Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Amanda Kaschube @amandakaschube.bsky.social · 5d

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near a school on a busy Northwest Side street.

"It’s upsetting to see people being paid to attack our community for senseless stupid reasons.”

📝 @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @tesskenny.bsky.social

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near school on busy Northwest Side street

The deployment of smoke canisters — some witnesses described it as tear gas — came as tensions boiled over on the city’s Northwest Side Friday afternoon.

www.chicagotribune.com

1 14 21

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Peter Nickeas @peternickeas.bsky.social · 4d

Chaos in Brighton Park. This is representative of the amount / direction of pepper and smoke sent into the neighborhood, in this case, for no reason I can discern other than because they were leaving. Feds had a clear path out in a different direction, and residents were vocal but not violent here.

24 210 400

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · 12d

Not sure I've done a political interview that's required more coordination, or a slower and better protected bike ride.

Always a fun day at work. Feel free to ask any questions (part 2/2).

1 6

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · 12d

Not my normal spot for an interview: the bike lane.

I talked with Mayor Brandon Johnson about cycling in Chicago. Here's how he sees bike infrastructure fitting into the city, told by him from atop a Divvy bike to @chicagotribune.com (part 1/2):

1 4 12

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

john-byrne.bsky.social @john-byrne.bsky.social · 28d

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks $90 million in settlement of suits tied to corrupt cop, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @jmetr22b.bsky.social w the details. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/11/m...

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks $90 million in settlement of suits tied to corrupt cop

The first-of-its-kind deal, first uncovered by the Tribune in federal court records, would settle all outstanding wrongful conviction cases involving Sgt. Ronald Watts.

www.chicagotribune.com

3 6

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · 28d

NEW: Ald. Brendan Reilly is officially running for Cook County Board President against Toni Preckwinkle.

He's focusing on crime to unseat Preckwinkle, a progressive who has been in office for 15 years. First reported by @adquig.bsky.social (gift link):
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/10/d...

Downtown alderman announces run against Preckwinkle for Cook County Board president

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly formally announced his intent Wednesday to take on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the March 2026 Democratic primary

www.chicagotribune.com

1

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 8

One day. One new speed camera. $60,000.

Chicago's new speed cams are raking it in, early data shows. They captured $1.7M in three weeks in June, now the most-ticketed month in three years, as aldermen tout their safety impact. With William Tong for @chicagotribune.com:
t.co/EHnTVvdcF9

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/07/mayor-brandon-johnson-new-speed-cameras-big-early-revenue/

t.co

1 1

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · Sep 5

Should retired police be able to sell marijuana? Alderman Andre Vasquez says no, blocks dispensary. Interesting, from @jake-sheridan.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/r...

Should retired police be able to sell marijuana? Alderman says no, blocks dispensary

Ald. Andre Vasquez cited “fundamental justice concern” with former police officers getting to legally sell marijuana after locking people up for selling pot.

www.chicagotribune.com

1 9

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · Sep 7

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new speed cameras see big early revenue as aldermen tout safety impact. Story by @jake-sheridan.bsky.social
and William Tong
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/07/m...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new speed cameras see big early revenue as aldermen tout safety impact

Speeding tickets from new automated cameras are quickly hurtling toward the $11.4 million benchmark Mayor Brandon Johnson is counting on for 2025.

www.chicagotribune.com

2 5

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 4

I definitely checked twice on this one, haha, thanks for taking the time to talk

1 2

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 4

:)

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 4

Fair point. I do hear often about safety through the lens of bike lanes, for instance, but I certainly meant gun violence and violent crime here.

I still think that's the issue I hear about most, but my language took up too much space. Will try to be more specific, thanks for sharing thoughts :)

1 2

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 4

There's some really interesting debate on why 2016 spiked. One answer points heavily to the release of the Laquan McDonald video — here's a 2017 story by the same WBEZ reporter who wrote the above story, @chipmitchell1.bsky.social, on that:
interactive.wbez.org/everyotherho...

