Stories by Andrew Montequin

Jose Medina will face new felony charges of contraband possession in a penal institution after jail staff allegedly found a shank in his possession.

Prices for tomatoes have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast Pope Leo XIV as a powerful global ally on social justice, migration and reparations after meeting the Chicago-born pontiff at the Vatican, saying their shared roots and priorities could help amplify efforts to protect vulnerable communities.

The ethics board in Chicago published a list of 71 employees and officeholders who missed the annual filing deadline. Ald. Stephanie Coleman has filed after the statutory deadline every year since 2021, records show.

Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

State lawmakers pass legislation on AI regulation and insurance rates — a look at what the bills would do. And what the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown could mean for green card applicants.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is showcasing a new exhibition tracing the visual, political and spiritual origins of popular Caribbean music. Art installations are designed to immerse visitors in sound and movement.

According to a report earlier this year from the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that advocates for and researches abortion access, nearly a quarter of all people seeking an abortion outside the state where they live came to Illinois.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced last week that immigrants applying for a green card must do so from outside the U.S.

Local TV stations owned by ABC across the United States blasted the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday for launching an “unlawful, arbitrary and unconstitutional” early review of their broadcast licenses as a dispute between the network and the Trump-controlled agency intensifies.

Baseball owners hadn’t proposed a firm cap since 1994. Their effort prompted a 7 1/2-month strike that forced the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.

Senate Bill 3336 would establish regulations on “micromobility” transportation such as e-bikes and e-scooters that include age requirements, speed limits and rules on where they can be operated.

The federal lawsuit was filed on what would have been Adam Toledo’s 19th birthday, attorneys for his parents said.

There are 51 total candidates who are currently set to appear on the November ballot for the at-large board president position and 20 board seats that are up for grabs, according to Chicago elections officials, after Tuesday marked the end of the candidate filing period.

The lawsuit is the second to be resolved that alleged police officers beat Black Chicagoans attempting to flee the Northwest Side’s Brickyard Mall as looters began to ransack the mall after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020.

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

Efforts to reform grand jury procedures after misconduct allegations. And honoring retiring Sen. Dick Durbin in Springfield.

The redistricting battle that began in Texas last year continues to have ripple effects across the nation.

Chicago’s U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced “sweeping” reforms to his office’s grand jury procedures, days after allegations of prosecutorial misconduct tanked the “Broadview Six” case and sparked blowback against his office.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin spoke at a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate on Wednesday, where he was warmly received by fellow Democratic lawmakers who celebrated his lengthy career and repeatedly lauded his accomplishments.

The Obama Presidential Center is kicking off its public programming with a three-day grand opening festival, June 19-21.

There is no evidence that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s decision to turn off the microphones that sent an alert to police officers every time the system picked up suspected gunfire slowed police response times and drove up violent crime, as many warned, according to a new analysis.

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

Host Brandis Friedman and audience members put questions to a Chicago Police Department official, leaders of local anti-violence nonprofits and community-police organizations to try and assess the current state of community and police relationships. 

Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have been prescribed for patients to manage diabetes, obesity and other conditions. However, the soaring popularity of the drugs has some healthcare workers concerned over their accessibility to vulnerable populations. 

A federal program could send millions of dollars to Illinois students, but critics say it will defund public schools. And what to know about weight loss drugs as the demand for them grows.