DALLAS — A major U.S. provider of software services to state and local governments acknowledged Friday it was hit by a ransomware attack two days after telling clients an unknown intruder had compromised its phone and information technology systems. Tyler Technologies said in a statement that it confirmed the intruder used ransomware but did not provide further details on its response, citing an ongoing investigation. A spokesperson for the Dallas-area company did not directly answer a question about whether it had paid to have its systems unlocked. Advertisement Ransomware purveyors are...…DALLAS — A major U.S. provider of software services to state and local governments acknowledged Friday it was hit by a ransomware attack two days after telling clients an unknown intruder had compromised its phone and information technology systems. Tyler Technologies said in a statement that it confirmed the intruder used ransomware but did not provide further details on its response, citing an ongoing investigation. A spokesperson for the Dallas-area company did not directly answer a question about whether it had paid to have its systems unlocked. Advertisement Ransomware purveyors are...WW…

Over three months ago, a majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged , making a powerful statement that reverberated across the country. It shook up Capitol Hill and the presidential race, shocked residents, delighted activists and changed the trajectory of efforts to overhaul the police during a crucial window of tumult and political opportunity. Now some council members would like a do-over. Advertisement Councilor Andrew Johnson, one of the nine members who supported the pledge in June, said in an interview that he meant the words “in spirit,” not by the letter. Another councilor,...…Over three months ago, a majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged , making a powerful statement that reverberated across the country. It shook up Capitol Hill and the presidential race, shocked residents, delighted activists and changed the trajectory of efforts to overhaul the police during a crucial window of tumult and political opportunity. Now some council members would like a do-over. Advertisement Councilor Andrew Johnson, one of the nine members who supported the pledge in June, said in an interview that he meant the words “in spirit,” not by the letter. Another councilor,...WW…

ROCKFORD — Plans to restore passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago for the first time in four decades are moving forward. The Illinois Department of Transportation has hired engineering professional services firm WSP USA as project manager, according to state Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford. Advertisement “Passenger rail service to and from Chicago holds tremendous potential for economic growth and enhanced quality of life in the Rockford area,” Stadelman said in a news release. “People across northern Illinois are excited about the prospect of a rail link with Chicago, and I...…ROCKFORD — Plans to restore passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago for the first time in four decades are moving forward. The Illinois Department of Transportation has hired engineering professional services firm WSP USA as project manager, according to state Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford. Advertisement “Passenger rail service to and from Chicago holds tremendous potential for economic growth and enhanced quality of life in the Rockford area,” Stadelman said in a news release. “People across northern Illinois are excited about the prospect of a rail link with Chicago, and I...WW…

A lone cowboy rode out from obscurity this summer and into local fame, an oddball bright spot in a bleak year. The Dreadhead Cowboy — born Adam Hollingsworth — became a social media sensation, a mainstay at Black Lives Matter protests, , a friend to children across the city. Advertisement But his gallop down the Dan Ryan Expressway this week ended in ugly allegations that he criminally mistreated his horse, which may now need to be euthanized, Cook County prosecutors said. Hollingsworth was ordered held on $25,000 bond at a hearing Wednesday; he posted the bail and walked out of jail about...…A lone cowboy rode out from obscurity this summer and into local fame, an oddball bright spot in a bleak year. The Dreadhead Cowboy — born Adam Hollingsworth — became a social media sensation, a mainstay at Black Lives Matter protests, , a friend to children across the city. Advertisement But his gallop down the Dan Ryan Expressway this week ended in ugly allegations that he criminally mistreated his horse, which may now need to be euthanized, Cook County prosecutors said. Hollingsworth was ordered held on $25,000 bond at a hearing Wednesday; he posted the bail and walked out of jail about...WW…

