Stories by WTTW News

An update on the Chicago Bears stadium project. And what’s behind a recent string of water system malfunctions.

Public concern has grown around data centers’ energy usage, noise pollution, water consumption and emissions. Now, as Chicago leaders race to catch up, they won’t be starting from square one.

At the end of July, several water systems from Minnesota to Georgia suddenly went offline. While officials restored them, cybersecurity experts now say the outages may have been caused by Iranian hackers, raising larger questions about the security of America’s critical resources.

While the neighborhood around the Original Rainbow Cone has changed, one thing has remained the same — those five iconic flavors: chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House, pistachio and orange sherbet.

The belugas are the latest to be rescued from Marineland, a shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which closed to the public in 2024. Last month, a first group of four beluga whales arrived at Shedd Aquarium.

Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said that “at this time,” the team remains focused solely on potential sites in Hammond, Indiana as they continue working to finalize plans for a new stadium.

A Powerball ticket sold at a gas station in western Illinois was the sole winner of the $1 billion jackpot, ending a three-month drought without a top-prize victor.

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

Chicago taxpayers have paid $2.7 million for a system designed to alert officials about which officers have been the subject of repeated police misconduct allegations. It is not scheduled to launch until June 2027.

Democrats remain mixed over what ideological direction the party should take. But across a series of closely watched primaries, they are sending a clearer message about the party’s path forward: They want change.

Progressives notch another win in Minnesota — but come up short in Wisconsin. A look at the Democratic Party and its future.

The Illinois State Fair will run from Aug. 13 until Aug. 23, from 7 a.m. until midnight each day.

The men declared the strike from their restrictive housing, or solitary confinement, cells on Monday, alleging a lack of mental health treatment and out-of-cell time at the prison in the southeast region of the state.

The Chicago Transit Authority’s board of directors approved an array of new efforts aimed at aiding passengers who need shelter or healthcare, as well as new crisis and community violence intervention programs.

David Crowley’s razor-thin primary win over a democratic socialist sets up a Wisconsin governor’s race against a Republican congressman who has voted with President Donald Trump 100% of the time.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center preliminarily confirmed Tuesday's widespread storms as a derecho.

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

In all, taxpayers have paid more than $986,000 to defend and resolve lawsuits alleging misconduct by members of the tactical team during traffic stops, according to records obtained by WTTW News.

A new push to pause the development of data centers in Chicago. And how a historically strong El Nino could impact our fall and winter.

Illinois is continuing its tense relationship with the federal government through an ongoing series of legal battles. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined “Chicago Tonight” to provide an update on pending litigation against the Trump administration.

Between tornadoes, wildfire smoke, flooding and heat, the weather in Chicago this summer has been nothing short of extreme. But winter is coming.

“Chicagoans have been absolutely clear: They do not want data centers expanding across our city without strong protection for their communities, their utility bills, their air, water and their quality of life,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said that it does not recommend adjustments to the childhood immunization schedule based on the recent federal executive order and that the department continues to endorse the immunization schedule put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Chicago Humanities announced its full fall festival schedule, featuring standalone programs and festival days in select neighborhoods, the festival announced Tuesday. The festival runs from September through November.

The latest battle over the Democratic ideological divide this year shifts to the upper Midwest on Tuesday as nominating contests for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. senator in Minnesota pit left-wing candidates against more traditional ones.

The Chicago area was under a tornado warning Tuesday morning, as fast-moving storms swept into the region.