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Rebecca Burns

@rebeccaburns.bsky.social
943 followers 267 following 84 posts

Investigative reporter and editor. 🏡,🏦,☀️, also🐈. she/ her.

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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
cam rodriguez 🔎 @camrodriguez.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
@elviamalagon.bsky.social and I have been tracking and covering heat-related deaths all summer, and for good reason— at least 16 people have died from heat exposure in Cook County, 13 in Chicago, mostly on the South Side. That's the most in at least a decade. chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/...
chicago.suntimes.com
'All heat-related deaths are preventable' but in the Chicago area 16 died from heat this summer
Nine of the people who died from heat this summer in Cook County did so inside their homes or apartments and many had no working air conditioning, according to a review of records from the Cook County...
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Nicole Bedera @nbedera.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Earlier this week, I agreed to interviews with two USA Today journalists. They wrote fantastic articles about the Cornell case that I'm proud to have been a part of. What I did not know is that their employer considers interviews to proprietary and opens up recordings to be used by any journalist.
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
🧵The billionaire-backed Common Ground Collective was just caught electioneering at a back-to-school event for its endorsed candidates—including fundraising consultant Kyna Lenhof. NB: 6 months ago, Lenhof had this to say about another race where CGC was spending big to spread misinformation. 🤔
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 15/09/2026
Holy cow. This may not be a permanent victory, but my god it’s a victory! Omni hasn’t flown for ICE for months. And I heard there was a big layoff last week. Now we can say for certain it was due to the negotiations between Stonepeak and the Chicago alders. Wowowow. news.wttw.com/2026/09/15/d...
news.wttw.com
Deal Reached to Sell Chicago Parking Meters to Investment Firm, Alderpeople Say
The deal requires Stonepeak to sell Omni Air International, which has a contract with the Trump administration to carry out deportations, according to the City Council members.
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Bright D Limm 임대중 @bdlimm.myatproto.social · 02/09/2026
There are 3 places where nearly all of us can build power through shared struggle: 1️⃣ Government 2️⃣ Employment 3️⃣ Home This event—by @acrecampaigns.bsky.social's Bargaining for the Common Good + @inthesetimes.com—is about efforts to unify power-building in 2 of the 3. ✨ RSVP: bit.ly/unions-for-all ✨
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Calling all labor and tenant union members! Come join this @inthesetimes.com conversation about the growing intersections between housing justice and organized labor. We'll hear from some seriously inspiring organizers with @ctulocal1.bsky.social, @houseourneighbors.bsky.social, and more.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 29/08/2026
Will Lawrence says opposition to data centers comes down to a basic question: Who decides the future of a community—its residents or Silicon Valley and Wall Street? @rebeccaburns.bsky.social speaks with the insurgent candidate taking on the GOP in Michigan.
inthesetimes.com
Tenant Organizer Will Lawrence Is Taking on the GOP in a Deep Purple District
To flip a key Michigan seat, the insurgent candidate is campaigning on housing, healthcare and opposition to data centers.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Sarah Lazare @sarahlazare.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Please consider coming to this event. Here is part of the description of what will be discussed: "A union at home and a union at work. Social housing that's union-backed and union-built." Register here: bit.ly/unions-for-all
bit.ly
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: How Organized Tenants and Organized Workers Can Team Up to Win Big. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
A union at home and a union at work. Social housing that's union-backed and union-built. That's the exciting vision that labor and housing organizers in many parts of the country are working together ...
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Bright D Limm 임대중 @bdlimm.myatproto.social · 26/08/2026
"I’ve often been asked, ​'What is this [opposition to data centers] really about?' Because it’s such a politically heterodox coalition... "Certainly, it’s the noise pollution, the water usage, the energy bills, the property values, + you could go on. But above all, I think it’s about who decides."
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 26/08/2026
Will Lawrence says opposition to data centers comes down to a basic question: Who decides a community's future—its residents or Silicon Valley and Wall Street? @rebeccaburns.bsky.social speaks with the insurgent candidate taking on the GOP in Michigan inthesetimes.com/article/meet...
