Stories by Patty Wetli

Another week, another set of navigational challenges on North DuSable Lake Shore Drive as the number of lane closures increases to accommodate an ongoing resurfacing project.

Forest preserve districts in DuPage, Kane and Lake counties, along with the McHenry County Conservation District, are all asking either for tax increases or the ability to issue bonds to pay for land acquisition, habitat restoration and ongoing maintenance.

This week’s “Pick Six” — our weekly roundup of outdoorsy recommendations in each of the Chicago region’s six counties — ranges from an Ice Age trail to a day at the best beach in Illinois.

Local officials celebrated the completion of the Illinois Beach State Park Shoreline Stabilization Project, which will protect the state’s only remaining natural shoreline from the devastating effects of erosion.

Halloween is still a month away but Christmas is already making headlines.

The schedule of DuSable Lake Shore Drive closures the week of Sept. 29 will ping-pong between northbound and southbound lanes, and a half marathon on Sunday brings added chaos for motorists on South DLSD.

The Chicago Archaeopteryx, unveiled this past May, is one of the most important fossils in the Field Museum's vast collection. It now has a permanent exhibit in the museum's Hall of Dinosaurs.

The National Weather Service is forecasting the worst to hit late Friday afternoon. Expect strong wind gusts from the northeast, reaching 45 to 55 miles per hour.

This week’s “Pick Six” — our weekly roundup of outdoorsy recommendations in each of the Chicago region’s six counties — ranges from a cool glacial remnant to a theatrical production that doubles as a hike.

DuSable Lake Shore Drive overnight closures for resurfacing work will extend this week from Irving Park Road to LaSalle Drive in all southbound lanes.

The Little Village shooting victims were among the 33 people shot in Chicago — six of them fatally — in 21 separate incidents over the weekend, according to police.

The Chicago Department of Transportation is shaking things up and shifting resurfacing work this week to the stretch between Irving Park Road and LaSalle Drive. Lane closures start Sunday afternoon.

This week’s “Pick Six” — our weekly roundup of outdoorsy recommendations in each of the Chicago region’s six counties — ranges from an unusual prairie remnant to a big day on the Fox River.

Opponents of a new Chicago Bears stadium called on elected officials to stop the transfer of public subsidies to billionaires. 

The partial eclipse will hit its maximum before 10 p.m. Tuesday, which is downright considerate of the moon on a school night. 

Thirty people were shot in 27 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. 

This week’s “Pick Six” — our new weekly roundup of outdoorsy recommendations in each of the region’s six counties — ranges from family-friendly fests to a mellow stroll around a bog.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower has been found in violation of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and deemed a “public nuisance” to the Chicago River.

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners approved a special event permit for Riot Fest on Wednesday, a decision that did little to bridge the divide between residents of Lawndale who welcome the fest and those who want to oust it from Douglass Park.

A "who's who" of buildings has been announced for the annual Open House Chicago "urban exploration" two-day festival, set for Oct. 19-20.

At the end of August, participants in the Sihek Recovery Program, of which Brookfield Zoo is a member, took the first small step toward one day bringing birds and birdsong back to Guam.

Victims of shootings in Chicago ranged in age from 21 to 38 years old. 

Resurfacing of DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Lawrence and Hollywood avenues will continue in the upcoming week. Fewer lanes will be open to traffic, and Sunday’s full closure of northbound lanes starts mid-afternoon.

Looking for adventure or relaxation? Area forest preserves have you covered.

Large numbers of birds will be passing overhead overnight Thursday and Friday as fall migration heats up.

Though murders were down 12% from August 2023, the number of shootings and shooting victims was slightly higher, according to Chicago Police Department data.