Today’s Daily Chicagoan is brought to you, in part, by: It’s Wednesday. You’re at the midpoint of the work week. Take a breather with these stories from WTTW News.  (WTTW News/Michael Izquierdo) Chicago is seeing a historic drop in violent crime in the first half of the year. According to the Chicago Police Department, homicides and shootings are both down more than 30% in the first six months of the year compared to 2024. City data also shows significant declines in other categories like carjackings, robberies and aggravated assaults.

Today’s Daily Chicagoan is brought to you, in part, by: It’s Tuesday. Ryne Sandberg, beloved Chicago Cubs player and Hall of Fame second baseman, has died. He was 65.  (WTTW News/Michael Izquierdo) Chicago Police Board President Kyle Cooper used his last two meetings to plead with Chicago police officers facing allegations of serious misconduct: allow the Police Board to determine whether they should be terminated or suspended even as a protracted legal battle plays out.

It’s Monday. It’s a new week and will soon be a new month. Get ready for August with these stories from WTTW News.  In October 2023, nearly 1,000 birds died crashing into McCormick Place Lakeside in a single day, drawing global attention to Chicago as one of the deadliest cities for birds. (Courtesy of Taylor Hains) Six months after Chicago’s updated Sustainable Development Policy went into effect, city officials have declared the revised guidelines a success in promoting bird-friendly building design while wildlife advocates call it a failure.

Happy Friday. Today we start off with a column from science and nature reporter Patty Wetli, plus stories on CPD and more from WTTW News.  Chipmunk specimens in the Field Museum’s collection were used to assess how mammals are adapting to urbanization. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Patty Wetli: Last week, I wrote an article about research coming out of the Field Museum that indicates Chicago’s chipmunks are evolving in front of our eyes.

Are you staying well-hydrated, Chicago? It’s hot outside. Here's what we have from WTTW News today.  U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth appears on “Chicago Tonight” on July 22, 2025. (WTTW News) President Donald Trump is facing backlash from his supporters over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Good afternoon, Chicago. Apologies for the delay. While we would like to blame it on the extreme heat watch issued by the National Weather Service, we just had a brief delay. Stay cool with these stories from WTTW News.

It’s Tuesday. Brace for scorching temperatures this week, Chicago. WTTW News has stories on the upcoming heat wave and more.  Chicago's temporary casino in what was the Medinah Temple in River North. (WTTW News) Chicago’s top financial officials told the City Council subcommittee charged with finding new revenue to fill Chicago’s massive budget gap on Monday that a plan to legalize video poker and slot machines would not ring up a jackpot.

Enter the week with these stories from WTTW News.  Inspector General Deborah Witzburg appears on "Chicago Tonight" on May 30, 2023. (WTTW News) As the Chicago City Council prepared to vote on whether to expand the powers of Chicago’s Inspector General, Deborah Witzburg was clear: not only did she want to serve a second term as the city’s watchdog, she believed she had earned another four years in office. “Chicago’s ethics rules have been categorically and dramatically underenforced for decades," Witzburg told WTTW News on July 9.

Today’s Daily Chicagoan is brought to you, in part, by: It's Friday.  WTTW News will continue to bring you essential local stories about Chicago. You can donate to the Fund for Independent News here. (Pixabay)  Patty Wetli: How’s your summer going?  Personally, I miss June. Specifically, June’s temperatures, which hit that sweet spot of not too hot but not too cool. I’m not a huge fan of heat, which I define as anything over 85 degrees, but I guess I’d better get used to it.

Today’s Daily Chicagoan is brought to you, in part, by: Mayor Brandon Johnson addresses the news media on July 16, 2025. (Heather Cherone / WTTW News) The Chicago City Council failed Wednesday to override Mayor Brandon Johnson’s veto of a measure that would have allowed Chicago Police Department officials to preemptively impose a curfew anywhere in the city and begin enforcing it with just 30 minutes notice. The failure of at least 34 members of the City Council to vote to reject Johnson’s action means the first mayoral veto in 19 years will stand.