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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Aug. 26-Sept. 1

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Chicago Ethics Board Hits 1 Year Without a Leader, as Executive Director Retires and Election Season Begins

The terms of two members of the board expired last month, including Vice Chair Ryan Cortazar, who has led the board since former Chair William Conlon stepped down in July 2025, and Board Member Sarah Jin.

Aug. 25, 2026 - Full Show

The new leader of the Chicago Department of Public Health on his vision for a healthy city. And as kids head back to school, President Donald Trump recommends changes to childhood vaccines.

Chicago’s New Public Health Commissioner on Mental Health, Life Expectancy and Barriers to Care

Dr. Garth Walker assumed the role of Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner this month after he was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and unanimously confirmed by the Chicago City Council in July.

Pediatricians Sound the Alarm on Trump Executive Order Targeting Childhood Vaccine Schedule

The executive order recommends splitting the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine into three separate shots and reducing the number of vaccines recommended for all children from 18 to 11.

Dolly Parton, Music Star, Actor and Beloved Figure Who Spanned Generations, Dies at 80

Dolly Parton wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” that totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams. She was a generous philanthropist and successful businesswoman.

City Will Refinance Debt to Fill $85.1M Budget Gap, Johnson Says

“We cannot continue to govern by searching for loose change in the couch, or every time that there’s a budget challenge, we revert back to proclivities that have caused tremendous harm to working people in this city,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

‘Do It Early’: Officials Urge Illinoisans to Submit Mail-In Ballots Well Before Election Day Amid Supreme Court ‘Chaos’

Local and state officials are reassuring Illinoisans about the safety of mail-in voting, while also encouraging them to return their ballots early after a new ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court could cause “chaos” ahead of the November election.

Two Unvaccinated People in Pennsylvania Have Died From Measles

These are the first U.S. deaths from measles reported in 2026 and the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years.

The Rev. Michael Pfleger Reinstated at St. Sabina After Investigation into Sexual Abuse

The Rev. Michael Pfleger has been reinstated at St. Sabina Catholic Church, more than a month after the longtime leader and vocal social justice was removed from the South Side parish amid new allegations of sexual abuse.

CPD Officer Arrested for Domestic Battery Day After Ex-Top Cop, Police Board Said He Should Be Fired

Less than 24 hours after Chicago officials recommended he be fired, Officer Joseph Vecchio was arrested and charged with a felony count of aggravated domestic battery and is being held in Cook County jail, records show.

Aug. 24, 2026 - Full Show

It’s the first day of school for CPS students — how a new grant program is working to keep them in class. And power outages in Gary approach two weeks. A look at the impact they’re having on residents.

How 4 Organizations Are Working to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism at Chicago Public Schools

Thousands of kids flooded the hallways of Chicago Public Schools on Monday for the first day of school, but many of these students may become chronically absent as the school year continues — meaning they will miss 10% or more of classroom instruction.

Storm Recovery Continues in Gary, as Thousands Still Without Power

Tuesday will mark two weeks since a derecho swept through Illinois and northwest Indiana, with winds damaging homes, uprooting trees and knocking out power for hundreds of thousands.

Journalists at Daily Herald Organize to Form Union Following Recent Layoffs

The Daily Herald News Guild has filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, according to a news release. The union would represent 20 eligible staff members at the newspaper, according to the organizing committee.