Stories by WTTW News

Concerns over whether Chicago bet too big on casino revenue. An escalating spat between local officials over shelters for migrants. And we take you inside a call center connecting Chicagoans to local resources.

Repeated misconduct by Chicago police officers cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. The latest on the Chicago White Sox eyeing a new home. And looking ahead to the Republican presidential primary race in New Hampshire. 

New information on how the city says it addressed health concerns at a Pilsen migrant shelter. Jimmy Soto comes home after serving Illinois’ longest wrongful conviction sentence. And the opportunities and challenges of buying your first home.

In April 2020, a smokestack implosion in Little Village blanketed the community in dust, endangering the health of residents during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, eligible Little Village residents have until March 26 to file claims for compensation.

One on one with the newest leader of the city’s public health department. Supporting Chicago’s unhoused as temperatures continue to plummet. And bringing paradise to everyday life ahead of Chicago Restaurant Week.

A WTTW News exclusive: What did the mayor know about migrant shelter conditions where several have fallen ill? Why Chicago says it’ll take 15 years to make crosswalks accessible for blind pedestrians. And how winter storms are contributing to a nationwide blood shortage.

Using the arts to repair homes and combat neighborhood disinvestment. And on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day we take a nuanced look at the revered civil rights leader.

Coretta Scott King discusses her husband's legacy during a 1978 interview on WTTW. 

Hundreds of migrants are using CTA buses as shelters at the city’s landing zone. Should citizenship be reserved for only those born here? And a community business hub is coming to Little Village.

CPS is going a different route to address its bus driver shortage. What a permanent child tax credit could mean for Illinois families. And reaction to the ouster of Harvard University’s first Black woman president.

A ban on extremist police officers is set to go into effect in Chicago. The dangers facing American democracy in 2024. And the history of dibs, Chicago’s tradition of saving parking spots.

The push to create a permanent board to oversee the Chicago Police Department begins. An attorney trying to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot in Illinois. And free expression on college campuses. 

The latest on the financial toll of the migrant crisis that’s gripping Chicago. How the city’s suburbs are trying to curb unannounced migrant drop-offs. And a look at what homebuyers and sellers can expect to see in 2024.

Michael Madigan’s corruption trial gets delayed. The state’s health department declares racism a public health crisis. And looking back at the war on poverty.

Hundreds of new laws are taking effect in Illinois. What are they and how could they impact your life? Two states kick former President Donald Trump off the ballot over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. And our Spotlight Politics on the year ahead.  

Over the last year, WTTW News introduced you to a variety of Chicago-area residents. Some accomplished extraordinary feats, while others made a difference in their communities through small acts of everyday work.

Chicago elected a new mayor, Illinois banned so-called assault weapons and the Boss played at Wrigley Field. Here’s what people were reading in 2023.

Pushback to a second waste facility in West Chicago. How educators and alumni are coming together to help migrant students. And what’s behind an unseasonably warm December.

How small business fared this holiday season. Exploring the great outdoors. And meet the founders behind a Black-owned brewery.

Singer, actress and television host Dionne Warwick can add another accomplishment to her legendary career. Warwick is one of the recipients of a Kennedy Center Honors.

One on one with actress and comedian Lisa Ann Walter. A rare Nativity set at the Art Institute. And a local man creates the Cinnamon Bear’s miniature world of Maybeland.

Former Ald. Ed Burke found guilty in landmark corruption trial. Discussing what needs to happen amid health concerns at migrant shelters. And efforts to combat crimes against street vendors.

We sit down with Mayor Brandon Johnson to talk community safety, migrants and more. And Chicago Public Schools’ plan to move away from school choice.

Day 2 of jury deliberations in the Ed Burke corruption trial. What trends in a changing labor landscape could mean for workers. And a local man creates the Cinnamon Bear’s miniature world of Maybeland.

Jury deliberations begin in the landmark corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke. A project upgrading Chicago’s aging gas pipelines is on hold. And remembering Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt. 

City Council rejects an effort to ask voters whether Chicago should stay a sanctuary city. And a new plan for community safety.