Stories by Associated Press
Trump Cancels White House Meeting With Democratic Leaders Despite Risk of a Government Shutdown
| Associated Press
In a lengthy Tuesday social media post, Trump rejected the sit-down that the White House had agreed to a day before. It would have been the first time the Republican president met with the Democratic Party’s leaders, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, since his return to the White House.
Trump Makes Unfounded Claims About Tylenol and Repeats Discredited Link Between Vaccines and Autism
| Associated Press
The rambling announcement, which appeared to rely on existing studies rather than significant new research, comes as the Make America Healthy Again movement has been pushing for answers on the causes of autism.
Free Speech Advocates React to Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension; Comic to Return to Air Tuesday
| Associated Press
ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10, in a monologue. Kimmel said “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
The White House Says It Blocked US Steel’s Decision to Stop Processing Steel at Illinois Plant
| Associated Press
Earlier this month, Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel said it would stop processing steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in southern Illinois, just outside St. Louis, and “optimize” its operations by focusing on processing at its Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania and Gary Works in Indiana.
Hundreds of Stars Sign Letter Defending Free Speech After Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension
| Associated Press
More than 430 movie, TV and stage stars as well as comedians, directors and writers added their names to an open letter Monday from the American Civil Liberties Union that argues it is “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
ICE Denies Using Excessive Force as Agency Broadens Immigration Arrests in Chicago Area
| Associated Press
Across the city and surrounding suburbs, other teams were fanning out in support of “Operation Midway Blitz.” It has unleashed President Donald Trump’s mass deportations agenda on a city and state that has had some of the strongest laws preventing local officials from cooperating with immigration enforcement.
ICE Arrests Nearly 550 in Chicago Area as Part of ‘Midway Blitz,’ Officials Say
| Associated Press
ICE launched its Chicago area operation dubbed “Midway Blitz” on Sept. 8, drawing concern from activists and immigrant communities who say there’s been a noticeable uptick in immigration enforcement agents.
Chicago Man Accused of Killing 2 Israeli Embassy Staffers Was Wearing Body Camera, Prosecutors Say
| Associated Press
Elias Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” during the shooting and then went inside the museum and said, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” according to court documents.
Kennedy’s Vaccine Advisers Decline to Recommend COVID-19 Shot for All Americans
| Associated Press
In a series of votes, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn’t specifically recommend vaccination but said people could make individual decisions.
As Immigration Arrests Spike in Chicago, Activists Escalate Tactics to Fight Back
| Associated Press
The Trump administration has singled out Chicago as its latest mark for immigration enforcement, using traffic stops in immigrant-heavy areas and targeting day laborers outside hardware stores.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension is the Latest Display of Donald Trump’s Growing Power Over the Media Landscape
| Associated Press
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from Great Britain on Thursday, Trump said federal regulators should consider revoking broadcast licenses for networks that “give me only bad publicity.”
Federal Reserve Cuts Key Interest Rate for First Time This Year
| Associated Press
The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and it lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy.
Fired CDC Chief Warns Senators That RFK Jr. Taking Public Health to ‘Very Dangerous Place’
| Associated Press
Describing extraordinary turmoil inside the nation’s health agencies, Monarez and former CDC Chief Medical Officer Chief Debra Houry described exchanges in which Kennedy or political advisers rebuffed data supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Donald Trump’s Threat to Target ‘Radical Left’ After Charlie Kirk Killing Raises Fears He’s Trying to Silence Foes
| Associated Press
Without establishing any link to last week’s shooting, the Republican president and members of his administration have discussed classifying some groups as domestic terrorists, ordering racketeering investigations and revoking tax-exempt status for progressive nonprofits.
Fed Convenes Meeting With a Governor Newly Appointed by Trump and Another He Wants to Oust
| Associated Press
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is widely expected to cut its key rate by a quarter point to about 4.1%, which would be the first reduction since last December.
FBI Director Kash Patel Clashes With Skeptical Democrats at Contentious Hearing
| Associated Press
FBI Director Kash Patel clashed with skeptical Democrats at a contentious Senate oversight hearing Tuesday, defending his record amid criticism that he has politicized the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency and pursued retribution against perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump.
Robert Redford, Oscar-Winning Actor, Director and Indie Movie Patriarch, Dies at 89
| Associated Press
Robert Redford, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters, died Tuesday at 89.
Donald Trump Deploys National Guard to Memphis and Says Chicago Is Next
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an order sending the National Guard into Memphis to combat crime, constituting his latest test of the limits of presidential power by using military force in American cities.
A Framework Deal on TikTok Has Been Reached Between the US and China
| Associated Press
The meeting in Madrid is the fourth round of trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials since Trump launched a tariff war on Chinese goods in April.
Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, a Popular Two-Term Republican, Dies at 79
| Associated Press
Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, a popular two-term Republican credited with guiding the state into a period of greater financial stability in the 1990s, died Sunday, according to his family.
Dolton, the Suburb Where Pope Leo XIV Grew Up, Celebrates His 70th Birthday
| Associated Press
A small crowd attended the festivities outside the modest brick house in the village of Dolton, where the former Robert Prevost grew up after he was born in 1955 in Chicago.
Donald Trump Says He’ll Send National Guard to Memphis but ‘Would Have Preferred Going to Chicago’
| Associated Press
Since sending the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Trump has openly mused about sending troops to some of the nation’s most Democratic cities — including Chicago and Baltimore — even as data shows most violent crime in those places and around the country has declined in recent years.
Rifle Recovered in Search for Charlie Kirk’s Killer; FBI Releases Person of Interest Photos
| Associated Press
Even as law enforcement officials revealed new details about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk they called a targeted killing, much remained unclear nearly 24 hours later, including the sniper’s identity, motive and whereabouts.
Americans Mark the 24th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks With Emotional Ceremonies
| Associated Press
On Thursday, America marked the 24th anniversary of the deadly attacks with solemn ceremonies in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The commemorations were punctuated by moments of silence, the tolling of bells and the reading of the names of the nearly 3,000 killed.
Charlie Kirk, Conservative Activist Raised in Chicago Suburbs, Shot and Killed at Event in Utah
| Associated Press
Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday at an event at a Utah college. President Donald Trump announced his death in a social media post.
American Politicians Who Have Directly Experienced Violence React to Charlie Kirk Shooting
| Associated Press
The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an event in Utah had particular resonance for public figures who have experienced political violence themselves.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
2026 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Obama Presidential Center Unveils Official Portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama
Chicago Paid $2.7M for System Designed to Flag Officers With Multiple Complaints: Records
Supreme Court Expected to Hand Down Rulings on Birthright Citizenship, Presidential Power and More
EF-2 Tornado Near Midway Among 20 Tallied So Far From Last Week’s Storms, Weather Service Says
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter