Author | Lightnews

Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, Who Fired Tear Gas at Little Village Crowd, Set to Face Federal Judge

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · 6d

Solid play-by-play on Bovino's hearing today by @heathercherone.bsky.social

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 6d

Greetings from the Dirksen federal courthouse, where Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino is set to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis.
What you need to know, for @wttw.bsky.social:

U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis ordered Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino to appear in her courtroom at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

news.wttw.com

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · 6d

"Ellis told Bovino that she wanted to see him every day during the immigration operation so he could report to her on any incidents that occurred.

'Yes, ma’am,' Bovino said."
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...

📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order

“Kids dressed in Halloween costumes walking to a parade do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer,” U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino during a court hearing T...

Border Patrol Boss Bovino Tear-Gasses Chicago Crowd, Violating Judge’s Order, Lawyers Say

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Reposted by Crystal Paul

Jim Daley @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social · 10d

“Tricia McLaughlin said protesters “shot at agents” with fireworks and threw objects at agents [and] Agents...gave protesters multiple warnings.

The video of the incident does not show protesters throwing rocks or fireworks at agents, nor can agents be heard warning protesters.”

New video shows Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino tossing a tear gas canister toward people in Little Village Thursday. Attorneys in an ongoing lawsuit over force against peaceful protesters say Bovino ...

Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · 19d

News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information — classified or otherwise — that had not been approved by Hegseth for release.

apnews.com/article/pent...

Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs at the seat of U.S. military power.

apnews.com

Hundreds Of Lots Owned By 'City's Worst Landowner' Went Up For Sale. But Only A Fraction Have Sold

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · 19d

The latest on Chicago's "worst landowner" from Mina Bloom and @ctoner.bsky.social.

"Nobody wanted most of the properties... That leaves the city without the money it anticipated and homeowners still saddled with weed-strewn vacant lots."

blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/15/h...

Parcels that belonged to Suzie B. Wilson and her sister accumulated $15 million in city fines for rat-related violations. Hundreds are still sitting empty without any promise of redevelopment.

‘Granny Flats’ Poised For Expansion — But Only in Neighborhoods Where Alderpeople Allow Them

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Reposted by Crystal Paul

🎄Peter Nickeas 🎅🏻 @peternickeas.bsky.social · 20d

This CPD memo went out 1:53 p.m. today. Feds deployed gas, that we know of, on October 3 in Logan Square, October 4 in Brighton Park, October 12 in Albany Park, and October 14 (today) in East Side.

🎄Peter Nickeas 🎅🏻 @peternickeas.bsky.social · 20d

CPD memo to officers today: helmet and gas mask available and accessible at all times, to be read at 7 days of roll calls. (For officers assigned masks.) Supervisors to ensure compliance acc to the memo. #chicago

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 26

An interesting follow-up to our "Making it in Chicago" reporting on ADUs in Chicago.

After years of stalled progress, thousands more homeowners will be able to build coach houses...as long as their alderperson approves it

@alexnitkin.bsky.social reports.

illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...

The new law will allow more coach house construction and conversions but will likely create confusion and increase costs, advocates say.

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 18

"Whatever else we have going on in our newsroom, investigations have to be a priority." - Todd Eschman

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 18

Now: Todd Eschman, EIC at Belleville News Democrat (BND) in downstate IL on"Investigations from a small newsroom perspective"

BND had 67 journalists less than a decade ago. Today? 9.

"Enterprising journalism has to be baked into the culture of the newsroom."
illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 18

Now: Todd Eschman, EIC at Belleville News Democrat (BND) in downstate IL on"Investigations from a small newsroom perspective"

BND had 67 journalists less than a decade ago. Today? 9.

"Enterprising journalism has to be baked into the culture of the newsroom."
illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

Thinking of expanding your coverage to statewide audiences? Looking for partnerships with newsrooms in your community or even statewide? Interested in how news outlets around the Midwest are confronti...

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 18

Great insights at our "Investigate the State" virtual conference.

Right now: "How to cover Indian Country (and other communities) when there isn't any official data" with Mary Hudetz & Dianna Hunt

"I treat every investigation as a mini-beat." - @maryhudetz.bsky.social

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Reposted by Crystal Paul

Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 18

Our Investigate the State conference is up and running! If you didn't register, you can still sign up and join this free, virtual conference here: illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 17

Last chance to register! Come for one session or stay for the whole day.

