Citing this year’s record property tax hikes, the Cook County Board of Review is giving taxpayers another brief shot at knocking down their bills for next year.

Every Cook County township will reopen for appeals to property tax assessments, the county’s estimate of a home or business’ value, through Dec. 12.

Successful appeals won’t offer any immediate relief on the bills that just landed, however. Any savings would apply to next year’s second installment bills, which typically land in the summer. People who already appealed aren’t eligible.

Taxpayers will have through Dec. 22 to submit accompanying evidence. Filing is free. It can be completed online, in-person at the county building or at one of a series of upcoming Board of Review events. Homeowner appeals do not require an attorney.

The latest round of tax bills, due Dec. 15, doubled for many South and West side homeowners, but fell for big commercial Loop buildings. The bills’ arrival has fueled finger-pointing on the Chicago City Council and among county candidates who face primary voters in March.

All three commissioners on the board — two of whom are up for reelection — used a Thursday news conference to announce the additional appeal time to criticize Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who set the initial values of Chicago properties last year that ended up on this year’s bills.

Commissioner Larry Rogers, a Kaegi adversary, said the assessor should issue mass corrections — called certificates of error — for neighborhoods such as North Lawndale and Englewood that saw significant assessment hikes. Those neighborhoods are also the least likely to appeal, a recent study from the county treasurer showed.

“Fritz Kaegi, with the stroke of a pen, can correct those valuations” by issuing those certificates, Rogers said, pointing to prior adjustments Kaegi made to assessments during the pandemic and in floodplain areas.

Kaegi spokesman Christian Belanger pointed the finger back at the board, saying their downward adjustment to commercial properties were the reason areas such as North Lawndale and Englewood saw “unfair and unjust” bills. The floodplain and COVID-19 adjustments were made long before bills came out, not retroactively.

“Moreover, Illinois lacks a circuit breaker-type program to protect homeowners against sudden property tax spikes, which is why Assessor Kaegi has worked with legislators to file a bill in Springfield that would protect against these spikes,” the statement continued.

The assessor has so far failed to win approval of his circuit-breaker idea, which he hopes the state would fund. Kaegi’s office does plan to hold events on the South and West sides next week for taxpayers that believe there were errors such as incorrect square footage, property classifications or missing exemptions.

The time it will take to get through another appeals window might contribute to bill delays next year, officials acknowledged. But they argued the county’s upgrade with Tyler Technologies already set the property tax offices back “two or three” cycles. The next round of bills — equal to 55% of this year’s total — are slated to be due in April.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/cook-county-property-taxpayers-another-appeal/ 

Por JAMES ROBSON

MANCHESTER, Inglaterra (AP) — Manchester United desperdició la oportunidad de escalar al quinto lugar en la Liga Premier después de permitir que West Ham rescató el jueves el empate 1-1 en Old Trafford.

El gol del empate de Soungoutou Magassa a los 83 minutos estropeó un triunfo que hubiera dejado al United igualar en puntos a Chelsea, que ocupa el cuarto lugar. Diogo Dalot había adelantado al United a los 58.

Bruno Fernandes desperdició dos oportunidades para marcar el gol de la victoria en el tiempo añadido, pero remató desviado en ambas.

Fue otro tropiezo para el United: apenas una victoria en sus últimos cinco partidos, incluyendo tres empates.

A pesar de esa racha, el equipo de Ruben Amorim podría haberse acercado a los puestos de la Liga de Campeones con una victoria. Y eso parecía probable cuando Dalot dominó en el área un balón colgado desde lejos por Casemiro.

El defensor del United giró y definió potente disparo para batir al arquero Alphonse Areola.

Fue un partido con pocas oportunidades. West Ham insinuó poco. Noussair Mazraoui despejó en la línea el cabezazo de Jarrod Bowen tras un tiro de esquina.

Magassa reaccionó más rápido en el área y remató rasante al ángulo para desatar las celebraciones de los aficionados visitantes.

El resultado dejó al United en el octavo lugar y al West Ham en el 18

___

Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/man-united-desperdicia-oportunidad-de-subir-a-los-cinco-primeros-de-la-liga-premier/ 

The Problem With GDP

Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/04/2025 – 17:40

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/problem-gdp 

The Indiana House voted against more than a dozen Democratic amendments to the redistricting bill Thursday, which allowed the bill to advance, as is, for final approval by the House Friday.

House Bill 1032, authored by State Rep. Ben Smaltz, would allow the legislature to amend congressional districts “at a time other than the first regular session of the general assembly convening immediately following the United States decennial census.”

