Chicago suburb expands cash handouts as race-based reparations program faces major legal battle

As cities across the U.S. continue to experiment with direct cash transfers, a prominent Chicago suburb is extending its guaranteed income program while simultaneously defending a first-of-its-kind reparations initiative that pays Black residents $25,000.

Local officials in Evanston, Illinois, announced the launch of the final round of the city's Guaranteed Income Program this week. The program has been expanded to provide $500 monthly payments to 102 households over the next six months...