This will be remembered as the week President Donald Trump formally announced his plans to stage a coup. Coups, as a general rule, don’t receive much advance publicity. But Trump needs attention the way normal humans need oxygen, so he went ahead and let the American people know what’s coming after the Nov. 3 election. Advertisement Asked Wednesday if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, the leader of our soon-to-be-former democracy said: “We’re going to have to see what happens. You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a...…This will be remembered as the week President Donald Trump formally announced his plans to stage a coup. Coups, as a general rule, don’t receive much advance publicity. But Trump needs attention the way normal humans need oxygen, so he went ahead and let the American people know what’s coming after the Nov. 3 election. Advertisement Asked Wednesday if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, the leader of our soon-to-be-former democracy said: “We’re going to have to see what happens. You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a...WW…

A top legislative adviser to Mayor Lori Lightfoot is marrying first-term Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner, raising concerns from some of the mayor’s staff about the ethical implications of the relationship, sources told the Tribune. Lightfoot’s senior adviser for legislative counsel and government affairs, Samantha Fields, has been dating Gardiner for months and they plan to get married in October, sources said. first reported news of the wedding plans. Advertisement In a statement, the mayor’s office congratulated Fields on her engagement and said she will immediately take a new role as senior...…A top legislative adviser to Mayor Lori Lightfoot is marrying first-term Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner, raising concerns from some of the mayor’s staff about the ethical implications of the relationship, sources told the Tribune. Lightfoot’s senior adviser for legislative counsel and government affairs, Samantha Fields, has been dating Gardiner for months and they plan to get married in October, sources said. first reported news of the wedding plans. Advertisement In a statement, the mayor’s office congratulated Fields on her engagement and said she will immediately take a new role as senior...WW…

If Adam Hollingsworth — the so-called Dreadhead Cowboy — had to do it all over again, he said he would still gladly make the unauthorized gallop on the Dan Ryan Expressway to spotlight violence against children in Chicago this year. The urban horseman enjoyed local celebrity as an activist and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s census ambassador before being . But on Thursday, he pleaded for help from the mayor’s office and Chicago’s pantheon of famous and socially conscious rappers to make the criminal case go away. Advertisement Hollingsworth quickly went viral Monday as he livestreamed his horseback...…If Adam Hollingsworth — the so-called Dreadhead Cowboy — had to do it all over again, he said he would still gladly make the unauthorized gallop on the Dan Ryan Expressway to spotlight violence against children in Chicago this year. The urban horseman enjoyed local celebrity as an activist and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s census ambassador before being . But on Thursday, he pleaded for help from the mayor’s office and Chicago’s pantheon of famous and socially conscious rappers to make the criminal case go away. Advertisement Hollingsworth quickly went viral Monday as he livestreamed his horseback...WW…

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton warned Thursday that Illinoisans could face an across-the-board income tax hike of at least 20% if voters reject a proposed constitutional amendment to shift the state from a mandated flat-rate tax to a . For weeks, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritkzer’s administration has cautioned that severe budget cuts could be on the way if voters don’t approve the proposed amendment to overhaul Illinois' income tax system. But Stratton’s threat that all taxpayers, regardless of income, could face a tax hike unless the amendment passes on Nov. 3 appeared to represent a new shift in...…Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton warned Thursday that Illinoisans could face an across-the-board income tax hike of at least 20% if voters reject a proposed constitutional amendment to shift the state from a mandated flat-rate tax to a . For weeks, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritkzer’s administration has cautioned that severe budget cuts could be on the way if voters don’t approve the proposed amendment to overhaul Illinois' income tax system. But Stratton’s threat that all taxpayers, regardless of income, could face a tax hike unless the amendment passes on Nov. 3 appeared to represent a new shift in...WW…

Though the redevelopment of the Discount Mall in Little Village has , it has been a worry for some since 2016. That’s when former Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the plan to transform the abandoned BNSF railroad into a trail called El Paseo, running from the east side of Pilsen to South Lawndale. Advertisement “They did that over in Pilsen and now they want to do the same here,” said Ruben Perales, a community resident who stopped by to support the group of vendors and residents at a rally Wednesday to raise awareness of the possible closure of the mall. Perales said his family used to live in...…Though the redevelopment of the Discount Mall in Little Village has , it has been a worry for some since 2016. That’s when former Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the plan to transform the abandoned BNSF railroad into a trail called El Paseo, running from the east side of Pilsen to South Lawndale. Advertisement “They did that over in Pilsen and now they want to do the same here,” said Ruben Perales, a community resident who stopped by to support the group of vendors and residents at a rally Wednesday to raise awareness of the possible closure of the mall. Perales said his family used to live in...WW…

