Stories by WTTW News

After months of fighting in the courts, Illinois is set to eliminate cash bail. A partnership to counter violence. And 60 years since the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

City Council approves another big payout for wrongful convictions. Illinois’ secretary of state on his trip to DC. And the Chicago-born former first lady of Ukraine on Russia and the future of the region.

Why some CHA residents say they’re facing retaliation. Spotlight Politics on the city’s budget shortfall. A fallen firefighter is laid to rest. And a different kind of training for police officers.

Will Chicago’s tipped minimum wage soon be a thing of the past? The U.S. vs. Google in a major antitrust trial. Illinois’s secretary of state testifies in Washington. And glass art from war-torn Ukraine.

The city could be paying even more money for police misconduct settlements. And a brand new — although, temporary — casino opens its doors. Plus, taking a bite out of Black Restaurant Week.

Chicagoans and tourists feeling lucky can play 800 slot games and 56 table games in the century-old Shriner’s temple at 600 N. Wabash Ave., with its distinctive domed ceilings and stained-glass windows.

A community-run shelter for migrants closes its doors. Getting more Latinos in STEM. And the migrant experience from the point of view of a child.

Child care is heading for a cliff as pandemic-era funding dries up. Pull up a seat at the table for Black Restaurant Week. And bringing in the light with a local candle maker.

Meet the next top cop: a community forum for Larry Snelling, the man selected to be CPD superintendent. A preview of the Bears match-up against the Packers this weekend. And accessible art at Navy Pier.

Chicago Public Schools employees accused of loan fraud. Ambitious ideas for local public transit. And in Spotlight Politics: Mayor Brandon Johnson preps to unveil his budget proposal.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again — what it means. Next steps for the planned Ryan Field development in Evanston. And how exit numbers are assigned on the highway. WTTW News explains.

Student loan payments are resuming — what’s being done to provide relief. What’s behind the soaring number of opioid overdose deaths. And a sit-down with the new leader of Rainbow PUSH.

“Seeking Sanctuary: One Year Later.” How community members are supporting migrants. Officials plea for federal help. And rebranding the Chicago flag with special meaning.

One year since the first bus of migrants arrived in Chicago. The start of the school year with Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. And a Cubs outfielder takes an artist to his workplace.

The fight over work permits for migrants. The latest on the shooting during a White Sox game. AI finding its place in schools. And an airport art exhibit honoring veterans.

A Chicago firefighter dies in the line of duty. Republicans calling for stronger ethics reform in Springfield. And investigating the medical records of thousands of airline pilots.

The latest in our series WTTW News: A Safer City. Where the Chicago Police Department stands on the consent decree. And how communities and police can build relationships. 

Solutions to prevent future flooding problems. Efforts to protect temp workers. And summer isn’t over yet — we share two art and music festivals this weekend.

The impact of this week’s extreme heat on Black communities. The definitive life of Martin Luther King Jr. in this week’s Black Voices Book Club. Honoring a longtime congressman. And the Chicago Jazz Fest.

Migrants, safety and taxes — we sit down with Mayor Brandon Johnson on his first 100 days in office. The fate of former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes. And a repository for Cook County criminal history.

Record-breaking heat across the region. How to stay safe and cool. Police staffing levels were predicted to fall under Mayor Johnson — did they? And Spotlight Politics on Johnson’s first 100 days.

What the city is paying out in repeated police misconduct settlements. A tutoring shortage hits Chicago. And the head of the Chicago Teachers Union on how schools will cope with the coming heat wave.

The latest in our series WTTW News: A Safer City highlights the sharp rise in vehicle thefts — and how to protect your car. Efforts to get kids to school safely. And the impact retail theft has on local businesses.

It’s back to school for CPS students — we talk about the challenges ahead this school year. A new effort to reduce maternal mortality. And The Last Word on mentoring.

What the promotion of CPD’s Chief Larry Snelling means for public safety. A cross-cultural musical collaboration in Millennium Park. And rebuilding a taqueria from scratch.

The latest in the trial of Michael Madigan’s former chief of staff. What’s behind the rash of postal worker assaults. And a Chicago singer-songwriter by way of Honduras.