Stories by Heather Cherone

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.

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.