Lawry’s the Prime Rib, which has been a fixture on Ontario Street (just west of Michigan Avenue) for 46 years, is calling it quits at the end of the year. Staffers were notified Saturday. The coronavirus, recent civil unrest and an expiring lease all contributed to the decision, said Ryan Wilson, CEO of Lawry’s Inc. Advertisement “In a year of incredible turmoil, this is a tough one for sure,” he said. “But with the industry in general in such a state of flux, we felt we had to push the pause button.” Note the use of “pause button,” and not “stop button.” Advertisement “I think there’s a...…Lawry’s the Prime Rib, which has been a fixture on Ontario Street (just west of Michigan Avenue) for 46 years, is calling it quits at the end of the year. Staffers were notified Saturday. The coronavirus, recent civil unrest and an expiring lease all contributed to the decision, said Ryan Wilson, CEO of Lawry’s Inc. Advertisement “In a year of incredible turmoil, this is a tough one for sure,” he said. “But with the industry in general in such a state of flux, we felt we had to push the pause button.” Note the use of “pause button,” and not “stop button.” Advertisement “I think there’s a...WW…

Kellie Black said she was expecting an announcement regarding Breonna Taylor’s grand jury inquiry but didn’t think anything was amiss until businesses in her Gresham neighborhood began boarding up windows. On Wednesday, Black joined about 100 community residents and activists who blocked off a trucking route on the South Side in a peaceful protest after a Kentucky grand jury decided not to for their role in Taylor’s killing. Advertisement As trucks and buses blocked traffic, demonstrators briefly sat in the street and wrote “Breonna” in fake blood. During the roughly hourlong protest at the...…Kellie Black said she was expecting an announcement regarding Breonna Taylor’s grand jury inquiry but didn’t think anything was amiss until businesses in her Gresham neighborhood began boarding up windows. On Wednesday, Black joined about 100 community residents and activists who blocked off a trucking route on the South Side in a peaceful protest after a Kentucky grand jury decided not to for their role in Taylor’s killing. Advertisement As trucks and buses blocked traffic, demonstrators briefly sat in the street and wrote “Breonna” in fake blood. During the roughly hourlong protest at the...WW…

Wednesday’s Chicago Board of Education meeting offered little clarity for everyone who wants to know if students will be back in classrooms when the second quarter begins in November. Allison Gorsuch, who has a child in kindergarten at Pulaski International School of Chicago, called on the board to be transparent and “release criteria for reopening as soon as possible,” including firm case numbers and positivity rates. Advertisement “Remote learning is not developmentally appropriate for kindergartners,” she said. “... I’ve watched my student and his teacher work really hard at remote...…Wednesday’s Chicago Board of Education meeting offered little clarity for everyone who wants to know if students will be back in classrooms when the second quarter begins in November. Allison Gorsuch, who has a child in kindergarten at Pulaski International School of Chicago, called on the board to be transparent and “release criteria for reopening as soon as possible,” including firm case numbers and positivity rates. Advertisement “Remote learning is not developmentally appropriate for kindergartners,” she said. “... I’ve watched my student and his teacher work really hard at remote...WW…

