Mitchell Armentrout
@mitchtrout.bsky.social
@chicago.suntimes.com reporter, sometimes editor, usually politics, often White Sox. @cstguild.bsky.social -strong. Tips, please: marmentrout@suntimes.com / Signal: mtrout.74
https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrout
FanDuel, DraftKings, other big sportsbooks sue to block new Chicago sports betting tax chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
FanDuel, DraftKings, other big sportsbooks sue to block new Chicago sports betting tax
The city is counting on about $26 million in next year's budget from a new tax that betting companies argue would violate the state constitution.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:14 PM
FanDuel, DraftKings, other big sportsbooks sue to block new Chicago sports betting tax chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
A look back at Chicago's top news stories of 2025 chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/12...
A look back at Chicago's top news stories of 2025
Hordes of federal immigration agents came into the city, and a new pope came out of it. Sun-Times and WBEZ journalists had their work cut out for them in 2025.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A look back at Chicago's top news stories of 2025 chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/12...
City Council sends alternate budget to Mayor Brandon Johnson — will he veto it? chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
City Council sends alternate budget to Mayor Brandon Johnson — will he veto it?
Johnson calls the alternate budget “morally bankrupt” and unbalanced by $163 million. But a veto would inch Chicago closer to the reality of a government shutdown.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
City Council sends alternate budget to Mayor Brandon Johnson — will he veto it? chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility
Nenko Gantchev, 56, was arrested Sept. 23 during "Operation Midway Blitz," the Trump administration's recent immigration enforcement in the Chicago area. He died Monday.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Bulgarian man from Chicago dies in ICE custody at Michigan detention facility chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Trump administration sues Illinois election officials for sensitive voter data chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...
Trump administration sues Illinois election officials for sensitive voter data
The Justice Department says it's about preventing "vote dilution," but privacy advocates argue the effort could eventually be used to disenfranchise people.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Trump administration sues Illinois election officials for sensitive voter data chicago.suntimes.com/elections/20...
Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadiu...
Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium
The team says Arlington Heights is still their preferred option, but they need lawmakers to pass a bill allowing them to negotiate a discounted property tax rate.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadiu...
New state panel takes shot at holding Trump immigration blitz to account: 'We will not forget' chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
New state panel takes shot at holding Trump immigration blitz to account: 'We will not forget'
The chairman of the newly formed Illinois Accountability Commission acknowledged their eventual recommendations are likely to "fall on deaf ears" in the Trump administration.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:11 PM
New state panel takes shot at holding Trump immigration blitz to account: 'We will not forget' chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Mitchell Armentrout
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights. Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren wrote that Arlington Heights remains “the best and only path forward in Cook County” and vowed to look outside Cook County.
Bears looking beyond Arlington Heights as stadium focus shifts once again
chicago.suntimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights. Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren wrote that Arlington Heights remains “the best and only path forward in Cook County” and vowed to look outside Cook County.
Trump administration plans to eliminate hundreds of vacancies at Chicago area VA hospitals chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Trump administration plans to eliminate hundreds of vacancies at Chicago area VA hospitals
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it's closing old, unfilled jobs. Workers say hospitals that are already stretched thin will feel the consequences.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Trump administration plans to eliminate hundreds of vacancies at Chicago area VA hospitals chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that 'makes transit safer and more reliable' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that 'makes transit safer and more reliable'
Fares will be collected under a unified system managed by a new, stronger Northern Illinois Transportation Authority.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Pritzker signs CTA/Metra/Pace overhaul that 'makes transit safer and more reliable' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Gov. JB Pritzker 'could have gone either way' on Illinois' new right-to-die law chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Gov. JB Pritzker 'could have gone either way' on Illinois' new right-to-die law
The Democratic governor said he was swayed by the stories of terminally ill residents who want more end-of-life options.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Gov. JB Pritzker 'could have gone either way' on Illinois' new right-to-die law chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Gov. Pritzker, who saw Rob Reiner days before fatal stabbing, slams Trump response to filmmaker’s death chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-gov...
Gov. Pritzker, who saw Rob Reiner days before fatal stabbing, slams Trump response to filmmaker’s death
“I was with them four days ago. These are some terrific people," Gov. JB Pritzker said of the acclaimed filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were stabbed to death in Los Angeles.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Gov. Pritzker, who saw Rob Reiner days before fatal stabbing, slams Trump response to filmmaker’s death chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-gov...