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 26/06/2026
New York City tenants won a rent freeze. @rebeccaburns.bsky.social reports that after months of organizing by tenant groups, unions, & rent-stabilized tenants, the Rent Guidelines Board voted to freeze rents for 1 million regulated apartments.
inthesetimes.com
Why Some Unions Are Joining the Call to “Freeze the Rent”
“Affordable rent should be an essential demand of the labor movement as a whole,” says New York Taxi Workers Alliance President Bhairavi Desai.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Bolts @boltsmag.org · 26/06/2026
Indiana is building a new prison, and it’s already equipped for firing squad executions, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reports.
indianacapitalchronicle.com
Indiana's new prison already equipped for firing squads as death penalty debate continues • Indiana Capital Chronicle
Indiana prison officials confirmed the state's next correctional complex is already equipped for a firing squad option.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 26/06/2026
data center heat island heat wave
theguardian.com
‘Slough is like an experiment’: Europe’s largest datacentre hub leaves town sweltering
Emerging research suggests datacentres create a heat island effect, pushing up temperatures in the immediate vicinity by as much as 9C
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
A city panel looks set to enact a first-of-its-kind, two-year rent freeze on 1 million+ NYC apartments tonight. @psc-cuny.org was among the labor groups backing the rent-freeze campaign—and wants to see more unions learn to "exercise our power in broader ways." inthesetimes.com/article/labo...
inthesetimes.com
Why Some Unions Are Joining the Call to “Freeze the Rent”
“Affordable rent should be an essential demand of the labor movement as a whole,” says New York Taxi Workers Alliance President Bhairavi Desai.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Bright D Limm 임대중 @bdlimm.myatproto.social · 25/06/2026
“We’re trying to encourage others to be involved in this kind of work. That involves all unions learning to exercise our power in a broader way.” —Jen Gaboury, talking about @psc-cuny.org's admirable efforts to bring Bargaining for the Common Good to NYC!
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 25/06/2026
Tonight, NYC’s Rent Guidelines Board votes on whether to freeze rents for roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. “Affordable rent should be a central, essential demand of the labor movement as a whole,” says New York Taxi Workers Alliance President Bhairavi Desai.
inthesetimes.com
Why Some Unions Are Joining the Call to “Freeze the Rent”
“Affordable rent should be an essential demand of the labor movement as a whole,” says New York Taxi Workers Alliance President Bhairavi Desai.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Wow. Prairieland defendants being handed sentences between 40 and 100 years. For background on this case: www.ms.now/news/antifa-...
ms.now
Trump wants to prosecute anti-fascists as terrorists. This Texas trial will test his power.
A July 4 shooting at an ICE detention center could change the way the federal government prosecutes activists.
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Hamed Aleaziz @haleaziz.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
SCOOP: ICE is planning to offload seven warehouses purchased for more than $700 million by either giving them to other federal agencies or selling them outright, according to documents obtained by The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/u...
nytimes.com
ICE Spent $700 Million on 7 Warehouses. Now It Wants to Get Rid of Them.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 18/06/2026
We were the only UNIONIZED employees he’d ever had, too. I am broke as hell now, but I’ll never regret saying this: EAT SHIT, YOU PATHETIC TWERP. No matter how much cash you accrue, you’ll never know the joy of solidarity. Your life is empty, and you’ll be remembered as a warning to children.
Jeff Bezos told Trump the Washington Post was his worst investment before slashing staff: 'People there are terrible'
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Update: I have been informed that the country is big and that this is a small fraction of the total multifamily apartment stock. That seems right. Much more impressive is the proportion of men living in the Bay Area whose jobs would appear to consist of repeating this single talking point.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Rental property mergers have been made exempt from antitrust scrutiny, yet 2 companies—AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential—are planning to merge and create effective monopolies in at least seven communities. Co-pubbed with @inthesetimes.com, from Rebecca Burns. prospect.org/2026/06/17/r...
prospect.org
Real Estate Merger Poised to Create Several Local Apartment Monopolies - The American Prospect
A combination between AvalonBay and Equity Residential would put close to 200,000 apartments in the hands of one company.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 17/06/2026
This is weird. An ICE flight on a private jet (operated by Talon Air, owned by Jordache jeans founder Joe Nakash) fell off of both ground and satellite receivers for about 7 1/2 hours this morning. This is NOT NORMAL. 1/
A planespotters.net photo of N50JE by Maarten Dols
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The American Prospect @prospect.org · 17/06/2026
A $69 billion merger between two real estate behemoths is set to create the largest publicly traded apartment landlord in U.S. history. Both have been sued repeatedly over alleged tenant abuses and illegal price-fixing. prospect.org?p=139889
Real estate merger and acquisition image with puzzle pieces
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
NEW: Can landlords act as a monopoly? We're about to find out: A merger between two real-estate behemoths is set to put nearly 200,000 apartments in the hands of one company. (🧵) inthesetimes.com/article/real...
inthesetimes.com
Real Estate Merger Poised to Create Several Local Apartment Monopolies
A combination between AvalonBay and Equity Residential would put close to 200,000 apartments in the hands of one company.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Nick Turse @nickturse.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Top Pentagon Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Killed Victims of Human Trafficking If this boat was running drugs, why was it loaded with so many people? theintercept.com/2026/06/10/t...
theintercept.com
Top Pentagon Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Killed Victims of Human Trafficking
If this boat was running drugs, why was it loaded with so many people?