CEDARBURG, WIS. — When Michael Hicks and his daughter chalked “Black Lives Matter” on the pavement outside their suburban home, someone scrubbed it away within hours. Then Hicks put up a Black Lives Matter sign on his cul-de-sac, only to find it tossed in a dumpster. He finally tried sticking signs in his garden, but a neighbor complained, and he removed them to avoid harassment. Advertisement “They just seem to want to silence you in these suburbs,” said Hicks, who commutes from a condo in Grafton, Wisconsin, to a Milwaukee school, where he teaches health and physical education. “They’re...…CEDARBURG, WIS. — When Michael Hicks and his daughter chalked “Black Lives Matter” on the pavement outside their suburban home, someone scrubbed it away within hours. Then Hicks put up a Black Lives Matter sign on his cul-de-sac, only to find it tossed in a dumpster. He finally tried sticking signs in his garden, but a neighbor complained, and he removed them to avoid harassment. Advertisement “They just seem to want to silence you in these suburbs,” said Hicks, who commutes from a condo in Grafton, Wisconsin, to a Milwaukee school, where he teaches health and physical education. “They’re...WW…

The Boystown banners are coming down. Business leaders in Chicago’s largest LGBTQ neighborhood announced Wednesday that they would stop marketing the area as Boystown, following complaints that the 30-year-old name excludes women and gender nonbinary people. Advertisement Boystown will be called Northalsted and promoted as “Chicago’s Proudest Neighborhood,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the Northalsted Business Alliance, the local chamber of commerce. The announcement follows an online survey by the Northalsted Business Alliance, answered by 7,900 people. Advertisement Of...…The Boystown banners are coming down. Business leaders in Chicago’s largest LGBTQ neighborhood announced Wednesday that they would stop marketing the area as Boystown, following complaints that the 30-year-old name excludes women and gender nonbinary people. Advertisement Boystown will be called Northalsted and promoted as “Chicago’s Proudest Neighborhood,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the Northalsted Business Alliance, the local chamber of commerce. The announcement follows an online survey by the Northalsted Business Alliance, answered by 7,900 people. Advertisement Of...WW…

For the second time, Chicago on Tuesday added Wisconsin to the on its travel order, meaning travelers returning to the city from there should stay inside their homes for two weeks because of high coronavirus counts. Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady made the call as part of her weekly update on the states that have earned the designation because of high virus counts. Her move came as Wisconsin’s governor on Tuesday declared “a new public health emergency” because COVID-19 is spiking there. Advertisement “Unfortunately, Wisconsin is currently in very poor control when it comes to...…For the second time, Chicago on Tuesday added Wisconsin to the on its travel order, meaning travelers returning to the city from there should stay inside their homes for two weeks because of high coronavirus counts. Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady made the call as part of her weekly update on the states that have earned the designation because of high virus counts. Her move came as Wisconsin’s governor on Tuesday declared “a new public health emergency” because COVID-19 is spiking there. Advertisement “Unfortunately, Wisconsin is currently in very poor control when it comes to...WW…

Three weeks after launching to tepid ratings, WGN America’s “News Nation” has landed an interview with President Donald Trump that could raise the profile of the nascent cable newscast. It may also test whether the network can live up to its motto of unbiased reporting. Advertisement “News Nation” co-anchor Joe Donlon conducted a one-on-one interview with Trump at the White House Tuesday morning. Segments will air in prime time beginning at 7 p.m. Chicago time, the network said Monday. The interview, which comes amid the heat of a presidential election and days after the death of Supreme...…Three weeks after launching to tepid ratings, WGN America’s “News Nation” has landed an interview with President Donald Trump that could raise the profile of the nascent cable newscast. It may also test whether the network can live up to its motto of unbiased reporting. Advertisement “News Nation” co-anchor Joe Donlon conducted a one-on-one interview with Trump at the White House Tuesday morning. Segments will air in prime time beginning at 7 p.m. Chicago time, the network said Monday. The interview, which comes amid the heat of a presidential election and days after the death of Supreme...WW…

WASHINGTON — Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Tuesday he supports voting to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court, all but ensuring President Donald Trump has the backing needed to push the nomination over Democratic objections that it’s too close to the November election. Romney issued a statement saying he would support moving forward. Advertisement “If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,” Romney said. Trump , meanwhile, said he would announce his choice to replace the late Ginsburg on Saturday,...…WASHINGTON — Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Tuesday he supports voting to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court, all but ensuring President Donald Trump has the backing needed to push the nomination over Democratic objections that it’s too close to the November election. Romney issued a statement saying he would support moving forward. Advertisement “If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,” Romney said. Trump , meanwhile, said he would announce his choice to replace the late Ginsburg on Saturday,...WW…

