Dan Mihalopoulos
dmihalopoulos.bsky.social
Dan Mihalopoulos
@dmihalopoulos.bsky.social
Investigative Reporter at WBEZ - Chicago Public Media
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
The latest - Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump cuts to HIV, lead poisoning prevention funds chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/..., reports @vimiller.bsky.social
February 13, 2026 at 4:59 AM
I enjoy Fat Tuesday.

But you all non-Greek Orthodox cannot top our "Charred Thursday" www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2024/03/07/t...
Tsiknopempti: The Greek tradition with grilled meat and heavy smoke
Tsiknopempti in Greece; Sausages, pork, lamb and chicken chops, meats of all kind are thrown to the open fire, get roasted or grilled, while
www.keeptalkinggreece.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Yeah, I know Wicker Park was gentrified ages ago, and I only age myself to say I can vividly recall when it wasn't.

But bruh - Dubai chocolate paczkis? Srsly?

I'm gonna stick w/ Delightful Pastries out in never-will-be-gentrified Jefferson Park on Fat Tuesday chicago.suntimes.com/food-drink/2...
Where to buy pączki 2026: 20 spots in Chicago, mapped
Many places will have the Polish treat on Tuesday but order ahead of time to make sure you get the flavors you want.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
A handyman from Florida who received a pardon from President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted on state charges of child sex abuse and exposing himself to a child. n.pr/4tx7oVq
A Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump was convicted of sexually abusing children
A handyman from Florida who received a pardon from President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted on state charges of child sex abuse and exposing himself to a child.
n.pr
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Bovino on his excellent and “most illustrative endeavor” in the Chicago area.

Did he mean “illustrious”?
Hours after Border Patrol agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez five times, Gregory Bovino emailed him to ask he continue working past retirement: 

"In light of your excellent service in Chicago, you have much yet left to do!!" he wrote.
February 11, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
NEW via me and @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social: Cardinal Blase Cupich, who runs the Archdiocese of Chicago, says that DHS has stopped priests under his purview and demanded proof of citizenship “because of their color.” religionnews.com/2026/02/10/c...
Cardinal Cupich says feds stopped priests, demanded citizenship proof
(RNS) — ‘I’ve had some priests who are of a different color being targeted and arrested — stopped — because of their color and asking them to prove that they’re citizens. That’s not America,’ the Chic...
religionnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Also, shout out to Zubaer Khan for producing this video of our interview with Marimar Martinez: m.youtube.com/watch?v=mCO4...
Marimar Martinez speaks with WBEZ & Chicago Sun-Times reporters about getting shot by Border Patrol.
YouTube video by Chicago Sun-Times
m.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
The @chicago.suntimes.com photo staff is amazing.

Here, Candace Dane Chambers writes about how she photographed Marimar Martinez, the Chicago woman shot 5 times by Border Patrol: chicago.suntimes.com/photography/...
How we photographed the woman whom Border Patrol shot five times
Plus, 18 more powerful photos from Sun-Times photographers from this week in news.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Marimar Martinez is planning to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union later this month. It’s an apparent act of defiance against an administration that’s labeled her a “domestic terrorist” — and won’t take it back.
Marimar Martinez, shot 5 times by Border Patrol in Chicago, plans to attend Trump’s State of the Union
www.wbez.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
A federal judge in Indiana found Friday that immigration authorities are unlawfully detaining the Chicago man acquitted last month of offering $10,000 for the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino.
Feds unlawfully detaining man acquitted of Bovino murder-for-hire plot, judge rules
chicago.suntimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
The Trump administration's immigration efforts have led some Democrats to call for abolishing ICE. Others won't go as far, wary of appearing out of step with voters who want immigration laws enforced.
Will calls to 'abolish ICE' sway voters in 2026? The strategy has Democrats split
The Trump administration's immigration efforts have led some Democrats to call for abolishing ICE. Others won't go as far, wary of appearing out of step with voters who want immigration laws enforced.
n.pr
February 7, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
NYT confirming MS NOW reporting:

Prosecutors began investigating Renee Good's killing, then Washington told them to stop.

Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Good's vehicle, but Trump leaders said to drop it. About a dozen prosecutors have since departed.
Prosecutors Began Investigating Renee Good’s Killing. Washington Told Them to Stop.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:10 PM
He should come to Chicago in a few months if he wants his mind blown again.

