaheen. They had been ideal tenants and their religious background — they were Muslims of Palestinian descent — had never previously bothered Czuba, who is Catholic.
Suburban Chicago elections: Two high-profile politicians ousted, Larry Dominick keeps control of Cicero
Two high-profile politicians were ousted in reelection bids this week as change swept through south suburban Dolton and Homer Township.
Egg prices could jump another 41% this year, USDA says, as Trump’s bird flu plan unveiled
The Agriculture Department predicts the current record prices for eggs could soar more than 40% in 2025, as the Trump administration offered the first new details Wednesday about its plan to battle bird flu and ease the cost of eggs.
Chicago Bulls and Sky Q&A: Why are Bulls satisfied with making the play-in? Can Kamilla Cardoso make the jump?
It has been a month of upheaval for basketball in Chicago.
How will the next few months shape up for the Bulls and Sky? Here are the top questions from fans as the teams enter another pivotal part of their respective seasons.
Why Caleb Williams’ development remains Chicago Bears’ top priority — even amid an offseason overhaul
Ryan Poles was more than 10 minutes into his latest state-of-the-team update Tuesday morning when one of the Chicago Bears’ most pressing topics finally came up.
Gene Hackman, prolific Oscar-winning actor, found dead at home at 95 years old
Gene Hackman, the prolific Oscar-winning actor whose studied portraits ranged from reluctant heroes to conniving villains and made him one of the industry’s most respected and honored performers, has been found dead along with his wife at their home. He was 95.