Stories by Heather Cherone

The mayor’s proposal drew swift and vehement opposition from landlords and business groups, with whom he has long been at loggerheads.

Chicago is more than six months away from choosing its next mayor, but seven candidates have already announced campaigns. Anyone hoping to get on the ballot can begin circulating petitions next week.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office will provide blue envelopes free of charge at DMV facilities and participating law enforcement agencies across the state, according to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The statewide blue envelope program officially launches January 1, 2027.

If the board’s decision stands, Patty García will have a much smoother path to replacing U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, her former boss, in Congress.

The policy was updated nearly four months after Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters existing CPD policy complied with an executive order he promised Chicagoans would lay “the groundwork to prosecute Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents for criminal misconduct.”

Finger pointing as officials say Chicago is facing a budget deficit. And are the country’s voting systems secure?

In a recent speech, President Donald Trump discussed foreign interference, noncitizen voting and vulnerabilities in the American election system — reiterating some widely disproven charges. The administration released a trove of heavily redacted documents.

City officials said last week Chicago is grappling with an $89 million shortfall — revised down from the $130 million figure the mayor announced earlier this month.

State and local health officials have still not identified a cause or source behind the higher number of cyclosporiasis cases the state and the city is seeing compared to previous years. The disease, which can cause frequent and watery diarrhea, is spread by consuming contaminated food or water.

With a vote next week scheduled on Chicago Public Schools’ $9.88 billion budget plan, members of the city’s Board of Education on Monday shared concerns over proposed cuts, a lack of state funding and their voting timeline.

Between temperatures that feel like 100 degrees and hazardous wildfire smoke that shut down beaches and pools, spending time outside this summer hasn’t always been the most enticing (or safe) plan.

According to motor club federation AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now back to $4. The average price a year ago was $3.14 a gallon. In Cook County, the average was even higher at $4.34.

One year of employee discipline data, obtained by WTTW News, reveals more than 700 cases of misbehavior across Chicago Public Schools. Case outcomes ranged from verbal warnings and written reprimands to suspensions and Do Not Rehire designations. Frequently, those banned from returning to work quit during the disciplinary investigation.

Wildfire smoke clouds the Chicago region, closing beaches and canceling outdoor events. Plus, a bleak budget reality as Chicago Public Schools eyes layoffs and a spending freeze.

Smoke causes inflammation by triggering the body’s immune system to go into overtime to fight the irritant. Scientists have found it can harm the brain, the skin and men’s sperm, with almost no system of the body spared.

Chicago’s air quality has fallen out of the “hazardous” range but remains at unhealthy levels as winds began pushing wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota northeast.

The longstanding program provides airlines financial assistance to operate routes to smaller communities that would not have air service because it wouldn’t be profitable for the airlines.

State Rep. Carol Ammons is charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, making false statements and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, is also accused of aiding in attempts to cover up the alleged crimes.

Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.

One of the strongest security features of U.S. elections is the fact that they aren’t conducted at the federal level. America votes in more than 10,000 different election jurisdictions, each with different rules set by state and sometimes local governments.

CPD spent approximately $700,000 more on overtime during the first six months of 2026 than it did during the same period in 2025, according to a database published by Inspector General David Glockner.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging anyone who may have been victimized by federal immigration agents during “Operation Midway Blitz” to come forward and detail their experiences to the Chicago Police Department.

Chicago Supt. Larry Snelling’s retirement began Wednesday after a nearly three-year tenure leading the nation’s second largest police department. He leaves behind a city that’s seen significant declines in violent crime but has not completed federally mandated reforms.

A disappearing skyline and air quality alerts as wildfire smoke blankets Chicago. Plus, layoffs and a spending freeze — we unpack how Chicago Public Schools plans to close its massive deficit.

In the Austin community on Chicago’s West Side sits the J.J. Walser House, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1903. A local organization is working to preserve the landmark and transform it into a community asset for generations to come.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued an air pollution action day for the northeastern part of the state.