Stories by Blake Thor

A federal tax-credit scholarship program created last summer under the “Big Beautiful Bill” could send millions to Illinois students, if Gov. JB Pritzker or the Illinois General Assembly decides to opt in.

Chicago taxpayers paid $27,500 to a Chicago native who was stopped by the same tactical team of officers who would days later pull over Dexter Reed and fatally shoot him in a barrage of gunfire after he fired at officers, records show.

The White House is preparing a government-wide nondisclosure agreement aimed at curtailing federal workers’ sharing of “confidential government information,” as it seeks to stop internal leaks to media organizations.

Illinois grows more soybeans than any other state, harvesting more than 639 million bushels in 2025. But almost none of those millions of bushels end up as food on Illinois plates. According to the Illinois Soybean Association, 60% of soybeans grown in the state are exported.

Transcripts detailing federal prosecutors’ alleged misconduct during multiple grand jury proceedings in the “Broadview Six” case are expected to be released publicly after the politically-charged case fell apart last week.

Forest Preserves of Cook County Police are investigating a sexual assault of a 29-year-old woman that occurred Saturday around 12:30 p.m. in a heavily wooded area of LaBagh Woods on the city’s Northwest Side, according to a news release.

The so-called “megaproject” bill would mean tax breaks for the Chicago Bears of more than $1.5 billion during the 40-year term of the agreement, according to the analysis.

Federal prosecutors drop all charges against Broadview demonstrators. And City Council delays a phaseout of the tipped minimum wage.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability determined that four tactical team officers assigned to patrol the Near North (18th) Police District violated the civil rights of three people when the officers improperly searched a car shortly after 8 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2024, records show.

The bill is part of a larger package regulating AI and is modeled after legislation in California and New York as states seek to establish a national regulatory standard.

The push comes after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling blocked a lower court decision that temporarily prohibited the use of telehealth for abortion care.

Tulsi Gabbard said her husband had recently been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months.” She is the fourth Cabinet official to depart during Trump’s second term.

Friday’s motion comes a day after prosecutors dismissed all charges against the remaining defendants, a stunning turn following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and a subsequent cover-up by members of Chicago’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Charges dropped against the “Broadview Six,” and no special prosecutor for ICE agents. Plus, reaction to President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Lucha libre, or “free wrestling,” is woven into the fabric of Mexico’s cultural identity. It’s an acrobatic, flamboyant and thrilling choreographed sport that melds athletics and theater to symbolize the ultimate battle between good and evil.

A Cook County judge has rejected calls for a special prosecutor to probe allegations of criminal misconduct committed by federal immigration agents after Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke refused to launch her own investigations.

Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington without voting to fund immigration enforcement agencies and at an impasse over whether to try to block a new $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been politically prosecuted.

Federal prosecutors have abruptly dismissed all charges against the remaining “Broadview Six” defendants, days before the case was set to go to trial. The move followed a closed-door hearing Thursday over redacted grand jury transcripts.

Friday marks the unofficial start to summer, with the city’s lakefront beaches opening for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Money that lawmakers approved to fund after-school programs this year was not distributed until April, leaving organizations only a few months to spend those funds or return the money to the state.

Join WTTW News for a live conversation about police-community relations on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m. at Thalia Hall in Pilsen. Brandis Friedman will host a panel discussion, and audience members will have a chance to participate.

Taste of Chicago will feature a total of 84 food vendors and 20 food trucks, officials said. Approximately 38% of the vendors are making their first appearance at the Taste of Chicago.

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

“Nathaniel Mary Quinn: A Love Letter to My Mother” features 10 artworks by Chicago-born artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, along with a recreation of his childhood living room from the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project.

Debate over the future of the tipped minimum wage in Chicago. And what’s our local readiness for Ebola?

Global health organizations are racing to stem an Ebola outbreak in central Africa. While the immediate threat is still far away from Chicago, local specialists are working to ensure the city is prepared for all possibilities.