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The City Council voted Wednesday to outlaw a broad array of hemp-derived products months before a federal ban is set to take effect, kneecapping a lucrative industry that has buoyed many Chicago businesses — but sometimes put unregulated intoxicants within reach of minors.An exception allowing for hemp beverages, hemp-infused pet products and other CBD offerings led to an 32-16 vote that left the question of whether Mayor Brandon Johnson would veto the ban championed by 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn of the Southwest Side.Quinn is a savvy political operator who learned his vote-counting skills while serving as chief lieutenant for now convicted and imprisoned former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.Quinn acknowledged Wednesday that “it might be tough to get to 34” votes needed to override a veto if Johnson decides to take that political risk so soon after the budget rebellion.But Quinn said he’s not sure it will come to that.“He’ll have a choice. Does he want to protect kids, which is my intention, or does he want to do something else: regulate and tax?” Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times before the vote.Johnson’s administration opposed the measure because of the small-business boon from the 2018 loophole in federal law that allowed delta-8 THC and other hemp derivatives to proliferate without the restrictions placed on Illinois’ heavily regulated cannabis industry.That loophole is set to close later this year, prompting Quinn’s push to close it down in the city even sooner. The ban on the sale of hemp products to minors would take effect in 10 days, but other provisions would be pushed back until April 1.After the meeting, Johnson said he had “some real serious concerns about this ordinance” and hadn’t decided on a potential veto.“It's paramount for the good of our city [not only] to regulate, have the ability to actually test, to actually regulate what was passed, and to keep people safe, but ultimately, to make sure that we're not driving small businesses out of it,” Johnson said.Quinn tweaked the full-on ban that passed a key committee vote last month to allow for hemp beverages to be produced and sold by licensed vendors, after pushback from the Illinois Restaurant Association and other industry leaders. Hemp-infused beverages have soared in popularity and kept many bars and restaurants afloat as consumer trends have shifted away from alcohol since the COVID-19 pandemic.Creams and ointments also will be exempt from the citywide ban, and hemp products will be allowed for animals.Retailers licensed to sell cannabis products will be allowed to sell hemp-infused beverages, powders and crystalline additives to customers over 21, provided they include “no more than 10 milligrams.” Hemp-infused beverages and additives can also be sold at bars, restaurants with incidental liquor licenses and packaged goods stores.To appease the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Quinn also added a “rebuttable presumption” for products that “brand themselves as intoxicated hemp-driven products, beverages and additives.” Hemp beverages like these displayed last month at Revolution Brewing in Avondale are allowed under Ald. Marty Quinn’s proposed ban.Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times file Quinn said he listened to all of the concerns raised when his “blanket ban” was approved by committee, then talked to every one of his 49 colleagues.“I said, 'Help me understand where you’re at here. How can we get to a compromise? I’m very proud of working with all 50 alders — at least making a real effort to communicate. Something that hasn’t taken place in this term with our current mayor,” Quinn said.Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) voted against the measure, in part, she said, because “We're not quite there on hitting some of the protection goals that I know my colleagues had in wanting to keep certain products out of the hands of bad actors.“We've also got a small-business industry that has really done that thing that a lot of us…

Police apparently fired shots at an alleged bank robber during an attempted heist witnessed by a customer Wednesday morning in south suburban Blue Island. About 9:45 a.m., a person tried robbing an armored truck parked outside the U.S. Bank at 11960 S. Western Ave., a city official of Blue Island said.Police taped off access to the bank and placed evidence markers next to spent shell casings. The glass door to the bank was shattered. A gun was seen lying on a sidewalk outside the bank.The FBI also responded to the scene and is investigating, according to a spokesperson for the agency, who did not share anything else.It's unclear if anyone was shot or injured. The Blue Island Fire Department couldn't be reached for more information. A witness told the Sun-Times he was inside the bank when he heard a security guard shout at them to drop to the ground.“I dropped to the floor and heard the security guard tell someone to lock the door, but I didn’t see what was happening,” he said.Shortly after dropping to the ground, the witness said he heard gunshots and glass shatter.“I’m okay,” the witness said. “I just want to know what happened.”Contributing: Anthony Vazquez A gun lies on the ground as Blue Island Police investigate the scene of a shooting at US Bank at 11960 S Western Ave in Blue Island, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times A shattered door entrance of a US Bank as Blue Island Police investigate the scene of a shooting at US Bank at 11960 S Western Ave in Blue Island, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

The Green Bay Packers' backup quarterback situation is on the rise to begin the offseason, despite QB2 Malik Willis' uncertain future.

Asian American Girl Club’s Target partnership was meant to celebrate Lunar New Year and Asian American visibility. Instead, it has sparked backlash over corporate accountability, immigration enforcement and what solidarity means in 2026. The post Ally Maki’s Asian American Girl Club Slammed For Target Partnership Amid Minneapolis ICE Controversy appeared first on Resonate.