The Laquan Effect

Shootings in Chicago surged after the release of the Laquan McDonald video. They’ve shown “no signs of slowing.” What changed?

interactive.wbez.org

1 5

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Would like to hear more about what you mean here — what do you think I'm flattening? (not at all trying to be hostile, am curious!)

1 1

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 3

And just to be extra clear: I don't think there's any bigger issue in Chicago than violence & safety.

That's certainly what I hear from aldermen & everyday Chicagoans alike. Because of how important it is, it's critical to be clear about what trends are happening.

1 16

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Powerful graphic: Chicago just saw its smallest summer murder total since 1965.

The city is on track to see one of its lowest murder totals in decades, a trend in play all year that continued through the city's most violent season. Murders are way, way down after a spike. Look:

10 150 350

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Should cops be able to profit from selling weed?

Ald. Andre Vasquez blocked a group of retired police from opening a dispensary after community pushback. “There’s just something fundamentally unfair and unjust about it.” For
@chicagotribune: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/r...

2

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · Aug 25

Should local TikTok personality Jroy be held accountable for a string of shootings that took place near his West Side street party in Chicago?

We unpack the debate.

thetriibe.com/2025/08/ther...

There’s a deeper conversation to be had about Club Jroy • The TRiiBE

Should Jroy be held accountable for a string of shootings that took place near a large street party he hosted on Chicago’s West Side?

thetriibe.com

3 2

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · Aug 24

This story from @jake-sheridan.bsky.social unspools the controversy over a Northwest Side anti-gentrification ordinance. An interesting story about money, housing and public policy by our intrepid reporter.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/24/a...

Aldermen opting out of new tenant powers, but proponents defend anti-gentrification effort

An ordinance aims to slow gentrification by giving tenants buying power and discouraging development that decreases density, but a pair of aldermen are opting out.

www.chicagotribune.com

4 20

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Jun 12

This weekend, dozens of Chicago Tribune journalists will be on standby as huge protests promise to arise in our city.

At the same time, many of us will be organizing to fight buyouts. Our work is essential to democracy, and it's under attack. I'm grateful for my union today.

ctguild.bsky.social @ctguild.bsky.social · Jun 12

This is the official bsky account for the Chicago Tribune Guild. We learned today that @chicagotribune.com is offering buyouts to our journalists. This move by Alden Global Capital, our rapacious ownership group, shows a total lack of vision and respect for the newsroom and the city we serve. (1/5)

6

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Apr 24

Hey, please follow back so I can message -- Chicago Tribune guild leader hoping to discuss something.

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Apr 22

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blasts Rahm Emanuel today:

Donald Trump's "playbook" of government cuts is the same strategy Emanuel executed in Chicago with school closings & "neoliberalism," Johnson said.

“A tyrant in the White House. We got here because someone gave him the script." Watch⬇️

2 1 7

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · Apr 10

Yikes! 100 artists have drafted a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressing “deep concern” over alleged failures in his administration’s work for the arts community, ripping Dept. Head Clinée Hedspeth. By @jake-sheridan.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/10/a...

Artists rip Mayor Brandon Johnson’s arts commissioner, department ‘dysfunction’ in letter

The letter, posted to Instagram Wednesday as a petition people can sign, harshly criticizes Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth.

www.chicagotribune.com

1 4 25

Reposted by Jake Sheridan

Erika Slife @eslife.bsky.social · Dec 23

Charities across Chicago are experiencing the same inexplicable decline: A shortage in winter coats. Is it donation fatigue? B/c the city has weathered warm winters recently? A mix of both? “We really can’t put our finger on what it is,” said one advocate. “We’re significantly thousands behind.”

Charities across Chicago see huge shortage in coat donations as winter sets in: ‘We’re significantly thousands behind’

Nonprofits and community organizations that run winter coat drives say they are facing a serious shortage of donations this year as they try to help homeless and low-income Chicagoans weather the c…

www.chicagotribune.com

2 22 28

Jake Sheridan @jake-sheridan.bsky.social · Dec 22

With @adquig.bsky.social & @aliceyin.bsky.social, we take a look at the other problems Chicago must sort out — like a CPS budget & CTA financial cliff — the prospects of sustainable revenue in the future, potential of credit downgrades and more.

1