Good morning, Chicago. It’s one week until Paczki Day and we’re already hungry.  A Chicago police car is pictured in a file photo. (Roberto Galan / iStock) When a shooting rattles a neighborhood in Chicago, community violence specialists concentrate on making sure the next conflict in the area doesn’t escalate, thanks to careful intervention work that researchers say is showing measurable, if nuanced, signs of success. Chicago is the focus of commentators across the country who draw attention to violent crime that touches all corners of the city.

It’s the last week of February. Spring into March with these stories from WTTW News. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News) Chicago has two years to spend $142 million in federal relief funds officials have promised to use to strengthen the city’s tattered social safety net and provide direct aid to Chicagoans struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a WTTW News analysis.

It's the weekend and warm weather is on the horizon, Chicago. Take a minute to soak it in after you read these stories from WTTW News.

The big news yesterday was Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed budget. Today we break down exactly what was in it and how it might impact you. As you look toward the weekend, we've got some event picks. 

There’s more freezing cold today but relief is coming, Chicago. Today we bring you more stories from our Firsthand: Peacekeepers project and other top stories from WTTW News. 

While it might not feel like it, we have made it through the worst of the cold. Dare we say it, with next week's relatively warm weather maybe spring is just slightly in sight? (We will not be held liable for any March snowstorms.)

WTTW has launched Firsthand: Peacekeepers, a new documentary project that tells the personal stories of five Chicagoans who are peacekeepers in their communities. All this week, we will be featuring new journalism from the WTTW News team that shines a light on violence prevention efforts. 

The Chicago CRED outreach team listens to outreach coordinator Terrance Henderson on Jan. 28, 2025. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

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Happy Valentine's Day to our beloved Daily Chicagoan readers. We want to hear your thoughts about this newsletter, please take a few minutes and complete this short survey.  (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) By Patty Wetli: Chicago tallied slightly less than 3 inches of snow on Wednesday, but you’d think there’d been a blizzard judging by all the salt on the ground. Walking to work Thursday, as I crossed the Foster Avenue bridge over the Chicago River, I swear the salt underfoot was actually deeper than the snow.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025,. (Andrew Adams / Capitol News Illinois) Michael Madigan, once the state of Illinois’ most powerful politician during his decades-long run as House Speaker and leader of the Democratic Party of Illinois, has now joined the long list of local and state powerbrokers convicted on federal corruption charges. But Madigan dodged the top count — racketeering conspiracy — and several other charges.