The bill also establishes new Indiana Congressional districts, and states that any challenges to the new maps will be heard by the state’s Supreme Court. The bill states that the current Congressional Districts won’t expire before Nov. 3, 2026.

In committee Tuesday, Smaltz, R-Auburn, said Indiana is taking up mid-census redistricting because of that action across the country, including Texas, California, Virginia and Missouri. The constitution allows for Congressional Districts to be drawn with political consideration in mind, he said.

“We have drawn these maps to create a Republican political advantage,” said Smaltz, R-Auburn.

House Democrats offered 15 amendments, all of which failed, during second reading Thursday. The amendments offered protection for minority voters, different approaches to redistricting, and addressed fiscal implications of the bill.

State Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, offered two amendments that would provide protections for minority voters: for the Legislative Services Agency to analyze the impact of the proposed maps on Black and Latino voters; and to analyze the proposed districts to ensure they comply with nondiscrimination statutes in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the U.S. Constitution.

“I do not support this redistricting process by any means, but if the majority insists on forcing new maps, the least we can do is require a district-by-district analysis to prevent discrimination,” Shackleford said. “The majority should at least verify that the maps do not violate the federal law or harm any minority communities.”

The bill “has been carefully crafted for political performance” and is consistent with state and federal laws, Smaltz said.

State Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, offered an amendment to request Congress pass a law that bans gerrymandering, which is when the party in charge draws Congressional maps in its favor.

Gore said he offered the amendment since House Republicans have stated the reason for mid-census redistricting is due to gerrymandering in other states.

“You don’t put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it,” Gore said.

Smaltz encouraged House members and the public to contact Congress to address gerrymandering.

State Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, offered an amendment that stated the bill won’t go into effect until improved metrics for utility costs, health care, and childcare are reached.

State Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, proposed an amendment that would’ve established a nonpartisan redistricting system where the Legislative Services Agency offers maps, which get edited by and voted on by the legislature.

This process is similar to the one used by Iowa, he said.

“It would be based on things other than political outcomes,” Pierce said.

State Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, said she supported Pierce’s amendment because it’s a fair way to address redistricting.

“We can send a signal to Congress that this is what’s best for our country. Let’s lead the way,” Hamilton said. “Let’s flip the script.”

While Iowa uses the process successfully, Smaltz said Virginia proves the process has flaws. Congress should make a uniform law to address redistricting, Smaltz said.

Two bills requesting either fiscal analysis or support to local municipalities after the congressional districts change were ruled out of order.

State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, offered an amendment to create a study to determine the cost of mid-decade redistricting, which failed.

“This week, Indiana Republicans have shown us that they don’t care what Hoosiers want, they don’t care about the process, and they don’t care about the cost if it means they get to retain power,” Harris said in a statement after the House session.

When the legislature last convened a two-week special session to pass a near-total abortion ban in 2022, it cost $240,151.

A few hours before gaveling in Monday, the House released its proposed map that splits the current First District, held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, into two, and the Seventh District, currently held by U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Indianapolis, into four sections.

The new map was drawn by a group that works with the National Republican Committee,  Smaltz said.

President Donald Trump and his administration has asked Republican-led states to undertake mid-census redistricting to maintain the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years after the release of census data. The Indiana constitution dictates that the legislature should take up redistricting every 10 years after census data is released.

In response to Trump’s request, Texas conducted mid-census redistricting to give Republicans five more seats, to which California responded with voter-approved mid-census redistricting to create five more seats.

In August, Vice President JD Vance met with state Republicans to discuss redistricting in Indiana. Ultimately, after more meetings and discussions with federal officials, Gov. Mike Braun called for a special session to address redistricting.

Both chambers of the Indiana legislature agreed to meet Dec. 1 to discuss redistricting. Ahead of Organization Day, Nov. 18, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, announced the Senate does not have the votes to pass new maps and canceled the Senate’s December session.

Officials with the Indiana House have maintained that they have the votes to pass new maps, and at the end of Organization Day House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, told his chamber to be prepared to come in December to address redistricting.

If the bill passes the House Friday, it will move forward for consideration by the Senate. After multiple swatting calls against Republican Senators, Bray said the Senate would meet Dec. 8 to consider any maps passed by the House.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/indiana-house-advances-redistricting-bill-to-friday-final-reading/ 

Aurora Christian School may be known for its athletic programs, but in November much of the excitement in the hallways centered around a nerdier display of strategy and competition.

