Mitchell Armentrout
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago, IL, United States
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Past articles by Mitchell:
Bears delay Springfield stadium legislation drive this year
The team’s president says the Bears won’t push for the legislation they argue is key to their plans for a massive development in Arlington Heights. → Read More
All bets are on: Bally’s temporary Chicago casino opens for business at Medinah Temple
Gamblers started lining up at 6:30 a.m. to take some of the first spins at the city’s first legal casino, at 600 N. Wabash Ave. → Read More
Bally’s Medinah Temple temporary casino landlord Albert Friedman will hit $20 million jackpot under 4-year lease
Albert M. Friedman will get more than $16.5 million in rent and a $330,000 management fee under his four-year lease, obtained by the Sun-Times. Bally’s also must pay a property tax bill that’s topped $1.1 million a year. → Read More
$2 million in grants heading to Chicago literacy centers
More than 400,000 Illinois residents — about 3% of the population — have less than a ninth-grade education, and about 900,000 adults older than 25 don’t have a high school diploma, according to state figures. → Read More
DNC protesters lining up city permits now to ensure leaders ‘can see us and hear us’
Organizers say early preparations are meant to avoid the obstacles they faced under Mayor Rahm Emanuel ahead of the 2012 NATO Summit, but they expect a friendlier reception from Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson. → Read More
Year of the Incumbent? Only one sitting City Council member unseated this year — first time in a century
The solitary defeat of appointed Ald. Anabel Abarca (12th) marks the fewest defeated incumbents since Chicago instituted the 50-member City Council system in 1923. Seven sitting members were knocked out in each of the previous two election cycles. → Read More
Abortion drug limits outside Illinois would further strain providers here, activists say
Court maneuvers to restrict medication abortions will bring even more demand for Illinois procedures, activists at Friday rally in Chicago warn. → Read More
2024 Democratic Convention pitched as economic boon for ‘all of our communities, not just a select few’
The city’s $80 million bid package beat out rival proposals from Atlanta and New York City, capping more than a year of campaigning to bring the convention back to Chicago for the first time since 1996. → Read More
Concession in 5th Ward means City Council won’t break record for women members — but only tie it
The decision by Tina Hone to concede to Desmon Yancy means the City Council will see 18 women sworn in next month — an increase of three since 2019 that matches the city’s all-time high for representation by women set in 2007. → Read More
Knudsen locks up full term in 43rd Ward as challenger Comer concedes a week after runoff
Timmy Knudsen — the first openly gay person to represent the Lincoln Park ward, and one of the City Council’s youngest members — thanked 43rd Ward voters ‘for turning out in historic numbers.’ → Read More
‘A game-changer’: Chicago City Council members, residents react to return of Democratic convention
The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday morning that Chicago will host the 2024 convention next August. Chicago beat out New York and Atlanta. → Read More
Manaa-Hoppenworth makes City Council history in 48th Ward runoff as Dunne concedes
When she’s sworn in next month, Manaa-Hoppenworth will join 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee as the only Asian Americans on the Council. “I’m just thinking of my dad — never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined we’d get here,” Manaa-Hoppenworth told the Sun-Times earlier this week. → Read More
Johnson, Vallas tour South Side churches in final weekend campaign push before mayoral runoff
Two days out from Election Day, Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas focused largely on African American wards where Mayor Lori Lightfoot performed well in the general election. → Read More
Developers eye new horse racing track in Richton Park as Hawthorne ‘racino’ plan stalls
The prospective track developers are looking to tweak a state law that gives Hawthorne veto power over any new track wanting to set up shop in the south suburbs. → Read More
Prosecutors seeking nearly 6-year prison sentence for downstate Jan. 6 rioter
Shane Woods is among at least three dozen Illinoisans who have faced charges stemming from the U.S. Capitol riot. → Read More
Lightfoot put Knudsen in 43rd Ward seat — and into runoff against challenger Comer
Five months after a City Council appointment from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Ald. Timmy Knudsen only got about a quarter of the vote in February. Now he’s lining up other Democratic support to survive a runoff with Brian Comer. → Read More
Paul Vallas: From playing with ‘imaginary friends’ to tackling ‘big, nearly impossible tasks’
A shy boy with a severe stutter in the Roseland neighborhood, Paul Vallas grew up to lead school districts in Chicago, Philadelphia, Louisiana, Haiti and Chile. He also ran a string of failed bids for elected office. “Paul gravitates toward big challenges,” said Ald. Brendan Reilly. → Read More
A quarter of a century after Giannoulias was carjacked, new SOS doles out $21 million in grants to fight current surge
More than 1,600 armed carjackings were reported in the city last year, which marked an 11% decrease from 2021 — but it was still higher than any other year dating back at least two decades. → Read More
Mayoral rivals Johnson, Vallas debate police, education, Kim Foxx, eye rolls, head shakes and ‘dismissing people’
Their third runoff debate was more restrained than previous ones — but not without some big swings, as when Vallas said he’s got more teaching experience than Johnson. “You can’t keep just dismissing people, Paul,” Johnson responded. “It’s irresponsible.” → Read More
3 years, 4 million cases, more than 36,000 deaths: Numbers shape Illinois’ dismal COVID-19 story
Statewide death toll now is nearing 37,000 — roughly the equivalent of wiping out the population of Calumet City. Chicago area accounts for nearly half the deaths — about 8,000 in the city, over 7,500 in suburban Cook County. → Read More