It’s one of the most contentious races on the Cook County ballot. Former Cook County judge and prosecutor Patrick O’Brien talks about his campaign to unseat Democratic incumbent Kim Foxx.
Stories by Paul Caine
Bears Start Season with Best Record Since 2012
Debating the merits of the Bears 5-1 record is all the rage, but we should know if it’s for real over the next several weeks, as they face some tough teams.
Candidate Forum: Campaign Veteran Oberweis Looks to Unseat Democrat Underwood in 14th District
Republican state Sen. Jim Oberweis discusses his effort to unseat incumbent Rep. Lauren Underwood, a Democrat, in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District.
Winning Ugly: Bears Reach 4-1 Record But Fail to Convince
The Bears have a 4-1 record after eking out a 1-point win over the Buccaneers on Thursday, but that record may flatter them. Former Bears offensive lineman James "Big Cat" Williams gives us his take.
Northwestern Study: 1 in 5 Chicagoans Test Positive for Coronavirus Antibodies
Far more Chicagoans may have been infected by COVID-19 than previously thought. We discuss the preliminary findings of a new study with Dr. Elizabeth McNally of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
New City Initiative Aims at Giving Young Learners the Chance to Thrive
“As a city, we must ensure every child, regardless of their ZIP code, receives a high-quality early education, providing them the tools and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Mayor Lightfoot in a statement.
Stuttering Bears Face Quarterback Legend Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback Nick Foles fails to get the job done against the Colts. Can the Bears find an offense Thursday night? Former Bears offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams gives us his take.
Preying on the Vulnerable: Half of Trafficked Women and Girls Are Immigrants
Human trafficking has increased by as much as 40% during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the anti-trafficking group Polaris. Dr. Izabel Olson talks about how to break the cycle of abuse.
Bears Bench Trubisky, Foles to Start Against Colts
Former Bears offensive lineman James "Big Cat" Williams previews the matchup against the Colts.
Could Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Partisanship in Politics?
Voters are about to go to the polls to choose one candidate for each race on the ballot. But what if they could pick multiple candidates for each race, ranked in order of their preference?
Bears Undefeated But Questions Remain After 1st Two Games
The Bears are 2-0 but they barely beat the Giants last week after dominating the first half. What do the Bears need to remain undefeated?
Study: Vitamin D Deficiency May Raise Risk of Getting COVID-19
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine have found an apparent link between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of getting COVID-19. Paleontologist Neil Shubin has details on that story and more.
Illinois Tech’s New Innovation Hub Leader Aims to Make Entrepreneurship Accessible to All
Maryam Saleh, an entrepreneur and Chicago-based computational neuroscientist, tells us about her new role leading the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Bears vs. Giants Preview: Chicago Looks to Build on Last Week’s 4th Quarter, Start 2-0
After a come-from-way-behind victory against Detroit, the Bears now face the New York Giants in the home opener on Sunday. Former Bears player James “Big Cat” Williams has this preview.
Trump Calls For More Stimulus Money, Pritzker Warns of ‘Thousands’ of State Layoffs
“State and municipal budgets across the nation and here in Illinois are being decimated,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday. “It’s not a blue state problem or a red state problem.”
Social Media Misinformation a Major Challenge for Election Authorities, Voters
In an age when false information can be disseminated to millions with a single tweet or Facebook post, combatting that misinformation is all the more important. What election officials are doing to dispel misleading myths.
US EPA Rolls Back Obama-Era Regulations that Protect Lake Michigan Water
Will new EPA regulations allow a Wisconsin power plant to dump more toxic metals into Lake Michigan? Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Hawthorne explains.
Opponents of Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park Considering Appeal to US Supreme Court
We speak with Protect Our Parks founder and president Herb Caplan about the latest in the legal battle over the $500 million project planned for Chicago’s South Side.
Argonne, Fermilab at Forefront of ‘Transformational’ Quantum Research
Quantum technology is expected to transform our world, and Chicago appears to be at the center of this quantum acceleration, thanks to funding from the Department of Energy to establish two quantum research centers locally.
Local GOP Lawmakers Praise First Lady’s ‘Home Run’ RNC Speech
The president’s wife and children present the case for their dad’s reelection. Republican state lawmakers share their thoughts about the Republican National Convention so far.
Local Republicans Expect Economic Optimism, ‘Law and Order’ Message from RNC
The leader of the Chicago Republican Party said Monday that he is expecting to hear a strong “law and order” message from this week’s National Republican Convention combined with a hopeful economic vision for the future.
Former President Obama’s Speechwriter Talks Crafting DNC Speech
Former President Barack Obama launched a blistering attack on his successor at Wednesday night’s Democratic National Convention. Obama’s speechwriter talks about that speech and the challenge of writing for a virtual convention.
Durbin Backs Pelosi’s Move to Recall Congress Amid Postal Service Standoff
A political convention unlike any other is underway as Democratic leaders step up their fight against President Donald Trump and his attacks on mail-in voting. We discuss that and more with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
GOP Congressman Says Chicago May Need National Guard If Looting Continues
Illinois U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis says Chicago may have to call the National Guard back to the city if it is unable to prevent further looting. Davis and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, join us in conversation.
Democrats, Republicans ‘Miles Apart’ on Unemployment Insurance Deal, Says Bustos
As cities and states across the nation struggle to get control of COVID-19, members of Congress butt heads over another stimulus package. Illinois U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos weighs in on those topics and more.
Secret Service Agent Shot in Reagan Assassination Attempt Retires as Orland Park Police Chief
The Secret Service agent who took a bullet to protect President Ronald Reagan has spent the last 26 years as chief of police in Orland Park. We speak with Tim McCarthy ahead of his Aug. 1 retirement.
