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."
Kenneth Williams Sr., 67, was working when he was shot and killed by nine officers in downtown Gary on Friday, Aug. 28.
Beach swim closed at 7 p.m. on Monday, meaning there will be no lifeguards on duty moving forward.
Chicago police said the girl was approached by a known male who pulled out a gun and shot her in the back.
Chicago police are investigating after two boys, 14 and 17, were shot in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood.
The Cubs fell eight games back of the MLB-leading Brewers in the NL Central after losing the opener of this three-game series.
Turning Point Action is expanding its Iowa presence county by county, with leaders saying high voter participation in the caucuses is the organization's key measure of success.
In less than two weeks, the high-energy laser weapon system has taken down 11 drones, coinciding with a 75% drop in drones probing the border, military officials told CBS News.
The Chicago City Council is set to consider an ordinance that could establish bird-friendly requirements for new construction and major renovations.
Johnson says he is addressing his future and the future of Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 13.
A federal judge extended her block on the U.S. Postal Service's new requirements for mail voting, as states prepare to begin sending mail ballots to voters for the November midterm elections.
Drivers in Chicago and beyond were paying the highest gas prices ever recorded for the Labor Day holiday as millions of Americans were making their way home on Monday.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit Thursday against ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric Inc., alleging deceptive business practices.
Cook County homeowners are again facing a sharper increase in property taxes this year than businesses, the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced Monday.
Contracted linemen from out of state sat idle in a Griffith church parking lot for hours without work orders from NIPSCO, as residents in Northwest Indiana approach two weeks without power.
Cardinal Blase Cupich and a group of Catholic nuns have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois' Medical Aid in Dying law, which is set to take effect in just over a week.
Flies have been everywhere this summer in the Chicago area, and some of them bite. But why is this happening?
Prime Healthcare is drawing criticism after announcing it will stop obstetrics services at three Chicago-area hospitals.
The Chicago Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced two human cases and one death from the West Nile virus in the city this year, and one of those two people has died.
The Jackson Chance Foundation supports the lives of families with babies in the NICU by removing the financial burden of finding parking near hospitals.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
A new Whole Foods Market is coming to Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.
More than 100 Black-owned businesses were showcased at Soldier Field Sunday for Black on the Block.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
An expert blames Illinois lawmakers and "internecine political problems" for the failure to seal a deal for a new stadium within the state for the Chicago Bears.
The stage was set and the air was humid as rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took the stage for the first of two Chicago concerts at Soldier Field Thursday night.
James Fulton Engstrom, now a healthy teenager, was born without a pulse in 2010 — and his survival is the miracle the Catholic Church credited to Fulton Sheen's intercession, clearing the way for beatification.
The Met's decision to highlight the work by designer John Galliano sparked widespread controversy due to his history of antisemitic and racist comments.
The Edgewater Music Festival was under way this weekend on Chicago's north lakefront.
People around the world, including Chicago, continued to gather Wednesday to pay tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the demand for retro music formats fueled a surge in revenue of nearly 7% in the first half of 2026.
Her home state honored her at this weekend's season opener, also spelling out "dolly" on the field and playing "I Will Always Love You". The country icon and Tennessee native died late last month.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon is tracking the next chance for showers, even thunderstorms, in First Alert Weather.
Kenneth Williams Sr., 67, was shot and killed by nine officers in downtown Gary on Aug. 30.
Kenneth Williams Sr., 67, was shot and killed by nine officers in downtown Gary on Aug. 30.
Kenneth Williams Sr., 67, was working when he was shot and killed by nine officers in downtown Gary on Friday, Aug. 28.
Beach swim closed at 7 p.m. on Monday, meaning there will be no lifeguards on duty moving forward.
Chicago police said the girl was approached by a known male who pulled out a gun and shot her in the back.
Indiana State Police said a Sunday traffic stop led to them finding $3.8 million worth of cocaine.
Chicago police are investigating after two boys, 14 and 17, were shot in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood.
Several lawsuits are challenging Illinois' medical aid in dying law that is set to take effect on Sept. 12, including one in federal court arguing the law discriminates against people with disabilities.
Back in 2023, ISP got a $10 million grant from the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council.
Two years before dozens of decomposing bodies were found inside the South Chicago Chapel funeral home, police in nearby Evergreen Park found two bodies in the owners' minivan outside their home.
Hundreds of people are suing the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, where they say they were sexually abused by staff. For the first time, survivors detailed their experience exclusively to CBS News Chicago.
Why has the family that runs South Chicago Chapel, where 56 decomposing bodies were found this month, never faced criminal charges, despite a history of mishandling human remains?
The Cubs fell eight games back of the MLB-leading Brewers in the NL Central after losing the opener of this three-game series.
And to think, Kyle Whittingham said he wanted to put an end to all the drama around Michigan.
Suhey scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl XX against the Patriots in 1986.
Sam Antonacci added three doubles and two RBIs for the White Sox, who maintained their 2 1/2-game lead in the AL Central over Cleveland.
Cubs slugger Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 40th homer and joined Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber (42) as the only players to reach the mark this season.
A woman was set to appear in court Monday in a shooting that left a man dead in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood last week.
A 17-year-old boy was hospitalized early Monday after being shot in Chicago's Chatham community.
A man was killed in a shooting Sunday night on the western edge of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood.
Three people were shot and wounded in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood Sunday morning.
Some videos on social media show weapons, a pickup truck doing donuts and a wheel flying into a crowd.
