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A Satire of the American Psyche and a Must-See Art Institute Exhibit Among This Week’s Arts Picks

Want to immerse yourself in the sculpture work of a World War II vet? What about a Scottish folk musician who decided watercolor was his medium of choice? That and more are available this weekend in Chicago.

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, May 21, 2025 - Full Show

Five years since the murder of George Floyd. We explore what’s changed and what hasn’t — from community relations to DEI pledges.

Semicolon Books Owner Reflects on Business Struggles After 2020 Surge

When Danielle Moore started Semicolon Books in West Town in 2019, business was slow — until the social justice movement after George Floyd’s murder in May 2020 launched her store into the spotlight as Black businesses and books gained national attention.

5 Years Later, How George Floyd’s Murder Has Impacted Police-Community Relations

Nationwide protests erupted in the summer of 2020, a so-called racial reckoning, shortly after a video of the killing surfaced online. Residents took to the streets demanding systemic change to policing and the prison system.

Abraham Lincoln’s Stained Gloves From Night of Assassination Sell for $1.2M at Chicago Auction

A selection of 144 items owned by the Lincoln Presidential Foundation chronicling Lincoln’s personal and political life went up for sale at the auction house Freeman’s and Hindman in Chicago. In total, the auction saw 136 of 144 items sold for just over $6.2 million, not including auction fees, according to the auction house.

Vote Blocked on Plan to Allow CPD to Declare ‘Snap Curfews’ to Stop Teen Gatherings

Before the vote, Mayor Brandon Johnson repeatedly questioned whether the measure is constitutional and frequently said that he does not believe that expanding the city’s curfew would stop teen “trends” or “takeovers.”

Waukegan Has Piping Plover Fever, Too, With a Full Nest and Great Egg-spectations

Blaze and Pepper — the piping plover momma and papa who raised three chicks on a Waukegan beach in 2024 — are back on the nest with a full clutch of four eggs.

Chicago to Pay $62.5M to Settle 4 Police Misconduct Cases

Just five months into the year, Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $144.5 million to resolve nearly two and a half dozen lawsuits, exceeding its budget to resolve lawsuits alleging police misconduct by more than 76%, city records show.

Illinois Lawmakers Push to Ban ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighter Gear Due to Cancer Risk

Turnout gear, also known as bunker gear, is the specialized protective clothing worn by firefighters to protect them when they respond to fires or other hazardous situations.

Local Live Music Recommendations for May 21-27

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

Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Pope Leo’s Hometown of Chicago Turn Up Calls for Reforms

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse amplified calls Tuesday for a global zero-tolerance policy from the new pope’s American hometown and raised questions about Leo XIV’s history of dealing with accused priests from Chicago to Australia.

Chicago Beaches Officially Open for Swimming Friday, Pools Will Open in June

Chicago’s beaches are opening Friday, marking the unofficial start to summer.

May 20, 2025 - Full Show

The mayor responds after federal prosecutors announce a probe of city hiring practices. And one on one with Chicago’s housing commissioner.

Chicago Housing Commissioner on Green Social Housing Initiative, Department Spending

Amid rising costs and threats to federal housing grants, Chicago is facing a shortfall of nearly 120,000 affordable housing units. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new Green Social Housing initiative aims to address that shortage by creating a city-owned nonprofit housing developer.