Chicagoland’s Week In Review: Chicago news this week was defined by tragedy, legislation, and gridlock. Two people were killed and five injured in a Back of the Yards mass shooting. Illinois lawmakers passed a nearly $56 billion state budget with new digital taxes. And a bomb squad standoff shut down the Eisenhower Expressway for eight hours.

Image courtesy NBC Chicago

Chicago Top Headlines: Mass Shooting, Budget Passage, and Expressway Chaos

Chicago news this week hit hard across three fronts: deadly street violence, a massive state spending bill, and a highway shutdown that stopped the city in its tracks. Here is what every Chicagoan needs to know.


Back of the Yards Shooting Leaves Two Dead, Five Injured

A Community Under Fire

Early Friday morning, two armed men opened fire on a crowd near 51st and Wood Streets in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Two people were killed and five others wounded.

Chicago police responded immediately, but no arrests had been announced. The attack follows a string of mass violence events that continue to pressure city officials for urgent action.


Illinois Passes Nearly $56 Billion State Budget

New Taxes, New Debates

The Illinois General Assembly approved a $56 billion budget now heading to Governor JB Pritzker. The plan introduces new taxes on digital advertising and puts a pause on the state gas tax.

Supporters call it a balanced approach. Critics argue the digital ad tax puts an unfair burden on businesses still recovering post-pandemic.


Eisenhower Expressway Shut Down for Eight Hours

Commuter Chaos Near the Western Suburbs

The inbound I-290 Eisenhower Expressway came to a complete stop near the western suburbs after a bomb squad was called to assist with a death investigation. The closure lasted roughly eight hours and created severe morning commute delays.

Drivers were forced onto side streets with no warning, sending ripple effects across Chicago’s already strained transit network.


Summary

This week, Chicago news this week showed the city facing violence, fiscal decisions, and infrastructure disruption simultaneously. The Back of the Yards shooting demands accountability. The state budget will shape Illinois finances for years. And the I-290 shutdown exposed how quickly one incident can paralyze a metro area.

Visit Capitol News Illinois (capitolnewsillinois.com) for full legislative coverage of the Illinois $56 billion budget bill and digital ad tax breakdown.

Get more local news.

#ChicagoNews #IllinoisBudget #BackOfTheYards

Samuel E. Ortiz
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