For the past 11 years, ever since Jerry Baker arrived at Aurora Christian, this veteran government teacher has been conducting a mock Congress where, for two days, all seniors take on the role of our country’s leaders as they try to pass laws that, in the end, will help them better understand how our government works.

It is a “very big deal,” says Aurora Christian Principal Collette House, who has a front row seat at how much work – and passion – goes into the event recently held over two days at the school.

House, like many educators across the nation, is well aware how civics has been watered down in schools, with courses in government often shortened or folded into broader social studies classes that tend to focus on memorizing facts rather than critical thinking.

As a teacher for 38 years, and a self-professed patriot, Baker is among those who are concerned. Kids “have become like puppets,” who can read from a textbook and answer questions on a test, he told me,  “but don’t know how to apply” this knowledge to the real world.

That’s why his stint at Aurora Christian has always included an annual mock Congress for seniors, an event enthusiastically embraced by students along with their families who filled the 165-seat “gallery” in the school’s auditorium on Nov. 20 – and the following day – to watch this year’s “senators and U.S. representatives” determine what bills become laws and which ones get waylaid.

It’s a lot of tough work from the sounds of it. That’s especially true for the handful of students Baker chose as juniors last semester to assume Congress’ five leadership roles.

He began working with this group almost immediately. These students even met over the summer to get ready to “take on the reins of power,” as their teacher put it, so he could “back away and become just the scorekeeper.”

For Tessa Sepulveda, the role of Speaker of the House involved countless hours of preparation – in school and out of class. The project involves “a lot of moving parts,” she explained. And it called upon all her organizational abilities, as well as team-building skills she acquired over four years of playing volleyball.

Aurora Christian senior Tessa Sepulveda spent months of preparation to take on the role of Speaker of the House at the school’s mock Congress held recently. (Stacy McReynolds)

“It’s hard to work together when there are so many different beliefs,” Sepulveda told me. “But it can’t run unless the two sides are working together. Once we figured out how to do that, things moved more smoothly and it was more enjoyable.”

This year, after the 56 seniors were assigned roles, they were given three packets: one involved extensive research on their elected officials and the district he or she represented, the second focused on what bills they could sponsor and the final section was the creation of an election commercial or advertisement.

Aurora Christian senior Alexa Waweru plays U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters from California at the school’s mock Congress held recently. (Stacy McReynolds)

With at least a dozen pop quizzes under their belts, by the time the students put on this mock Congress, they had mastered the art of parliamentary procedure, said Baker. Just as critical, they knew how to reach across the aisle and convince their opponents their bill was worthy of their vote.

As Baker noted, “it didn’t take them long to realize how complicated getting a bill passed can be when compromise is essential.”

Making it even more challenging, he deliberately paired students with Republican backgrounds to Democratic figures, and vice versa. For example, James Wellington, who describes himself as “very conservative,” took on the role of Bernie Sanders, even using the iconic Vermont senator’s mannerisms and quotes as he argued for his bills, including one that got passed assuring funding for the Department of Education.

“I knew Bernie cared a lot about education,” Wellington said, adding that, because this issue “is not as radical, I knew I could make it something that could get passed.”

Like his conservative classmate, James Gibson knew he’d have to “be fair and not biased” when taking on the role of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster. While researching the Illinois Democratic congressman, Gibson soon realized that, despite their political differences, they were “also similar in many ways.”

And for the first time he learned “interesting” things about the man behind the political name: that Foster was a “scientist, successful businessman” and “family man of integrity” with “a good heart.”

“We all want a better America for our future,” Gibson said. “We just think differently.”

While Gibson’s bills, which included funding for clean energy, STEM education and SNAP benefits for children, did not pass because of procedural errors, the combination of “hard work” and a “passionate” teacher made this learning experience one he will never forget.

Having already made contact with Foster’s office, Gibson even hopes to meet the congressman one day in person.

Aurora Christian government teacher Jerry Baker, second from left, talks to some of his students during the recent mock Congress held at the school. (Stacy McReynolds)

Like his classmates, Jake Eissens, who played New Jersey’s Democratic U.S Rep. Frank Pallone but took on the role as the House minority leader, had been looking forward to this mock Congress since he was in grade school. And it did not disappoint, he told me, adding that the leadership skills he picked up as captain of the football team really “came through” in those two days of intense mental competition.

“As Mr. Baker explained it to us,” said Eissens, “it is like a chess match between the minority and majority parties, with plenty of playmaking going on.”

