Mary Ann Ahern

New crossing guard controversial cuts impacting CPS & ⁦@archchicago⁩ schools.

Days after Chicago’s chief financial officer said a property tax increase would “likely” be included in the 2026 budget proposal, Mayor Brandon Johnson backed away from the claim.  chicagobusiness.com/politics/brand…

I was laid off today by the Chicago Tribune as were several talented colleagues. I was able to report several dream stories during my year or so there, but partially, I had that freedom because “leadership” is completely absentee unless it affects their bottom line.

Today, @chicagotribune laid off five guild staff members in a roughly 10% cut to our newsroom. These layoffs underscore a sad but unsurprising failure of leadership by Alden Global Capital, our hedge fund owner, and local management.

An Illinois bill would bar police from wearing masks. Similar proposals have also been floated in CA, MA and NY. The push comes as ICE agents increasingly wear plain clothes, don masks and operate out of unmarked vehicles during immigration raids. pantagraph.com/news/state-reg…

BREAKING: Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announces he will not seek reelection in 2026

Suffice it to say, better letter than never….

scoop: Gannett is offering buyouts to its staff, per email just now from CEO Mike Reed. "...We need to adjust our organization to efficiently meet the needs of our business today...as we continue to use A.I. and leverage automation to realize efficiencies."

The latest from me @chicagotribune: how Chicago Public Schools’ budget deficit is already impacting families and community members, including families who have children with special needs and disabilities. So proud of this one. Read below/in print: chicagotribune.com/2025/07/24/cps…

Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, per @TMZ

Dupage County Chair race - new GOP candidate is Gary Grasso:

Six years ago to the day, @RayLong and I first reported that the feds were investigating Michael McClain and had raided his home in Quincy Today, McClain, the lobbyist/Madigan confidant at the center of the ComEd bribery scandal, finally faces sentencing: chicagotribune.com/2025/07/24/mic…

Meet the Chicago family who gifted ⁦@Pontifex⁩ with a Da Pope ⁦@ChicagoBears⁩ shirt Watch ⬇️ ⁦@nbcchicago⁩ nbcchicago.app.link/yW2HtpqDfVb

BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows Trump to remove three Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission. apnews.com/article/suprem…

Gov. Pritzker, asked by @oliviaolanderr whether he'll call state lawmakers back to Springfield this summer, says "at the moment, I don't see any reason why we would have a special session. Having said that... every day is different. We may have to deal with something sooner."

Exclusive: The Justice Department told President Trump in May that his name is among many in the Epstein files on.wsj.com/4mcTIKV

Northwestern's Jack Lausch has left the football team in order to focus on baseball. David Braun says SMU transfer Preston Stone will be QB1.

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami and some 25 Knights of Columbus saddled up their motorcycles to pray a rosary at the entrance of Alligator Alcatraz, the controversial migrant detention center recently opened in the Florida Everglades. americamagazine.org/politics-socie…

FIRST TO @NBCNews: This congressman wants to ban companies from using your search history to set personalized prices w/ @KyleAlexStewart nbcnews.com/politics/congr…

Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Thank you to @AlderwomanCruz, @Andrefor40th and @ald_nicolelee for joining me at the press conference last month and the majority of my colleagues who co-sponsored.