Here at F Newsmagazine, we know how hard it is to juggle class, work, and life. News in Brief is here to cover major Chicago, U.S., and global events for those who wish to keep up.
We’re here as a trusted source for students to disseminate news important to students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and our community. So while you browse this issue, take the time to briefly catch up on the news.
International
Iran War
The war in Iran is pressing on, and Yemen’s Human Rights Ministry accused Houthi fighters of attacking Saudi-funded aid and medical facilities. The ministry warned that civilians could lose access to basic services.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, said they launched missiles and drones at the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and at oil facilities in retaliation for hundreds of Saudi airstrikes and other attacks inside Yemen on Sept. 19.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a government-organized march against the war in Tehran on Sept. 18, according to the Associated Press. The same day, Iran attacked another tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
A U.S. congressional budget report estimated that, as of Sept. 15, it cost the Department of Defense $38.1 billion for munitions, equipment lost in battle, flying hours, fuel costs, and repairing damaged U.S. military bases. The report estimated the war will continue to cost the DOD about $3 billion a month.
President Donald J. Trump extended U.S. sanctions on Iran by five years to 2031.
National
AI Leaders Call for Slowdown of Development
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for a global slowdown of artificial intelligence development in an open letter. Although he noted benefits of artificial intelligence, Amodei said it could ultimately “outrun our ability to understand and control these systems, and so must be pursued very carefully, if at all.”
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman; Elon Musk, and Google DeepMind Chair Demis Hassabis, agreed on the need for a slower pace in social media posts.
Amodei’s request came days after the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who made a series of posts on X that warned developers had not been “acting responsibly.”
Mail-In Voting Remains Available to Voters
The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s effort to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterm election. The court wrote that the government is “unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge.” On social media, Trump criticized Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett — all of whom he appointed. Trump has attempted to overhaul voter eligibility through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database by giving states access to screen voters. The Supreme Court placed a temporary hold to stop the Department of Homeland Security from permitting states to search the data.
Voting by mail for the Nov. 3 Election is an option for Illinois voters to cast their ballot prior to Election Day. Voters must request a mail-in ballot through the mail or in person by Oct. 29. Early voting will begin Nov. 2.
Local
Residents File Complaints Against Homeland Security for Midway Blitz Harms
Fifteen U.S. citizens and legal residents filed complaints to the Department of Homeland Security alleging excessive force, wrongful detainment, and other harms from federal immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz, the 2025 federal immigration enforcement campaign led by the Trump administration.
The residents may seek monetary damages through a lawsuit after the complaints are investigated by DHS.
The Chicago Tribune published an overview of the events that occurred during the 64 days of Midway Blitz.
Johnson Vies for Second Term
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his bid for reelection Sept. 13 at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. He will face 12 candidates in the February mayoral election.
Some of Johnson’s initiatives include investing in Chicago’s youth, supporting the defeat of efforts to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ students, continuing to join legal actions challenging federal policies on SNAP, birthright citizenship, DEI, and protecting the working class from taxation. He said voters will be forced to “identify the difference between real progressives and posers” during his announcement.
