Gregory Pratt

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks ‘democracy zones’ outside polls to stop Trump interference The mayor’s plan says “No area within a Democracy Zone may be used for civil immigration enforcement activity.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks ‘democracy zones’ outside polls to stop Trump interference. Some aldermen wonder whether this is just drawing unnecessary attention to Chicago. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/10/m...

Feds violated immigration court order, wrongly deported hundreds, court filing alleges Attorneys say hundreds, if not thousands, of people arrested in the Chicago area could have ultimately been found eligible for release.

The federal government knew it wrongfully arrested Henry Cordova Jaya. They violated a court order for arrests, said they were seeking his release, and nevertheless sent him to Ecuador. Our story about Homeland Security using time and jail to abuse rights
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/c...

Should Chicago school board members be paid? Legislators weigh compensation ahead of historic election A new bill in the Illinois House would pave the way for school board members to receive compensation.

Illinois legislators created a school board in the form of a legislature for Chicago. Like every other school board in the state, it’s an unsalaried position. Now the politicians want to get paid. Kate Armanini with a look at the issue
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/s...

Illinois orders 21 communities to remove forever chemicals from drinking water by 2029. But who will pay? Many towns cannot afford the millions of dollars needed to upgrade their water systems. That means ratepayers could end up footing the bill.

Illinois orders 21 communities to remove forever chemicals from drinking water by 2029. But who will pay?
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/08/i...

Gregory Bovino tweeted a Tribune story about an appellate court ruling dozens of times today in response to critics and trolls. Still won’t give us an interview.

Punching, Slamming, Screaming: A Chef’s Past Abuse Haunts Noma, the World’s Top-Rated Restaurant

The head chef at Noma regularly hit his employees and engaged in ritual humiliation. Jaw dropping story. I assumed the guy is a major prick. I was not prepared for how bad it would be.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/d...

Tiny, raucous monk parakeets from South America thrive in Chicago. But why? Likely escapees of the exotic pet trade, the birds first put down roots in some south suburbs in the 1960s and Hyde Park in the 1970s.

Tiny, raucous monk parakeets from South America thrive in Chicago. @adrianaperez.bsky.social explains why www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/02/m...

City of Chicago 2026 Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

An unscientific poll gauging Paul Vallas for school board president is out. It has no filter so anyone can take it.
www.research.net/r/6667FX5?v=...

Tomorrow’s front page @chicagotribune.com

It’s election season, when folks who have no clout outside their own community bust out with long endorsement lists for every competitive race in 100 miles because they like to share photos of themselves smiling and feeling important (then there’s the post election snub season)

Cook County prosecutors dismiss 21 cases against ICE protesters, including suburban moms arrested in sit-in Cook County prosecutors dismissed 21 cases that were filed against protesters at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Broadview.

NEWS: Cook County prosecutors dismiss 21 cases against ICE protesters, including suburban moms arrested in sit-in. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/c...

COVERT or UNDERCOVER but not COVER

Chicago’s Law Department refused to give records to the inspector general but turned them over instead to a cover FOIA from the IG. Mayor Johnson’s City Hall caught playing games with IG Deborah Witzburg — or a breakdown in competence on this matter.
igchicago.org/publications...

🔔 TODAY: Government officials are citing journalism as "doxxing" to threaten press freedom.

Join our webinar with @telliotter.bsky.social, @royalpratt.bsky.social, @sovernnation.bsky.social, and @charlie4change.bsky.social to learn more.

🕑 2 pm ET

RSVP: freedom.press/journalism-isnt-doxxing

Trial over Abbott Laboratories’ formula for premature babies set to begin in Cook County this week The latest chapter in an ongoing legal battle between Abbott Laboratories and parents of babies born prematurely is set to play out in a Chicago courtroom this week.

