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Stories by Eunice Alpasan

Anti-Trump Protesters Demand Protections for Immigrants, Workers in Chicago May Day March

Supporters from a diverse coalition of local grassroots organizations and labor unions marched the streets to protest the Trump administration’s policies. May 1 is known as May Day or International Workers’ Day.

Chicago-Area Organizations Working on Everything From Youth Mentorship to Homelessness Lose Positions Following AmeriCorps Cuts

Several leaders of Chicago area organizations with AmeriCorps programs told WTTW News they’ve notified a number of AmeriCorps members that their positions have been cut after receiving federal grant terminations earlier this week.

What Happens If You Don’t Have a Real ID? With a Week Until Enforcement Begins, Here’s What to Know

Starting May 7, most adults catching a flight in the U.S. will be required to present a valid passport or a state-issued identification card that meets federal Real ID standards.

Summer EBT Program Will Issue Low-Income Families $120 in Food Benefits Per Child. Here’s How to Apply

A food assistance program aimed at helping children have access to nutritious meals during the summer months will begin to issue benefits to low-income families in Illinois starting in May.

Illinois Health Officials Confirm State’s First Measles Case of 2025

The case in Illinois is not considered an outbreak and the risk of measles transmission for the general public in the state remains low, according to IDPH.

Chicago Firefighter Dies From Injuries After Battling Blaze in Austin Neighborhood

Captain David Meyer, 54, died from injuries after a garage collapsed from a West Side fire early Wednesday morning. He joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1996.

Riot Fest Announces 20th Anniversary Lineup With Headliners Green Day, Blink-182, Weezer and Jack White

More than 90 bands will be performing during the three-day festival held Sept. 19-21 in Douglass Park.

Illinois University Leaders Join Condemnation of Trump Administration’s ‘Unprecedented Government Overreach’

Leaders from several Illinois universities signed onto a public statement Tuesday, alongside more than 200 university leaders across the U.S., speaking out against the Trump administration’s efforts to change university policies under the threat of cutting federal funding.

Citywide Career Fair Returns With Job Opportunities in Government, Nonprofit and Private Sectors

The citywide career fair is making its return following successful fairs in the spring and fall of last year, according to a news release.

Chicago Joins Nationwide Efforts to Support Black-Owned Businesses During Corporate Rollbacks of DEI Programs

The event, “Spend in the Black: Resurrecting the Black Dollar” will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 75th Street and King Drive. The purpose of the event is to redirect collective economic power into local communities, according to event organizers.

Nearly 25% of All Out-of-State Abortions Took Place in Illinois Last Year: Study

About 35,000 out-of-state patients traveled to Illinois for an abortion last year, accounting for 39% of all abortions provided in the state, according to a recent study.

An Iconic Gem of Philippine Cinema Was Thought to Be Lost. An Illinois Professor Helped Get the Film Restored

A new 4K restoration of Filipino director Lino Brocka’s film “Bona” will make its Chicago premiere at the Gene Siskel Film Center on April 21. The screening will be introduced by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor José Capino, whose research contributions led to the film’s restoration.

‘We Got to Dream Really Big’: Chicago Record Label Numero Group Celebrates 22 Years of Making Old Music New Again

Archival record label Numero Group pays homage to the practice of music discovery while aiming to give new life to music that may have previously flown under the radar. For more than two decades, the label has reissued music and chronicled the stories of artists across a wide range of genres.

Chicago’s City Animal Shelter Faces Overcrowding as Owner Surrenders Spike, Euthanasia Numbers Continue to Climb

Last year, euthanasia at the city shelter increased for the third consecutive year, amounting to 2,455 animals, of whom 60% were dogs, according to city data. “We’re at capacity almost every day,” Chicago Animal Care and Control spokesperson Armando Tejeda said.

Riot Fest Will Remain in Douglass Park Through at Least 2027, With More Money Going Back to the West Side Park

The rock festival will announce this year’s lineup on April 23 with tickets going on sale that day, according to festival organizers. The three-day festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary, will be held Sept. 19-21.

Registration Opens Soon for Chicago Park District’s Summer Day Camp. Here’s What to Know

Online registration for Chicago Park District’s popular six-week summer day camp begins next week. Fees are being raised to bring fees back up to pre-pandemic levels and to address rising operational costs, according to the district.

Chicago Drivers With Eligible Ticket Debt Can Have Late Fees Waived Under New Program

Chicago drivers with eligible ticket debt will be able to pay off their debt in the next three months without incurring any late penalties, interest or additional fees as part of a new program launched Tuesday by the mayor’s office.

Illinois Secretary of State Unveils New ‘Flagship’ DMV Location in Loop

The center, at 24,000 square feet, is nearly five times the size of the office’s former Chicago Central DMV on LaSalle Street, which closed Friday and often experienced long lines and wait times because of its small size, according to a news release.

Warning Notices Begin for 16 New Speed Cameras Near Chicago Schools and Parks. Here’s Where They Are

After a 30-day warning period without fines and a 14-day blackout period, citations will begin being issued to the registered owners of vehicles going over the speed limit by six miles per hour or more.

CTA Austin Green Line Station Begins $25M Reconstruction Aimed at Accessibility Amid Broader Funding Questions

A $25 million reconstruction project to improve accessibility at the Green Line’s Austin station on the West Side is underway amid broader funding uncertainty that stands in the way of efforts to make all rail stations on the Chicago Transit Authority fully accessible by 2038.

Chicago-Area Abortion Advocates Anticipate Increase in Patients if Wisconsin Supreme Court Flips

Chicago-area abortion providers and abortion fund groups have already seen more people from Wisconsin seeking abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022.

Chicago Muslim Civil Rights Group Condemns Trump’s Immigration Crackdown of Pro-Palestinian Students

Members of a Chicago-based Muslim civil rights organization and advocacy group called on local elected officials to stand up against the Trump administration’s detainment of students who have shown support of Palestinian causes, during a news conference.

Transit Workers Raise Awareness of Looming $770M Budget Gap for Chicago-Area Public Transit Systems

The CTA, Metra and Pace are facing an impending budget gap when federal COVID-19 relief funding runs out next year. Transit labor groups have stopped short of calling for a merging of the transit systems as a funding solution, unlike what some advocacy groups have called for.

Chicago Film Critic Highlights Contributions of Female Filmmakers in New Book ‘Cinema Her Way’

Chicago-based film critic Marya E. Gates will make a book tour stop for a 35mm screening of Jane Campion’s “Bright Star” on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Music Box Theatre. The event includes a book signing and a post-screening discussion.

More Than 3.3M Travelers Expected at O’Hare, Midway During Spring Break Travel Season

More than 3.3 million travelers are projected to pass through the airports between Thursday and March 31, a 4% increase from the same period last year, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Lollapalooza 2025 Lineup Announced: Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, Sabrina Carpenter and More

Lollapalooza will be held from July 31-Aug. 3 in Grant Park. The four-day music festival includes more than 170 artists on eight stages.
 

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