Stories by Paul Caine

In the past week, 17 immigration court judges across the country have been abruptly fired by the Trump administration — including in Chicago.

Thirty years ago, a heat wave settled over northeast Illinois. By the time the heat relented, 739 people had died and the city was using refrigerated trucks as makeshift morgues.

Federal agents descend on a local museum, with community leaders saying they meant to bully and intimidate. And the mayor and governor decry the president’s signature new spending bill.

Gov. JB Pritzker makes it official — he’s running for a third term. And the interim CPS CEO says Chicago schools face an even higher deficit than had been reported.

The mayor vetoes a “snap curfew” measure aimed at curbing large teen gatherings. And Democratic members of Congress are turned away from an ICE facility.

Late last year, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked school board fired Martinez without cause after he refused to take out a $300 million loan to cover the cost of a new teachers’ contract — but he remained on the job for the last six months, as dictated by his contract.

Onetime political heavyweight Michael Madigan has his fate decided by a federal judge. And Chicagoans join nationwide protests against the Trump administration.

A chaotic scene as federal agents make a surprise mass immigration arrest. And Mayor Brandon Johnson says he’s confident public transit will get the funding it needs — but who will pay?

The Illinois House advances a bill allowing physician-assisted death for the terminally ill. And an overhaul of public transit in the Chicago area is lining up in Springfield.

At her swearing-in ceremony six months ago, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke promised a tougher approach to tackling violent crime.

Chicagoans react after a local man is accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers. And the mayor waves off the latest Trump attack — this time, over hiring practices.

The governor calls on Democrats to step up their game in opposing the Trump administration. And Mayor Brandon Johnson visits Springfield with a wish list for Chicago — is it too late in the session to land a deal?

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announces he won’t seek another term — setting off a scramble for the rare open seat. And Mayor Brandon Johnson is sounding the alarm on city finances.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers said they were able to detect signs of sulfur-based molecules called dimethyl sulfide or DMS, which on Earth are only produced by life, primarily marine phytoplankton.

Former President Joe Biden returns to the national stage — calling out the Trump administration’s actions on Social Security. And alderpeople are blocking Jan. 6 rioters from working with the city.

Some of the nation’s largest law firms have recently been faced with a stark choice — cooperate with the Trump administration or face punitive executive orders.

The Trump administration abruptly revokes visas for students at local universities. And state elections officials look into the Illinois Senate president’s campaign fund.

More than 1,000 grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities for cultural programs across the country were terminated by the Trump administration last week.

Stocks plummet after Trump’s sweeping tariffs. And after a long year of negotiations, Chicago teachers have a tentative contract deal.

“If I didn’t do this job, I’d pick another one and it wouldn’t be as interesting or challenging or as impactful,” said Toni Preckwinkle, who has led Cook County since 2010.

Chicago teachers appear close to a contract deal. Fallout over a shocking national security breach. And Sen. Dick Durbin's political future.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth previously called U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unqualified to lead the Defense Department and said he should either step down or be fired.

Tensions between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union are running hot, but as of Friday evening both sides say a contract deal is close.

What Trump’s Education Department overhaul could mean for Illinois students. And could an earlier downtown curfew cut crime?

More than 1.2 million Americans have died from COVID-19. Despite having one of the most sophisticated health care systems in the world, the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic fell well short when compared to other developed nations.

How Mayor Brandon Johnson did in his testimony before Congress. And what’s next for Deerfield-based Walgreens after being picked up by a private equity firm.