For Baker, who also requires his students over age 18 to register to vote, there are few things more important than preparing these “future voters and leaders of our country” to understand our system of government.

“I love doing this,” he insisted. “And when it is all over, I want them to be exposed to what Abraham Lincoln said: That our government is the last best hope of Earth.”

dcrosby@tribpub.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/column-aurora-christian-students-assume-political-roles-and-learn-what-it-takes-to-get-bills-passed-in-congress/ 

Just walking through the front doors of the Save-A-Pet Adoption Center and Shelter in the Grayslake area has a calming effect.

Since opening in 1995, the six-acre complex at 31664 N. Fairfield Road has provided safety and care to kittens and puppies, along with larger dogs and cats. The animals are special in that they have been abused, neglected, injured, lost or abandoned.

A rotating staff of 30 is complemented by a cadre of up to 150 volunteers in making sure the animals’ needs are met. The ultimate goal and mission is adoption and placement in a loving home.

“Save-A-Pet is very rewarding, and unlike any job I’ve ever had,” Tim Medeiros, the adoption center manager, said. “You feel like you’re making a difference each and every day.

“We give hope and a voice to these animals who may have been forgotten or abandoned,” he said. “It’s amazing to watch them heal, trust again, and find forever homes.”

The non-profit organization, started in 1972, moved from Palatine to unincorporated Lake County, where half of its property is outside space. The open farm fields beyond the fences add to the enclosed free-roaming dog park atmosphere, with attached socialization pens.

Joker enjoys trying to climb a rope in the kitten room, a favorite pastime, while awaiting adoption. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Save-A-Pet’s $2.7 million annual budget is funded largely through donations, along with grant monies obtained through a contracted grant writer. The money helps fund veterinarians and medical necessities, plus more than 500 lbs. of dry and wet food every month.

It is one of the largest “no-kill” shelters in Lake County, meaning euthanasia is not an option.

The animals often have individual needs, like special diets and medicines. Volunteers engage with all the animals, especially kittens and puppies, so that there is constant reinforcement for a bond of unconditional love.

“To them, the need is great, and they’re also appreciative for anything you do,” said Debbie Vecchio, a 14-year volunteer. “What keeps bringing me back is watching the animals go to a home, seeing them interact with their adopters, and sometimes there’s a celebration.

The exterior of Save-A-Pet’s building. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

“I do the laundry,” she said. “I love doing laundry.”

Kathleen Austin has worked with the feline guests for two years. “I’ve had cats in my life, almost my entire life,” she said.

“We had three of them that passed away, and began missing them,” Austin said. “I started volunteering here and actually met the cat that we now have at home. I just love interacting with the kittens, and you see so many different personalities.”

Austin said adopting from the shelter is an “occupational hazard” for the volunteers. A majority of the staff members have adopted from Save-A-Pet, after bonding with a particular dog or cat, she said.

A puppy named Pink Floyd enjoys chew toys inside the interaction room. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Adoption is done through a questionnaire, and trained intake counselors aid in the process. A three-station desk in the lobby handles phone calls and walk-ins.

“Save-A-Pet is unique in that we welcome animals who need extra care, as well as those who are easily adoptable,” Kerry Kuczynski, the organization’s marketing and IT manager, said. “We believe every dog and cat deserves the best chance to find their forever family, no matter what.

“Our team is dedicated to giving each animal the support, comfort, and compassion they need to thrive,” she said. “Eventually, it’s connecting with the loving home they deserve.”

For more information, go to: http://www.saveapetil.org.

Volunteer Kathleen Austin keeps two kittens playfully engaged with colorful twirling ropes while socializing and interacting with them. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/save-a-pet-no-kill-shelter/ 

The Chicago Board of Education approved a historic $17.5 million settlement Wednesday over the sexual abuse of a student by a former Little Village high school dean.

The settlement is believed to be the largest school-related sexual abuse settlement in state history, according to the former student’s legal team.

Brian Crowder, who was sentenced in August to 22 years in prison, was found guilty of coercing the former female student into a sexual relationship when she was 15 years old.

“Our client demonstrated tremendous bravery in coming forward in the first place to tell her story, then testifying at Crowder’s criminal trial to ensure his conviction, and taking this lawsuit the distance to trial to see that full justice was done,” Bryce Hensley, founding partner at Gould Grieco & Hensley, the firm that represented her, said in an emailed statement to the Tribune. “We are incredibly proud of her and the difference that she has made for herself, her family, the hundreds of thousands of students currently in CPS, and the millions that will walk their halls in the future.”

