Stories by WTTW News

Proposed changes to the race and ethnicity boxes on government forms. Welcoming refugees in a new sponsorship program. And giving wellness some Latino flavor.

Did the mayor retaliate against a private citizen for voicing an opinion at City Council? Why CPD solves far fewer crimes involving Black men. Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. in Marquette Park. And a profile of a Grammy-nominated Chicago producer.

Community uproar over migrants in Woodlawn. Pastor Corey Brooks is millions of dollars closer to to realizing his dream of a community center. And Woodstock Willie makes his Groundhog Day prediction.

The Chicago mayoral race gets personal in the latest forum between candidates — Spotlight Politics on that and more. A former cop evades dozens of parking tickets. And the first day of Black History Month.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on why she's dropping charges against R. Kelly. New life for the Equal Rights Amendment. Why Chicago elections are nonpartisan. And a longtime actor turns film director.

Another case of mixing political campaigning with CPS. Three of the nation’s worst water polluters are in the Chicago area. The city nears a deal with ComEd to be the sole power provider. And remembering Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull.

One-on-one with the CEO of the city’s controversial ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology company. New to this year’s mayoral ballot: civilians who will oversee the Chicago Police Department. And debt relief for Chicagoans.

Keeping kids heathy amid high obesity rates. The state's outgoing schools superintendent on lessons learned from the pandemic. And a Waukegan gym hoping to uplift women.

Reaction to the release of Memphis police video. One on one with the head of the Chicago Housing Authority. Making crosswalks accessible to blind pedestrians. And a winter showcase in River West.

New emails released in the Lori Lightfoot CPS student recruitment snafu. Bronzeville gets a historic designation. Chinatown readies for Lunar New Year amid security concerns. And how to tackle mental health needs.

As the snow falls, we take a deeper dive into what causes that “lake effect." The veterinary drug linked to a high level of opioid deaths in Cook County. And the issue of mental health front and center in the Chicago mayoral race.

Assessing COVID-19 three years to the day of the first case in Illinois. Why day care providers are waiting for checks from the state. And boosting safety for street vendors who've been robbed in Little Village.

Remembering a beloved local DJ. The latest on the legal tangle over the state’s assault weapons ban. A trans bus driver who was fired from the CTA. And how well do you know Chicago’s street grid?

More cannabis dispensary licenses are in the works, but social equity applicants say challenges remain. Climate-friendly rides for North Lawndale neighbors. And Pullman National Park gets a new name and designation.

Safety and travel concerns over violence in Mexico. Street vendors under attack in Little Village. Construction career training. And it's game night.

Toxic “forever chemicals” found in fish caught in the Great Lakes. A controversial rail yard in Englewood gets put on hold. We report on a community health initiative from West Garfield Park. And will state lawmakers take another shot at graduated income tax?

Why ComEd wants to raise your utility bills. City action on transgender and abortion issues. The debt ceiling staredown approaches a potential economic cliff. And why artificial intelligence is shaking up the education system.

UIC faculty go on strike. Unpacking new plans for the LaSalle Street corridor. Talking to sheriffs who say they won't enforce the new assault weapons bill. And what’s with the high price of eggs?

The last living witness to the Emmett Till lynching tells his story in a new book. We sit down with him and his co-author. Affordable housing was a focus of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work in Chicago — a look at where we are today.

What makes a sanctuary city welcoming to migrants and asylum seekers? Latino students are leaving CPS and heading to private and charter schools. And details on how low-income families can apply for scholarships to private schools.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot responds to that campaign misstep. A special counsel appointed in Biden's documents investigation. Twenty years since the first step in abolishing Illinois' death penalty. And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy in Marquette Park.

Assault weapons, abortions and pay raises: the latest from Springfield. A new bill could allow Chicago principals to unionize. Did the Lori Lightfoot campaign run afoul of ethics rules? And the Chicago Public library turns 150.

What's the new GOP-run house going to be like? We talk with two local congressmembers. The latest on the assault weapons ban in Springfield. How to erase medical debt. And we take a look up at the sky, where you'll see a bright green comet.

The man behind the Hail Mary proposal to keep the Bears at Soldier Field. The fate of a state assault weapons ban. Tackling childhood obesity. And former Bear Brian Urlacher tangled up in a hairy situation.

Walgreens says it’s peeling back spending on efforts to combat shoplifting. Machine company John Deere reaches a deal to let farmers repair their own equipment. And former Chicago Bear Brian Urlacher gets caught up in a hairy lawsuit.

Mayors Lori Lightfoot and Eric Adams are urging Colorado's governor to instead partner with Chicago and New York City to advocate for federal solutions to the nation’s ongoing challenges surrounding asylum seekers.