Mitchell Armentrout
@mitchtrout.bsky.social
@chicago.suntimes.com reporter, sometimes editor, usually politics, often White Sox. @cstguild.bsky.social -strong. Tips, please: [email protected] / Signal: mtrout.74
https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrout
Chris Getz not playing the numbers game as White Sox look to stave off another 100-loss season chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/20...
Chris Getz not playing the numbers game as White Sox look to stave off another 100-loss season
The Sox are "making meaningful strides" as they kick off spring training this week, according to the general manager. But they're not guaranteeing anything.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Chris Getz not playing the numbers game as White Sox look to stave off another 100-loss season chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/20...
White Sox bring back Erick Fedde to compete for spot in rotation chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/20...
White Sox bring back Erick Fedde to compete for spot in rotation
Fedde was a rare bright spot on the Sox' dismal 2024 squad, but he struggled last year.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:38 PM
White Sox bring back Erick Fedde to compete for spot in rotation chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/20...
Lt. Gov. Stratton goes on attack in Sun-Times, WBEZ, UChicago debate against U.S. Reps. Kelly, Krishnamoorthi chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...
Lt. Gov. Stratton goes on attack in Sun-Times, WBEZ, UChicago debate against U.S. Reps. Kelly, Krishnamoorthi
The Sun-Times, WBEZ and the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics and International House hosted the first live-broadcast debate of the biggest race on the March 17 ballot.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Lt. Gov. Stratton goes on attack in Sun-Times, WBEZ, UChicago debate against U.S. Reps. Kelly, Krishnamoorthi chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...
City Council passes ban on hemp THC products, with exceptions for beverages, ointments chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
City Council passes ban on hemp THC products, with exceptions for beverages, ointments
It's another blow to Mayor Brandon Johnson, who pushed to tax and regulate an industry that has operated in a federal loophole set to close later this year.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:16 PM
City Council passes ban on hemp THC products, with exceptions for beverages, ointments chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
One year and 51 lawsuits later, Illinois Democrats lament ‘chaos’ of second Trump administration chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...
One year and 51 lawsuits later, Illinois Democrats lament ‘chaos’ of second Trump administration
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said he's "optimistic" heading into Year Two of sweeping legal fights with the White House.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:21 PM
One year and 51 lawsuits later, Illinois Democrats lament ‘chaos’ of second Trump administration chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump...
Bears, Bally's elbow way onto General Assembly's spring agenda as lawmakers eye $2.2B shortfall chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...
Bears, Bally's elbow way onto General Assembly's spring agenda as lawmakers eye $2.2B shortfall
Democrats who control Springfield aren't likely to rock the boat in a critical midterm election year, instead focusing on the national party's theme of tackling affordability.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Bears, Bally's elbow way onto General Assembly's spring agenda as lawmakers eye $2.2B shortfall chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...
Illinois vs. Indiana stadium competition puts Bears in the drivers' seat chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadiu...
Illinois vs. Indiana stadium competition puts Bears in the drivers' seat
Bears President Kevin Warren started playing footsie with Indiana before their playoff run, after claiming he was told by Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders that the Bears stadium quest was “not...
chicago.suntimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Illinois vs. Indiana stadium competition puts Bears in the drivers' seat chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadiu...
Nicor seeks another massive rate hike that could add $6 to suburban gas bills chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...
Nicor seeks another massive rate hike that could add $6 to suburban gas bills
The suburban utility has sought six rate increases since 2017, with their latest hike going into effect this month.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Nicor seeks another massive rate hike that could add $6 to suburban gas bills chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...
Reposted by Mitchell Armentrout
Chicago heating bills could get even higher next year under a proposed rate hike from Peoples Gas that would increase the average household natural gas tab by up to $11 per month.
Peoples Gas seeks another big rate hike on Chicago heating bills
chicago.suntimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Chicago heating bills could get even higher next year under a proposed rate hike from Peoples Gas that would increase the average household natural gas tab by up to $11 per month.
FanDuel, DraftKings, other big sportsbooks sue to block new Chicago sports betting tax chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
FanDuel, DraftKings, other big sportsbooks sue to block new Chicago sports betting tax
The city is counting on about $26 million in next year's budget from a new tax that betting companies argue would violate the state constitution.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:14 PM
FanDuel, DraftKings, other big sportsbooks sue to block new Chicago sports betting tax chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
A look back at Chicago's top news stories of 2025 chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/12...
A look back at Chicago's top news stories of 2025
Hordes of federal immigration agents came into the city, and a new pope came out of it. Sun-Times and WBEZ journalists had their work cut out for them in 2025.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A look back at Chicago's top news stories of 2025 chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/12...
City Council sends alternate budget to Mayor Brandon Johnson — will he veto it? chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
City Council sends alternate budget to Mayor Brandon Johnson — will he veto it?
