All articles tagged with #chicago
Chicago’s annual snowplow naming contest crowned the political slogan “Abolish ICE” as the winner, a choice that drew mixed reactions and underscored the city’s polarized views on immigration policy.
Chicago announced six winning names for its annual You Name A Snowplow contest after a record 13,300 entries and 39,000 voters; among the winners is Abolish ICE, with Chance the Scraper earning an honorable mention. The winning names will appear on snowplows across six districts, and submitters receive photo opportunities and city swag, as the city tracks the plows in real time and maintains a fleet of salt spreaders for winter storms.
An 18-year-old and a 17-year-old were charged as adults with first-degree murder, felony vehicular hijacking, and gun offenses after a February 11 Chicago carjacking spree that left two men dead; prosecutors say surveillance links them to multiple citywide incidents, and a judge ordered both suspects held without bond pending trial.
Reality star Whitney Leavitt leaves Utah for Broadway, moving to New York to play Roxie Hart in Chicago and delivering a growing, more confident performance that builds on a viral hospital TikTok moment, all while resisting mom-shaming.
Bruce Springsteen will perform in Chicago on April 29 at the United Center as part of his Land of Hope and Dreams Tour, a 20-date run featuring 19 arena shows and concluding in Washington, D.C. in May; tickets go on sale at noon Friday, with tour dates listed on Springsteen’s site. This marks his return to Chicago since his 2023 Wrigley Field shows, with the United Center last hosting him in 2016.
A Chicago teen connected to her father’s immigration detention case, Ruben Torres Maldonado, died of cancer, highlighting the human toll of immigration enforcement. Advocates had pressed for his release in 2025, with updates continuing into 2026.
A 16-year-old Chicago girl, Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, who publicly advocated for her father during his ICE detention in a deportation case, died from stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Diagnosed in December 2024, she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation and even appeared by Zoom at a court hearing as her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, faced removal. An immigration judge ruled three days before her death that he could pursue cancellation of removal due to hardships on his US-born children, potentially paving a path to permanent residency. Funeral arrangements are private; family and attorneys described Ofelia as brave for speaking out during Operation Midway Blitz, the immigration crackdown that led to her father’s detention.
Chicago teenager Ofelia Torres, who spoke out online for her father’s release from ICE detention while battling Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, has died at 16. Her father was later released on bond; a judge ruled he could pursue cancellation of removal due to the impact on his U.S. citizen children, a hearing she attended by Zoom days before her death, highlighting the human toll of immigration enforcement.
Chicago teen Ofelia Torres, who was fighting a rare cancer, died as her father was detained by ICE during a Trump-era enforcement surge; a judge later deemed the detention illegal and released him, with advocates citing her courage as highlighting the human impact of immigration policy.
Ofelia Torres, a Chicago teen fighting Stage 4 cancer, became a focal point of criticism of ICE after her father was detained during Operation Midway Blitz; amid legal battles and public outcry, an immigration judge granted him a path to permanent residency via cancellation of removal days before Ofelia’s death, highlighting the toll of immigration enforcement on families.
Chicago is piloting Coco and Serve delivery robots on sidewalks, delivering thousands of meals while sparking safety concerns and petitions from residents who say sidewalks are for people. Incidents ranging from rear-end collisions to a robot dumped in a canal have stirred debate, prompting city officials to review regulations as the pilot—approved in 2022 and extending through May 2027—continues to expand amid calls to slow or reshape the program.
Whitney Leavitt, known from Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, is pivoting toward Broadway stardom with Roxie Hart in Chicago while juggling DWTS appearances and her MomTok following. As Season 5 of Mormon Wives films in New York, she weighs staying on the reality show versus pursuing scripted acting opportunities and broader artistic goals, all while balancing faith, family, and a growing ambition for new roles.
Whitney Leavitt made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago, with clips posted by the official Chicago production sparking praise for her singing and dancing; a strong MomTok presence attended the after-party, including Jen Affleck, while Demi Engemann shared a supportive photo, and overall reception was largely positive with little criticism.
Two people in Chicago have died in a cluster of meningococcal infections (Neisseria meningitidis), with seven cases reported since Jan. 15; Chicago typically sees 10-15 such infections in winter. The disease spreads through saliva and requires close, lengthy contact, and symptoms can resemble a common illness before worsening rapidly. Officials urge immediate medical care if symptoms appear (stiff neck, sensitivity to light, severe aches, vomiting, or a dark rash). Illinois recommends MenACWY vaccination at ages 11-12 with a booster at 16.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order directing the Chicago Police Department to document alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents, preserve evidence, identify on-scene supervisors, and refer felony violations to the Cook County State’s Attorney for possible prosecution. Johnson frames the move as making ICE subject to local accountability and notes the order is aimed at preventing rights violations amid anticipated immigration surges, signaling Chicago as the first U.S. city to pursue such local oversight of federal enforcement.