Mack Liederman

After 92 years, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop was sold to a national chain — with its iconic Chicago neon sign quietly hauled away to a restoration warehouse in DeKalb. “We need to figure out how the goal of preservation becomes more important than profiting.” blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/04/as-…

Waymo is sending cars — with drivers, for now — onto Chicago streets today for mapping and data collection. The company needs Illinois state driving law to change before it can launch self-driving cabs. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/25/way…

Warlord star chef Trevor Fleming has been sharing sexual photos of women without consent and berating staffers for years, witnesses said. It was an open secret in the industry — and it’s time for accountability, they said. Solid reporting @ArielParrella blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/19/war…

A statue of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini will replace the removed Columbus statue in Little Italy's Arrigo Park. The city held a public vote to pick an Italian-American for the honor. Results: Cabrini: 1,500 votes Enrico Fermi: 648 Antonin Scalia: 597 blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/18/col…

Breaking: Mayor Brandon Johnson uses second veto of his term to block city ban on intoxicating hemp products. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/13/may…

From Jan 2023-Oct 2025, Black drivers received 30k+ traffic tickets across Chicago — 21k+ more than white drivers. Data crunch w/ @BauerJournalism shows Black drivers were over-ticketed 6x their population share in some majority white North Side areas. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/12/bla…

Facebook removed Chicago’s most popular ICE sighting page. Now, its founder is suing. blockclubchi.co/46K4h2C

This is a great round-up of Operation Midway Blitz cases that have collapsed at Chicago’s federal courthouse. From @CharlesThr47541 and @mack_liederman, via @BlockClubCHI: blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/06/tru…

@SeidelContent @CharlesThr47541 @BlockClubCHI Thanks Jon! Your reporting there everyday helped us string it all together

We tallied up the piling federal losses against ICE/BP protesters accused of crimes in Chicago: Nearly half of 32 federal cases have been dismissed — with no conviction yet. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/06/tru…

BREAKING: Mayor Johnson signs an executive order he says will "set the groundwork to prosecute ICE & Border Patrol agents for criminal misconduct." The order directs CPD officers to document potential misconduct or criminal violations & "identify" the agents responsible. @wttw

When Derrick Rose's #1 was raised to the United Center rafters Saturday, it capped a months-long effort led by Maria Estela Parra, a South Sider and Mexican immigrant who's helped make nearly every honorary banner at the arena. blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/29/mee…

The peaceful crowd placed white roses at Pretti's growing memorial. “I can’t help but see myself in Alex Pretti,” said Scott Mechanic, a Chicago intensive care unit nurse. Full story here: blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/27/chi…

A small memorial for Alex Pretti outside the VA hospital in Chicago. Nurses and veterans are here with “ICE Out” signs and candles for a vigil.

Chicagoans raise $6k+ for “hero” crossing guard Joe Sass, who carried a kid to school during a street flood. Sass says he’ll use half the money to patronize local restaurants, particularly those impacted by the federal immigration crackdown. blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/27/nei…

“As of Saturday evening, the family said they had still not heard from anyone at a federal law enforcement agency about their son’s death.” apnews.com/article/immigr…

30 below wind chill but Great Lake jumper still took the plunge into Lake Michigan 🥶⁦@tahmanbradley⁩ ⁦@mack_liederman⁩ & ⁦@RobertHerguth⁩ fill us in on what else has been happening this week in #Chicago ⁦@WBEZIntheLoop⁩ 📻 @wbez wbez.org/in-the-loop-wi…

Here's a cold report w/ the intrepid @rquinnmyers: blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/23/com…

Few signs of life today at Navy Pier as temps keep plunging below zero. But I did meet some tourists from Paris in Bears gear, who are trying to make the most out of their vacation to Chicago — in January? "I think it's cool. It's the Windy City!"

The annual Polar Plunge in Lake Michigan is also canceled this weekend