Summer 2020 is officially gone, and as it leaves, in a normal year, the shirtless young men of Grove 13 would leave with it, driven indoors by the chill of autumn. Grove 13 is the Chicago Park District’s official name for the patch of Lincoln Park at Wellington and inner Lake Shore Drive, just north of the Diversey Driving Range. Here, beneath the watchful glare of nearby apartment buildings and senior living facilities, there is a small workout space. It’s nothing exciting to look at. It’s smaller than a typical playground and the equipment is so spartan — parallel bars, gymnast rings,...…Summer 2020 is officially gone, and as it leaves, in a normal year, the shirtless young men of Grove 13 would leave with it, driven indoors by the chill of autumn. Grove 13 is the Chicago Park District’s official name for the patch of Lincoln Park at Wellington and inner Lake Shore Drive, just north of the Diversey Driving Range. Here, beneath the watchful glare of nearby apartment buildings and senior living facilities, there is a small workout space. It’s nothing exciting to look at. It’s smaller than a typical playground and the equipment is so spartan — parallel bars, gymnast rings,...WW…

Chicago aldermen on Monday created a new City Council subcommittee to study ways to provide reparations for descendants of slaves. The subcommittee within the council’s Health Committee will be charged with “examining the state of equity in the City of Chicago,” according to a resolution that passed the full council in June. Advertisement “In their examination of equity, the designated individuals may be tasked with analyzing the historical harms of slavery and segregation, as well as the ongoing harms of institutional discrimination and mass incarceration," the resolution reads in part....…Chicago aldermen on Monday created a new City Council subcommittee to study ways to provide reparations for descendants of slaves. The subcommittee within the council’s Health Committee will be charged with “examining the state of equity in the City of Chicago,” according to a resolution that passed the full council in June. Advertisement “In their examination of equity, the designated individuals may be tasked with analyzing the historical harms of slavery and segregation, as well as the ongoing harms of institutional discrimination and mass incarceration," the resolution reads in part....WW…

The rebuilt west-to-north ramp on the Jane Byrne Interchange is set to reopen this week, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Motorists traveling west will be able to use the outbound Ida B. Wells Drive ramp to access northbound lanes on the Kennedy Expressway, or Interstate 90/94. The state closed the ramp in January in order to demolish and rebuild it before the end of 2020, according to IDOT. Advertisement The ramp could reopen by Wednesday or even sooner, depending on the weather, IDOT spokeswoman Maria Castaneda said. On Sept. 3, IDOT announced the opening of the...…The rebuilt west-to-north ramp on the Jane Byrne Interchange is set to reopen this week, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Motorists traveling west will be able to use the outbound Ida B. Wells Drive ramp to access northbound lanes on the Kennedy Expressway, or Interstate 90/94. The state closed the ramp in January in order to demolish and rebuild it before the end of 2020, according to IDOT. Advertisement The ramp could reopen by Wednesday or even sooner, depending on the weather, IDOT spokeswoman Maria Castaneda said. On Sept. 3, IDOT announced the opening of the...WW…

Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting Chicago like a polar vortex — closing schools, shutting down restaurants and hotels, emptying offices and putting people out of work. But Mayor Lori Lightfoot offered one bit of comfort to suffering Chicagoans: a respite from parking tickets. “The only ticketing that is going to be happening is if there is a car or other vehicle posing some kind of public safety threat,”she March 18, a policy she said would last until April 30. “So, for example, (a vehicle at) an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety...…Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting Chicago like a polar vortex — closing schools, shutting down restaurants and hotels, emptying offices and putting people out of work. But Mayor Lori Lightfoot offered one bit of comfort to suffering Chicagoans: a respite from parking tickets. “The only ticketing that is going to be happening is if there is a car or other vehicle posing some kind of public safety threat,”she March 18, a policy she said would last until April 30. “So, for example, (a vehicle at) an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety...WW…

