Stories by Patty Wetli

Staff at Shedd Aquarium are mourning the loss of another rescued beluga whale, announcing the death of 27-year-old Caspian, who arrived at Shedd in August from the shuttered Canadian park Marineland.

After powerful storms tore through the Chicago region in August, the leaders of numerous south suburban communities were faced with recovery efforts that far exceeded the capacity of their personnel, equipment and financial resources.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has announced its annual search for the city’s official Christmas tree, which will be the centerpiece of holiday celebrations in Millennium Park.

This one-time crown jewel of Chicago’s movie palaces has sat empty for decades amidst multiple attempts to revive the dormant, 101-year-old theater and restore it to its former glory.

The Chicago Park District is grappling with a new state law governing the use of e-bikes and other micromobility devices.

Last year, Chicago lost its unofficial title as America's “rattiest city." Now the push is on to see how low its ranking can go.

Preliminary medical findings released Friday are pointing to chronic gastrointestinal disease as a contributing factor in the deaths of two rescued beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium.

The Park District is holding town halls in advance of statewide e-bike and e-scooter regulations taking effect Jan. 1, 2027.

What’s so eye-catching about dead wood? A stump in a Chicago neighborhood has been turned into a tribute to longevity.

Shedd Aquarium shared the disheartening news of another death among the beluga whales it rescued this summer from a defunct marine park in Canada.

The Chicago region is drying out after a soggy stretch that saw multiple rounds of storms dump upwards of half a foot of rain on some municipalities.

The medical and animal care staff at Shedd Aquarium have been on an emotional rollercoaster the past few months as the institution participated in an unprecedented rescue of 10 beluga whales.

A researcher at Shedd Aquarium tracked a single bluegill traveling nearly 7.5 miles in a single day, or the equivalent of a 52-mile swim for a human.

A new report outlines investments made by the forest preserve district between 2023 and 2025 that wouldn’t have happened without additional tax dollars.

WTTW News spoke with Ron Pitelka, the guy who extracted a 50-ton prehistoric boulder at O’Hare Airport.

The Chicago Department of Aviation launched a naming contest for a giant boulder unearthed at the airfield.

The park, which serves as an entry to the 606 Bloomingdale Trail, would honor one of Chicago’s most acclaimed street artists.

Organizers have announced an addition to the upcoming open water Chicago River Swim: the Big Jump.

Work on the critical carp barrier was halted in late July. On Wednesday, the White House lifted the stop-work order.

“At this time, it is impossible to know if these passings are isolated or related,” Shedd said in a statement.

Members of Teamsters Local 700 and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has come to terms on a contract extension, ending a 16-day strike by approximately 230 forest preserve employees.

Chicagoans are invited to vote on the next improvement to the city’s front yard, Grant Park.

Wednesday is expected to be a repeat of Tuesday, when the heat index reached 106 degrees at Chicago's Midway Airport and 103 degrees at O'Hare.

The last beluga whales remaining at a defunct marine park in Canada are now on their way to new homes in the U.S. A pair arrived at Shedd Aquarium on Tuesday morning.

Starting Saturday, thrill-seeking bike riders will get to test their skills on the newest additions to Big Marsh Park’s complex of BMX and mountain biking trails.

The eclipse will peak Thursday night at 11:12 p.m., with almost the entire moon darkened by Earth's shadow.