Stories by WTTW News

What to expect from this week's anticipated blizzard. Lawmakers get an earful from gun rights advocates. The controversy over encrypting police scanners. And should Chicago residents switch from gas to electric heat?

The debate over cops in schools reignites after a shooting near a high school. The Jane Byrne Interchange is finally complete — almost. Jesse White on his retirement. And housing the homeless as bitter temperatures approach.

A closer look at crime in Chicago for 2022, what’s working and what’s not. A longtime Chicago journalist turns the page. Holiday shopping at Chicago Fair Trade. And a taste of the Soul Food Lounge.

Overcoming stigmas while practicing sobriety during the holidays. A local TikTok star gives us a taste of his job. And a preview of Mexican holiday celebrations. 

Accusations of racism in the Cook County property tax sale. Health care and politics mix at a South Side safety net hospital. We’re in Altgeld Gardens for In Your Neighborhood. And the voice of the Bulls, Chuck Swirsky.

The fate of funding for the massive southern extension of the Red Line. Immigrants who are victims of crimes are being denied visas even though they're entitled. And a new community hub for South and West Side families.

Alderpeople on extending the Red Line and taking down the Trump sign. The state’s top doctor on the “triple-demic.” Electric cars hitting a pothole in Illinois. Helicopters on Mars. And a taste of the Soul Food Lounge.

Lawmakers consider a state assault weapons ban. The fate of funding for the CTA’s Red Line south extension. A new study says federal courts are locking up more defendants before trials. And the dangers behind being a postal worker.

What changes to the SAFE-T Act mean now that changes have been signed into law. Food insecurity as a public health crisis. And the hit series “South Side” is back.

Some residents see a spike in their property taxes. Pushback over CPD’s new gang database. And a local boxing club helping kids pack a punch in and out of the boxing ring.

Christmas in North Lawndale for our In Your Neighborhood series. A sit-down with U.S. Attorney John Lausch. Calls to remove the “Trump” from Trump Tower. And a longtime Chicago journalist turns the page.

The governor quietly signs the new SAFE-T Act. Where things stand on new pot licenses. The brave new world of AI art. And a South Side comedian readies for his headlining debut at the Chicago Theatre.

CTA says it’s trying to close the huge staffing shortfall that’s been causing ghost trains and buses. Examining a legislature theory once called fringe that is now before the Supreme Court. And the possibilities of percussion.

A WTTW investigation finds dozens of CTA operators working 80-hour weeks. A new push to ban assault weapons. The University of Chicago wins an NCAA championship. And the local creator of the comedy series “South Side.”

Supporting small businesses this holiday season. What to expect at the Lady of Guadalupe celebration in Des Plaines. A spotlight on jingle jams and a centuries-old tradition.

Chicago Police are working on their next gang database — how the community is reacting. South Side commuters left without a place to park. And water woes in south suburban Robbins.

Changes underway for the state’s new criminal justice bill. Water woes in Robbins, we have a live report. Cook County homeowners paying more in property taxes. And why a pair of twin babies are big little miracles.

Congress takes action to avert a rail strike. Landmark same-sex marriage bill passes. State lawmakers tweak the SAFE-T Act. Jesús “Chuy” García secures a big endorsement. And why young people might face an epidemic of hearing loss.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth joins us to talk about the lame-duck session. The agenda for Springfield’s veto session. Are we on track for a rail worker strike? And Sandra Cisneros on her new collection of poems.

The last day for those running for mayor to make it official. Chicago police launch a new gang member tracking system. How many shopping days are left? And two architecture critics ask: who is this city for?

One of Chicago’s fastest-growing companies looks to shed half of its headquarter space in the Loop. A glimmer of hope for suburban renters as rent prices rise. And the Wirtz family takes on a project off the ice.

Why the majority of Chicago polling places are inaccessible to people with disabilities. Rising rates of RSV, COVID and flu are straining pediatric hospitals. And how local Native Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving.

What a rail strike on the horizon could mean for you. The latest candidate in the race for mayor tells us why he’s running. And Congress members weigh in on the changes in leadership and much more.

Day one for mayoral candidates to turn in their paperwork — who’s in and who’s out? The Thanksgiving travel forecast. Major problems in big tech. And two massive productions on stage simultaneously at Lyric Opera.

A local private equity firm buys the site where Bally’s plans a big Chicago casino complex. A national strike looms as one of the country’s largest railroad unions votes down a tentative contract. And expect a surge in airline travel this Thanksgiving week.

Black Twitter isn’t going down without a fight — what that space has meant to the Black community. A look at who profits off the Cook County tax sale. And Woodlawn neighbors caught in traffic as the Obama Center goes up.