Stories by Shelby Hawkins

The campus, sprawling across historic Jackson Park, houses basketball courts, gardens, a branch of the Chicago Public Library and an eight-story museum. The multi-use space is in sharp contrast with traditional presidential libraries.

Shantay Bolton was appointed the 11th president and CEO of Columbia College Chicago at what she calls a “pivotal moment” for the school. Bolton, who is the first woman of color to lead the minority-serving institution, inherits a campus that has seen enrollment steadily decline over the last decade.

A new report found Chicago has made significant progress in its push to increase the number of Equitable Transit-Oriented Developments, but warned investment remains deeply uneven.

Anupy Singla built her career on storytelling, working as a broadcast journalist before shifting to documenting her family’s recipes and making Indian food accessible to a larger audience. “Indian as Apple Pie” recently premiered on WTTW.

“Comedy gives you a unique avenue into all manner of news stories,” Jordan LaFlure said. “It’s a way to break down a complex issue and get to the core of the matter. … Comedy may be the best tool to hold people accountable.”

It’s been nearly 105 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre claimed the lives of hundreds of Black Tulsans. Over the course of two days in 1921, a mob of White people terrorized and burned down a thriving Black community known colloquially as Black Wall Street.

With seven total picks, including four in the top 89, a major roster shakeup, and quarterback Caleb Williams entering his third season, the front office is under pressure to deliver immediate impact talent.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) was recently chosen to lead the City Council’s Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards, putting him at the center of decisions that shape everything from residential housing to billion-dollar developments.

The organization the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. made into a national force for economic and racial justice has new leadership: the reverend’s youngest son, Yusef Jackson, who was unanimously chosen by the Rainbow PUSH board.

Chicago’s rich culture and diversity can be attributed, in part, to the history of its intricate and expansive railway system.

The 400-year-old comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor” is now playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater with a modern spin.

“I’m a perfectionist that doesn’t believe you can reach perfection,” chef Norman Fenton said. “A dish is never finished. It’s always evolving. It’s always taking a new form, so it’s never perfect. Never perfect. Always working on it.”

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was victorious in the March 17 primary election, making her the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and pushing her closer to possibly taking over longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat. Stratton faces former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy in the Nov. 3 general election.

Former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in last month’s primary election, pushing him closer to his goal of taking over longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat. Tracy is facing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the Nov. 3 general election.

Last week Chicago saw its first so-called teen takeover of the year. Hundreds of young people gathered in the Loop on packed sidewalks and streets, resulting in eight arrests and 24 curfew violations.

Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his annual budget address Wednesday, proposing a $56 billion spending plan as the state faces a $2.2 billion budget gap and near-weekly threats of losing federal funding.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Chicago ties run deep, dating back to the 1960s when he was appointed by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to direct Chicago’s Operation Breadbasket program.

There are efforts from the federal government to reshape how history is taught and examined by institutions.

The Trump administration is pushing states to hand over their full voter rolls, or list of actively registered voters. The administration has sued more than 20 states and Washington, D.C., in an attempt to secure the sensitive information.

Ben and Sam Luhmann, two teenagers from the Chicago area, have been documenting federal agents’ actions in Illinois and Minnesota.

Another government shutdown looms as Democrats demand an immigration enforcement cool-down. And changes are coming to SNAP, affecting hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents.

The Chicago alderperson is running as an independent vying for the seat of outgoing U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García in Illinois’ 4th Congressional District.

The final season of “Stranger Things” introduced us to a new character who quickly became a fan favorite — Derek Turnbow, the comic relief-turned-protagonist.

Illinois is locked in a series of legal battles with the Trump administration, challenging everything from federal funding freezes to what the state calls aggressive and unconstitutional immigration enforcement tactics.

Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield for the spring legislative session. They’re facing some tough realities: a budget gap in the billions, growing pressure to deliver affordability relief, and a widening financial rift with Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday its decision to withhold billions of federal dollars from five Democrat-led states, including Illinois, intended to provide child care and support for low-income families.