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Geoff Hing @geoffhing.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Earlier this week, Aala Abdullahi and I published a story about the impact of rapid transfers on people that ICE has locked away in detention facilities. www.themarshallproject.org/2026/06/01/i...
themarshallproject.org
ICE Detained Them, and Then They Vanished
Under Trump, the U.S. increasingly sends immigrants all over the nation with little warning, leaving families and attorneys unsure where they are.
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Next weekend in Chicago! After the Labor Notes conference, come through @inthesetimesmag for an afterparty with music, comedy, and a veritable murderer's row of labor journalists. secure.actblue.com/donate/inthe...
secure.actblue.com
Tix here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/inthesetimesafterparty
Tix here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/inthesetimesafterparty
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 04/05/2026
In Bozeman, MT, trailer park tenants unionized in 12 days. Now, facing an 11% rent hike and an anonymous investor, @rebeccaburns.bsky.social reports, they launched a rent strike — reviving a forgotten history of tenant collective bargaining in the state.
inthesetimes.com
This May Day, Montana Trailer Park Tenants Are Going on Rent Strike
As surging housing costs push workers out of Bozeman, tenants are confronting rising rents with collective action.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
In These Times @inthesetimes.com · 31/03/2026
Today, @rebeccaburns.bsky.social reports Washington State passed a millionaire’s tax—and at least eight others will consider new taxes on the ultra-wealthy this year, as organizers set their sights on state legislatures. inthesetimes.com/article/slog...
Graphic for an In These Times article titled “More Than A Slogan: Labor’s New Gambit to Tax the Rich,” by Rebecca Burns. The background photo shows a crowd of labor activists gathered outdoors in front of oversized cartoon inflatables, holding signs that read “Overpaid CEO Tax NOW!” and “Taxing Greed to Pay for What We Need.” Large white headline text is overlaid across the image on black transparent bars.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
RESULT: Community organizer Miguel Alvelo-Rivera has ousted state Representative Jaime Andrade in the Democratic primary. This is the Chicago-based HD40, & Andrade has been a longtime target of the Chicago left.
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
I covered money in politics for years, and a state race playing out in my district is truly one of the most alarming things I've seen. SuperPACs funded by Meta and DraftKings are absolutely hammering voters with positive ads for incumbent Rep. Jaime Andrade... (🧵)
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
ICYMI, the race in IL HD-40 (where I live) has fully jumped the shark. Instead of red-baiting the challenger to his Left, which hasn't worked in this district, establishment ally Jaime Andrade has doubled down the lie that immigrant rights organizer Miguel Alvelo-Rivera ... supports ICE?
A pile of mailers sent by Illinois 40th District State Rep. Jaime Andrade, who is circulating the false claim that his challenger, community activist Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, supports expanding ICE.In Chicago's Northwest side, where democratic socialists have been gaining many local office,s community activist Miguel Alvelo-Rivera is challenging incumbent Jaime Andrade, an establishment ally
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Steve Held @peoplesfabric.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Shorter: Rep. Jaime Andrade is flat out lying.
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Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
The law firm that challenged U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino in federal court last fall signals a forthcoming bid for a special prosecutor to "investigate crimes committed by federal agents under Operation Midway Blitz." Press conference Thursday:
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Alex Nelson @aenelson4.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
There are three state level candidates sponsored by DraftKings - Jaime Andrade, Adam Braun, and Sara Feigenholtz - and all three have either no showed or won't agree to a debate. A pattern emerges.
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Sarah Lazare @sarahlazare.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Very interesting reporting by @matthewccook5.bsky.social inthesetimes.com/article/debu...
American Future’s biggest beneficiary, receiving more than $263,000, is Emil Jones III, a state senator who was indicted in 2022 on federal bribery charges, and faces little-known opponents in his race to hold on to his seat. In a race featuring a stark ideological contrast, American Future has spent over $220,000 in the 40th Legislative District in northwest Chicago, backing an entrenched Democratic machine incumbent, Jaime Andrade, Jr., against a democratic socialist challenger, Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, who, in a statement to the Center for Media and Democracy, pledged to ​“fight to tax wealthy corporations and individuals in Illinois, and… make sure they know our legislature isn’t for sale.”
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
#ILPolitics scoop -- DraftKings is now the largest outsider spender in state races. The sportsbook's new SuperPAC is spending big on candidates like Rep. Jaime Andrade in Illinois' 40th district. @votejandrade.bsky.social is being challenged by community organizer @miguelfor40.bsky.social.
