Retired Chicago political reporters talk about today's polarized country
Mike Flannery, Derrick Blakley, and Craig Dellimore are three of Chicago's most respected journalists.
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Mike Flannery, Derrick Blakley, and Craig Dellimore are three of Chicago's most respected journalists.
Jim Williams recently sat down for a roundtable discussion with his former CBS News Chicago colleagues Derrick Blakley and Mike Flannery, and the recently retired Craig Dellimore of WBBM Newsradio, to discuss their careers, today's politics in their splintered and hostile state.
Former CBS News Chicago Political reporter Derrick Blakley joins Jim Williams and Marie Saavedra to discuss a new poll placing Vice President Kamala Harris ahead in Iowa, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s race, and other issues in the 2024 election.
Johnson is neck-and-neck with Paul Vallas in the mayoral runoff. CBS 2 Political Analysts Derrick Blakley and Ald. Leslie Hairston have analysis. Meanwhile, Dana Kozlov and Chris Tye are live at Johnson headquarters, while Jim Williams and Marie Saavedra are live at Vallas headquarters.
The race is 50-50 with most of the precincts reporting. CBS 2 Political Analysts Derrick Blakley and Ald. Leslie Hairston have analysis.
CBS 2 Political Analysts Derrick Blakley and Ald. Leslie Hairston have analysis.
CBS 2 Political Analysts Derrick Blakley and Ald. Leslie Hairston join us for analysis in this mayoral runoff election now that the polls have closed.
"When Derrick Blakley was there, you knew the adult was in the room," former co-anchor Mary Ann Childers said.
Two CBS 2 legends received a special honor Friday night.
"I've been really fortunate to receive the support here and the reception I've had, most importantly, from the viewers of Chicago, who have been absolutely wonderful to me for a very, very long time. I hope I have kept their trust and I am grateful to have enjoyed their support."
The next step comes in November 2020. That's when the jail will have an actual, on site voting booth on Election Day. And that will allow the jail to provide same-day voter registration, as well.
The Aviary is being praised by Trump opponents for being part of the resistance. At the same time, it's being vilified by Trump supporters for undue disrespect to the first family,
"I have a work permit and I have to renew every year, but they can deny any year that they want to. Like they can say, we're not gonna renew your work permit any more. So I'm a risk for deportation."
Police confirmed that Anthony Riccio, CPD's First Deputy Superintendent, took a family holiday earlier this month, just after the Memorial Day weekend that resulted in 43 shootings and seven murders.
"Just as March 31 of this year, the program had approximately 1,300 open claims, many of which dated back several decades. Which means we were paying people, taxpayer dollars, without resolving their claims."
In her first city council meeting, Mayor Lori Lightfoot took on indicted Ald. Ed Burke. Wednesday she tangled with an executive of the Fraternal Order of Police.
"We don't know who she is, never seen her at any events on the West Side of Chicago and for her to be representing us a judicial appointment is a slap in the face to residents of the West Side."
President Trump is threatening to impose a 5% tariff, or tax, on all Mexican imports starting Monday, unless Mexico does more to stop Central American migrants from reaching the U.S. Border. But last minute talks continue.
A media war on the issue is expected to cost hundreds of millions in TV and direct mail, because the stakes are so high. To scrap the flat tax, 60% of Illinois voters, not just a simple majority, must approve the change.
"This is a substantial package and this will address a substantial portion of the maintenance needs that we have in this region."
Lightfoot said what makes this indictment extraordinary is the number of instances in which Burke is allegedly using his position to line his pockets.
The indictment also details a rather petty form of extortion by Burke. He allegedly threatened to oppose an admission fee hike for a Chicago museum, unless that museum hired the child of a personal friend for an internship.
With the bang of the gavel, Mayor Lightfoot took control of her first City Council meeting. But it was a verbal confrontation with Ald. Bruke that really showed who's boss.
"They don't just have to look for a police car. They can look for a neighbor."
"Turning and giving us all the evil eye, mean mugging us to try to make it feel like she's trying to intimidate us, was completely uncalled for."
It's the 15th annual International Jazz Day on Thursday, and this year, Chicago is the global host.
The House on Thursday unanimously approved a Senate-passed bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, sending it to the president's desk.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy reached a deal to buy 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, the site of recent protests and police response.
As many as 150,000 Illinois SNAP participants will lose their benefits on Friday due to new, stricter eligibility rules in the Trump Administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill."
The minor league baseball season is starting and the Joliet Slammers are kicking theirs off with the Big House Ballgame in the Old Joliet Prison Yard.
The House on Thursday unanimously approved a Senate-passed bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, sending it to the president's desk.
The Coast Guard will run out of funding to pay personnel on May 1, with the first missed paychecks expected May 15.
Illinois lawmakers are not planning to pursue a constitutional amendment on redistricting after a key U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday.
Spirit Airlines only has enough available cash to continue operations for a matter of days, not weeks, and talks for a government-backed rescue of the no-frills carrier have stalled, sources say.
