Today’s Headlines for Friday, April 17
Sponsored by:
• 3 injured after SUV driver struck a bike rider, hit a hydrant, crashed into fence of car dealership, and rolled over Thursday around 11:39 near 58th/Western in Gage Park (ABC)
• Someone from “Archer Guardians” says there have been reports about drivers injuring, killing cyclists on SW Side because… “the media” wants to raise support for Archer project
• Our response to Trump-friendly Ald. Ray Lopez’s (15th) latest Twitter attack on the Archer traffic safety project, his strategy to help get a more conservative 12th Ward alder elected
• …While the Archer project is not in Lopez’s ward, the 58th/Western crash is in his ward (Bluesky, Twitter)
• “City News Cafe Back Open After Driver Fleeing Police Crashes Into Building, Owner Says” (Block Club)
• Former SBC contributor Ariel Parrela: “Drivers Keep Crashing Cars Into This Avondale Building — Will The City Do Something About It?” (Block Club)
• From RTA board meeting: “First chunk of new transit money to be spent on security, service for CTA, Metra and Pace” (Sun-Times)
• Tribune: By passing a Senate bill that would require licenses, 16+ age limit for high-speed “e-motos” and ban them from bikeways, “IL takes a smart step on e-bike safety.”
• “Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spreads word about CTA anti-crime task force” (CBS)
• “Commuters report being robbed, attacked in separate incidents on CTA platforms on Chicago’s NW Side,” Jefferson Park and Harlem (Nadig Newspapers)
• Reader looks at the politics behind Musk-funded, unsanctioned Montrose/Western mural of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was slain on transit in Charlotte, NC
• “Let CTA Be Your Chariot to Greek Independence Festivities and Other Activities Around Town”
On November 12, SBC launched our 2026 fund drive to raise $50K through ad sales and donations. That will complete this year’s budget, at a time when it’s tough to find grant money. Big thanks to all the readers who have chipped in so far to help keep this site rolling to the end of 2026! Currently, we’re at $30,931 with $19,069 to go, ideally by the end of April.
If you value our livable streets reporting and advocacy, please consider making a tax-deductible gift here. If you can afford a contribution of $100 or more, think of that as a subscription. That will help keep the site paywall-free for people on tighter budgets, as well as decision-makers. Thanks for your support!
– John Greenfield, editor
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![What Trib said when I asked for retraction of “[SBC is] demonizing anyone who dares to oppose their views as members of the ‘right-leaning political class.'”](https://chi.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/05/Screen-Shot-2026-05-11-at-3.37.22-PM.png?w=1024)