Stories by Heather Cherone

In all, groups affiliated with AIPAC spent more than $20 million to influence the outcome of four contests in Illinois’ 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th Congressional districts, according to federal campaign finance reports.

A newly released survey of the eastern monarch’s 2025-26 winter population in Mexico showed a 64% increase over 2024-25.

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

Two incumbents of a Cook County agency responsible for making decisions about taxpayers’ property assessment appeals faced challengers in their reelection bids this year.

For months, the big question in Illinois politics has been who is going to be the Democrat running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The Associated Press has called that race, with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton defeating U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss has been declared the winner of a jam-packed Democratic primary race for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat, which is set to see its first new leader in more than 25 years.

The intense race has drawn tens of millions of dollars spent by outside groups on television, mail and online advertisements, with most coming from pro-Israel, pro-artificial intelligence development, pro-cryptocurrency and pro-cloud data center interests.

Illinois Democrats voted to choose their nominee for state comptroller, Illinois government’s chief fiscal officer, in a four-way race to succeed Susana Mendoza, who is stepping aside after nearly a decade in the office.

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has conceded defeat to Pat Hynes, a one-time employee of the two-term incumbent’s office.

Ten candidates were vying for an Illinois congressional seat in the state’s 2nd District, which is set for a new representative for the first time in more than a decade.

Incumbent Toni Preckwinkle has spent the past 16 years as board president. Running against her was Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly, who has represented the city’s 42nd Ward since 2007.

More than a dozen Democratic candidates are squaring off Tuesday in a race for control of Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, a seat that’s been held by Congressman Danny Davis for nearly 30 years.

Four Republican candidates ran for a chance to unseat Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the Nov. 3 general election.

Four candidates (all Democrats) are on the ballot for three available six-year terms on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners, all but one of them running as an incumbent.

Thanks to an evening surge in voters, Chicago's unofficial turnout for the 2026 primaries inched over 25%, with the tallying of additional mail-in and provisional ballots likely to boost the numbers even more.

Melissa Bean, who previously led Illinois’ 8th Congressional District for three terms, took a major step toward taking that seat back, as she has been declared the winner in Tuesday’s Democratic primary race.

It’s Election Day in Illinois. We’ll have the latest on key races and voter turnout. Plus, a look at what’s at stake and how local races play into the national picture.

The board’s decision comes after Mayor Brandon Johnson pushed for nearly a year to name former Ald. Walter Burnett (27th Ward) to lead the CHA, only to run into a brick wall of opposition from board members and federal officials.

Lollapalooza takes place July 30–Aug. 2 in Grant Park. Charli xcx, Tate McRae, Lorde, Olivia Dean, John Summit, JENNIE, the Smashing Pumpkins and the xx are headlining this year, the festival announced.

When polls open Tuesday at 6 a.m., voters and poll workers will be greeted with sub-zero wind chills in Chicago. Could the cold have an icy effect on voter turnout?

What to watch for in tomorrow’s primary election. And could it be the Hammond Bears? Where things stand on Indiana’s push to court the Monsters of the Midway.

The battle for the Bears may be headed to the fourth quarter. As the team looks to move on from its home at Soldier Field, a suitor has emerged across the state line: Hammond, Indiana.

More than 100 people gathered in Sheridan’s gymnasium, about 70 miles southwest of Chicago. Students of the Northwestern Prison Education Program, which offers undergraduate degrees to men incarcerated at Sheridan, their families and professors had the opportunity to speak with Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Poll watching is one part of a broader response network the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago have partnered up to build in order to monitor possible cases of voter intimidation and federal immigration agents near polling places during the primary election. Legal volunteers, field volunteers, local rapid response teams and volunteer hotline operators will also be mobilizing as part of the effort.

Officer Chavez Siler Sr. violated nine departmental rules on Nov. 16, 2021, when he grabbed and pushed a student who was then 17, during dismissal, according to records obtained by WTTW News through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Three leading candidates in a contentious Senate fight and a host of other races make their closing arguments as Election Day fast approaches.