Good morning, Chicago.
President Donald Trump said that he will put import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1.
The posts on his social media site showed that Trump’s devotion to tariffs did not end with the trade frameworks and import taxes that were launched in August, a reflection of the president’s confidence that taxes will help to reduce the government’s budget deficit while increasing domestic manufacturing.
While Trump did not provide a legal justification for the tariffs, he appeared to stretch the bounds of his role as commander-in-chief by stating on Truth Social that the taxes on imported kitchen cabinets and sofas were needed “for National Security and other reasons.”
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why Border Patrol boats were docked along Chicago Harbor Lock, what happened in City Council yesterday and proposed Chicago Fire soccer stadium wins City Council approval.
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Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction
James Comey was charged with lying to Congress in a criminal case filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies.
The indictment makes Comey the first former senior government official involved in one of Trump’s chief grievances, the long-concluded investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, to face prosecution. Trump has for years derided that investigation as a “hoax” and a “witch hunt” despite multiple government reviews showing Moscow interfered on behalf of the Republican’s campaign, and has made clear his desire for retribution.
Republican Darren Bailey launches second bid for governor with strategy to connect better with Chicago voters
Former state Sen. Darren Bailey acknowledged that when he ran unsuccessfully for governor against Democrat JB Pritzker nearly four years ago, he didn’t understand the issues affecting Chicago and its suburbs like he did in other parts of the state.
That experience has set the stage for what appears to be a unique campaign structure for the wealthy farmer from southeastern Illinois as he kicked off a relaunch of his bid for governor with a suburban Chicago running mate, Aaron Del Mar, who plans to focus on helping Bailey win over voters in the northern most populous areas of the state while the candidate at the top of the ticket will focus on everywhere else.
With national eye on Chicago violence, mayor’s neighborhood among those still waiting for progress
Year over year, gun violence in Chicago has declined sharply — a 29% decline in homicides and a 34% drop in total shootings through mid-September, according to CPD. But despite the gains, the city’s decades-old struggle with violence was once again thrust into the spotlight this year as President Donald Trump has threatened a National Guard deployment.
Mayor Brandon Johnson — who, with his family, has lived in Austin for more than 15 years — has consistently rejected the idea. His view comes even as Police Department figures show Austin has not seen the same progress as other parts of the city. Since 2022, the level of killings in the neighborhood have kept relatively stagnant.
Lawsuit accuses Loyola University Medical Center of doing risky organ transplants to boost revenue
Loyola University Medical Center knowingly performed organ transplants on unsuitable patients to boost Medicare billing, leading to harm and death, according to a former hospital official whose recently unsealed federal lawsuit alleges a larger scheme “to extract federal and state funds from a system meant to support organ donation and save lives.”
US Border Patrol boats dock along Chicago Harbor Lock as part of immigration blitz
U.S. Customs and Border Protection boats docked near the Chicago Harbor Lock as part of a plan to stage marine vessels and vehicles at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility near Navy Pier, according to government communications reviewed by the Tribune.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s council plan falls apart under weight of ‘Where’s mine?’
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s City Council struggles showed up again yesterday, this time in the form of a ticking clock, empty chairs and his inability to pass a council reorganization plan.
The mayor had hoped to shuffle the members who hold the reins of the body’s powerful committees. But hours after aldermen were set to meet and vote on the matter, they were still buzzing around City Hall’s backrooms — a sign that the deal Johnson wanted was falling apart.
Proposed Chicago Fire soccer stadium wins City Council approval, clearing last major hurdle before construction
The Chicago City Council approved Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto’s plan to build a 22,000-seat soccer stadium on The 78, the South Loop megadevelopment site along the South Branch of the Chicago River. It was the Fire’s last major hurdle before construction crews could break ground.
Chicago White Sox lose for 11th time in last 12 games — No. 101 of season — falling 5-3 to New York Yankees
The Chicago White Sox were swept in the three-game series and have lost five straight. They fell to 58-101, tied for the fourth-most losses in a season in franchise history. The Sox also lost 101 games in 1948 and 2023.
After Shota Imanaga allows season-high 8 runs in loss, should Chicago Cubs be concerned entering postseason?
Shota Imanaga is maintaining a positive outlook with his final regular-season start in the books.
At least, that is how the Chicago Cubs lefty wants to approach an underwhelming start last night against the New York Mets. Imanaga surrendered a season-high eight runs on nine hits, including two home runs, over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-5 loss at Wrigley Field.
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Column: If I gave out the Jeff Awards, these would be my 2025 winners
In New York, it’s common for theater critics to weigh in with their choices in advance of the Tony Awards and other kudos in the theater business, writes Tribune theater critic Chris Jones. That’s been rarer, historically, in Chicago. Nonetheless, the Equity Jeff Awards are Monday, and of the 81 Equity-affiliated theater productions nominated from the 2024-25 season, I saw some 75 of them. So, with apologies for the limitations imposed by that caveat, here are shows and people in some select categories that I think especially deserve to win during the ceremony Monday night — which this year returns to the city at the Harris Theater.
I’ve often been respectfully critical of the Jeff Awards committee, with its plethora of ties and ever-growing list of categories and nominees, so I have forced myself to pick one winner, even when it is very hard. And, for the record, I’m only talking here about shows that were nominated, even though I had a somewhat different list myself.
So here goes.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Where local ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ revelers did the ‘Time Warp’ at midnight
“Is Chicago ready for ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show?’”
Moviegoers in Los Angeles and New York — shivering with antici … pation — already scooped up gobs of tickets for the theatrical release in September 1975. The Chicago International Film Festival hosted a private screening for its members at the Esquire Theater. But Tribune columnist Maggie Daly wondered how the campy combination of science fiction and B-horror flaunted in fishnet stockings by Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) would play here.