Mina Bloom

My latest for @blockclubchi.bsky.social follows up on an important City Council hearing that was canceled after not enough alders showed up. This one feels like such a Block Club story. It's fueled by our readers. And it holds our local alders accountable. blockclubchicago.org/2026/10/19/w...

This month, a city hearing on domestic violence was canceled at the last minute bc not enough alderpeople showed up. @blockclubchi.bsky.social readers had a strong reaction to our story. So we decided to ask those alders why they skipped it. @minabloom.bsky.social reports:

come work with us! @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/investigativ...

As thorough an attempt as I've seen to account for the US Customs & Border Protection personnel who operated for a little over two months here. #chicago

Many agents had specialized training, which experts say was part of the problem this fall. "All of the training is more about high risk, going after people that are armed. So using them for public-order policing is not a particularly good fit." blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/30/w...

"They averaged more than a decade on the job, and about two-thirds of them had some form of special training. More than 100 had “Mobile Field Force” training, which includes deescalating civil unrest and crowd control." @cplhouse.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/30/w...

The hearing push is a direct response to Block Club’s investigation published in June that revealed failures by the Chicago Police Department’s Office of Victim Services. @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/30/a...

Chicago's 2008 parking meter privatization deal is one of the worst municipal deals in history. 17 years later, a new meter deal is in the works and alders are under pressure to approve it — but no one knows anything about it. @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/24/w...

The city’s recent crackdown on unlicensed vendors comes as immigration authorities continue to target local courthouses to arrest immigrants who show up to court. blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/18/i... 📝 @minabloom.bsky.social @franciagarciah.bsky.social

An immigrant street vendor ticketed by Chicago police last month was detained by federal immigration officials this week while leaving the courthouse, @franciagarciah.bsky.social and @minabloom.bsky.social report blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/18/i...

The arrests raise fresh concerns about the city’s potential collaboration with federal agents. My latest with the brilliant @franciagarciah.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/18/i...

Block Club reached out to all 56 community service providers on the program’s list and interviewed leaders of more than 40 of them. Only four organizations said they received any referrals. Most had no contact with CPD victim specialists. Some groups didn’t even know the police program existed.

One of the program's goals is to steer survivors to community services, but only 4 organizations said they received any referrals. Almost all of the others said they had no experience working with CPD's victim specialists last year. blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/10/t... ✍️ @minabloom.bsky.social

Survivors begged Chicago for help to address a deadly surge in domestic violence. The city's answer was to give millions to a police program that no one asked for and that so far hasn't done anything. @minabloom.bsky.social reports. @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/10/t...

My latest for @blockclubchi.bsky.social is a look at a new police program aimed at helping domestic violence survivors. Advocates argue the program is a gross misallocation of taxpayer dollars. And we found little evidence it has been effective. blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/10/t...

Broadview protesters still facing charges are urging prosecutors to drop their cases. “The state is wasting its own scarce resources ... and I am wasting hours of an attorney who could be working to support people who are detained." @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/02/s...

The school has received praise from the Trump admin, and the founder "has donated more than $2 million since 2023 to Republican candidates and political action committees that support it," @themelodymercado.bsky.social reports blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/25/a...

ICE agents shot & killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez after he dropped his kids off at school in September. Minn officials launched investigations into Pretti & Good's killings. Cook County has not done the same for Villegas Gonzalez. blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/23/i... ✍️ @mollydevore.bsky.social

UPDATE: Cook County prosecutors dismissed 21 of the roughly 100 cases against ICE protesters Wednesday. About 80 cases are still being prosecuted, mostly as misdemeanors. Last week, @minabloom.bsky.social reported on the cases still open: blockclubchi.co/3ZXJS6K

On tomorrow's Say More, @maryldixon.bsky.social and I talk with sociologist Robert Sampson about his new book Marked by Time. A study of Chicagoans found the year you were born dramatically shapes your life trajectory. How did WHEN and WHERE you were born shape your life? Tuesday at 10 on @wbez.org

Read of the day: local law enforcement arrested dozens of nonviolent protestors at Broadview over minor offenses, including jaywalking. Why is the state's attorney prosecuting them? by @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/w...

