Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is joining a group of attorneys general to sue the Trump administration. As reports of immigration enforcement raids in Chicago continue, some local employers are seeing the effects. Plus, the Chicago Blackhawks are headed toward a third-straight bottom-three finish in the standings.
Jan 28, 2025•4 min
Reports of immigration enforcement raids in Chicago over the weekend are raising fears for local employers, employees and customers. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s defense team tears into government mole Danny Solis in closing arguments. Some immigrant parents in Chicago say they are not taking their kids to school because they fear getting arrested.
Jan 28, 2025•5 min
Faith leaders gathered at a church in north suburban Evanston today to support the church’s sanctuary status. A top lawyer for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is trying to poke holes in the government’s racketeering conspiracy case as the trial nears its end. Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago is reopening this week with a new show and a new look.
Jan 27, 2025•4 min
Will a federal judge weigh in on the threatened immigration raids? Lawyers for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan are making their closing arguments in his federal corruption trial. Illinois public health leaders launch a data dashboard to track gun-related injuries and deaths.
Jan 27, 2025•5 min
CPS officials say federal immigration agents came to a school in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. Mayor Brandon Johnson says Chicago is not considering strengthening its sanctuary city ordinance amid threats of mass deportation from President Donald Trump. Local researchers say President Trump’s partial shutdown of the National Institutes of Health could cost lives.
Jan 24, 2025•4 min
The State Board of Education says school districts should set policies for how they want to interact with federal immigration officials. Local researchers warn Trump’s new restrictions on the NIH could slow scientific progress. The City of Chicago is partnering with The Shine Hope Company to help city residents fight hopelessness.
Jan 24, 2025•5 min
President Trump will allow immigration officers to make arrests at schools, hospitals and even churches, causing fear among the undocumented communities. Amid abortion clinic closures, the Chicago Abortion Fund says their work will not slow down. Federal investigators are poking around at an embattled charter school network on Chicago’s South Side.
Jan 23, 2025•5 min
Closing arguments are underway in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Planned Parenthood of Illinois plans to close four health centers. Plus, the Bears have a new head coach.
Jan 22, 2025•3 min
Chicago activists monitoring for immigration arrests said they didn’t see activity yesterday, but ask people to remain alert. Pro-immigrant activists are targeting an airport in Gary, Indiana that’s used to fly undocumented immigrants to the Texas-Mexico border. Equality Illinois is advising trans-identifying residents to “resist and wait” following one of Trump’s recent executive orders.
Jan 22, 2025•5 min
Immigrant communities in the Chicago area have been preparing for increased deportations by setting up emergency plans. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is blasting Elon Musk for making a gesture at a rally yesterday that has been widely compared to a fascist salute. Plus, Chicago is in the middle of a dangerous cold snap.
Jan 21, 2025•4 min
President Trump’s pardons were great news for dozens of supporters from Illinois who went to the January 6th, 2021 riot in Washington … and came home with federal rap sheets. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is holding firm against any potential ICE raids. At the Evanston Public Library the hum of sewing machines is the soundtrack to a community service project for girls across the world.
Jan 21, 2025•5 min
The U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement with Sangamon County officials in Springfield in an investigation into Sonya Massey’s killing. Communities across Chicago will be celebrating Martin Luther King Junior Day this weekend and Monday. “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” makes its Midwest premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this weekend after winning two Tonys on Broadway.
Jan 17, 2025•3 min
The U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement with Sangamon County officials in Springfield in an investigation into Sonya Massey’s killing. Communities across Chicago will be celebrating Martin Luther King Junior Day this weekend and Monday. “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” makes its Midwest premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this weekend after winning two Tonys on Broadway.
Jan 17, 2025•3 min
Some doctors in Illinois are worried about vaccine funding as Republican Donald Trump becomes president. Undisclosed flood damages could cost home buyers thousands. It’s a moment more than 20 years in the making: Sammy Sosa and the Cubs will reunite at the team’s convention tonight.
Jan 17, 2025•5 min
The federal racketeering conspiracy trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain is entering its final stretch. Amtrak is canceling some Chicago-area trains ahead of an expected drop in temperatures early next week. The Chicago Bears interviewed former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for their head coaching job.
