Stories by Heather Cherone

A high-profile effort to convince Illinois lawmakers to change the way the state draws congressional and state legislative districts has fizzled out after the coronavirus pandemic shut down the General Assembly.

The proposal would cancel rent and mortgage payments statewide for 180 days amid concerns that thousands of Illinois residents have missed rent payments due to the coronavirus.

Those who have died are parents, grandparents, cousins, friends and loved ones — not just statistics, Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters on a conference call Monday. The coronavirus death toll in Chicago now stands at 1,014 people.

“Today, we are pleased to report that the curve is flattening, and our local hospitals and health care systems continue to operate with capacity,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a joint statement.

Several hundred protesters swarmed the Thompson Center in the Loop and the Capitol in Springfield on Friday, calling for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to end the stay-at-home order he says is necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The rate of new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections has continued to slow during the past two weeks, representing “major progress,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces a divided City Council determined to help shape the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic that has likely created a financial crisis for Chicago, four aldermen said Thursday during an interview for “Chicago Tonight.”

The 2-1 ruling by a panel of the appeals court extends a nationwide injunction blocking the Department of Justice from withholding the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from sanctuary cities like Chicago.

Chicago officials acknowledged that renters are being hit by the coronavirus pandemic “10 times harder” than property owners — and called on landlords and banks to be compassionate and flexible when demanding payments.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended her push for emergency powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic in an interview with WTTW News to tout her newest effort to get Chicagoans to stay home and stop the spread of the virus.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has just a “fragile” hold on a City Council majority that allows her to govern the city — but warning signs are flashing, according to an analysis of City Council votes during her first 11 months in office.

Small businesses on the South and West sides that are struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic can apply for $5,000 grants from the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday.

More members of the Chicago Police Department have become ill than any other city department during the pandemic, with 414 officers testing positive for COVID-19 as of Monday, according to city data.

City officials on Monday launched a new web-based application they say was designed to help those suffering from the coronavirus while laying the groundwork for a massive vaccination campaign.

Chicago is “a ways away” from even considering plans to reopen Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field because the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus are still rising, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday.

The plume of dust that coated homes in Little Village after the botched demolition of a coal plant smokestack did not threaten residents’ health, according to final test results released Monday by the city of Chicago.

The distinctive sound of hooves clip-clopping along downtown streets will soon become a relic of a bygone era.

The 29-21 vote is the closest in recent City Council history, as tensions between aldermen and the mayor continue to rise during the pandemic that forced the meeting to take place virtually.

Even though state parks are set to reopen May 1 with restrictions, Chicago’s lakefront will remain closed, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced the creation of a task force to lead the city’s eventual recovery from the coronavirus pandemic — even as she reminded residents the virus is still running rampant.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the grim milestone reached Wednesday in Illinois should not be a surprise, since the number of tests for COVID-19 conducted in the past 24 hours soared to an all-time high of 9,349.

Aldermen blocked a measure Wednesday that would have granted Mayor Lori Lightfoot expanded spending and contracting authority to respond to the coronavirus pandemic without the approval of the City Council.

The City Council on Wednesday voted 50-0 to appoint former Dallas Police Chief David Brown to lead the Chicago Police Department.

Aldermen advanced a measure Tuesday that grants Mayor Lori Lightfoot expanded spending and contracting authority to respond to the coronavirus pandemic without the approval of the City Council.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she expects Gov. J.B. Pritzker to extend the statewide stay-at-home order beyond April 30, which is “no longer a viable date” for that order to be lifted.

Aldermen unanimously advanced Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pick to lead the Chicago Police Department on Monday, after quizzing him on his promises to rebuild trust in the police.