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Immigration Agents Detain Man Outside Chicago Charter School, Officials Say

In a letter to families Wednesday, officials with the Acero charter school network said the individual was taken into custody by ICE agents, though the agency itself did not respond to a request for comment.

Shedd Aquarium Announces $10M Donation for Continued Marine Conservation and Education

The donation is one of the largest to the aquarium in recent history, according to Shedd.

Have You Seen Little ‘Blue Lobsters’ Washed Up on Chicago Beaches? Congrats, You’ve Met One of the Great Lakes Most Successful Invaders

In just a handful of decades, the rusty crayfish has become dominant in the Great Lakes. Join us on a deep dive into this elusive invader.

MacArthur Foundation to Increase Giving for Two Years in Response to 'Crisis'

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will increase its giving in response to what it calls a “crisis" prompted by the Trump administration’s freeze on federal foreign aid and the now- suspended freeze on federal grants.

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Feb. 26, 2025 - Full Show

City Hall narrowly approves a controversial new borrowing deal. And the history behind the Chicago dance style known as steppin’.

Chicago City Council Votes 26-23 to Borrow $830M to Repair Streets, Sidewalks, Bridges

The measure passed by the narrowest possible margin with the support of the entire Progressive Caucus and all but four members of the Black Caucus.

‘Left Behind to Die’: Last Men Incarcerated at Stateville Prison Allege Neglect in Lawsuit

Disability rights group Equip for Equality filed a lawsuit alleging the men still incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center are living in “unduly restrictive and isolating conditions compared to prisoners without disabilities, because of their disabilities.”

Chicago Historian Shermann ‘Dilla’ Thomas Gets New Role at the DuSable Museum

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas has a new gig at theDuSable Black History Museum as a brand ambassador and social media chief — an opportunity he’s called a “dream job.” It’s just one of his many projects — from giving bus tours to posting on TikTok about the city’s lesser-known history.

Illinois Schools Continuing DEI Initiatives Despite Federal Funding Threats

State Superintendent Tony Sanders acknowledged that roughly 10% of funding for Illinois school districts could be at risk if the federal government ceases funding. ISBE receives billions annually from the federal government.

Medical Debt Relief Program Erases $345M of Debt for Nearly 270,000 Illinoisans Since Launch Last Year

“We started this program with a simple premise: In a healthy and functioning society, no one should fall into financial ruin simply because they got sick,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a news conference announcing the latest round of medical debt relief.

Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Harriet the Spy’ Star, Dies at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star who appeared in the 1996 “Harriet the Spy” hit movie and went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows — “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl” — has died. She was 39.

Chicago Man in Jail on Murder Charge Since 2020 Now Accused of 5 Additional Killings

Antonio Reyes — who was charged this week with five new counts of first-degree murder as well as four counts of attempted first-degree murder — now stands accused in six separate fatal shootings.

Local Live Music Recommendations for Feb. 26-Mar. 4

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

Feb. 25, 2025 - Full Show

The mayor’s $830 million borrowing proposal faces pushback. A look at plans to rid the Chicago Police Department of extremist officers. And remembering legendary soul singer Jerry “Iceman” Butler.

Dozens of Illinois Communities Vote to Reinstate Grocery Tax, Many More Expected to Follow

Illinois is giving municipalities the ability to reinstitute the 1% grocery tax locally starting in January, when the state one disappears. Municipalities are now asking the state to give them more taxing authority.