What do you get when you put two of Chicago’s preeminent architecture critics together? A thought-provoking book about the city’s storied architecture.
Stories by Alexandra Silets
Week In Review: Pat Quinn Opts Out; Mayoral Race Heats Up
Special counsel appointed to investigate Trump. A high profile, would-be candidate opts out of the mayoral race. Lightfoot institutes a full court press for the Red Line extension. And property tax mailings hit homeowners where it hurts.
Week in Review: Pritzker, Illinois Dems Have Big Election Day
Gov. J.B. Pritzker wins reelection handily as Democrats sweep the state. National predictions of a Republican wave fail to materialize. Chuy García enters the race for mayor. And the CTA chief gets an earful.
Week in Review: Biden In Town Ahead of Midterms
Major national figures are in town as local midterm races go down to the wire. Mayor Lightfoot is facing a budget revolt. The Bears pull off huge trades and hedge for the future while the White Sox name a new manager.
Candidate Forum: Open Secretary of State Office Has Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Dan Brady Squaring Off
It’s the first time since 1998 that Jesse White won’t be on the ballot for Illinois secretary of state. Running to fill the office is Republican Dan Brady and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.
The Week in Review: Bailey Campaigns With Pastors Who Were at Capitol on Jan. 6
What the just-unsealed affidavit shows about the FBI’s search of Mar-A-Lago. The mayor’s between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the Columbus statue. And student loan debt relief.
Spotlight Politics: Biden Keeps Campaign Promise with Loan Forgiveness
President Joe Biden unveils his student debt relief plan. A conservative group’s political ad darkens Mayor Lightfoot’s skin. Our politics team weighs in on those stories and more.
The Week in Review: Politicians Rally Party Faithful at Illinois State Fair
Optimism and discord for both parties at the state fair. Jurors view notorious video in R. Kelly’s Chicago trial. Deaths and injuries in Chicago’s playpen. And CPS prepares to go back to school.
Spotlight Politics: Illinois Dems Focus on Unity, Target GOP Nominee Darren Bailey at State Fair
Highland Park calls for a ban on semi-automatic weapons. Our politics team weighs in on that story and more.
The Week in Review: List Unsealed, FBI Removes Nuclear Secrets from Mar-a-Lago
The FBI vs. former President Trump. A scaled-back property tax increase. And tension at the CPD over the firing of the officer in charge of reform.
The Week in Review: Lightfoot Losing Allies, Pritzker Mum on Endorsement
Former Lightfoot allies falling off the bandwagon. Unearthed Darren Bailey Holocaust comments cause bipartisan blowback. Outgoing prosecutors blast Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. And the Cubs and Sox largely stand pat at the trade deadline.
Spotlight Politics: Darren Bailey Facing Backlash Over Abortion and Holocaust Comparison
The Republican nominee for Illinois governor, Darren Bailey, is feeling the backlash from both sides of the aisle for comparing abortion to the Holocaust. Our politics team weighs in on that story and more.
The Week in Review: Kinzinger on January 6, Rotering on Assault Weapons Ban
Another alderperson decides to retire before her term is up. Rep Adam Kinzinger leads an explosive Jan. 6 hearing. NASCAR is coming to Chicago. And Pritzker catches COVID-19 after a trip to Florida.
The Week in Review: Bans on Assault Weapons, High-Capacity Magazines Pushed
The prospect of cracking down on assault-grade guns. Hyper-contagious COVID-19. The governor’s race heats up. And City Council changeover.
Spotlight Politics: Friends and Families Demand More Gun Restrictions in DC
Accusations of witness tampering against former President Donald Trump. Our politics team weighs in on that story and more.
The Week in Review: Bailey Apologizes Again, Renewed Calls for Tougher Gun Laws
Processing, mourning, and pushing for change as suburban Highland Park reels from a Fourth of July mass shooting. Plus, what’s next for gun control this election year?
Spotlight Politics: VP Harris, Gov. Pritzker, Darren Bailey React to Highland Park Shooting
In this week’s edition of Spotlight Politics: our team on Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to Highland Park and whether gun laws will tighten.
First Graduates of Cook County Restorative Justice Program Recognized
Participants in the the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Restorative Justice Community Court spent six to nine months learning conflict resolution and job skills, as well as receiving emotional support.
Delia Ramirez Wins Democratic Primary in 3rd Congressional District
Should she prevail against her Republican challenger, Justin Burau, in the general election in November, Ramirez wants to focus on environmental issues as well as Medicare for All and immigration reform.
Spotlight Politics: Previewing Primary Election Day in Illinois
It is the night before the primary election in Illinois and candidates are making a last-minute push for votes. Our Spotlight Politics team of Amanda Vinicky, Paris Schutz and Heather Cherone previews the hottest races in the state.
Spotlight Politics: Billionaires Spend Tens of Millions on Governor’s Race
Our politics team weighs in on Darren Bailey's lead in the GOP primary race for the governor and more.
Candidate Forum: Cook County Assessor Candidates Kaegi, Steele Face Off
The candidates for Cook County assessor face off in a “Chicago Tonight” candidate forum.
The Week in Review: Donald Trump at Center of January 6 Committee Hearing
Donald Trump was at the center of primetime hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection. Mayor Lightfoot makes it official — she wants another term. And a new poll shows a seismic shift in the GOP race for governor.
All 48 Craft Cannabis Licenses Awarded to Social Equity Applicants
The state has awarded 48 cultivation licenses to craft cannabis growers, and 100% of the licenses are going to social equity winners — folks who were most impacted by the nation’s so-called war on drugs.
The Week in Review: GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Violence, Guns
Republican gubernatorial candidates go on the attack. Two more candidates for Chicago mayor. And the U.S. Senate debates gun policy amid Uvalde and another violent memorial day weekend in Chicago.
VA Hospitals Work to Address Mental Health Needs of Veterans
Since 2010, more than 65,000 veterans have died by suicide – that is more than the total number of deaths from combat during the Vietnam War and the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
