Stories by Bridgette Adu-Wadier

The Illinois Supreme Court is set to weigh in next year on whether serious Chicago Police Department misconduct cases must be heard publicly.

Instead of allowing police to impose so-called “snap” curfews just 30 minutes in advance, a new plan calls for more lead time before dispersing large crowds.

Supporters of the measure say it gives those who are already dying a peaceful way to go. Opponents argue the law would worsen health care disparities.

Both Republicans and Democrats say that the system needs change, but for decades, they haven’t agreed on how to fix it. While some say there aren’t enough legal pathways for people to become citizens, others argue for tougher restrictions to discourage illegal immigration.

Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the federal government. The settlement with the Trump administration would restore $790 million in federal research grants that were frozen earlier this year, and end investigations on discrimination.

A long-awaited new fieldhouse, the transformation of a toxic waste site into a lakefront park and plans to address homelessness are all on the list of priorities for the Chicago Park District.

Police district councils work in each of the city’s 22 police districts, hearing out residents’ public safety concerns and advocating for accountability in the Chicago Police Department. The first members were elected in 2023, giving everyday people more of a say in how policing is done.

Some homeowners are searching for answers as they grapple with hefty property tax bills. A new report from the Cook County Treasurer’s Office said declining values for downtown commercial properties are shifting the tax burden onto homeowners.

As the city honors Veterans Day, some local veterans are fearful of potential impacts to services amid staffing reductions and other sweeping federal cuts across the government.

Terminally ill people in Illinois may soon be able to end their lives with medical assistance. State lawmakers recently passed a controversial medical-aid-in-dying bill, which now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is calling for more taxes on big companies in his 2026 budget proposal. Under the mayor’s plan, businesses in Chicago with more than 100 employees would have to pay $21 for each employee every month.

Republicans and Democrats are in an escalating national fight over congressional seats. Some members of Congress are pushing for Illinois to redraw its districts to get another Democratic seat.

“States, generally speaking, are not allowed to limit what federal officers do,” DePaul University law professor David Franklin said. “The federal government, federal law definitely limit what federal officers can do.”

Stacy Davis Gates was unanimously elected president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) on Saturday. The organization is one of two major statewide umbrella teachers unions in the state.

CNN anchor and journalist Abby Phillip details Jackson’s historic campaigns and political rise in a new book, “A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power.”

Cook County is putting forth a $10.1 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The plan includes no new taxes or fees, but officials warn of tough waters in the years ahead as potential federal funding cuts threaten to hit the county’s bottom line.

A federal judge last week temporarily barred federal agents from using “riot control weapons” like tear gas and pepper spray on reporters and protesters who aren’t an immediate threat. That order applies to the Northern District of Illinois.

Illinois health care providers are bracing for more patients after Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin paused abortions last week. Local organizations like Planned Parenthood of Illinois have said they anticipate an uptick in out-of-state patients and are preparing to meet the increased demand.

Chicago-area public transit agencies are facing a fiscal cliff. The budget gap for CTA, Metra and Pace is at $200 million, according to the Regional Transportation Authority.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court made a move that makes it easier for federal immigration agents to use ethnicity as a factor in deportations.

Lawmakers said the owner of Weiss Memorial Hospital filed to appeal Medicaid funding cuts that led to the hospital’s closure last month.

Tens of thousands of Chicago-area Venezuelans are in legal limbo as the Trump administration attempts to end temporary protected status. These deportation protections were granted to Venezuelans in 2021 and 2023, and were originally set to expire in October 2026.

The U.S. Department of Education is cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to universities serving predominantly students of color — known as minority-serving institutions.

Events include the annual parade at the Little Village Arch on Sunday and the El Grito celebration in Pilsen on Monday. They celebrate the anniversary of the start of Mexico’s decade-long fight for independence from Spain.

Illinois Department of Public Health data shows Black and Hispanic people make up about 73% of HIV and AIDS cases diagnosed in the state since 2018. But U.S. Census data shows the state is only 14% Black and 18% Hispanic.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is starting Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. The agency said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation is targeting “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago.”