Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and my colleagues want to know what you think Illinois political candidates should be talking about this primary election season. You can fill out this survey to help us shape our coverage. Here’s what else you need to know today.
Illinois and Chicago accused federal immigration officials of an illegal occupation that led to “fear,” “indiscriminate violence” and an “impermissible interference with state sovereignty” designed to force local leaders to abandon critical public policy.
As my colleagues Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles report, the new lawsuit amounts to the broadest challenge yet to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. It accuses the feds of an “organized bombardment” in which “uniformed, military-trained personnel, carrying semi-automatic firearms and military-grade weaponry, have rampaged for months.”
The lawsuit is similar to but goes further than the high-profile lawsuit brought by protesters, media and clergy last fall that challenged the feds’ tactics. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued an historic order in November, limiting the feds’ use of force.
The plaintiffs in that case have sought its dismissal, but Ellis hesitated to grant their request after the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis last week. Now state lawyers have sought to have their new case assigned to Ellis, given the similarities. A hearing on the question has been set for Thursday.
Minnesota officials also filed a similar lawsuit yesterday. [Chicago Sun-Times]
2. States say they need more help replacing lead pipes. Congress may cut funding instead
The U.S. Senate is taking up a spending package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would cut $125 million in funding promised this year to replace toxic lead pipes, Inside Climate News reports.
Including three of 12 appropriations bills, this package will fund parts of the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Senators are slated to vote on it later this week. Near the end of more than 400 pages of text, it proposes repurposing some funds previously obligated by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
That law, advanced by the Biden administration, promised $15 billion over five years to fund the replacement of service lines — pipes routing water into people’s homes and other buildings — that are made of or contain lead, a neurotoxin that can cause cognitive, developmental, reproductive and cardiovascular harm. Illinois has the most lead pipes in the country.
The slashed funding would be repurposed for wildland fire management. Safe drinking water advocates and some lawmakers have called for the money to be restored, calling it critical for health and safety. [Inside Climate News]
3. Chicago will weigh paying $875K to settle claims tied to police handling of George Floyd protests
Chicago taxpayers could soon be on the hook to compensate demonstrators who claim they were manhandled and beaten by Chicago police officers during the civil unrest that in some instances devolved into looting after Floyd’s murder in 2020, my colleagues Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba report.
The underlying lawsuit, filed in November 2020, highlights widespread misconduct that has already been detailed in reports by the city’s top watchdog and the former federal prosecutor overseeing the police department’s court-ordered reform push.
The lawsuit alleges that officers “consistently targeted protesters who were peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights with unlawful, retaliatory, and lethal force,” leaving many bloodied, with concussions and other serious injuries.
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said Chicago police officers were “put in a trick bag from the beginning with no plan in place” for the demonstrations that at times led to rampant looting and violence across the city. Even though police were put in a difficult situation, Catanzara insisted “nothing unlawful happened.” [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. Bears fans united with the help of cheese graters, both real and fake
The Chicago Bears’ Saturday night victory over the Green Bay Packers had fans — and even Bears players — celebrating with some shredded cheese, my colleague Mariah Rush reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was grating cheese during his post-game interview on Amazon Prime, while sporting a large foam grater hat. But he wasn’t alone in the cheeky celebration.
The content creators behind the popular Instagram account Explore Chicago took to the streets on Saturday, asking Bears fans to grate cheese for a video.
“We went through two blocks of cheese,” said 24-year-old Leen Alqaissi, who runs the account with her sister, Yasmeen. The video got over 8,000 likes, including a comment from Chicago-based Kraft Heinz saying, ‘We approve this message!! … Shred that cheese!!!’” [Chicago Sun-Times]
5. Whether you are cold or sick, Chicago has a soup for that
A hot bowl of soup represents a nearly universal balm for the sick, homesick or hungover that’s totally unique to each person, WBEZ food contributor Maggie Hennessy writes.
Whether your preferred liquid comfort veers toward allspice-scented, Afro-Caribbean fish stews; golden chicken soup; pepper-laced, Indian drinking broth; or earthy borsch, Chicago has a soup for that. As we traverse the long dark months of post-holiday winter amid surging flu cases, here are nine soups to revive the worn-out body or soul. Unless noted, the dishes are all available for preorder and carryout.
You can see the list in the link. [WBEZ]
Here’s what else is happening
- At least 2,000 have died in Iran’s nationwide protests, activists said. [AP]
- The U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to uphold state bans on transgender athletes. [NPR]
- Scott Adams, the controversial cartoonist behind “Dilbert,” died at 68. [NPR]
- Chicago Public Schools proposed a 2026-2027 calendar with a longer summer break than last year. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Oh, and one more thing …
When he first sat down behind a set of keys, Julian Davis Reid quickly learned the piano was his voice.
The Chicago-based pianist and theologian first found himself in a music class at age 2. He released his fourth album, “Vocation,” last year, with plans to bring his tour home to Constellation tomorrow.
In a recent conversation with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez, Reid said the album’s concept stems from his deep familial relationships and identities.
“All these different roles that have aged in beautiful ways in my life flow through the music, and they’re really at the heart of why I write what I write,” Reid said. “They help me connect with the audience. I’m playing for you from the depths of my relationships, because I know you’ve got those two in your life.” [Vocalo]
Tell me something good …
This is by far the most excitement I’ve seen over the Chicago Bears since I moved here in 2018. So I’m wondering, what is your favorite memory of the team?
Tom writes:
“Rookie Gale Sayers, Dec. 12, 1965, six touchdown game, in the mud. Unbelievable!”
Kayla writes:
“My favorite memory of the Bears is when they versed the Colts in the Super Bowl back in 2007. I was a child playing in the basement with all of the other kids as their parents watched the game unfold upstairs. This house was high-tech, especially for 2007 standards, and I remember picking up a TV remote and trying to change the channel on the TV downstairs…which, in turn, changed the channel on ALL of the TVs in the house. The groan and screaming from upstairs are instantaneous. I felt bad as a 10-year-old but now I think it was hilarious!”
And Susan writes:
“When I was 17, The 1963 championship game at Wrigley Field, temperature minus five degrees and the Bears won. Angry Giants’ quarterback Y. A. Tittle kicked his helmet across the field as the Bears triumphed. It was so cold, we walked home as the buses weren’t running…”
Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in this week’s newsletter.