iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Nick Ward

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 08/10/2026

Employees from the Obama Foundation and Obama Presidential Center are organizing to form a union with AFSCME Council 31. The group, Obama Workers United, includes more than 250 remote and in-person workers in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and beyond.

chicago.suntimes.com

Obama Foundation and Presidential Center workers to unionize: ‘We don't even have a seat at the table’

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Relatedly, “community engagement” is becoming the inverse of raising property taxes. Can’t win without supporting it, can’t govern with it.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Call me old fashioned, but I don’t understand why we have municipal elections if the person who gets elected needs to hold an election to do what they were elected to do. Also I was apparently in this boundary and had little idea I could vote on it. It’s my fault, you guys, sorry.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Don’t think I’ve ever actually received this as an option before.

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Defector @defector.com · 05/08/2026

If your winning issue is trans women in sports, and you're struggling to uncover trans women in any league that anybody has ever heard of, then how do you keep trans athletes at the top of people's minds? Answer: You invent them. defector.com/the-right-ha...

defector.com

The Right Has Created Their Perfect Trans Athlete | Defector

A lot of people in and around the WNBA are talking about trans women. In the aftermath of Indiana Fever role player Sophie Cunningham’s negative comments about trans people playing sports in an ESPN…

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Robert Evans (the Only Robert Evans) @iwriteok.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I have, with my own eyes, watched my tax dollars in the form of missiles as they hit buildings inhabited by civilians. I'd much prefer subsidizing a grocery story I don't use.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Very cool that, in the U.S., if you’re a well-connected wealthy politician, you can apply for one job and then apply for a different job 3 months later and that seen as fine and normal. But if you’re a worker and do the same thing, that’s seen as toxic, flakey, and untrustworthy.

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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

"Perceptions of city crime levels appear 'closely tied' to social media exposure, with those who reported having more frequent encounters with crime-related content online being more likely to believe crime is increasing, according to the poll.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This tracks with my experience canvassing ~36,000 doors in ‘22-‘23. Longtime Edgewater residents telling me “crime” was the worst it’s ever been while actual data noted a sharp downturn in most violent acts over the preceding 3 decades.

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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

NEW: We reported two years ago that Chicago police had made 200,000 secret traffic stops, failing to disclose them as required by law. Chicago police then admitted the problem, & promised to 'fix' it in a legislative hearing. We just investigated again: The problem... got WORSE.

boltsmag.org

Chicago Police Promised to 'Fix' Secret Traffic Stops. A Year Later, the Problem Has Only Gotten Worse. - Bolts

This story was produced as a collaboration between Bolts and Injustice Watch, a nonprofit news organization in Chicago focused on issues of equity and justice in the court system. In... Read More

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Chicago should have way more centralized free festivals where people get drunk/high, eat food, and listen to music together in public.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

It’s laughable that Brandon has to (correctly) call out conservative boondoggles to raise revenue via debt collection while, between this and overtime, the police can just lift $400 mil from the public with little meaningful oversight, accountability, and any change to the horrors of policing.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Katelyn Burns @katelynburns.com · 30/06/2026

The trans sports ban are almost completely an invention of the media, conservative and mainstream. it has been years of lies, of shoddy fact checking on just completely false conservative claims, years of phony concern trolling.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Lynda Lopez @lyndab08.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez of the 25th Ward released a statement and footage of men detonating a bomb near his home in Pilsen last night.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 13TH, 2026

At approximately 12:45 a.m. today, Saturday, June 13, in the vicinity of West 21st Street & South Damen Avenue, a bomb was ignited, detonated and shattered a window at the home of Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th) while his three children slept inside.

Video surveillance shows two men in an SUV, one of whom stepped out and lit the explosive device directly in front of the Alderman’s home and immediately got back in the car to drive away. No injuries were reported and CPD’s Bomb and Arson Unit is currently gathering evidence and investigating.

Neighbors who have video footage or anyone with knowledge of the incident should contact Area 3 detectives at 312-744-8263 or contact the 25th Ward Office at (773) 523-4100 or ward25@cityofchicago.org.

