Chicago Transit Authority ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels. Crime and a budget shortfall make matters worse, but there are cost-effective ways to make it safer.

Chicago is one of the nation's greatest cities, but it has challenges. An outline of four of the most significant problems.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has revised the indoor mask mandate issued in August, limiting indoor masking to health care and congregate facilities. Also, he said the Illinois Department of Public Health director is resigning.

Hiding lobbyist payments led to a felony indictment in October against Lake Forest’s longtime former city manager. His plea bargain drops the felony and could eventually leave his record clean.

A grand jury indicted Lake Forest’s longtime city manager for making $200,000 in unauthorized payments to a lobbying firm in an effort to attract funding for an unpopular proposed Amtrak stop.

In an effort to lure backing for an Amtrak train stop, a February report showed nearly $200,000 traveled from Lake Forest to a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm. The city attorney, whose private law firm processed the transaction, has resigned from office.