Illinois Democrats resoundingly decried the Supreme Court's decision Wednesday that significantly weakens the Voting Rights Act.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Skyrocketing property taxes continue to be a hot-button issue in Cook County — particularly since last fall, when many residents saw their tax bills increase by 100% or more.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias this weekend issued a warning about a surge in text messages that falsely claim to come from his office or the DMV within it.
Tenants at a South Loop luxury high-rise that has been plagued with problems like broken elevators are vowing to fight five-day eviction notices.
The second-largest physicians' group in the U.S. has issued a surprising switch in breast cancer screening recommendations.
A new $48 million wellness center opened Thursday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The goal is to improve the health and quality of life for people on the West Side of Chicago.
La Rabida Children's Hospital went all out for Earth Day on Wednesday, with volunteer cleanup efforts by staffers and activities for patients and families.
It has been several weeks since West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois, abruptly shut down — and then on Wednesday, it just as swiftly partially reopened, with some services available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 80% of deaths related to pregnancy are preventable, and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
A $170 million-plus plan announced this week will redevelop the Water Tower Place mall on the Magnificent Mile.
The Holiday Club in Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood will soon be going out of business, as the building that houses the popular bar is set to be torn down.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board approved a pre-development agreement with the mall, providing a roadmap with the property owner for further preparations and government approvals for redevelopment.
The only remaining location of Pal Joey's pizzeria in Batavia, Illinois, will soon be going out of business, its owner announced this week.
Investment research firm Morningstar could move into the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago once Google is done renovating the former Illinois state government building.
David Allan Coe also had hits with "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride" among others.
Some youngsters got a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of making opera Sunday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Matt DeCaro, an actor who was a familiar face on the Chicago stage for many years, died this weekend.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season went on sale Thursday morning.
International airline Air France-KLM said the cost of jet fuel for their planes has jumped to $2.4 billion because of the ongoing U.S. war with Iran.
The U.S. Attorney for Northern Indiana announced charges in and shared details about "Operation Porterhouse Parlay," a joint investigation executed by the FBI and other federal agencies into an alleged illegal gambling operation run out of Northwest Indiana restaurants.
Border Tails Rescue in Northbrook is looking for a home for Mocha. Learn more here.
Chilly but clear Thursday with highs in the mid-50s. Patchy frost possible overnight with scattered showers evening into night.
The Illinois commission investigating "Operation Midway Blitz" released its final report meant to hold federal agents accountable for their actions.
Prosecutors said 22 people were arrested in Northwest Indiana FBI raids for "Operation Porterhouse Parlay" targeting an illegal gambling ring.
Students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign got an utterly surprising visitor on campus on Wednesday.
As many as 150,000 Illinois SNAP participants will lose their benefits on Friday due to new, stricter eligibility rules in the Trump Administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill."
The minor league baseball season is starting and the Joliet Slammers are kicking theirs off with the Big House Ballgame in the Old Joliet Prison Yard.
It's the 15th annual International Jazz Day on Thursday, and this year, Chicago is the global host.
A top administrator in the Libertyville school district has been placed on leave after a fiery school board meeting focused on how the district handled allegations of grooming leveled against a former teacher.
Potholes along one stretch of road in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood are so bad, people say they damage their cars just getting to work.
There are so many issues with the DNA evidence in the case that Payne's conviction has been overturned, and a retrial has been ordered.
A mother in southwest suburban Morris, Illinois, is fighting for stiffer penalties for adults charged with grooming children. Some local lawmakers agree, saying Illinois' current law is too weak and puts kids in danger.
Almost 24 hours after a derailment made a mess of the Red, Purple, and Yellow lines in Chicago, the CTA continued to investigate the cause of the incident, and experts were raising concerns about what they called a troubling pattern.
The Cubs have won 12 of their last 15 games.
Reese is all smiles as she returns to Chicago to face her former team, the Sky, in preseason action on Wednesday night.
Rookie Sam Antonnaci hit a tying triple with two outs in the ninth inning and Colson Montgomery had a winning single in the 10th, lifting the Chicago White Sox over Los Angeles 3-2 for a three-game sweep that extended the Angels' losing streak to six.
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night to stop their three-game slide.
Colson Montgomery homered in the second off Angels starter José Soriano (5-1), ending his shutout streak at 25 2/3 innings.
A woman has been charged with shooting a 15-year-old boy outside an indoor track facility near Gately Park in Chicago in 2024, after getting into a fight with another woman during a back-to-school event in the Pullman neighborhood.
Sexual abuse charges were filed this week against a Park City, Illinois, police officer.
Attorneys for the man convicted of the murders of two girls in Delphi, Indiana, have filed a new brief with the Indiana Court of Appeals to overturn his case.
Attorneys for a woman convicted of killing her 69-year-old landlord in Chicago's Arcadia Terrace community have filed an appeal.
Police in Cicero, Illinois, were investigating after burglars targeted gaming machines at a slots and video poker business early Wednesday.
