Stories by Patty Wetli

This one-time crown jewel of Chicago’s movie palaces has sat empty for decades amidst multiple attempts to revive the dormant, 101-year-old theater and restore it to its former glory.

Chicago taxpayers have already spent at least $52 million since the start of 2026 to settle nine lawsuits brought by people who were injured or on behalf of those killed during police pursuits, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News.

Changes to Medicaid eligibility take effect Thursday, impacting about 9,300 lawfully present immigrants in Illinois. Refugees, survivors of human trafficking and people who have been granted asylum are among those no longer covered.

Some immigrants are set to lose Medicaid coverage this week — a look at the impact in Illinois. And can universities do more to support survivors of sexual assault?

Sexual assault on college campuses is making headlines across the country. A former student at Cornell University filed a lawsuit earlier this month accusing the school and local law enforcement of mishandling her report alleging she was gang raped in a fraternity house for hours.

The scammers also planned for a second $272,000 drop, telling her to hand over the gold to a federal agent who would give the code word ‘poker queen.’ This time, she called their bluff.

The new 1.5-mile dedicated bus lane will be installed on northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Wacker Drive in an effort to reduce delays along the downtown corridor, the city announced Wednesday.

The U.S. can deport the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque — an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights — on the grounds that he is a threat to national security, an immigration judge ruled.

With Republicans struggling to overcome President Donald Trump’s low standing, Democrats are on the offensive. In the midst of such confidence, however, Democrats are ignoring glaring vulnerabilities that threaten to undermine the unstoppable blue wave they say is coming.

The Chicago Park District is grappling with a new state law governing the use of e-bikes and other micromobility devices.

Former Chicago Board of Education vice president Sendhil Revuluri is ending his campaign to become the board’s first-ever elected president, blaming “special-interest cash” for blocking out the “voices of real Chicagoans.”

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

Pope Leo XIV is a White Sox fan dating to his days growing up in Chicago. He was known as Robert Prevost or Father Bob when he went to the World Series opener 21 years ago, a 5-3 White Sox victory over the Astros.

Alderpeople strike a new deal on Chicago’s parking meters. And the Federal Reserve raises interest rates — what that could mean for the housing market.

The study, which tracks 100 years of ward redistricting in Chicago and Milwaukee, found that 15% of Chicago’s land has never changed wards.

Here’s a breakdown of what it means that New York-based Stonepeak Partners is set to become the new owner of the city’s more than 36,000 meters.

The rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surpassed 7% for the first time since January 2025 last week, according to federal lender Freddie Mac. That’s after the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike since 2023, raising rates by a quarter of a percentage point earlier this month.

Last year, Chicago lost its unofficial title as America's “rattiest city." Now the push is on to see how low its ranking can go.

Vincenzo Vitelli, a physicist at the University of Chicago, and Kaiyu Guan, an environmental scientist at the University of Illinois, were among a group of 20 fellows chosen for this year’s MacArthur Fellows Program. Recipients receive a “no-strings-attached” $800,000 award.

Dozens of elected officials penned a letter Tuesday urging state regulators to reject Peoples Gas’ $144 million rate hike request and reform the company’s pipeline retirement program.

Chicago’s finances have long been out of whack, pinched by soaring pension costs, spiraling personnel costs and a massive amount of debt.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced the charges against Eva Bratcher, 72, who was indicted late last month on counts including theft of government property and fraud, misrepresentation or misuse of Social Security benefits.

Republican Bryan Drew and Democratic Rep. Margaret Croke are running to succeed comptroller Susana Mendoza. The candidates differ on ways they’d use artificial intelligence, tackle the pension debt and make the office more transparent.

In the fall, bridges along the Main and South branches of the Chicago River are lifted to allow boats to move into winter storage facilities. The scheduled bridge lifts start this week and run through mid-November, the Chicago Department of Transportation announced.

When Jamie Rhee retired in April 2025 after nearly seven years as the commissioner of the Department of Aviation, serving three mayors, she was the city of Chicago’s highest paid employee, records show.

What does the future look like for data centers in Chicago? And both the Cubs and White Sox head into baseball’s postseason — what to expect.