BYRON
SIGCHO LÓPEZ
25TH WARD ALDERMAN

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

It remains a policy failure across many different civic institutions that the southbound Red Line passing through the Loop on the last day of school is completely empty at 730pm.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

WBEZ @wbez.org · 05/06/2026

Simeon Career Academy is known for its sports and trades programs. So when the Chicago high school decided to put on its first play in recent memory, students had no idea what they were in for.

wbez.org

At Simeon, a basketball powerhouse, drama students shine in school's first play in decades

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera @pantibliss.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Trans people have been around your whole life. You’ve been sharing bathrooms with them your whole life. They’ve been in your communities your whole life. They’ve even been playing sport your whole life. And you didn’t care *at all* till a few years ago when every right wing org decided you should

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Never thought I’d say “fuck all of these people except for Jason Ervin” but here we are.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

shawn @mulchy.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

new: an effort to phase out chicago's subminimum wage was a done deal—until, one day, it wasn't. @dmbrown-tboy.bsky.social sifted through two city council votes, a mayoral veto, a seemingly failed end run to the state capitol, and a whole lotta back-and-forth to separate fact from fiction.

chicagoreader.com

One Fair Wage: Separating fact from fiction - Chicago Reader

An effort to phase out the subminimum wage in Chicago was a done deal—until it wasn’t.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 05/05/2026

BREAKING: in April 2026, *every single one* of the 1,570 refugees admitted in the United States were white South Africans. In FY 2026, the U.S. has admitted a total of 6,066 white South Africans, three Afghans (back in November 2025), and nobody else.

rpc.state.gov

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

So when are we gonna start treating car violence as the public health epidemic that it is?

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

In my experience, high info aldermanic voters really really care about constituent services.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

I remember a friend’s dad who also went to my high school telling stories about drinking at the same bar as their teachers during lunch.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

utopia deferred @utopia-defer.red · 26/04/2026

As well all know, it’s a very healthy sign of a democracy when executive leadership is no longer safe in controlled environments surrounded by security forces inside of the capital city.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

That’s not Mike Quigley, that’s Fred Willard doing a bit

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Zito @zeets.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

The report about the surveillance at Madison Square Garden and other James Dolan properties is insane and towards the bottom, there’s a reveal that this kind of surveillance will also be used against fans during the World Cup www.wired.com/story/madiso...

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

This is a really good look at the Sky’s attempt at roster construction. But as much as I admire operating on vibes, I can’t help but feel that a GM’s job is to offer sober analysis of their own team. Not sure how you can look at this team and the league and conclude the Sky can crack the top 6.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

So since the Sky won the ‘21 title, they have: -alienated the “hometown” hero HOFer who helped them win that title -fired the former point god beloved by the young players they drafted to rebuild -traded away a pick that wound up being an All Star her first year

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Reposted by Nick Ward

John @localcelebrity.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

🚨🚨 Illinois lawmakers have rescheduled hearings on these ill-conceived OS-level age verification laws for THIS Thursday and Friday! Info on how to file new witness slips and more below!

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Reposted by Nick Ward

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 22/03/2026

If you believe you see ICE at any Chicago area airports this week (🚬), please message us anonymously on Signal at unraveled.66

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Jimmy (not one of those) Rothschild(s) @alsomuchcattle.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

This is not about labor or fiscal policy. This is about how 30 members of city council are willing to use tipped workers and their livelihoods as pawns in their ongoing campaign to embarrass and disempower Mayor Johnson.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

This is absolute trash. These alder people should be forced to have one bad night of tips be the thing that makes or breaks their ability to pay rent, provide for their families, or choose between groceries and health care.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

onetriibeunited.bsky.social @onetriibeunited.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

You can help support Corli and One Triibe United by joining our email / social media zap! We’re thankful for your support!✊🏾

As a show of solidarity for Corli who was fired this week, we’re asking supporters of The TRiiBE to contact publisher Morgan Johnson (morgan@thetriibe.com) to express their concerns that leadership can’t fire a staffer without consequences. In addition, we ask that our allies flood The TRiiBE’s Instagram (@thetriibechicago), Facebook (The TRiiBE), and BlueSky (@thetriibe.com) with messages of support for One Triibe United.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

onetriibeunited.bsky.social @onetriibeunited.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

We believe the grounds for our member’s termination are retaliatory and intended to send a chilling message: that, though TRiiBE leadership claims to support “workers’ rights to unionize,” they don’t actually mean it.

Corli has been the community investment reporter at The TRiiBE for nearly two years, during which she has gone above and beyond in her role. In fact, The TRiiBE surpassed one million page views on its website largely due to Corli’s reporting on Cook County’s guaranteed income program.

She is a dogged and compassionate reporter who’s integral not only to The TRiiBE team but also to Chicago’s media ecosystem.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Really frustrating that this is how @thetriibe.com responds to their staff organizing.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Israel is bombarding, literally bombarding, two Middle East capitals, Beirut and Tehran, killing 100s of civilians, and yet the US and UK media continue to portray Iran as the threat to the region. Israel has nukes, but Iran is the nuclear threat. We live in Orwellian times.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

If 180 of my students died in an air strike, I would likely perish from grief.

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Nick Ward @nickward.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The purpose of a system is what it does.

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Reposted by Nick Ward

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 28/02/2026

Footage from Minab, Iran, shows the aftermath of an Israeli-US strike on a girls' elementary school that reportedly killed more than 50 people.

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