Stories by Paris Schutz

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has secured a hard-fought re-election after a historic and surprising runoff challenge from Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García.

It's a sprint to the finish line for Rahm Emanuel and Jesús "Chuy" García. We take a look at how the candidates are preparing for Election Day.

The two mayoral candidates vote early, along with a record number of Chicago voters. Do the early voting numbers bode well for one candidate over another? We have the latest details.

Could spiking crime numbers hurt Mayor Rahm Emanuel's re-election chances one week from the April 7 runoff? According to challenger Jesús "Chuy" García, the uptick in homicides mean that "Rahm has not prioritized public safety." On Wednesday, García said "the numbers look really grim" and that if he is elected mayor, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy would have to go. We have the details.

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth announced she will run for Senate in 2016 against incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk. 

Construction on the long-awaited “606” elevated bike trail is nearing the finish line. We get a sneak preview.

Local transit officials are pushing back against major transit funding cuts proposed in Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget. Will fares go up? We have the details.

A swath of public parkland now belongs to the Obama Presidential Library Foundation, if it chooses to locate here. We have the latest on that, and other news from Chicago City Council.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock announced he will resign March 31. The announcement comes after multiple stories of questionable spending of taxpayer and campaign funds by the congressman.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and challenger Jesús "Chuy" García went one-on-one in the first runoff debate Monday. The two hit hard on each other's positions on city finances, crime, and red light cameras.

Mayoral candidate Jesús "Chuy" García says he’d abolish the city’s red light camera program if he’s elected mayor. But how would he make up the revenue?

Is there a kinder, contrite Mayor Rahm Emanuel?  A new push by the mayor to soften his image comes in the face of criticism about his personal style. This, the state budget, and the ongoing controversy over the Obama Library are taking center stage in the campaign for mayor today. 

The Obama Library and the city's beleaguered credit rating take center stage in the mayoral race, as a new poll shows Rahm Emanuel and Jesús "Chuy" García are in a dead heat.

A new poll concludes that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is "very likely" even with challenger Jesús "Chuy" García. The poll, conducted by Ogden & Fry, shows Emanuel up 43 percent to 38.5 percent, with 18.6 percent undecided.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García will join us on Tuesday, March 31, one week before the runoff election.

A new poll commissioned by the Obama Foundation says a large majority of residents support the Presidential Library in a south side park. Does that mean Chicago is the winner in the library sweepstakes? We have the details.

The race for Mayor of Chicago will go on for another six weeks as Mayor Rahm Emanuel failed to secure a majority of votes needed to avoid a runoff.

The mayoral and aldermanic candidates enter the home stretch. But are some of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's allies now backing away from him? We have the details.

The president visits the Pullman neighborhood to commemorate its new National Monument Designation.

Possible presidential contender Jeb Bush delivers a foreign policy speech and raises money in Chicago. We have the details.

Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has been tight-lipped about its first budget proposal, as it grapples with a potential $6 billion hole for next year. But, sources familiar with the plan say the pain will be spread far and wide, with $1.5 billion in cuts expected in the state's Medicaid program, and $387 million to higher education, a 31 percent reduction.

Gov. Bruce Rauner lauds Donna Arduin as “the best [budget person] in America,” justifying an eye-opening four-month contract that will pay her firm $120,000 to provide “consulting services” on this year and next year’s budget.

Jackie Robinson West Little League officials speak out for the first time since being stripped of their U.S. World Series title. We have the details.

The Jackie Robinson West Little League team is stripped of its title. We have reaction from players, parents, and the opposing Little League coach who first brought the allegations of cheating.

While the talk today is about the governor's executive order on unions, a projected $2 billion budget deficit still goes unsolved. We have the latest details.

Gov. Bruce Rauner steps up the attack on public employee unions with an executive order allowing members to opt out and not pay union dues if they so choose.