We'll see you there!

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 16

Our *virtual* conference is this Thursday. Check out the program and come through for any sessions that interest you. See you soon!
illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

Investigate the State

Thinking of expanding your coverage to statewide audiences? Looking for partnerships with newsrooms in your community or even statewide? Interested in how news outlets around the Midwest are confronti...

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 16

Our *virtual* conference is this Thursday. Check out the program and come through for any sessions that interest you. See you soon!
illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

Investigate the State

Lawsuits Pile Up as Illinois Lags on Reforming Tax Sale Laws

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 12

In 2023, a Minnesota homeowner argued that the County violated her Fifth Amendment rights by taking her home and pocketing more than the $15,000 she owed in back taxes. Following the ruling, states rushed to reform their laws to avoid legal fallout.

All except Illinois.

(🖊️ Sidnee King Pineda)

Illinois Answers Project @illinoisanswers.bsky.social · Sep 11

NEW: Illinois is the only state that has yet to reform its tax sale laws after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/11/l...

Illinois is the only state yet to reform its law after the Supreme Court found unconstitutional a process that can cost homeowners their residences.

Thinking of expanding your coverage to statewide audiences? Looking for partnerships with newsrooms in your community or even statewide? Interested in how news outlets around the Midwest are confronti...

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 5

We're hosting a *virtual* conference for Midwest journalists interested in expanding investigative journalism resources in our region.

Come through! And share ideas with investigative journalists and news leaders throughout the Midwest.

Register here:
illinoisanswers.org/event/invest...

Investigate the State

‘Zombie Prisons’: How ICE Detention Is Raising Troubling Facilities From the Dead

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Sep 2

"Official government numbers don't always provide a complete picture of how many immigrants are in detention. But according to ICE, the number of detained immigrants jumped to more than 61,000 as of Aug. 24. And the new federal budget has allocated $45 billion for immigrant detention."

Shannon Heffernan @shannonheffernan.bsky.social · Sep 2

ICE wants more detention space and it’s faster to re-open old facilities to hold immigrants than to build new ones. Enter: ZOMBIE PRISONS

www.themarshallproject.org/2025/08/29/m...

ICE needs more detention space, and it’s faster to open old facilities than to build new ones.

www.themarshallproject.org

The Flashy Fugitives: Ex-Loretto Leader And Pal Accused Of Stealing Millions Are Living Large In Dubai

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Aug 7

ICYMI some dogged follow-up to the Loretto Hospital scandal from @bauerjournalism.bsky.social‬ blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/22/t...

Read the original investigation from Kelly Bauer and David Jackson here: illinoisanswers.org/2021/04/28/c...

Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail could face years in prison in the United States — but they’ve fled abroad, court records show. Suhail has opened a luxe plastic surgery clinic, while Ahmed is making appe...

Billions in Profits, Millions in Unpaid Claims: Medicaid Insurers Leave Illinois Providers Struggling, Patients Losing Care

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Aug 5

When providers care for Mediciad patients, managed care orgs (MCOs) are supposed to reimburse them in 30-90 days. Instead, they're delaying & denying them at rates as high as 60%.

Illinois providers say they have to drop Medicaid patients or go out of business
illinoisanswers.org/2025/08/05/m...

Clinics and hospitals are drowning in denied and delayed claims from Illinois Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). To cope, some have stopped accepting Medicaid altogether. Meanwhile, MCOs see increasing profits, but aren’t meeting quality metrics.

Chicago's All-Girls Baseball Team, Full Of Barrier-Breaking High School Stars, Heads To Nationals

Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Jul 21

“Size in baseball never mattered, and if that doesn’t matter, neither does gender. You don’t have to bench 400 pounds to hit a baseball,” Carlton Hondras said. “In the long run, I want them to be recognized as ballpayers, not just girls playing baseball.”

blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/18/c...

Perfect Catch Chicago is made up of girls playing on varsity high school boys’ baseball teams, with one already receiving a scholarship to play college ball.

'Granny flats' are illegal to build in most of Chicago —and political gridlock is keeping it that way.

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Crystal Paul @cplhouse.bsky.social · Jul 16

While you wait for the City Council vote on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) today, read up on how and why "granny flats" have been such a fraught issue in Chicago:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g... by @alexnitkin.bsky.social

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or "granny flats" are illegal to build in most of Chicago, but a pilot program allowing them in some areas showed promising results. City officials are divided over the...