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Unusual Mix of Possible Candidates Line Up for Chicago’s First School Board Elections This Fall

The historic November races are part of a multi-year transition that is hard to explain to voters. Special interest groups are taking notice. And questions loom about how the new 21-member board, triple the current size, will govern.

At Least 3 People Killed by Gunfire Over Weekend Across Chicago: Police

A man who was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in the Back of the Yards neighborhood Sunday was among at least three people killed by gunfire across Chicago over the weekend.

Johnson’s Plan to Speed Up Efforts to Spend Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds Before It’s Too Late Set to Take Center Stage at City Hall

In all, Chicago spent $202 million on a host of programs including affordable housing, mental health, violence prevention, youth job programs and help for unhoused Chicagoans through March 31, records show.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (and Comedian Robert Smigel) on the Cubs, Chicago Pizza and Rod Blagojevich

Robert Smigel may be best known as the breeder behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the crass canine puppet whose jokes make Don Rickles look housebroken. We sit down with him before his Chicago show. 

Members of Illinois House Speaker’s Staff Sue Over Ongoing Unionization Conflict

The Illinois Legislative Staff Association, which formed in the fall of 2022, claims House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining since then is a violation of the Workers’ Rights Amendment.

Pride Month is Starting to Show Its Colors Around the World. Here’s What to Know

Pride Month, the worldwide celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights, kicks off Saturday with events around the globe. But this year’s festivities in the U.S. will unfold against a backdrop of dozens of new state laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights, particularly transgender young people.

AI Regulations, Ban on ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings Among 466 Bills Passed by Illinois Lawmakers This Session

A bill banning what unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings about religion and politics has cleared the General Assembly. It was one of 466 measures to do so during the Illinois legislature’s spring session, including a bill allowing for digital driver’s licenses.

Marian Robinson, Mother of Michelle Obama, Dies at 86

Marian Shields Robinson's death was announced by Michelle Obama and other family members in a statement that said “there was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life.”

Week in Review: Donald Trump Convicted; Illinois Passes Record $53.1B Budget

A New York jury finds Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts. What’s in the state’s biggest-ever budget. And is Chicago ready for this summer’s DNC?

Cynthia Yeh Bangs the Drums (and More) Brilliantly in CSO World Premiere: Review

Cynthia Yeh, who has been the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s principal percussionist since 2007, can make wonderfully expressive music by playing on nothing more than a bunch of clay flowerpots, writes WTTW News theater critic Hedy Weiss.

Chicago Protesters Denounce 2nd Inauguration of El Salvador’s President, Claiming Government ‘Altered the Electoral Process’

Protestors denounced the second inauguration of El Salvador’s controversial president, Nayib Bukele. He will be entering his second term after an overwhelming victory in February — a move against El Salvador’s constitution, which prohibits presidential reelection.

Piping Plover Egg Spotted at Montrose Beach, A Win for Groups Working to Restore Population of the Endangered Bird Species

The egg is the product of a recent pair bond between native-born Imani, who hatched at Montrose Beach in 2021, and Searocket, one of the 5-week-old captive-reared piping plover chicks released at the beach last year.

For 35 Years, a Chicago Family Has Fostered Community at Apollo’s 2000 Theater in Little Village. Now the Century-Old Venue is a City Landmark

Javier Galindo and Lidia Galindo Corral have welcomed artists from all over the world to the Apollo’s 2000 Theater in Little Village for nearly 35 years. The building is now being designated a Chicago landmark.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Unveils Plan to Test Whether City Crews Should Clear Sidewalks of Snow and Ice

The “Plow the Sidewalks” campaign sought to convince officials that the city has an obligation to ensure people with disabilities and other vulnerable residents can get around safely even in the worst winter weather.

Chicago Sky Embracing Their Share of WNBA Spotlight Behind Gregarious Rookie Angel Reese

Angel Reese is ensuring some of the glare from the bright spotlight on the WNBA shines squarely on the Chicago Sky. The seventh overall draft pick will remind anyone who will listen that there is a group of rookies helping boost soaring WNBA ratings, attendance and revenue, not just the one who plays in Indiana.