Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Illinois State Police have opened an investigation into federal immigration agents’ fatal shooting of a man in September — the most high-profile independent inquiry regarding Operation Midway Blitz.
🗞️ Plus: A Cook County tax official is cleared of a drunken driving charge, Kilbourn Park doubles down on native plants for this year’s Mother’s Day sale and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Cubs beat the Reds, 3-2; the Sox fell to the Angels, 4-3.
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🌤️
Mostly cloudy with a high near 57.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Illinois State Police launch investigation into deadly ICE shooting
By Sophie Sherry
Probe of shooting: Illinois State Police have opened an investigation into the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas González, nearly eight months after he was killed by a federal immigration agent during a traffic stop in Franklin Park about the time Operation Midway Blitz started.
Local police request: Franklin Park police asked ISP to investigate Thursday, when a state commission released a damning report detailing the actions of federal agents during President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign in the Chicago area last year. The report urged Illinois law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes stemming from Midway Blitz.
Key context: The ISP probe is the most high-profile independent inquiry announced regarding the immigration enforcement operation, during which federal agents also shot Marimar Martinez in Brighton Park and routinely used pummeling force and chemical irritants. The investigation comes amid a push to install a special prosecutor in the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to target federal agents who carried out Midway Blitz.
POLITICS ✶
Cook County tax official cleared of drunken driving charge
By Sophie Sherry
Official acquittal: Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele was acquitted of drunken driving Tuesday after a two-day trial that focused on a November 2024 crash and the police’s response.
Key context: Steele was arrested after her car hit a parked vehicle. Officers found an open bottle of wine in her car, but she never submitted to field sobriety or lab tests. In bodycam footage, Steele repeatedly told officers she was an elected official and refused to cooperate. She also made disrespectful comments to one officer about his genitals, records show.
SMALL BUSINESS 💰
Little Village sees muted Cinco de Mayo after parade is canceled for second straight year
By Cindy Hernandez
Cinco de Mayo: Chicago’s Cinco de Mayo parade once drew large crowds to Little Village, but this year’s celebration Tuesday was even more muted than last year, according to business owners. The annual holiday gathering in the heart of the city’s Mexican community was canceled for the second year in a row due to immigration enforcement concerns, organizers said last month.
Business POV: Small business owners say the parade has always been vital to sales. Along 26th Street, there was hardly any foot traffic early Tuesday afternoon, after fewer customers than usual were seen in the days leading up to the holiday.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Market Hall refresh: The nonprofit Friends of Pullman National Historical Park spent months restoring the more than 130-year-old structure, with hopes of getting community input on what the space should become.
- Cop charged in PPP scheme: Sgt. Brandi Wright has become the third officer from the Chicago Police Department to be charged with defrauding the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Wright allegedly stole more than $41,000.
- Rapper’s friend an informant?: A childhood friend of Lil Zay Osama who’s an alleged member of a robbery crew cooperated with federal authorities, telling them he recognized the rapper’s voice and nickname on the way to a home invasion that “didn’t go as planned,” prosecutors said.
- Mayor’s Hail Mary: Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to meet with lawmakers Wednesday in Springfield in an attempt to prevent the Bears from leaving Chicago to make their domed stadium dream come true.
- Committee tackles sweepstakes machines: A City Council committee determined to maximize revenue from newly legalized video gambling terminals moved to ban sweepstakes machines, which look like video slot machines but give out coupons instead of cash.
- Remembering Pete Kastanes: With his “Vanished Chicagoland” social media posts, Mr. Kastanes created a community based on nostalgia for things and places that people grew up with but no longer exist. He died April 25 at age 62.
- ‘The Bear’ goes to Gary: A previously unannounced episode of the hit Chicago-based show released on Hulu and Disney+ Tuesday ahead of its fifth and final season this summer. The episode follows two characters’ roadtrip to Northwest Indiana.
ENVIRONMENT 🌱
Kilbourn Park is doubling down on native plants for this year’s Mother’s Day sale
By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco
Sale returns: This weekend marks the 30th annual Kilbourn Park plant sale, a massively popular event that draws hundreds who up around the park waiting to snatch up plants at $4 apiece.
Native plant twist: For decades, Chicago gardeners flocked to the Kilbourn Park sale to pick up tomatoes, cucumbers and annuals. This year, the park responded to a relatively new demand: Nearly 1 in 5 plants for sale are native species that have adapted to local climate and wildlife and are generally low maintenance.
Key context: That demand has been driven in part by concerns about dramatic declines in insect species. Caterpillars of the monarch butterfly, for example, depend on native milkweed as a food source. Even backyard gardeners face looming concerns about climate change-powered extreme heat, drought and flooding.
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- Beach parking: New pay-to-park barriers are popping up at some Chicago beaches. The Park District says they will generate more than $9 million in revenue. Community members are concerned about beach access. Sherry Williams of the Burnham Park Advisory Council, Brian Gladstein of Friends of the Parks and Ald. Lamont Robinson dig into both sides.
- Pharmacy deserts: Ald. Robinson and Mari Gallagher of Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group discuss the impact when areas in the city are devoid of pharmacies.
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- Bad bridges: A recent report from the Sun-Times shows one in six Chicago bridges are in “poor” condition. Callers weigh in on the potholes, overpasses and bridges that cause them the biggest headaches as Farhad Ansari of UIC’s College of Engineering stops by.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏀🏒
- Last woman standing: After the Sky cut eight players in the last week, Sydney Taylor, an undrafted guard from a mid-major program, is now one of the Sky’s final 12.
- Bulls analysis: With new front office head Bryson Graham, the Bulls have a lot to get done, writes Joe Cowley.
- NHL Draft: The Blackhawks fell to the No. 4 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery as the Maple Leafs and the Sharks jumped over them.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 7A: Chicagoan Carrie, nominated for a Tony this week for her performance in Bug
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
New club Decibel opens in former Berlin space on Belmont
By Brittany Sowacke
Steps from the Red Line, Decibel quickly filled up Saturday night as the queue stretched down the block for the new nightclub’s opening weekend.
Those in line said they’d hoped to rekindle the flame that went out Nov. 19, 2023 — the day the historic Berlin nightclub closed after more than 40 years of serving the North Side LGBTQ community. Many wondered: Could new life settle in at 954 W. Belmont Ave.?
That new life is a dual-bar concept, The Belmont/Decibel, announced last year by HV Entertainment. The Belmont is a relaxed cocktail bar early in the evening, but after 10 p.m., a curtain is pulled back to reveal the revamped dance floor and transform into Decibel.
“It’s kinda surreal to be back here,” said Andrew Rogers, 34. “I never thought I’d return to the space. Thankfully, it still has the same energy.”
His friend, Riley Rogers, 37, agreed: “Having the sense of community is very important to me. Berlin brought so many queer and alt people together.”
Later, music boomed from a DJ’s set and body heat from the dancefloor fogged up the venue’s windows.
“It’s not about the name — it’s about the vibes,” bartender Derek Stuch said.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
After companies charged consumers higher prices on items due to the Trump administration’s tariffs, what do you think of companies getting refunds from the government?
Respond to this newsletter (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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