Same dude spread the lie that a young woman slept with her BF’s dad, citing people on the Internet
February 7, 2026 at 11:34 PM
If you watch the Olympics and feel the urge to try one of the more hazardous and exotic sports, one of the few luge tracks in the country is on the other side of Lake Michigan.

I went once many years ago and wouldn't do it again at this stage - but highly recommend it www.mlive.com/news/muskego...
How a small Michigan lakeshore town’s luge track created an Olympic champion
The two-time medalist and former Team USA flag bearer will lead athletes competing Feb. 7-12 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
www.mlive.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Only that time, they stopped a wave of eastern and southern Europeans (which had included my great-grandfather) who had moved into big cities such as Chicago between the 1890s and the 1920s.

The gates were not opened again for more than 41 years
The Trump administration is "channeling an immigration regime instituted in 1924, when strict racial quotas — driven by fears of foreigners and a rise in eugenic thinking — led to a bottoming-out of foreign-born Americans," writes Jia Lynn Yang. nyti.ms/4a37QmN
Trump’s Immigration Policy Is 100 Years Old
The White House seems to be mining the Coolidge era for inspiration. But America is not the country it was in 1924.
nyti.ms
February 6, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
DEVELOPING: Federal judge will let Marimar Martinez release text messages sent by Border Patrol agent who shot her

From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/f...
Federal judge will let Marimar Martinez release text messages sent by Border Patrol agent who shot her
U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis pointed out that Martinez is "presumed innocent of any offense of which she has not been convicted." Martinez's attorney said the text messages and other evidence ...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Trump's racist post came at the end of a minute-long video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. n.pr/46d74S3
Trump posts racist meme of the Obamas - then deletes it
Trump's racist post came at the end of a minute-long video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
n.pr
February 6, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
NEW: since last year, a pair of "highly trained" feds have been involved in an array of incidents attacking crowds with chemical weapons.

We used public records and open source analysis to identify Edgar Vazquez and Michael Sveum, alongside some other members of their tactical team.

Read more:
Identified: the El Paso BORTAC crew rampaging through the Midwest
One violent duo in particular, U.S. Border Patrol agents Michael Sveum (EZ-2) and Edgar Vazquez (EZ-17), have been frequently seen alongside former commander-at-large Greg Bovino terrorizing crowds wi...
unraveledpress.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Another W for Marimar Martinez of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. Another L for the DJT DOJ.

Otra victoria de Marimar, la del barrio de La Villita. Otra derrota de la fiscalia de Trump chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/f...
Federal judge will let Marimar Martinez release text messages sent by Border Patrol agent who shot her
U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis pointed out that Martinez is "presumed innocent of any offense of which she has not been convicted." Martinez's attorney said the text messages and other evidence ...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
Received a front page in today's Chicago Sun-Times from a WBEZ data story on the increased racial, and cultural diversity of Chicago's suburbs. Be sure to get a copy if you can today!
February 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM
CHA contractor/CHA board member’s daughter gets into legal trouble.

CHA’s IG says she should be banned from doing business at CHA.

CHA executives: Nothing to see here
chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/c...
Chicago Housing Authority backs off ban on contracts with commissioner’s daughter
Lovie Diggs — a daughter of longtime CHA Commissioner Debra Parker — was paid more than $1 million but got into legal trouble in 2023.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:11 PM
These cases are swiftly falling apart elsewhere around the country, just as in Chicago www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
DHS’s account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: ‘a smear campaign’
Immigration officials said agent shot two ‘vicious gang members’ in Portland, but records obtained by the Guardian reveal US prosecutor contradicted claims
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Been using Signal since 2018, on the advice of a Russian reporter friend … who had to leave Russia years ago now
After years of testing, our Wirecutter expert is confident that Signal remains one of the best ways to send messages securely. Here’s everything you need to know about how it works, and how to stay safe while using it.
Why Signal Is Still Our Favorite Secure Messaging App (And Why No Messaging App Is Perfectly Secure)
Signal’s approach to end-to-end encryption makes it especially safe for sending messages. We have some tips on how to use it, and why no messaging app is perfect.
nyti.ms
February 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Dan Mihalopoulos
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Only in Chicago, again:

Guilty plea won’t keep CHA board member’s daughter from adding to the more than $1M the CHA already has paid her company chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/c...
Chicago Housing Authority backs off ban on contracts with commissioner’s daughter
Lovie Diggs — a daughter of longtime CHA Commissioner Debra Parker — was paid more than $1 million but got into legal trouble in 2023.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:38 PM