The Old Post Office has opened the nation’s largest private rooftop deck, giving office workers in the riverfront behemoth 3.5 acres of outdoor space to spread out during the coronavirus pandemic. The rooftop deck, which cost $19 million to build, opened Monday to tenants in the building. Advertisement It comes at a time when few workers are in the building, and amid concerns that the overall Chicago office market could be in for a long recovery from the virus. Few companies are looking to move at the moment, and many tenants want to shrink their space. The rooftop includes a quarter-mile...…The Old Post Office has opened the nation’s largest private rooftop deck, giving office workers in the riverfront behemoth 3.5 acres of outdoor space to spread out during the coronavirus pandemic. The rooftop deck, which cost $19 million to build, opened Monday to tenants in the building. Advertisement It comes at a time when few workers are in the building, and amid concerns that the overall Chicago office market could be in for a long recovery from the virus. Few companies are looking to move at the moment, and many tenants want to shrink their space. The rooftop includes a quarter-mile...WW…

With schools closed, restaurants shut down and an economic collapse looming in the early weeks of the pandemic, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced plans to stop ticketing, booting and impounding cars throughout the city to ease financial pressures on Chicagoans. “The only ticketing that is going to be happening is if there is a car or other vehicle posing some kind of public safety threat. But the normal ticketing should be suspended until April 30,” she said during a . “So, for example, an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety threat, you should not be...…With schools closed, restaurants shut down and an economic collapse looming in the early weeks of the pandemic, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced plans to stop ticketing, booting and impounding cars throughout the city to ease financial pressures on Chicagoans. “The only ticketing that is going to be happening is if there is a car or other vehicle posing some kind of public safety threat. But the normal ticketing should be suspended until April 30,” she said during a . “So, for example, an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety threat, you should not be...WW…

An attorney for the family of a woman stabbed to death in a Wicker Park neighborhood Walgreens slammed prosecutors for their handling of a prior burglary case against the man accused in the killing and some area businesses for not cooperating with the Chicago Police Department’s investigation. The allegations came at a news conference Wednesday morning outside the Walgreens, 1372 N. Milwaukee Ave., where Olga Maria Calderon was working Sept. 6 when a man stabbed her to death. Advertisement Israel Alvarado, Calderon’s fiance, spoke about how bright, caring and funny his fiancee was. He and...…An attorney for the family of a woman stabbed to death in a Wicker Park neighborhood Walgreens slammed prosecutors for their handling of a prior burglary case against the man accused in the killing and some area businesses for not cooperating with the Chicago Police Department’s investigation. The allegations came at a news conference Wednesday morning outside the Walgreens, 1372 N. Milwaukee Ave., where Olga Maria Calderon was working Sept. 6 when a man stabbed her to death. Advertisement Israel Alvarado, Calderon’s fiance, spoke about how bright, caring and funny his fiancee was. He and...WW…

The and liberal titan Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives Republicans the chance to do the right thing. For a president up for reelection in just six weeks, the right thing to do would be to hold off until the people have had their say. The right course for Republican senators, who refused to even hold a hearing for Barack Obama’s nominee when Antonin Scalia died nine months before the 2016 presidential election, would be to decline a vote on any nominee before Election Day. At the moment, right-wing commentators were salivating at the prospect of solidifying beyond all doubt conservative control of...…The and liberal titan Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives Republicans the chance to do the right thing. For a president up for reelection in just six weeks, the right thing to do would be to hold off until the people have had their say. The right course for Republican senators, who refused to even hold a hearing for Barack Obama’s nominee when Antonin Scalia died nine months before the 2016 presidential election, would be to decline a vote on any nominee before Election Day. At the moment, right-wing commentators were salivating at the prospect of solidifying beyond all doubt conservative control of...WW…