SORT

FILTER


 

CPS Banking on TIF Funding, Pension Contingency to Keep Cuts Out of Classrooms in Latest Budget Plan

“The choices we have are difficult ones,” CPS chief budget officer Mike Sitkowski told the Board of Education, “and it’s very difficult for us to be able to make cuts of this magnitude and keep the impact off of our schools.”

CPS Did Not Properly Vet Security Guard With Criminal History Who Later Was Charged With Sexually Assaulting Student, Lawsuit Alleges

The lawsuit details sixteen arrests that preceded the hire of Romel Campoverde by the district. The complaint highlights cases in which police said he admitted to being a member of the Satan Disciple street gang before he was hired at Farragut Career Academy High School.

Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Aug. 13-19

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

Aug. 12, 2025 - Full Show

Chicago’s money problems are getting more complicated thanks to a new pension bill. And how the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans are impacting home care workers.

How a Bill Boosting Chicago’s Police, Firefighter Pensions Could Impact the City’s Finances

The bill is designed to make sure that Chicago police officers and firefighters earn pension benefits at the same level as downstate first responders.

Deportation Fears Starting to Impact Home Health Care Industry: ‘It’s Been Detrimental’

U.S. Census data shows more than half of home care workers in the Chicago metro area are not U.S. citizens.

3 Human Cases of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Chicago: Health Officials

The patients range from 40 to 80 years old and reside on the Northwest and South sides. The patients’ symptoms began in late July or early August, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Pritzker Signs ‘Sonya Massey’s Bill’ Into Law, Requiring Stricter Background Checks for Police Hiring

Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson faces first-degree murder and other charges in Sonya Massey’s killing.

Donald Trump’s Rhetoric About DC Echoes a History of Racist Narratives About Urban Crime

President Donald Trump has taken control of D.C.’s law enforcement and ordered National Guard troops to deploy onto the streets of the nation’s capital, arguing the extraordinary moves are necessary to curb an urgent public safety crisis.

Lawyers Ask Judge to Expand Lawsuit Accusing CPD of Targeting Black, Latino Chicagoans With Traffic Stops to Include All Black, Latino Drivers

Chicago taxpayers have already paid $1.46 million to defend the lawsuit that accuses the CPD of making more than 1.5 million traffic stops between 2016 and 2023 based on dubious evidence of minor violations that took direct aim at Black and Latino Chicagoans but spared White Chicagoans, according to records obtained by WTTW News.

Aug. 11, 2025 - Full Show

How to address Chicago Public Schools’ budget problem. And outrage over the closure of an Uptown hospital.

Future Uncertain for 2 Chicago-Area Hospitals Amid Federal Funding Cuts, Mismanagement Allegations

Federal funding cuts and allegations of mismanagement prompted the closures of most operations at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown, while Oak Park’s West Suburban Medical Center is facing a similar fate.

Illinois Lawmakers on How to Fix Chicago Public Schools’ Budget Challenges

CPS officials are faced with closing a whopping $734 million deficit by the end of the month. There is little wiggle room to cut costs or bring in revenue.

Johnson, Pritzker Dismiss Trump’s Threat to Send National Guard to Chicago

After touting Chicago's significant and sustained drop in crime, Mayor Brandon Johnson accused the president of “spreading misinformation.”

The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Peaking in the Next 2 Days. Here’s How To Get a Decent View

A bright moon will make it harder than usual to see the meteors as they streak across the night sky. But experts say it’s still worth a try.