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Mayor Brandon Johnson Opens City Hall Gift Room to Cameras, Promises to Donate Items to Charity

Under new rules announced Monday, members of the public will be allowed to sign up for a 15-minute slot to inspect the gift room once every three months. Afterward, items will be donated to local Chicago charities, according to the mayor’s office.

Metra Considers Renaming Lines Across the Chicago-Area System. Your Feedback is Welcome

Metra has launched a survey to get feedback on potentially renaming lines to make the system “easier to understand for new and occasional riders,” according to the rail service on Monday.

New Surveys Show Signs of Progress in Illinois’ Teacher Shortage

The Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools each released findings Monday which showed, for the first time in several years, that the state is seeing some improvements in the number of educator hires.

Michelle Obama and Her Brother Craig Robinson to Launch a Podcast With Weekly Guests

Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, will host a new weekly podcast series starting this month featuring a special guest pulled from the world of entertainment, sports, health and business.

WTTW News Explains: What’s the Story Behind Some of Chicago’s Famous Foods?

Chicago is home to a plateful of iconic foods. But more than anything else, Chicago is known for its hot dogs and its pizza. WTTW News explains.

Want to Represent the 35th Ward on the Chicago City Council? Here’s How to Apply

Ald Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) is set to leave the City Council March 31 in order to lead the Chicago Park District, where he will oversee the city’s 600 parks and 6,000 employees.

Young People Who Aspired to Government Service Dismayed by Donald Trump Ending the Federal Fellows Program

For decades, the Presidential Management Fellows program was seen as a building block for the civil service with the expectation that the few who earned the position would one day become leaders in the federal workforce. Now the road ahead is uncertain.

Michael Jordan’s First-Ever Chicago Bulls Jersey Expected to Sell for $10 Million at Auction

Jerseys worn by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in the first NBA games of their careers could sell for millions of dollars when they go up for auction this spring.

Nearing the End of a Short Spring, Cubs and Dodgers Make Final Preparations for Season Opener in Japan

Shohei Ohtani’s bat is ready for the Los Angeles Dodgers while Shota Imanaga has looked good on the mound for the Chicago Cubs with less than 10 days remaining before baseball’s regular-season opener in Japan.

Donald Trump Isn’t Alone in His Geopolitical Aspirations. Some in Illinois and Oregon Also Want Border Changes

In the last five years, voters in 33 Illinois counties have been asked if they want to consider separating from Chicago’s Cook County to form a new state. Each time, a majority said yes. Some politicians in neighboring Indiana seem up for the idea.

Fulbright Scholars Stranded in America and Abroad Amid Funding Freeze of State Department Programs

The funding freeze has sparked panic among grant recipients who are stranded outside their home countries without clarity on the future of their programs or the money needed to support themselves.

This Year’s Monarch Butterfly Count Rebounded From 2024 Crash, But Numbers Still Well Below Sustainable Target

The monarch butterfly population has rebounded from a near record low number in 2024, according to the latest annual survey conducted by the World Wildlife Fund-Mexico.

Chicago Launches New Dashboard to Track Vacant Positions After Budget Clash

Budget Director Annette Guzman told WTTW News the dashboard was designed to answer questions she and her team fielded during the fraught negotiations over the city’s 2025 budget.

Knife-Wielding Man Hit by 16 Bullets Fired by 2 CPD Officers, Autopsy Finds

“He didn’t deserve 16 shots,” said Charlotta Pritchett, Timothy Glaze’s partner of seven years. “I can’t find any justification in that.”

Illinois Pitches Two New Prisons as a Way to Modernize and Address Aging Facilities. Some Advocates Aren’t Sold

Illinois’ prison population continues to shrink, with facilities now having a 26% vacancy rate, leading some of those inside and their advocates to question the state’s plan to build two new prisons.