WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: Oct. 9, 2026

SPEAKER_1 (0:10)

Chicago City Council Finance Committee signs off on the largest police misconduct settlement in US history.

SPEAKER_2 (0:17)

Dennis Hastert, the disgraced former House Speaker who later went to prison, has died.

SPEAKER_3 (0:21)

The governor says the Trump administration has denied the state's request for a major disaster declaration following the severe storms in August.

SPEAKER_4 (0:30)

Democrats have slammed the decision, saying Trump is punishing blue states by withholding federal relief money.

Sasha-Ann Simons (0:36)

Hey Chicago, I'm Sasha-Ann Simons, and this is In the Loop.

It's Friday, so it's time to look back and break down the big stories of the week in our Weekly News Recap. The Cleveland Guardians force Game 5 and tie the series with the Chicago White Sox. A proposed Amtrak railyard has Bridgeport neighbors and city council members demanding answers. Plus two families are taking legal action after violent and deadly encounters with federal immigration agents in the Chicago area.

SPEAKER_6 (1:09)

The family of Silvario Villegas-Gonzalez filed an administrative complaint today seeking compensation from the federal government for his death.

Sasha-Ann Simons (1:17)

A woman who was repeatedly shot last year by a border patrol agent is filing a lawsuit against the federal government.

SPEAKER_7 (1:23)

Tonight, the three candidates running for Chicago's first elected school board president laid out their vision for Chicago public schools at a city club forum.

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Jim Durkin, the former Illinois Republican House leader, is endorsing Democrat JB. Pritzker over Darren Bailey in the battle for governor.

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There will be a winner-take-all game five for the White Sox and Guardians.

James Fegan (1:41)

We can't get too down.

SPEAKER_4 (1:42)

We're not out of it.

James Fegan (1:42)

So, yeah, now we go to Cleveland and we win there.

Sasha-Ann Simons (1:45)

We're going to get into the Weekly News Recap in a few minutes. But first, a check in with WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Rae Stout. She's here now with news that broke just this morning. Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl.

Cheryl Rae Stout (1:56)

Thank you, Sasha.

Sasha-Ann Simons (1:58)

Now, we've learned that Mike Ditka, the legendary Chicago Bears Hall of Fame player and coach, has died at the age of 86 What else, if anything, do we know at this point, Cheryl?

Cheryl Rae Stout (2:09)

His family has had a release sent out today saying that he passed with his family around him.

Of course, we know and know exactly what caused his death, but he passed with his family. That's what's really important.

Sasha-Ann Simons (2:25)

Yeah. He was surrounded by family. I'm thinking of you, Cheryl. You've covered this sport and Ditka for many years. I mean, how will you be remembering him?

Cheryl Rae Stout (2:32)

Well, he was bigger than life.

He was not just a Chicago icon, he became an NFL icon. There was nothing that he couldn't do that he wanted to do. And the fact is, he was able to send a letter to George Helles asking him if he would make him his head coach. And Helles did. And what did he do? He provided the Chicago Bears their first opportunity and the only opportunity to win a Super Bowl. They won it in New Orleans. I was there in 1986

Sasha-Ann Simons (3:08)

So the Bears are playing the Packers this Sunday. Do you expect that we'll see our arch rivals honor him in some way? Maybe with a minute of silence?

Cheryl Rae Stout (3:16)

I believe that will happen across the league and it would be definitely in Green Bay. Yes, they were the biggest rivals, but there was respect between Majditka and the Packers and he will be honored.

Sasha-Ann Simons (3:31)

All right, we'll leave it there. Thank you so much for the update, Cheryl. You're welcome.

Now let's pivot and get into the Weekly News recap. At the table was Melody Mercado, reporter covering The Loop, West Loop, River North and the Gold Coast for Block Club, Chicago. Nick Blumberg, WTTW News correspondent and host of Chicago Tonight's Week in Review. And Dave McKinney, politics and government editor at WBEZ and the Sun-Times.

We kicked off the recap with a look at baseball. The White Sox lost their second game in a row against the Cleveland Guardians. Now the series is tied. Sun-Times White Sox beat reporter James Fegan filled us in on what I called a nail-biter of a game. We'll see if he agrees.

James Fegan (4:15)

I think it kind of speaks to the stress of playoff baseball. I mean, as regular season, if a team gives up six runs in the six inning and loses by four runs, it's not called a nail-biter. But it's kind of back and forth with the stakes that are present here with, you know, 40,000 people kind of living and dying with every moment. It feels more tense than the scores suggest. But in terms of the series in general and just like the swings it's had and how these teams have played, I want to say, 17 times combined regular season playoffs, it's 9-8 in the favor of the White Sox so far this year.