Stories by Abena Bediako

Attention Chicagoans, brace yourselves because Chicago is sinking. Northwestern University researchers were the first to study underground climate change and its effects on urban infrastructure. They call it a “silent hazard.”

The president expanded his criticism of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to include additional museums. But specialists in the field said these actions could potentially “erode the public’s trust in shared institutions,” not just in Washington, D.C., but around the country.

HBCUs, or historically Black colleges and universities, have been around for more than 188 years. They were founded out of necessity when predominantly White institutions barred Black students from attending.

Illinois in 2023 became the first state to fully eliminate the use of cash bail with the Pretrial Fairness Act. Proponents said the law is intended to address equity issues. The president claims such policies allow “dangerous individuals to immediately return to the streets and further endanger law-abiding Americans.”

Decorated chef Curtis Duffy has made his mark on Chicago’s food scene over the past 25 years. His new book outlines his rise to success and dives deep into challenging and traumatic events he faced throughout his childhood.

Chicago Police Department data shows that compared to last year, violent crime in the city is down 22% through the end of July. There have been 36% fewer shootings, and homicides are down 32%.

More than 1 million Illinois residents have benefitted from an educational program that teaches SNAP recipients about nutrition.

The Miami Correctional Facility in Miami County, Indiana, is allowing the federal government to detain immigrants. It’s located about 130 miles southeast of Chicago’s border with Indiana and 70 miles north of Indianapolis.

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

Longtime lawmaker Dick Durbin announced plans to retire after five terms in the U.S. Senate. He joined “Chicago Tonight” for a wide-ranging interview.

More than 50 Democratic lawmakers from Texas fled the state for Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to block an effort by Republicans to redraw congressional districts. The plan, backed by President Donald Trump, would increase the number of Republican-leaning congressional seats by five.

“We need our government officials,” said JaShawn Hill, executive director of Chicago Survivors. “We need philanthropic communities and people who believe in our mission to step in and to help leverage us, because if they don’t, we will not be able to provide the quality of care that we have been able to do.”

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.

After writing his first novel at the age of 16, Aiden Branss started his own publishing company focused on young authors.

President Donald Trump is facing backlash from his supporters over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The fallout comes following congressional Republicans’ success in clawing back funds from foreign aid and public media and the passage of the president’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.”

President Donald Trump is threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer and the source of 30% of U.S. coffee imports.

While the current national average unemployment rate stands at 4.1%, the rate for Black women hovers nearly two percentage points higher. It’s also nearly three percentage points higher than that of White women.

President Donald Trump’s administration is looking to block undocumented children from Head Start as part of ongoing efforts to limit access to federal benefits for immigrants without legal status.

Nationally, construction and agriculture workforces had the highest shares of undocumented workers as of 2022, according to the American Immigration Council.

Officials are warning that millions of Americans could lose their insurance under changes in the law — including 330,000 people in Illinois who could be impacted by changes to Medicaid. However, Republican lawmakers say the changes are aimed at eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the system.

Chicago taxpayers have spent more than $189.3 million so far this year to resolve police misconduct lawsuits. For some, the issue raises concerns about the city’s finances. Others argue financial pains are necessary to ignite meaningful change.

For years, Southside Blooms has been beautifying blocks one flower at a time. The new documentary “In Our Nature” digs into the nonprofit’s work and highlights environmental educators planting the seeds of meaningful change.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will close its specialized services program for LGBTQ+ youth on July 17.

“We can make them feel that they’re inside the main character’s head,” Make-Believe Association founder Jeremy McCarter said. “And I just thought, well, if we can do that, what would be a more interesting head to be inside than Hamlet’s?”

Latin America is in the midst of a crucial election year in countries including Venezuela, whose ruling party claimed another win last month amid opposition boycotts. Advocates say last month’s results could further roil the country’s political landscape.

Chicago State University hired its first-ever head football coach, Bobby Rome II. Rome is tasked with building the school’s new Division I football program from the ground up. The university doesn’t have a stadium, equipment or players just yet.