Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and young adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have previously shown suicide rates increasing faster among Black youth than any other racial groups in Chicago. In an effort to combat these trends, two community-led organizations in Chicago — No Kids Die in the Chi and Soul Survivors of Chicago — are working to intervene early and provide young people with culturally grounded support.

With climate change fueling more frequent, more severe storms, the risk of urban flooding is on the rise as well. Cities across the globe are exploring nature-based flood mitigation solutions, and Chicago is no exception. Officials with the city's Department of Environment recently released an updated Green Infrastructure Strategy, the first revision to the document in more than a decade. The update was required as part of an EPA permit issued in 2024, and it was developed in partnership with various other city departments, private consultants and advocacy organizations.

Calls to regulate social media platforms have spread across the nation, with states implementing a patchwork of different restrictions. Now, there’s a push to address concerns in Illinois. In February, state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) filed HB5511, which would create the Children’s Social Media Act. The bill would require the primary user of internet-connected devices — like computers, tablets or smartphones — to input their birthdate or age when they set up the device.

Back in 2019, a research study from the Cornell Bird Lab of Ornithology famously, or infamously, ranked Chicago as the “most dangerous city for migrating birds.” Benjamin Van Doren contributed to that scientific paper and, in a full-circle moment, is now collaborating on a project to make the Windy City safer for the estimated 150 million to 200 million birds that wing their way over the city on their journeys north and south in the spring and fall. The first step in protecting migrating birds, Van Doren said, is understanding how they use Chicago's airspace.

It’s Cinco de Mayo, Chicago. Start your Tuesday with these stories from WTTW News. 

(WTTW News)

Enjoy the “May flowers” and kick off your Monday with these stories from WTTW News. 

(Courtesy of Cariño)

Federal immigration agents engaged in unconstitutional uses of force including “extreme physical force, indiscriminate use of chemical agents, shootings, beatings, and other violent acts” while White House officials routinely lied to conceal the motivations behind “Operation Midway Blitz,” an Illinois panel has found.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.
Every May, the Chicago Critics Film Festival happens at the Music Box Theatre and I always try to catch at least one screening every year. It’s where you can watch some of the most acclaimed and likely award-winning films months before they hit theaters. There’s even a chance the director or cast will show up for a Q&A. Below, you’ll find that week-long event and two more must-see activities for your arts and culture needs. 

It’s Wednesday. Read the latest from WTTW News on policing, transportation and immigration.  

A CTA train makes its way through downtown Chicago. (Rawf8 / iStock)

It’s Tuesday and a piping plover has returned to Waukegan beach. Dry off from yesterday’s storms with these stories from WTTW News.

Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino stands with federal immigration enforcement agents during a skirmish with protesters in Little Village neighborhood, Chicago Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Anthony Vazquez / Chicago Sun-Times via AP)