Another MUST READ @blockclubchi.bsky.social piece from @minabloom.bsky.social

Great work by @minabloom.bsky.social Watching my peaceful colleagues bloodied, brutalized and violently arrested by the Illinois State Police left me so traumatized I had an acute trauma response in early January. The psychological distress is real. Pritzker and Burke have failed us.

🚨new @minabloom.bsky.social story looking at all the low level cases against peaceful anti-ICE protesters still being pursued by the Cook County State’s Attorney🚨 blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/w...

They're charged w/ misdemeanors for things like sitting on concrete barriers. One w/ a felony for allegedly fingerpainting on a barrier. The feds have dropped similar cases; the Cook County State's Attorney is prosecuting nearly all. 📝 @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/w...

Dozens of protesters arrested by state police are still facing criminal charges for minor infractions — even after Gov. Pritzker vowed to protect their First Amendment rights. My latest investigation for @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/w...

This is interesting, to say the least.

The city is suing for millions in damages after the woman dubbed Chicago’s "worst landowner" had her property auction fail. blockclubchi.co/4rvPoJo

Mayor Johnson said: "We took her to court and we won back millions of dollars for taxpayers and more than 800 lots across the South and West Sides of the city of Chicago.” But he got the facts wrong. My latest w/ @ctoner.bsky.social @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/04/c...

Great follow-up investigative reporting by @ctoner.bsky.social and @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/04/c...

The rise in DV homicides led one legal aid org to offer guardianship & POA services “No one wants to think about the fact that your abuser might murder you, but it is a real truth, & you can be prepared for it" My latest for @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

Powerful, important reporting by @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

While homicides and most violent crime decreased in Chicago in 2025...domestic violence climbed. Domestic fatal shootings specifically rose by 50%. Martina Mosby was one of 63 people killed in a domestic violence homicide last year. ✍️ @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/13/c...

Terrific, detailed report by Block Club Chicago about how Homeland Security has lied its ass off about its immigration crackdown in Chicago. Nothing that Homeland Security says should be believed.

DHS "has sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists & experts said the agency has repeatedly distorted facts, misled the public & attacked those who challenged its story" @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/04/h...

[Judge Ellis] repeatedly found testimony by Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino... not credible. Bovino was evasive, either giving “cute” answers to attorney’s questions or outright lying, the judge said in her [233-page] ruling. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/25/f... 📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

Beautifully told by @quinnmyers.bsky.social for @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/24/h...

Thanks to @minabloom.bsky.social and @blockclubchi.bsky.social for this reporting. It is so important! This definitely sums up my view: “The government says [the Illinois State Police] is there for our protection, but I don’t feel very protected,” Woolf said.

Just yesterday @govpritzker.illinois.gov was confronted by an alder saying "the State Police are arresting protesters." Gov responded “They’re protecting our protesters" He needs to start taking real action to protect his people if he wants to keep the incredible goodwill granted by his rhetoric.

Officials have revealed little about what led to the arrests. State Police haven’t fulfilled records requests for incident reports. Court records don’t include many details & few of the protesters arrested have appeared in court. @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/12/p...

When a lawyer asked Bovino if he stood by an earlier statement that use of force has been "exemplary," he said he would rate their performance even higher: "All uses of force have been more than exemplary.” @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/05/p...

Judge Blasts Border Patrol Boss Greg Bovino For Violating Excessive Force Order by @minabloom.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j...

"Ellis told Bovino that she wanted to see him every day during the immigration operation so he could report to her on any incidents that occurred. 'Yes, ma’am,' Bovino said." blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/j... 📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

What happened to the real estate empire of Suzie B. Wilson & her sister? Just 1/3 of the roughly 800 vacant lots have sold, which leaves hundreds sitting empty and stagnant. And the city doesn't stand to recover much $$$ it's owed. @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/15/h...

COME WORK WITH ME!