Good afternoon, Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced today he will not veto the 2026 budget passed by aldermen, conceding a historic struggle that reached the brink of a government shutdown and burned his goodwill with the City Council.
Speaking to TV cameras from his ceremonial office, Johnson confirmed he will not veto the $16.6 billion counterproposal to his spending plan for next year, despite his ongoing objections to his council rivals’ package. His decision comes days before the end-of-year deadline to either finalize a budget or imperil vital city services as well as tens of thousands of paychecks.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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Dreaming of a gray Christmas? Thursday’s forecast — and what climate change means for the holidays
On Christmas Day, the only thing blanketing Chicago rooftops will likely be fog, and the only thing falling from the sky might be an intermittent drizzle. Read more here.
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The seller of a $34.5 million Winnetka home downsized with a $14 million buy in Kenilworth
In the Chicago-area world, it’s a rare buyer who downsizes to a more than $14 million mansion. However, that’s in effect what Jeffrey Quicksilver, who cofounded real estate investment firm Walton Street Capital, and his wife, Ashley, who owns the high-end Winnetka women’s boutique Athene, have done. Read more here.
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Recapping an eventful 2025 for Chicago sports on — and off — the field
It was an eventful 2025 for Chicago’s professional and college sports teams, on the field and off. Here’s what we saw — and what to watch for in 2026. Read more here.
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Want to read more in 2026? Here’s how to revive your love of books.
People stop reading in adulthood for lots of reasons. But it’s never too late to turn the page on old habits and start again. Read more here.
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US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific
The U.S. military said yesterday that it had conducted another strike against a boat it said was smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person. Read more here.
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