The firm added: “This case was about sending a message that children and their safety must always be the Board of Education’s number one priority and when they are not, there is a steep price to pay.”

The yearslong sexual abuse, which occurred from 2013 to 2016, resulted in two pregnancies that he pressured her to abort, according to the suit. The former student testified in court earlier this year that communication between them began when Crowder approached her in the lunchroom and asked for her social media username. Crowder was convicted in July.

The sexual abuse was made public in 2024, after the former student sued the district for not protecting her during her years at the school. In the lawsuit, it was stated that a teacher failed to report the sexual assault under Illinois state law.

The district denied wrongdoing in the matter, and in a statement to the Tribune it said that they “recognize the seriousness of the allegations in this matter and the impact the student has reported experiencing. After careful consideration, the District chose to resolve this case through a settlement in order to avoid the uncertainty, cost, and emotional toll of a trial for all involved.”

The district’s approach to handling sexual abuse cases over the years has faced considerable scrutiny, culminating in the Chicago Tribune’s “Betrayed” investigative series in 2018.

The settlement came as two CPS investigatory bodies provided updates on sexual misconduct cases to the board. The district’s Office of the Inspector General, which focuses on allegations against CPS-affiliated adults, said there were 246 cases during the 2025 fiscal year, down from 463 in the year prior. The OIG also closed 336 cases.

“That was a strong effort on our part to reduce our case volume, and make a larger dent into our backlog of cases,” Inspector General Phil Wagenknecht said at the board’s agenda review committee meeting.

The Office of Student Protections and Title IX, or OSP — which investigates sexual misconduct between students and civil rights discrimination — saw a 9% decrease in reports received but a 6% increase in cases opened compared with last school year. Overall, the office received 12,043 reports and is investigating about a third of them. About 57% of cases occurred from the fifth through the ninth grade.

Sexual misconduct is the most frequent type of harm addressed by OSP, representing roughly half of total cases.  OSP Chief Elizabeth Mendoza Browne noted that there was a 70% increase in dating violence from the year prior.

“This is something that our team is looking into,” Mendoza Browne said. “We’re looking for partner organizations to help us conduct intensive workshops with students who are engaged in this behavior.”

Roughly 42.5% of OSP complainants identify as Hispanic, and 42% identify as Black. That means Black students are overrepresented, as are those with disabilities, who make up 35% of complainants.

“I’m blown away. Just kind of shocked by both presentations, in regards to the high number of complaints, the racial disparities in those complaints,” said board member Jitu Brown, District 5A. “I don’t know if this is absolutely true, just, it feels worse than a bad apple situation.”

Board member Ellen Rosenfeld, District 4B, also asked about the systemic patterns behind the data. “I appreciate the thorough report and your hard work,” Rosenfeld said of the presentations. “But it’s obviously not where we need it to be.”

Interim CEO Macquline King said she would follow-up with board members after the meeting to provide “a better understanding of what we understand with the numbers.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/cps-approves-historic-sex-abuse-settlement/ 

Four months ago, Nahshon Wright was a backup.

Last month, he was the best defensive player in the NFC.

The Chicago Bears cornerback on Thursday earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for November after recording three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in five games. He also had 19 tackles and six passes defended in the month.

During last week’s Black Friday win in Philadelphia, Wright flew in from the edge on the Eagles’ famed Tush Push play and ripped the ball out of quarterback Jalen Hurts’ hands. Wright then worked his way to the bottom of the pile and recovered the fumble too.

That takeaway proved to be a turning point in the 24-15 Bears victory. The Eagles had driven into the red zone with an opportunity to take the lead late in the third quarter. Instead, Wright stole the ball and the Bears offense drove down and scored to extend their lead to eight points.

“(Wright) did his job and then he saw an opportunity to go make a play and he went and did it,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “So that was really all him.”

Coming into training camp, Wright was buried way down the depth chart at cornerback. But the Bears have been injury-riddled all season at the position. Terell Smith suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon have missed big chunks of the season because of injuries, and lately Tyrique Stevenson has been out too.

All of those injuries have afforded Wright the opportunity to start 11 of 12 games this season — and he has made the most of his opportunity. He has five interceptions on the season, tied for second in the NFL.

“It means a lot just to be recognized around the league,” Wright said Thursday. “It definitely means a lot coming from the journey I’ve had.”