Gov. JB Pritzker signs 'right-to-die' legislation for terminally ill people to end their lives in Illinois chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Gov. JB Pritzker signs 'right-to-die' legislation for terminally ill people to end their lives in Illinois
The new law, which takes effect next September, opens the door for people 18 or older with a terminal diagnosis to be prescribed a fatal drug.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Gov. JB Pritzker signs 'right-to-die' legislation for terminally ill people to end their lives in Illinois chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Indiana Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting, easing pressure on Illinois Dems for remap chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Indiana Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting, easing pressure on Illinois Dems for remap
Gov. JB Pritzker suggested Illinois’ threat to retaliate helped defeat the measure across the border — and he didn’t rule out an effort to expand his state’s 14-3 Democratic edge.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Indiana Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting, easing pressure on Illinois Dems for remap chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
As Indiana Republicans move toward redistricting, Pritzker warns Illinois ‘won’t stand idly by’ chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
As Indiana Republicans move toward redistricting, Pritzker warns Illinois ‘won’t stand idly by’
Top Illinois Democrats have signaled they would move to counter a potential congressional remap in Indiana, which could get a vote this week.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
As Indiana Republicans move toward redistricting, Pritzker warns Illinois ‘won’t stand idly by’ chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
Pritzker rejects Trump administration threat to cut funding over CTA safety issues: 'Action has been taken' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Pritzker rejects Trump administration threat to cut funding over CTA safety issues: 'Action has been taken'
Federal officials ordered the CTA to develop an enhanced security plan by next week in response to the burning of a woman aboard a Blue Line train last month.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Pritzker rejects Trump administration threat to cut funding over CTA safety issues: 'Action has been taken' chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...
Law barring immigration enforcement in courthouses signed by Pritzker chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Law barring immigration enforcement in courthouses signed by Pritzker
The new state law also allows residents to sue federal agents over alleged constitutional violations, but could face court challenges.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Law barring immigration enforcement in courthouses signed by Pritzker chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
New ComEd discounts set to take effect for lower-income residents as power bills surge chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...
New ComEd discounts set to take effect for lower-income residents as power bills surge
A similar discount rate program that took effect this year for natural gas bills in Chicago will soon extend to electric bills.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
New ComEd discounts set to take effect for lower-income residents as power bills surge chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...
Reposted by Mitchell Armentrout
Days before ACIP meets and is supposed to take up delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, Illinois signs new law to set its own vaccine guidelines, w/ @mitchtrout.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Pritzker signs law for Illinois to set its own vaccine guidelines in response to Trump skeptics
An independent state committee will be responsible for setting vaccine guidelines that Illinois officials previously had relied on the federal government to provide.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Days before ACIP meets and is supposed to take up delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, Illinois signs new law to set its own vaccine guidelines, w/ @mitchtrout.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Ban on hemp products in Chicago clears City Council committee chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Ban on hemp products in Chicago clears City Council committee
Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of Illinois' billion-dollar hemp industry are fighting the effort to ban hemp-derived THC products that have soared in popularity.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Ban on hemp products in Chicago clears City Council committee chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Pritzker signs law for Illinois to set its own vaccine guidelines in response to Trump skeptics chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
Pritzker signs law for Illinois to set its own vaccine guidelines in response to Trump skeptics
An independent state committee will be responsible for setting vaccine guidelines that Illinois officials previously had relied on the federal government to provide.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Pritzker signs law for Illinois to set its own vaccine guidelines in response to Trump skeptics chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/...
14-year-old killed, 8 wounded in shootings during 'teen takeover' in Loop hours after tree-lighting ceremony chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/1...
14-year-old killed, 8 wounded in shootings during 'teen takeover' in Loop hours after tree-lighting ceremony
One attack happened just outside the Chicago Theatre and another a few blocks away, all after thousands of people flocked downtown to start the holiday season.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:57 PM
14-year-old killed, 8 wounded in shootings during 'teen takeover' in Loop hours after tree-lighting ceremony chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/1...
White Sox co-owner Justin Ishbia meets Pope Leo XIV — and invites him to throw first pitch at new stadium chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv...
White Sox co-owner Justin Ishbia meets Pope Leo XIV — and invites him to throw first pitch at new stadium
The team's possible future chairman told the Sun-Times he asked their most famous fan "to bless the stadium" that Ishbia hopes to help bring to the South Side.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
White Sox co-owner Justin Ishbia meets Pope Leo XIV — and invites him to throw first pitch at new stadium chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv...
Digital driver's licenses, IDs available to Illinois residents starting Wednesday chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...
Digital driver's licenses, IDs available to Illinois residents starting Wednesday
The Illinois General Assembly passed a law last year allowing for people to carry their IDs on their cellphones.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Digital driver's licenses, IDs available to Illinois residents starting Wednesday chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...
Hemp product ban, tacked onto bill to reopen government, stuns Illinois businesses: ‘Unnecessary and cruel’ chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
Hemp product ban, tacked onto bill to reopen government, stuns Illinois businesses: ‘Unnecessary and cruel’
Federal lawmakers are poised to close a loophole that has allowed for an array of intoxicating cannabinoids that have generated a billion-dollar Illinois market — and soon will likely be illegal.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Hemp product ban, tacked onto bill to reopen government, stuns Illinois businesses: ‘Unnecessary and cruel’ chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...