Your Daily Guide

Ascending Power Players in Chicago Politics

Back in January, we discussed the most powerful people in Chicago. But a lot has changed since then … or has it? TV host Brandon Pope and the Tribune’s A.D. Quig are back on today’s podcast to discuss how power is shifting across Chicagoland in light of recent retirements — and which power players might emerge in 2026. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Greg Bovino Always Wanted the Spotlight

Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino, whose department carried out thousands of arrests during “Operation Midway Blitz,” found early inspiration in a Clint Eastwood movie. (Of course, in “Border Patrol,” those agents are the villains.) Today, his bravado and bombastic posts define his public persona. [WBEZ]

Museum Workers are Unionizing

In the last four years, workers from the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Shedd Aquarium, Newberry Library, and recently, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, have unionized. Adler Planetarium and Chicago Botanic Garden are organizing too. The trend persists despite this “precarious” time for museums. [Sun-Times]

A Potential Crackdown on Unregulated Slot Machines

Sweepstakes machines, as they’re called, operate like slot machines but with non-cash prizes due to a legal loophole. They’re also unregulated and untaxed. A new proposal from Ald. William Hall (6th) would ban them. [Block Club]

• Related: Bally’s started in Chicago with pinball machines. [City Cast Chicago]

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration demanded the CTA enhance its security by adding cops — or it would pull federal funding. (The CTA’s Red Line extension and State & Lake makeover are both federally funded.)

The ultimatum came weeks after a woman was set on fire by a man on the Blue Line. And the deadline is Friday.

But what is the CTA’s current system for public safety?

Present-Day CTA Security

In 2025, $88.47 million was budgeted for security services on the CTA. This covers off-duty Chicago Police Department officers who supplement the roughly 170 CPD officers deployed to the transit system daily.

It also covers private security companies, which make up the bulk of CTA security. Surely you’ve noticed the roving German shepherds alongside handlers in tactical gear — these are part of the private firm Action K-9 Security.

K-9 Teams

In 2022, the CTA signed an 18-month, $30.9 million contract with Action K-9 to deploy 100 unarmed guards and 50 canines per day (two guards for every one dog). In 2024, the contract was extended with an additional $13 million.

Rather than respond directly, the hope is the mere presence of these K-9 teams will deter crime. If someone continues to break a law or CTA rule, you can expect a K-9 to call for police backup.

The dogs, which are muzzled, can only be sicced in a life-or-death scenario according to one guard’s account. One such instance occurred in July, during a brawl on the Red Line.

Meanwhile, I’ve reached out to the CTA asking whether the dogs are trained to sniff out drugs or bombs — if they answer, I’ll let you know in Hey Chicago.

Additional Private Security

Also in 2022, CTA signed multi-year contracts worth $71 million with Inter-Con Security and Monterrey Security, a local company with political ties to top Chicago cops. Together, the firms provided 300 unarmed guards.

A year later, data showed crime on the transit system had significantly increased.

Regardless, in 2024, funding for the Inter-Con and Monterrey contracts increased by $26 million. Those unarmed guards are still present on the train — you might notice them in yellow vests.

What Now?

Despite November’s Blue Line attack, CTA crime rates remained relatively flat this past year with 902 violent crimes so far this year. That’s 20 fewer than in 2024, according to a police spokesperson.

Still, Friday remains the federal deadline for CTA to implement a new “verifiable security enhancement plan.”