Stories by Matt Masterson

Hundreds of thousands of Chicago Public Schools students returned to their classrooms across the city Monday on the first day of school for the 2026-27 academic year as local officials continue pushing for more state funding to help prevent staffing layoffs.

Taxing agencies — including schools, parks, libraries and cities — sent property tax bills totaling $19.9 billion in 2025, 3.9% more than in 2024, according to a new analysis from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ research team.

Lawyers for the city of Chicago have appealed that verdict, the largest ever in a lawsuit alleging misconduct by members of the Chicago Police Department.

Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy whose fatal shooting of Sonya Massey inside her home became a flashpoint over police use of force, died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Elected officials try to rally voters at the Illinois State Fair. And the Cubs take two of three from the White Sox for a split Crosstown Classic.

Thousands of those affected by this month’s damaging downpours and ongoing power outages have joined a class action lawsuit targeting Indiana’s largest power utility, claiming it neglected “foreseeable and preventable” issues prior to the storms.

“Refugees and immigrants don’t get that much of a chance to share their stories,” said Ali Tarokh, the director of development and communications at the Syrian Community Network. “It’s all about reminding each other that we are human. We need to take care of each other.”

A federal judge this week sentenced Brian Metcalf, a former CPS network chief and principal at Gage Park High School, to a year and one day in prison after he entered a guilty plea on wire fraud charges.

Chicago DSA declined to endorse Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) because he would not tell the group he considers himself an anti-Zionist and Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward) because she supported reversing a 2023 City Council vote to phase out the tipped minimum wage and voted against spending on the migrant crisis.

How a toll increase could impact your commute and your wallet. And why Illinois lags behind almost every other state in building new housing.

The median sale price for homes in Chicago hit $425,000 in July, according to data from Illinois Realtors. That’s a 13.3% increase from last year. Across the state, the median price of $338,000 represented a 6% increase in a year.

President Donald Trump has been the dominant political force within the Republican Party for more than a decade, but he was barely mentioned by party leaders at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair on Thursday.

Party leaders say Republicans need to balance campaigning on ethics problems with addressing voters’ concerns about affordability.

The Illinois Tollway Board on Wednesday approved a massive 15-year, $26.5 billion capital spending plan that will raise vehicle tolls beginning next year.

The race to build data centers, which power artificial intelligence and cloud computing, has run aground amid frustration from voters who don’t want to live near the massive warehouse campuses.

Deep in Barrington's horse country, a former equestrian farm is being restored to native wetland and grassland habitat. How's it going?

Federal prosecutors have not yet decided if they’ll re-try ex-Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and longtime lobbyist Michael McClain on charges stemming from a bribery scandal targeting convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Chicago and Atlanta were eliminated in the first round of cuts made by officials with the Democratic National Committee, leaving Boston, Philadelphia and Denver to battle it out to host the gathering planned for Aug. 7-10, 2028.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren urged Illinois Democrats on Wednesday to unite behind all of the party’s nominees in the upcoming midterm elections so they can win control of Congress and block Republican President Donald Trump from advancing his agenda.

Your commutes are going to get more expensive next year as officials OK a toll increase. And invasive carp are closing in on Lake Michigan — what kind of damage could they do?

For decades, four species of invasive carp have been working their way toward the Great Lakes. On their way, they’ve left a trail of decimated native fish populations and injured boaters.

The Trump administration recently announced a proposal to overhaul Head Start, an early childcare education program that aims to serve children below the federal poverty level — including those who are experiencing homelessness or are in foster care.

Though hundreds of Republican candidates will appear on the ballot in Illinois in November, the state’s Democrats are focused on a common opponent: President Donald Trump.

Gov. JB Pritzker issued a proclamation Tuesday to bring financial help to 15 Illinois counties pounded by severe and record-breaking storms over recent weeks.

Customers could receive the drone deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes, Amazon said in a news release. The drones can carry packages up to 5 pounds.