Johnson calls the alternate budget “morally bankrupt” and unbalanced by $163 million. But a veto would inch Chicago closer to the reality of a government shutdown.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
City Council sends alternate budget to Mayor Brandon Johnson — will he veto it? chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility
Nenko Gantchev, 56, was arrested Sept. 23 during "Operation Midway Blitz," the Trump administration's recent immigration enforcement in the Chicago area. He died Monday.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Trump administration sues Illinois election officials for sensitive voter data chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...
Trump administration sues Illinois election officials for sensitive voter data
The Justice Department says it's about preventing "vote dilution," but privacy advocates argue the effort could eventually be used to disenfranchise people.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Trump administration sues Illinois election officials for sensitive voter data chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...
Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadiu...
Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium
The team says Arlington Heights is still their preferred option, but they need lawmakers to pass a bill allowing them to negotiate a discounted property tax rate.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadiu...
New state panel takes shot at holding Trump immigration blitz to account: 'We will not forget' chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
New state panel takes shot at holding Trump immigration blitz to account: 'We will not forget'
The chairman of the newly formed Illinois Accountability Commission acknowledged their eventual recommendations are likely to "fall on deaf ears" in the Trump administration.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:11 PM
New state panel takes shot at holding Trump immigration blitz to account: 'We will not forget' chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Mitchell Armentrout
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights. Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren wrote that Arlington Heights remains “the best and only path forward in Cook County” and vowed to look outside Cook County.
Bears looking beyond Arlington Heights as stadium focus shifts once again
chicago.suntimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights. Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren wrote that Arlington Heights remains “the best and only path forward in Cook County” and vowed to look outside Cook County.
Trump administration plans to eliminate hundreds of vacancies at Chicago area VA hospitals chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Trump administration plans to eliminate hundreds of vacancies at Chicago area VA hospitals
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it's closing old, unfilled jobs. Workers say hospitals that are already stretched thin will feel the consequences.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Trump administration plans to eliminate hundreds of vacancies at Chicago area VA hospitals chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that 'makes transit safer and more reliable' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that 'makes transit safer and more reliable'
Fares will be collected under a unified system managed by a new, stronger Northern Illinois Transportation Authority.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that 'makes transit safer and more reliable' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Gov. JB Pritzker 'could have gone either way' on Illinois' new right-to-die law chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Gov. JB Pritzker 'could have gone either way' on Illinois' new right-to-die law
The Democratic governor said he was swayed by the stories of terminally ill residents who want more end-of-life options.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Gov. JB Pritzker 'could have gone either way' on Illinois' new right-to-die law chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Gov. Pritzker, who saw Rob Reiner days before fatal stabbing, slams Trump response to filmmaker’s death chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-gov...
Gov. Pritzker, who saw Rob Reiner days before fatal stabbing, slams Trump response to filmmaker’s death
“I was with them four days ago. These are some terrific people," Gov. JB Pritzker said of the acclaimed filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were stabbed to death in Los Angeles.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Gov. Pritzker, who saw Rob Reiner days before fatal stabbing, slams Trump response to filmmaker’s death chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-gov...
Gov. JB Pritzker signs 'right-to-die' legislation for terminally ill people to end their lives in Illinois chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Gov. JB Pritzker signs 'right-to-die' legislation for terminally ill people to end their lives in Illinois
The new law, which takes effect next September, opens the door for people 18 or older with a terminal diagnosis to be prescribed a fatal drug.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Gov. JB Pritzker signs 'right-to-die' legislation for terminally ill people to end their lives in Illinois chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Indiana Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting, easing pressure on Illinois Dems for remap chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Indiana Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting, easing pressure on Illinois Dems for remap
Gov. JB Pritzker suggested Illinois’ threat to retaliate helped defeat the measure across the border — and he didn’t rule out an effort to expand his state’s 14-3 Democratic edge.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Indiana Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting, easing pressure on Illinois Dems for remap chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
As Indiana Republicans move toward redistricting, Pritzker warns Illinois ‘won’t stand idly by’ chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
As Indiana Republicans move toward redistricting, Pritzker warns Illinois ‘won’t stand idly by’
Top Illinois Democrats have signaled they would move to counter a potential congressional remap in Indiana, which could get a vote this week.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
As Indiana Republicans move toward redistricting, Pritzker warns Illinois ‘won’t stand idly by’ chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Pritzker rejects Trump administration threat to cut funding over CTA safety issues: 'Action has been taken' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Pritzker rejects Trump administration threat to cut funding over CTA safety issues: 'Action has been taken'
Federal officials ordered the CTA to develop an enhanced security plan by next week in response to the burning of a woman aboard a Blue Line train last month.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Pritzker rejects Trump administration threat to cut funding over CTA safety issues: 'Action has been taken' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...