Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jake Wittich

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 7h

A federal judge in Chicago extended restrictions on ICE's warrantless arrests until February 2026, finding that the agency violated a settlement agreement by arresting 22 people without warrants.

Chicago judge cites South Shore raid, Supreme Court controversy while ruling against ICE

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings found that ICE arrested 22 people early this year without a warrant, and in violation of what’s known as the Castanon Nava settlement agreement.

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 8h

“This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?” @wttw.bsky.social

Donald Trump Says Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker ‘Should Be in Jail’

Trump’s comments, posted to his social media platform, came a day after 200 Texas National Guard troops under the command of federal officials arrived at a military facility near Joliet over the vehem...

news.wttw.com

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

News is Out @newsisout.bsky.social · 8h

📣 Celebrate over 100 years of LGBTQ+ media! 🏳️‍🌈 Join us for the 2nd annual Local LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day on Oct. 8, 2025, during #LGBTQHistoryMonth. Support queer journalism with one tax-deductible donation: givebutter.com/LGBTQequityf.... Let’s keep our stories alive! #LGBTQMediaDay

LGBTQ+ Local Journalism Fund

By Local Media Foundation

givebutter.com

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 9h

Chicago Ald. Gregory Mitchell oversees the 7th Ward, which is home to the South Shore apartment building at the center of last week’s ICE raid.

He didn’t sign the letter.

Mitchell has not yet publicly issued a statement on the raid.

thetriibe.com/2025/10/so-a...

So, about that letter of support for Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes: 13 alderpeople didn’t sign it • The TRiiBE

The letter describes what the agents did to Fuentes as an “abuse of power.” Mayor Brandon Johnson, City Clerk, Anna Valencia and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin also signed it.

thetriibe.com

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Jim Daley @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social · 8h

Damn right.

And the strong reporting hasn’t come only from legacy outlets such as the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune but also from newer independent media such as Block Club Chicago, the TRiiBE, Borderless, Unraveled, and South Side Weekly.

There is nothing like being there and seeing things with your own eyes, which is why local journalism is so important.

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

What's happening in Chicago is not normal.

The arrest of Alderperson Fuentes is just the latest example of how far Noem and Bovino are willing to go to ignore the rule of law. We must all speak up.

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Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 23h

Open House Chicago will include tours of the Center on Halsted and the Gerber/Hart Library & Archives, offering visitors a chance to learn more about Chicago's LGBTQ+ community and history.

Read more on @windycitytimes.com.

Open House Chicago to feature Center on Halsted, Gerber/Hart for first time - Windy City Times

Open House Chicago is offering a look inside two of Chicago’s major LGBTQ+ organizations this year, giving participants a chance to learn more about the city’s queer community and history. The Gerber/...

windycitytimes.com

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Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 1d

I'm so grateful to my cohort (special shoutout to Erin Orr of Investigate Midwest, who I tied with for third)!

And big congrats to the winning teams at Borderless Magazine and the Investigative Project on Race & Equity!

The program may be over, but my journalism fundraising journey starts here!

Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 1d

The program culminated in our big Pitch Day last month, and I'm proud to share that I placed third! 🎉

This comes with a $2,500 grant from the Google News Initiative to support WCT's work expanding BLACKlines, En La Vida and our social media presence.

Announcing “Pitch Day” winners from the Illinois cohort of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding

Local news outlets in 2025 understand they must “make the case” for the value of their journalism and earn their community’s support every day through their work. Traditional and new types of revenue ...

localmedia.org

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Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 1d

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Local Media Association's Lab for Journalism Funding cohort on behalf of @windycitytimes.com.

Over several months I joined 10 other Illinois newsrooms in learning how to make the case for supporting local news.

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 2d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
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Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere @tylerplariviere.bsky.social · 2d

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something bitch’ before shooting

chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorn...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2d

Illinois and Chicago filed suit against Trump while I was in court.

Complaint below.

Here is the TRO motion: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

And legal arguments: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

A hearing before Judge April Perry, a Biden appointee, is set for 2p CT.

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Illinois has filed suit to block Trump's deployment of the military to Chicago.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: I'm listening in on a second new lawsuit out of Illinois today, addressing First Amendment freedoms surrounding protests, including press and religious claims.

Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee, is hearing the TRO motion and has found the plaintiffs, for TRO purposes, have standing.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB, BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO, CHICAGO NEWSPAPER GUILD LOCAL 34071, NABET-CWA LOCAL 54041, ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION, RAVEN GEARY, CHARLES THRUSH, STEPHEN HELD, DAVID BLACK, WILLIAM PAULSON, AUTUMN REIDY-HAMER, and LEIGH KUNKEL, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
V.
KRISTI NOEM, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); TODD LYONS,
Acting Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); MARCOS CHARLES,
Acting Executive Associate Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE;
RUSSELL HOTT, Chicago Field Office
Director, ICE; RODNEY S. SCOTT,
Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); GREGORY BOVINO, Chief Border Patrol Agent, CBP; DANIEL
DRISCOLL, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF);
WILLIAM K. MARSHALL III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General of the United States;
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; UNIDENTIFIED FEDERAL OFFICER DEFENDANTS; UNIDENTIFIED FEDERAL AGENCY DEFENDANTS; and
DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States,
No. 25-cv-12173
PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT FOR INJUCTIVE AND DECLARATORY RELIEF

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

WBEZ @wbez.org · 2d

Illinois and Chicago sued President Donald Trump Monday to prevent the deployment of National Guard troops here from any state, setting up one of the biggest legal clashes yet between the Republican president and Illinois’ Democratic leaders. trib.al/fZMI7jK

Illinois sues Trump over National Guard deployment

The lawsuit comes hours after a federal judge in Oregon barred Trump from deploying federalized members of any National Guard troops under Trump's command to Oregon.

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

South Side Weekly @southsideweekly.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: In the weeks leading up to a massive ICE raid at a South Shore apartment building, neighbors saw drones surveilling the area, and teachers at a nearby school regularly saw agents in the neighborhood.

✍️ Jose Abonce for the Weekly and Maira Khwaja for @invisible.institute

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

News is Out @newsisout.bsky.social · 2d

It’s here! 🏳️‍🌈

Local LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day is Oct. 8—this week!

Support queer journalism that keeps our communities informed
and visible: givebutter.com/LGBTQequityf...
#LGBTQMediaDay #LGBTQHistoryMonth

On Oct. 8, 2025, join the 2nd annual
Local LGBTQ+ Media Giving Day during LGBTQ+ History Month.

Your tax-deductible donation supports Bay Area Reporter,
Buckeye Flame, Dallas Voice, Lookout PHX, Los Angeles Blade, Out SFL, Philadelphia Gay News, Tagg Magazine, Washington Blade,
Windy City Times and News Is Out.

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Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 3d

I bought a new cozy game that’s been keeping me sane the last few days.

Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge sees you developing your own wetlands into a refuge for endangered frogs.

It mixes decorating with collecting, farming and breeding mechanics—and the art style is adorable, too!

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

WBEZ @wbez.org · 4d

The Trump administration has given Gov. JB Pritzker an ultimatum: deploy 300 Illinois National Guard members or the federal government will federalize them. Pritzker called it "outrageous and un-American."

Trump seeks to call up 300 Illinois National Guard troops, Pritzker says

The request to the Illinois National Guard comes after Pritzker said earlier this week the Department of Homeland Security requested deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois “for the protection of ICE personnel and facilities.”

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Reposted by Jake Wittich

Cymbalta Zaddy @geraldfarinas.bsky.social · 3d

It's official. Trump is sending the troops. LGBTQ migrants left vulnerable as #NationalGuard is federalized to help #ICEraids

@gopride.com shares tips from @aclu.org

LGBTQ migrants left vulnerable as Trump orders National Guard troops to Chicago

LGBTQ immigrants in Chicago feel vulnerable as President Donald Trump federalizes Illinois National Guard troops. They fear being deported to countries with horrible human rights records against LGBTQ...

chicago.gopride.com

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Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 4d

Same! I wanna wear my sweaters and hoodies!! 😭

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Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 4d

A video shared by Fuentes’ office shows the alderperson in the emergency room asking agents if they have a signed warrant and telling them the man has constitutional rights.

“No,” responded one of the two agents in the video.