Good afternoon, Chicago.
The Cook County chief judge’s office has toughened protocols around its electronic monitoring program, making changes in the wake of high-profile incidents and as the office’s monitored population swells.
Chief Judge Charles Beach, who replaced the county’s longtime top jurist Tim Evans in December, announced yesterday changes around how violations of the program’s rules are handled.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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People attend a vigil for Alex Pretti outside the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2026, in Chicago. Federal immigration officers shot and killed Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, in Minneapolis last week. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Nurses union stages candlelight vigil outside Chicago VA to honor Alex Pretti: ‘Our job is to protect other people’
The vigil, organized by National Nurses United, was the second held outside the local VA center in as many days, with dozens convening at the South Damen Avenue facility Tuesday as uproar over Alex Pretti’s death mounts. Read more here.
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Amazon is closing all of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores, including those in Naperville on Route 59 and on Ogden Avenue, seen here. (Naperville Sun)
Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge says Amazon ‘full steam ahead’ with planned development despite nearby retail closures
The mayor of Orland Park says he has faith in Amazon’s approved retail concept for the village, despite the company announcing Tuesday it will shut down all of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations. Read more here.
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UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts towers over Illinois Fighting Illini forward Berry Wallace as she drives to the basket in the second half during a game between the Fighting Illini and the UCLA Bruins at State Farm Center on Jan. 28, 2026, in Champaign. The Bruins beat the Illini 80-67. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
4 takeaways from No. 2 UCLA’s win over Illinois, including Bruins’ Betts duo and Illini freshmen taking charge
The game pitted a senior-led UCLA team that looks like a national title contender against an up-and-coming Illinois team that started two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior. Read more here.
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Filmmaker Charlie Minn, seen here in a shot being taken for his documentary on the unsolved Lane Bryant murder case in Tinley Park, said he hopes the movie will spark new interest and leads in the cold case. (Charlie Minn)
Lane Bryant documentary producer no longer speaking at Tinley Park high schools
Filmmaker Charlie Minn said he felt deceived after he confirmed the events with the schools and announced them to the public, but said plans were changed. He said he is “extremely confused and puzzled” about why plans were changed. Read more here.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., waits to speak to reporters following a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Democrats block government funding package in Senate as negotiations continue to avert a shutdown
Democrats voted to block legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies today as they continued to negotiate with Republicans and the White House on new restrictions for President Donald Trump’s surge of immigration enforcement. Read more here.
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