Stories by Patty Wetli

Saturday was one of the deadliest days for birds in Chicago since 2023, when 1,000 were killed or injured at McCormick Place Lakeside alone.

In a win for residents on Chicago's Southeast Side, a Cook County Circuit Court judge this week ordered Pullman Innovations to cease its “odor-causing operations” until it comes into compliance with environmental law.

Finalists have been announced in the "name that 50-ton boulder" contest. Now it's up to the public to choose the winner.

All signs are pointing to a very strong or “super” El Niño event shaping up in the Pacific Ocean, which will affect Chicago's upcoming winter in ways forecasters are beginning to predict.

Think Open House Chicago is just for architecture buffs? Think again.

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa received a vote of confidence from the Chicago Park District board of commissioners, which extended his contract through the end of 2029.

Chicago basked in rare October heat Monday, setting a new daily record high temperature of 88 degrees, blowing past the old record of 84, according to the National Weather Service.

“We’re all super motivated and we’re all super passionate, and so it’s not going to be something that fizzles out anytime soon,” said Robyn Detterline, advocacy chair with Chicago Ornithological Society.

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.