Illinois Quick Hits: Violent Crime down, arrest rates up in Chicago
(The Center Square) – New research from the Illinois Policy Institute shows that violent crime declined in nearly 90% of Chicago’s neighborhoods last year.
The report also shows that 71% of the city’s communities reported higher arrest rates for violent crimes.
Following a national trend, the number of violent crimes being committed in Chicago hit a 10-year low in 2025, declining from a peak of nearly 30,000 in 2023 to 22,760 last year.
FUR FARM BILL
State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, has introduced legislation that would end the establishment of new fur farms in Illinois.
House Bill 4777 would also require existing fur farms to obtain a license from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources by Jan. 1. The Animal Welfare Institute says mink, foxes and other animals on fur farms incubate diseases such as SARS-CoV-2 and H5N1, creating conditions for new variants to jump to humans.
CTU LEADER ON LEAVE
According to a member bulletin from the Chicago Teachers Union, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates is on temporary medical leave.
The bulletin said union vice president Jackson Potter will temporarily lead CTU along with recording secretary Vicki Kurzdlo and financial secretary Diane Castro. Gates is also president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Illinois Quick Hits: Home insurance regulations approved by Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate passes bill to regulate auto insurance rates
Op-Ed: The FAA’s O’Hare decision is a win for travelers – and for competition
Bill to prevent fraud on elderly, disabled opposed by financial institutions
Legislative Committee Advances Resolution Opposing Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act
Illinois Quick Hits: Gas tops $5 a gallon
Commission Approves Massive Lake Michigan Water Infrastructure Project for Troy Township
Committee: Capital Improvements Committee Weighs $300 Million Options for Downtown Joliet Campus
State Legislative Update: Housing Mandates, Mega Projects, and Data Centers Prompt Local Control Concerns
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for May 5, 2026
Committee Advances Nearly $212,000 in Road and Facility Contracts for Jackson Township and Monee
Will County Committee Hits Brakes on License Plate Reader Agreements Awaiting Privacy Policy Review
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Capital Improvements & IT Committee for May 5, 2026
Green Garden Solar Project Cleared to Implement Higher “Agrivoltaic” Standards