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Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
This is basically straight up lying to the voters by Jaime Andrade’s campaign, which is smearing his opponent by false accusing them of supporting ICE. Good campaign truth squadding by @olivia0.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/25/i...
chicagotribune.com
Illinois Democrats are trying desperately to tie their opponents to ICE, including in one key state House race
Illinois Democrats had been largely unified against President Donald Trump’s Chicago-area immigration enforcement crackdown. Now, the issue is being used as a political wedge in this spring’s Democ…
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
A window into the utter uselessness of establishment Dems from my corner of the world... Last fall, as masked agents kidnapped my neighbors daily, I literally never once saw my state rep. @jaimeandrade.bsky.social. Now, he's sending unhinged mailers accusing his challenger of being pro-ICE (1/6)
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
The largest rent strike in a century? The Minnesota unions behind the massive Jan. 23 day of action are now backing a potential rent strike to demand an eviction moratorium. At least 10K could withhold rent starting March 1. Here's what to know (1/6) inthesetimes.com/article/ice-...
inthesetimes.com
Terrorized By ICE, Unable to Pay Rent, Minnesotans Are Getting Ready for a Rent Strike
A tenant organizing push in the Twin Cities has support from labor unions representing more than 25,000 workers.
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Minnesota unions are planning another massive action: this time, by teaming up with a new, Twin Cities-wide tenants union calling for a March 1 rent strike. W/ @sarahlazare.bsky.social and @workdaymagazine.bsky.social inthesetimes.com/article/ice-...
inthesetimes.com
Terrorized By ICE, Unable to Pay Rent, Minnesotans Are Getting Ready for a Rent Strike
A tenant organizing push in the Twin Cities has support from labor unions representing more than 25,000 workers.
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Reposted by Rebecca Burns
Sarah Lazare @sarahlazare.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Terrorized by ICE, unable to pay rent, Twin Cities tenants are undertaking a serious organizing effort to get ready for a rent strike if Gov. Walz doesn't instate an eviction moratorium. They have support from labor unions representing 25,000 workers. New piece by @rebeccaburns.bsky.social and me.
inthesetimes.com
Terrorized By ICE, Unable to Pay Rent, Minnesotans Are Getting Ready for a Rent Strike
A tenant organizing push in the Twin Cities has support from labor unions representing more than 25,000 workers.
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Ray Pride @raypride.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
“Hundreds of immigrant mothers” in Texas concentration camp uprising
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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 24/01/2026
YOUR PHONE CALLS TO THE SENATE ARE WORKING. KEEP CALLING. 202–224-3121 Three Democrats who previously broke with the party and voted with the GOP are now saying they will not vote for the bill. That’s enough for the bill to be unpassable right now.
nbcnews.com
DHS funding bill faces new Senate hurdles after another person killed in Minneapolis
Some Democrats who voted for recent funding bills said they'll vote against any DHS bill without restrictions on enforcement operations. The deadline to avert a shutdown is Friday.
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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
By who? Who shot the person dead? You saw the video. We all know a federal agent shot a man dead who was prone on the ground. Also, it's not "according to officials." It's according to verified video seen with your eyes. Not saying what anyone can obviously see with their eyes is a form of lying.
NYT push alert: "A person was shot dead today during a struggle with federal agents in Minneapolis, according to officials."
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C.M. Lewis 🦬⚔️ @thehousered.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
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Maxwell Evans @afrodip.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Samantha Stamps is missing. She has experienced homelessness since her old building — raided by feds in September — was ordered vacated by a judge due to unsafe conditions. Stamps was last seen near the Central Park Pink Line and frequents areas in N. Lawndale. blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/14/f...
blockclubchicago.org
Former Resident Of South Shore Building Raided By Feds Is Now Missing, Police Say
Samantha Stamps, 56, was last seen near the Central Park Pink Line stop. She's been experiencing homelessness since the building was vacated, and is known to frequent areas in North Lawndale, police s...
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Important reporting from @sarahlazare.bsky.social on an action that'll be critical to watch, as cities consider how to respond to all-out siege by federal immigration forces.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Expect to see a lot of this classic Onion headline, from 23 years ago, over the coming weeks.
No Blood For Oil vs. Exactly How Much Oil Are We Talking About?
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Rebecca Burns @rebeccaburns.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
The Chicago City Council just punted again on passing a corporate head tax to help fill a $1.2b gap. Beyond the excellent case from @etoddbreland.bsky.social here, one of the alternative proposals—aggressive debt collection—seems almost designed to fail... (🧵) inthesetimes.com/article/bran...
inthesetimes.com
There Should Be No Debate. Corporations Should Pay More Taxes.
As Chicago's budget standoff continues, the issue of whether corporations should pay more taxes to support the public good should not be contentious.
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