Wright is the first Bears player to win NFC Defensive Player of the Month since Robert Quinn in November 2021. He’s the first Bear to win any player of the month honor since kicker Cairo Santos was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in November 2023.

Rome Odunze still sidelined

The Bears remained without wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) and Stevenson (hip) during practice Thursday. Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder) and left guard Joe Thuney (rest) also sat out.

Running back Kyle Monangai (ankle), who was listed as “did not participate” in Wednesday’s estimated report, was a limited participant Thursday.

Also limited was linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), who is practicing this week for the first time in a month.

DJ Moore is Bears’ Man of the Year

Wide receiver DJ Moore is the Bears nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He will be one of 32 nominees for the leaguewide award given out before the Super Bowl. The award recognizes one player from each team who demonstrates a commitment to making a positive impact off the field.

Moore’s nonprofit, the Moore2Life Foundation, empowers inner-city youth through health, wellness, education and recreation to help create long-term socioeconomic change.

“Most of the things we do is with kids, so I just put myself back in their shoes,” the Philadelphia native said Thursday. “No matter the problems they have going on in their life, I just try to go out there and be a big kid, make them smile, laugh. Just give back.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/chicago-bears-nahshon-wright-player-of-month/ 

An attorney for the Trump administration claimed in court Thursday that the dismissal of a lawsuit over the use of force by immigration agents in Chicago would bar journalists and protestors from bringing similar claims of constitutional violations in the future.

In making her argument, Department of Justice attorney Elizabeth Hedges also told U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that, contrary to media reports, Operation Midway Blitz has not ended and that the administration continues to carry out “lawful” immigration enforcement — though she declined to say when or if another surge in Border Patrol agents would hit the city.

Hedge’s position was immediately called out by Ellis, who said it was an incorrect statement of the law to say a dismissal with prejudice would give agents “free reign to violate a protestors constitutional rights or the press’s constitutional rights ad infinitum.”

“And while it was the government’s position that no agent did anything illegal or unconstitutional, having watched those videos, and having read the reports, and having listened to the witnesses, I strongly disagree,” Ellis said.

The discussion came as Ellis took under consideration a request by the plaintiffs to dismiss the lawsuit that led to her landmark injunction last month limiting the use of tear gas and other chemical munitions against media and protestors and also requiring agents to wear body cameras and clear identification. Both sides have agreed on the dismissal but not on what the impact of that would be.

The abrupt request to drop the lawsuit this week followed ominous signs from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which granted an emergency stay of Ellis’ injunctive relief pending appeal and said her ruling was “overbroad” and a violation of the separation of powers.

Because the lawsuit involved a certified class of plaintiffs, Ellis did not rule on the dismissal Thursday. Instead, she set a deadline of Jan. 8 for any class members to object to it. If none come forward, the suit would be dismissed on that date.

The 7th Circuit, meanwhile, has stayed any action at the appellate level pending the dismissal.

In filing its motion to dismiss on Tuesday, lawyers representing a consortium of media outlets and other plaintiffs spun it as a victory, saying alleged constitutional violations by immigration agents had fallen off the table as Operation Midway Blitz wound down last month.

The litigation also shed light on how the operation was carried out, through sworn depositions by Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and other leaders as well as the release of body camera footage showing agents deploying tear gas, pointing guns from passing cars and tackling civilians on the street.

A federal agent points a gun out of a vehicle during an immigration enforcement action in the Little Village neighborhood on Nov. 8, 2025 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Lead plaintiffs’ attorney Steve Art said the litigation exposed the brutality behind the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and showed that its justifications for the use of force were “blatant lies.”

In a response filed Thursday, the government’s attorneys called the motion to dismiss a ‘throw in the towel” move and clear “procedural gamesmanship.”

“To be sure, if plaintiffs want to stop litigating and this court grants their motion for dismissal with prejudice, that is beyond defendants’ control,” the response said. “But this gambit should be seen for what it is.”

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that voluntary dismissal “is a perfect example of the bad faith litigation” brought by not-for-profit legal firms around the country.

“Plaintiffs were happy to sabotage the Trump Administration when they were in front of an activist district judge, but the moment they must explain themselves to an appellate court they run for the hills,” McLaughlin said.

In court Thursday, Craig Futterman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the government’s position seemed to be that a dismissal would give them “a free hall pass to beat up press, protestors, priests months (or) years from now and commit other constitutional violations.”

“That is just not how the law works,” Futterman said.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/trump-dismissal-blitz-suit-block-claims/