Dan Mihalopoulos
@dmihalopoulos.bsky.social
Investigative Reporter at WBEZ - Chicago Public Media
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
November 28, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
96% chance of 6+ inches of ❄️ in Chicago this weekend …
A significant winter storm is likely to impact portions of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes beginning Friday through this weekend, which will impact post-Thanksgiving travel.
November 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
96% chance of 6+ inches of ❄️ in Chicago this weekend …
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
On Tuesday, three photojournalists were hit by police munitions while covering a federal immigration arrest that drew hundreds of protesters to St. Paul’s East Side.
They believe police targeted them for doing their jobs.
They believe police targeted them for doing their jobs.
St. Paul Police use of force during ICE protests raises press freedom concerns
Three photojournalists hit by police munitions while covering an ICE protest Tuesday believe they were targeted by police while doing their jobs.
www.mprnews.org
November 27, 2025 at 1:45 AM
On Tuesday, three photojournalists were hit by police munitions while covering a federal immigration arrest that drew hundreds of protesters to St. Paul’s East Side.
They believe police targeted them for doing their jobs.
They believe police targeted them for doing their jobs.
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
In issuing her opinion in CHC v. Noem, Judge Ellis wanted all the evidence she relied upon to be publicly available. As of now, ALL the bodycam videos from the case have been unsealed and posted for download. You can find links to the videos—along with other case filings—here under "Exhibits":
CHC v. Noem
Protesters, reporters, and clergy allege DHS federal agents under Operation Midway Blitz are violating their 1st Amendment rights.
www.loevy.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
In issuing her opinion in CHC v. Noem, Judge Ellis wanted all the evidence she relied upon to be publicly available. As of now, ALL the bodycam videos from the case have been unsealed and posted for download. You can find links to the videos—along with other case filings—here under "Exhibits":
And we’re off 🦃🍗🙏
November 27, 2025 at 5:55 PM
And we’re off 🦃🍗🙏
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
A pair of snowy owls, the latest celebrity visitors to the beach and pier near Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, have drawn hundreds for a glimpse at the Arctic birds of prey.
Bird watchers perch at Montrose Beach as snowy owls make early Chicago appearance
www.wbez.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:46 AM
A pair of snowy owls, the latest celebrity visitors to the beach and pier near Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, have drawn hundreds for a glimpse at the Arctic birds of prey.
Tis the season for Thanksgiving Eve/Blackout Wednesday bad news dumps
Northwestern University is expected to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education that would reportedly restore $790 million in frozen federal funding and end an investigation into antisemitism at the university.
Northwestern University nearing deal with Trump administration that would restore federal funding
www.wbez.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Tis the season for Thanksgiving Eve/Blackout Wednesday bad news dumps
$75 million!!! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:12 AM
$75 million!!! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Financially floundering charter operator gets a payday cash advance from CPS — but far less than the $5.1M bailout it’s been seeking chicago.suntimes.com/education/20...
CPS to help Aspira make payroll, but charter operator’s financial woes remain
The longtime charter network will still need help from CPS to ensure its schools can remain open through the end of the academic year in June.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Financially floundering charter operator gets a payday cash advance from CPS — but far less than the $5.1M bailout it’s been seeking chicago.suntimes.com/education/20...
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has been briefed and actively monitoring the situation. n.pr/4ood40q
Two National Guard members shot in D.C., suspect is in custody, authorities say
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has been briefed and actively monitoring the situation.
n.pr
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has been briefed and actively monitoring the situation. n.pr/4ood40q
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
The historic Georgia election interference case against President Trump and allies for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election is no more. n.pr/4ol3cED
The Georgia election interference case against Trump and others has been dropped
The historic Georgia election interference case against President Trump and allies for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election is no more.
n.pr
November 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The historic Georgia election interference case against President Trump and allies for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election is no more. n.pr/4ol3cED
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
NEW: An MPR News journalist was among those hit by less-lethal munitions and taken from the scene by ambulance. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Another federal agent operation in St. Paul draws large crowds of protesters
Gov. Tim Walz said state officials were monitoring a “chaotic” situation “and working to understand what unfolded. We received no heads up from federal authorities on this operation.”
www.mprnews.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
NEW: An MPR News journalist was among those hit by less-lethal munitions and taken from the scene by ambulance. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's cases against James Comey and Letitia James, saying the prosecutor who led them was unlawfully appointed. Here's what to know about her. n.pr/4pw4Kwo
The case against Comey failed because of Trump's prosecutor. Who is she?
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's cases against James Comey and Letitia James, saying the prosecutor who led them was unlawfully appointed. Here's what to know about her.
