Stories by Eunice Alpasan

Flu activity in suburban Cook County jumped from “low” to “high” during the week ending in Dec. 20, according to health officials. Chicago’s public health department reported “high” levels of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for flu late last week.

The Intuit Art Museum in West Town champions the work of self-taught artists, those who create art outside of the mainstream art world. “Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago” has been extended through March 22.

The Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace are encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly and take advantage of the free late-night transit services to get around on New Year’s Eve.

Before testing positive for rabies, the dog was surrendered to a local rescue and euthanized after the dog had a “marked” change in behavior on Dec. 16, according to a news release.

More than 550 personalized license plate requests were denied by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office this year after it deemed them inflammatory, profane, offensive or too difficult to read.

This year marks the first time “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” will feature a live broadcast from downtown Chicago, with the show’s first Central time zone midnight countdown.

The frequent service network consists of 20 key bus routes throughout the agency’s service area that are scheduled to have service every 10 minutes or less from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends, according to the CTA.

A review of the gas market in northern Illinois released by the consumer advocate groups Citizens Utility Board and Illinois PIRG highlighted that rising natural gas prices, in addition to rate hikes from gas utility companies, are creating a “double-whammy” for customers.

From how the United Center transforms its basketball court into an ice hockey rink to how holiday packages arrive at your front door, the WTTW special “Chicago Works” brings to the forefront the often unseen work that helps keep the city running.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin described Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s co-sponsoring of the bill as “an extraordinary act of political courage.” Durbin has spent more than two decades pushing for the Dream Act, which he first introduced in 2001.

Air travelers in the U.S. without a REAL ID or another acceptable document, such as a passport, will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February, TSA announced earlier this week.

The bill signing comes ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee meeting later this week for an expected vote on potential changes to the childhood vaccination schedule and how hepatitis B shots are administered.

O’Hare is likely to see its busiest Thanksgiving travel week in the airport’s 70-year history, according to the city’s aviation department. In Illinois, more than 4.1 million residents are expected to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday period, setting a new record for Thanksgiving travel in the state, according to AAA.

Starting Wednesday, Illinois residents will be able to add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet. The Mobile ID program will also “soon” expand to Google and Samsung wallets, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

The beloved holiday tradition will return starting next week and run through late December, the Chicago Transit Authority announced.

The Illinois Department of Human Services, which previously issued partial November benefits, said that it is “working to restore full SNAP benefits.” But it won’t happen instantly.

As Chicago-area veterans gathered Tuesday to commemorate Veterans Day around the city, some used the opportunity to speak out about the government’s failure to care for veterans, as well as to sound the alarm about what some described as attacks against democracy.

“Leo from Chicago,” chronicles Pope Leo XIV's journey to being pope, from his time growing up in south suburban Dolton, into the priesthood and his missionary work in Peru, while also offering a look into how Chicago has shaped him.

The festivities in Chicago will be led by a new host and feature live performances, on-the-ground updates and reporting throughout the evening, according to a news release. Details have not yet been announced.

Attorneys filed an updated petition Thursday seeking the release of Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, who, at the time, was being held at the ICE processing center in Broadview. Santillana Galeano has since been moved to an ICE facility in Clark County, Indiana, according to her attorney.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday it would reduce air traffic by 10% across “high-volume” markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers go unpaid and exhibit signs of strain during the shutdown.

The video shows two agents detaining the teacher inside the preschool and day care and then removing her from the facility. The teacher can be heard saying she has papers.

The Grainger Center for Conservation and Science, projected to cost $50 million to build, will be a space for conservators across departments to collaborate, conduct research, teach and preserve the Art Institute’s collection, according to the museum.

Community groups and neighbors are coming together to help children and families feel safe during Halloween celebrations, with some families choosing to opt out of trick-or-treating altogether amid fears of immigration raids.

Nearly 300 public radio stations and more than 100 public television stations in the U.S. are producing local reporting, researchers found. In nine counties, public radio is the sole news source.

Starting Saturday, cards that SNAP beneficiaries use to buy groceries will not be reloaded after the Trump administration said last week it won’t use a roughly $5 billion contingency fund to keep funding the program next month.