Proposed city ordinance would allow police to impound cars from stunt meetups

Drivers stop traffic while spinning around and doing donuts – in a dangerous thrill that seems to be growing every weekend in Chicago.

• Jul 19

Bally's unveils further plans for Chicago casino; some aldermen say it's being pushed through too fast

The city did not conduct a new safety study to determine how crime would be impacted by a casino - in hopes of getting the casino up and generating revenue quickly.

• May 9

Aldermen Butt Heads Over City Council's Stalled Push To Hire Their Own Legal Adviser, As Bid To Force A Vote Falls Short

Chicago aldermen for years have talked about the need to hire their own attorney to advise the City Council, rather than relying on the mayor's hand-picked Corporation Counsel for legal advice, but a bid to end the logjam hit another roadblock on Wednesday.

• Jan 26

Proposal To Allow Sports Betting In Chicago Stalls, Despite Mayor Lightfoot's Support, Amid Aldermen's Worries About Impact On Future Casino

"I really think we're moving entirely too fast, and the upside is very minimal," Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) said after aldermen were told allowing sportsbooks in Chicago would create only about $500,000 in annual tax revenue for the city.

• Dec 7, 2021

Plan To Replaced Abandoned Spire Site With Two Apartment Buildings Advances In Zoning Committee

Developers will soon be able to move forward with a $1 billion project to build two high-rise apartment towers on the site of the never-built Chicago Spire in Streeterville.

• Jun 16, 2020

City Council Approves Plan For Tribune Tower East, 102-Story Skyscraper That Would Be Chicago's 2nd Tallest Building

The building would include a 200-room hotel, 564 condos and apartments, a 687-stall parking garage, and 14 loading docks on Lower Michigan Avenue and Lower Illinois Street.

• May 20, 2020

Aldermen Advance Ban On Horse-Drawn Carriages, After Years Of Wrangling With Industry They Say 'Refuses To Comply With The Law'

The License Committee on Wednesday voted to approve an ordinance to phase out all 10 of the city's existing horse-drawn carriage licenses by Jan. 1, 2021.

• Mar 11, 2020

Alderman Rips Developers Seeking Tax Break For Not Having Numbers On Minority Participation On Building Rehab; 'Stop Playing Games'

Several aldermen threatened to block a $20 million property tax break for a project to convert a historic downtown office building into a new hotel, when the developers could not answer questions about minority participation in the $137 million project.

• Mar 10, 2020

City Council Public Safety Committee Backs Huge Fines, Jail Time For Impersonating Rideshare Drivers

Chicago Police Lt. John Cannon said criminals have been exploiting the rise of services like Uber and Lyft in order to prey on unwitting victims.

• Feb 6, 2020

City Council Committee Approves Ordinance To Delay Chicago Recreational Marijuana Sales Until July

A City Council committee on Tuesday approved an ordinance that would delay recreational marijuana sales in Chicago until July.

• Dec 17, 2019

Aldermen Fend Off Effort To Kill Mayor Lori Lightfoot's $40 Million Rideshare Tax, Approve 2020 Revenue Package

"We have seen actually four different proposals from Uber, all of which have been extremely questionable," Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosa Escareno said.

• Nov 19, 2019

Trump Jr. Visits City Hall To Discuss Unused Space At Trump Tower

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said he and Donald Trump Jr. discussed possible tenants for 65,000 square feet of vacant space in Trump Tower.

• Jun 28, 2018

Aldermen Approve $5.5 Million Tax Subsidy For Presence Health

Aldermen voted 31-18 to approve $5.5 million in tax increment financing to help Presence Health open or redevelop facilities in Belmont-Cragin, Avondale, Calumet Heights, and West Town.

• Jan 17, 2018

River East: City Hall Concerned About Use Of Metal Panels On Building

City Hall is sending engineers to examine River East's flammable panels. CBS 2's Jim Williams gets reaction from elected officials.

• Nov 21, 2017

City Council OK's Controls On Valet Parking Lots, Apps

New measures would further crack down on valet parking lots and make sure parking lot services like Spot Hero are paying city taxes.

• May 17, 2017

Downtown Alderman Ready To Work With Macy's On Flagship Store

• Nov 13, 2015

Aldermen Begin Limiting Where Newly Legal Food Carts Can Operate

It's been barely a month since the City Council opened the door for food carts to operate legally in Chicago, and already aldermen have begun carving out some parts of the city where they won't be welcome.

• Oct 27, 2015

Emanuel Allies: Garcia Budget Plan As Real As 'Leprechauns And Unicorns'

At a City Hall press conference, City Clerk Susana Mendoza and three aldermen who back the mayor rolled out a couple of hand trucks of budget books and audits they claim mayoral challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia could use to craft his budget plans.

• Mar 19, 2015

Work Begins On New Riverfront Office Tower

The start of construction on a new office building along the west bank of the Chicago River could change the riverfront landscape in more ways than one.

• Jul 25, 2014

Aldermen Want More Control Over Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and other members of the City Council have expressed concerns about limits on their oversight, claiming they're prohibited from setting other restrictions on dispensaries and cultivation centers, beyond what is in state law.

• Jan 23, 2014

City Council Holds First Hearing On Proposed Changes To Parking Meter Deal

At the Finance Committee hearing, City Corporation Counsel Steve Patton was asked whether the city could simply get out of the deal altogether.

• May 24, 2013

City Council OKs Mayor's Digital Billboard Plan

The Chicago City Council has approved a 20-year deal to place 34 digital billboards on city property along local expressways and tollways.

• Dec 12, 2012