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's cases against James Comey and Letitia James, saying the prosecutor who led them was unlawfully appointed. Here's what to know about her. n.pr/4pw4Kwo
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad ██████ redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Strengthen the Freedom of Information Act
Defending press freedom for the next generation
freedom.press
November 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad ██████ redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Comey: "I'm grateful the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence & incompetence... I was inspired by the career people who refused to be part of this travesty. It cost some of them their jobs, but it preserved their integrity, which is beyond price"
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Comey: "I'm grateful the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence & incompetence... I was inspired by the career people who refused to be part of this travesty. It cost some of them their jobs, but it preserved their integrity, which is beyond price"
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
NEWS: The criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James are gone. A federal judge ruled that the appointment of Lindsey Halligan as the lead prosecutor was illegal.
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
NEWS: The criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James are gone. A federal judge ruled that the appointment of Lindsey Halligan as the lead prosecutor was illegal.
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Update: The Pentagon says it's opening an investigation into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly in the wake of a video of Democratic lawmakers urging servicemembers not to comply with "illegal orders."
Pentagon investigates Democratic senator for telling troops to refuse 'illegal orders'
The Pentagon says it's opening an investigation into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly in the wake of a video of Democratic lawmakers urging servicemembers not to comply with "illegal orders."
n.pr
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Update: The Pentagon says it's opening an investigation into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly in the wake of a video of Democratic lawmakers urging servicemembers not to comply with "illegal orders."
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Received a front page in today's Chicago Sun-Times on our story on the Feds dropping charges on the woman shot by a Boarder Patrol agent in Brighton Park in early October. Be sure to get a copy if you can today!
November 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Received a front page in today's Chicago Sun-Times on our story on the Feds dropping charges on the woman shot by a Boarder Patrol agent in Brighton Park in early October. Be sure to get a copy if you can today!
This will be welcomed by the Kremlin — and reviled in Kyiv and Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
White House pushes new 28-point peace plan with concessions Ukraine previously rejected
PBS News obtained the 28-point plan drafted by the Trump administration to try to end the war in Ukraine. The document is at the center of a pivotal diplomatic visit to Kyiv by Army Secretary Dan Dris...
www.pbs.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
This will be welcomed by the Kremlin — and reviled in Kyiv and Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
BREAKING: If didn’t appeal your property taxes the first time you had a chance, they’re reopening townships that were already closed to appeals this year.
So you get another chance to file an appeal to the Cook County Board of Review, which cites the “unprecedented circumstances”
So you get another chance to file an appeal to the Cook County Board of Review, which cites the “unprecedented circumstances”
November 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
BREAKING: If didn’t appeal your property taxes the first time you had a chance, they’re reopening townships that were already closed to appeals this year.
So you get another chance to file an appeal to the Cook County Board of Review, which cites the “unprecedented circumstances”
So you get another chance to file an appeal to the Cook County Board of Review, which cites the “unprecedented circumstances”
BREAKING: Sean Morrison - the only Republican on the Cook County board - announces he will NOT seek another term in ‘26
November 20, 2025 at 10:53 PM
BREAKING: Sean Morrison - the only Republican on the Cook County board - announces he will NOT seek another term in ‘26
Early Thanksgiving gratitude for all anonymous news tipsters — even those who cannot spell my name correctly (but close enough it ended up on my desk)
November 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Early Thanksgiving gratitude for all anonymous news tipsters — even those who cannot spell my name correctly (but close enough it ended up on my desk)
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
For those keeping track:
The government pursued charges against five people arrested outside the ICE facility in Broadview, IL during a protest there on Sept. 27.
As of today, all five of those cases have now been thrown out.
The government pursued charges against five people arrested outside the ICE facility in Broadview, IL during a protest there on Sept. 27.
As of today, all five of those cases have now been thrown out.
"Mr. Briggs, you're free to go. This case is dismissed," Fuentes says, banging his gavel.
And that's that, Fuentes off the bench.
And that's that, Fuentes off the bench.
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
For those keeping track:
The government pursued charges against five people arrested outside the ICE facility in Broadview, IL during a protest there on Sept. 27.
As of today, all five of those cases have now been thrown out.
The government pursued charges against five people arrested outside the ICE facility in Broadview, IL during a protest there on Sept. 27.
As of today, all five of those cases have now been thrown out.
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
They trusted DHS when they filed the charges. As the AUSA’s learn the facts, they’re dropping the cases.
DHS may not care that much because they were most concerned about the initial publicity.
DHS may not care that much because they were most concerned about the initial publicity.
November 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
They trusted DHS when they filed the charges. As the AUSA’s learn the facts, they’re dropping the cases.
DHS may not care that much because they were most concerned about the initial publicity.
DHS may not care that much because they were most concerned about the initial publicity.
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:30 AM
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.