Stories by Heather Cherone

The measure passed by the narrowest possible margin with the support of the entire Progressive Caucus and all but four members of the Black Caucus.

Disability rights group Equip for Equality filed a lawsuit alleging the men still incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center are living in “unduly restrictive and isolating conditions compared to prisoners without disabilities, because of their disabilities.”

Shermann “Dilla” Thomas has a new gig at theDuSable Black History Museum as a brand ambassador and social media chief — an opportunity he’s called a “dream job.” It’s just one of his many projects — from giving bus tours to posting on TikTok about the city’s lesser-known history.

State Superintendent Tony Sanders acknowledged that roughly 10% of funding for Illinois school districts could be at risk if the federal government ceases funding. ISBE receives billions annually from the federal government.

“We started this program with a simple premise: In a healthy and functioning society, no one should fall into financial ruin simply because they got sick,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a news conference announcing the latest round of medical debt relief.

Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star who appeared in the 1996 “Harriet the Spy” hit movie and went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows — “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl” — has died. She was 39.

Antonio Reyes — who was charged this week with five new counts of first-degree murder as well as four counts of attempted first-degree murder — now stands accused in six separate fatal shootings.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

The mayor’s $830 million borrowing proposal faces pushback. A look at plans to rid the Chicago Police Department of extremist officers. And remembering legendary soul singer Jerry “Iceman” Butler.

Illinois is giving municipalities the ability to reinstitute the 1% grocery tax locally starting in January, when the state one disappears. Municipalities are now asking the state to give them more taxing authority.

The Chicago City Council is set to vote on the proposal Wednesday, after a week-long delay fueled by outrage whipped up on social media, the budding 2027 race for mayor and the lack of trust many alderpeople have in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ability to steer the city through rough financial seas.

The Department of Government Efficiency, run by Trump adviser Elon Musk, published an updated list Monday of nearly 2,300 contracts that agencies terminated in recent weeks across the federal government.

Joseph Czuba is charged in the fatal stabbing of six-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of Hanan Shaheen. Authorities said the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Acero charter network announced last year plans to shutter Cruz K-12 as well as Casas, Cisneros, Fuentes, Paz, Santiago and Tamayo elementary schools due to declining enrollment, increasing personnel and facilities maintenance costs.

The Cook County Creative Placemaking program will award grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to suburban-based nonprofit organizations. Applications are being accepted through April 7.

Southwest Flight 2504 landed safely at the Chicago airport after the flight crew had to perform a go-around to prevent a potential incident, according to Southwest. The FAA is investigating the incident, which took place at around 8:50 a.m. local time.

Come Fat Tuesday every year, “Paczki Day” is celebrated across Chicago and the Midwest, and the doughnuts are recognized as a symbol of Polish culture and pride.

We separate fact from hype about the upcoming “planet parade.”

The trial begins for the accused gunman in the Highland Park parade shooting. And the head of the Chicago Fed on inflation, tariffs and Chicago’s economy.

Monday marks three years since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, resulting in thousands of people being killed and millions displaced. Chicago’s Ukrainian Village is home to one of the largest populations of Ukrainians in the U.S.

Costs of everyday essentials like groceries and gas are steadily climbing while wages remain largely stagnant, which is particularly true in the Chicago area where the inflation rate is higher than anywhere else in the country — an unwanted first-place position.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in a Lake County courtroom where Robert Crimo III will stand trial on 117 charges, including 21 counts of first-degree murder, representing three charges for each person killed.

The reversal is the latest example of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s chaotic approach to cost-cutting, which has resulted in several agencies firing, and then scrambling to rehire, employees responsible for nuclear weapons, national parks and other government services.

Lawmakers are considering legalizing a controversial medical practice that proponents say could ease suffering for the terminally ill. It’s sometimes called “assisted suicide,” although physicians and advocates for the practice prefer the term “medical aid in dying.”

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recordings artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died Monday. She was 88.

The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a pair of cases from abortion opponents who say laws limiting anti-abortion demonstrations near clinics violate their First Amendment rights.