The latest chapter in an ongoing legal battle between Abbott Laboratories and parents of babies born prematurely is set to play out in a Chicago courtroom this week.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem declines to address Marimar Martinez, tells Senate panel she’s ‘not familiar’ with her shooting With Marimar Martinez standing directly behind her, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington on Tuesday that she was not &…

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington on Tuesday that she was not “familiar with the details” of her agents shooting American citizen Marimar Martinez in Chicago. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/03/d...

lol

Column: ‘Sirens in the Loop’ book give us City News Bureau in all its raucous glory “Sirens in the Loop: A History of the City News Bureau of Chicago,” is not at all a textbook, but rather an intimate look at a time long gone.

“Sirens in the Loop” book gives us City News Bureau in all its raucous glory. A great story by must-read Rick Kogan www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/03/s...

Trump Administration abandons efforts to impose orders on law firms The Trump administration on Monday abandoned its attempts to impose potentially crippling executive orders against law firms that refused to capitulate to the president, walking away from its appea…

Four big law firms - Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Chicago’s Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey — fought Trump orders aimed at dominating their legal practices. Nine big firms struck deals. The four firms won.
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/02/t...

Chicago sees exodus of immigration judges during Trump’s second term Of the 21 judges who worked at the city’s immigration court in January 2025, nine judges have resigned, taken buyouts or been terminated, a Tribune review found.

Chicago sees exodus of immigration judges during Trump’s second term. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/02/c...

“So when we release the autopsy result, specifically the one where the shot to the head was to the side and it exited her right side, let the people make their own decision where Jonathan Ross was when he pulled the trigger,” Romanucci said.

Renee Good’s lawyer is fighting ICE. He learned civil rights law litigating against Chicago police. “Litigating against the city of Chicago is probably one of the greatest schools of learning you could go to,” Antonio Romanucci said.

Renee Good’s lawyer is fighting ICE. He learned civil rights law litigating against Chicago police. Here is our profile of Antonio Romanucci, an Italian-American success story who rose from workers comp cases to one of the country’s most prominent lawyers
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/01/a...

We need to figure out something better for Millennium Park than janky tents and mall cops clogging up the entrance and exits.

Ex-Illinois inmate’s lawsuit over forced labor induction tests Gov. JB Pritzker on reproductive rights Illinois has positioned itself as a national safeguard for reproductive rights. But a new case raises questions about how those principles are applied behind state prison walls.

Ex-Illinois inmate’s lawsuit over forced labor induction tests Gov. JB Pritzker on reproductive rights. A very interesting story from @jeremygorner.bsky.social @angieleventis.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/28/i...

I like to distract myself from the terrifying political news by reading the ridiculous political news.

Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes provides apology letter to Berwyn woman he allegedly pepper-sprayed Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes wrote an apology letter to Marla Rose, who he was accused of pepper-spraying in 2024 as she attempted to ring the doorbell of his west suburban home.

Nick Fuentes provides apology letter to Berwyn woman he allegedly pepper-sprayed. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/n...

WWE Returns To United Center After 32-Year Hiatus Saturday’s Elimination Chamber event marks World Wrestling Entertainment’s first major show in Chicago since 1994, one the city’s tourism arm hopes is the start of a “long-term relationship.”

WWE Returns To United Center After 32-Year Hiatus. An interesting read from Mr. @smontemayor.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/w...

Something I think about a lot is @royalpratt.bsky.social saying how covering Operation Midway Blitz was covering a neighborhood story and an international story at the same time. This team, and frankly all our Chicago journalists, did such an incredible job informing our neighbors and the world.

The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune Win 2026 Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting The Washington Post won the 2026 Toner Prize for national political reporting. The Chicago Tribune won for local political reporting. Ceremony set for March 23 in Washington, D.C.

Proud to be sharing this award with my fantastic colleagues @royalpratt.bsky.social @andrew-carter.bsky.social @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social @ckubzansky.bsky.social
Thanks @newhousesu.bsky.social
and to the entire Tribune newsroom for its immigration coverage
newhouse.syracuse.edu/news/the-was...

Reporters call me for help with their FOIA fights because they like to hear me get mad and use a lot of swear words. And I’m always happy to deliver.