Jan 16, 2025•3 min
Israeli- and Palestinian-Americans react to the news of a ceasefire deal. The city council has overwhelmingly rejected an effort to repeal certain protections for immigrants in Chicago as President-elect Donald Trump promises mass deportations. Chicago’s new board of education members held their first meeting this week.
Jan 16, 2025•5 min
The Chicago Transit Board has approved a new acting president for the CTA. Chicago’s first elected school board members took their seats today. Plus, the Chicago Reader is laying off six of its employees.
Jan 15, 2025•3 min
Elected school board members for Chicago will be sworn in today for the very first time. Illinois lawmakers hope the CTA’s next president gets behind a plan to merge Chicago’s public transit agencies. An attorney with the ACLU told a federal judge that the Chicago Police Department is not doing enough to work with community groups critical of police.
Jan 15, 2025•5 min
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan ended his testimony this afternoon in his federal racketeering and conspiracy trial. Chicago transportation officials say there were fewer traffic fatalities in 2023 compared to previous years. Plus, Illinois legislators and advocacy groups announced a bill yesterday that would decriminalize sex work for consenting adults.
Jan 14, 2025•3 min
Some Chicago alderpersons want more say over the next CTA President after Dorval Carter announced his resignation. Prosecutors played a previously unheard recording yesterday during the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Local consumer advocate groups turned over thousands of public comments calling for the state to overhaul the Peoples Gas pipe replacement program.
Jan 14, 2025•4 min
Embattled CTA President Dorval Carter is resigning after two decades with the agency. The Biden administration announced another round of student loan cancellations today. Illinois has secured $114 million in federal funding to build electric vehicle charging stations across the state.
Jan 13, 2025•3 min
Senate confirmation hearings begin this week, and Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth has some questions for one pick in particular. The state of Illinois has approved certain uterine health conditions for treatment with medicinal marijuana. The founder of the Young Lords Organization Jose “Cha Cha’ Jimenez died last week at the age of 76.
Jan 13, 2025•4 min
Chicago physicians are calling for the release of a Palestinian doctor in Gaza who has been detained by the Israeli military. Chicago officials are celebrating $1.9 billion in federal grant money that will help extend the CTA Red Line south to 130th Street. A second child has died from the pediatric flu as flu cases continue to spike across Chicago.
Jan 10, 2025•4 min
The alleged gunman in the Highland Park mass shooting appeared in court today, we’ll hear an update on his court case. As the first U.S. bird flu death is reported, concerns about the virus’s potential to spread in Illinois are rising. Homeless agencies fundraise for “Backpack Beds” for unsheltered Chicagoans.
Jan 10, 2025•5 min
On the heels of an Amazon worker strike across the nation last month, Illinois lawmakers passed a measure this week aimed at protecting warehouse workers. Residents of Northwest Indiana are crying foul over strong odors coming from the BP Refinery in Whiting. Bird collisions at McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center have dropped by more than 95 percent since bird-safe film was installed on the building’s windows last summer.
Jan 09, 2025•3 min
The federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan may soon take its most hostile turn yet. Students defrauded by their colleges are losing hope they might get their debt canceled. The Illinois Office To Prevent and End Homelessness has a new report on disparities in homelessness.
Jan 09, 2025•5 min
A measure to confiscate guns from people who have an order of protection against them has passed in the Illinois legislature. The CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois is stepping down. A new Northwestern Medicine study looked at how vaccines impacted how people experienced long COVID and found no significant difference between patients vaccinated before or after infection.
Jan 08, 2025•3 min
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is adamant it is not a conflict of interest for him to remain on leave from Chicago Public Schools. Johnson says his relationship with Governor JB Pritzker isn’t damaged after disagreeing on hemp regulations. The state of Illinois is one signature from the Governor away from righting a close to 175-year-old wrong.
Jan 08, 2025•5 min
Michael Madigan has taken the stand to testify in his own defense in his federal racketeering and conspiracy trial. A measure that cleared the Illinois legislature will make it easier for foster children to live with family members. Tickets are now available for Chicago Theater Week.
Jan 07, 2025•3 min
Illinois lawmakers approve a controversial measure aimed at further protecting victims of domestic violence. The profits of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s law firm are emerging as flashpoints in his federal corruption trial. A new coalition on the West Side is calling for more community oversight to keep an eye on West Suburban hospital.
Jan 07, 2025•5 min