Stories by Heather Cherone

Mayor Brandon Johnson told WTTW News on Thursday night that the Chicago Police Department “most certainly” passed the test posed by the Democratic National Convention, just as the final night of the convention — and the final planned protest — got underway.

If Vice President Kamala Harris beats former President Donald Trump in November, she’ll be the first woman in the Oval Office as well as the first person of Jamaican ancestry to assume the role, and the first person of South Asian descent.

For the second time, Democrats are trying to elect a woman to the White House over former President Donald Trump. Delegates who’ve been in Chicago since Monday will hear Thursday night from their “joyful warrior,” Vice President Kamala Harris.

With the Food and Drug Administration’s clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified vaccine version to be available a little later.

It's Kamala Harris’ turn to deliver the goods on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, as she accepts a historic nomination for president of the United States.

The creators were invited to the DNC by convention organizers, a new but significant part of a digital strategy that aims to leverage the sizable followings of creators across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Discord and Twitch, according to officials with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ campaign. 

They’ve been popping up around Chicago and on social media this week during the Democratic National Convention, where Harris will formally accept the party’s presidential nomination.

As the Democratic National Convention continues for a fourth and final day, there have been a total of 72 arrests related to First Amendment activities since Monday, according to the DNC 2024 Joint Information Center.

The pastor of St. James Church, Ald. William Hall said it was “humbling, joyful, inspirational” to find himself in the white-hot spotlight of the convention.

U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has been hailed as a party legend at Democratic National Convention guests all week — but even her star power was outshone at a meeting of the Women’s Caucus on Thursday morning when actor and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph took the stage.

The Cook County Public Defender’s Office said the majority of cases involving protesters ordered them to avoid the area they were cited in following release.

Young voters gathered in the West Loop at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. The event included speakers and a series of voter engagement workshops. Trainings were on topics such as building inclusive voting coalitions on college campuses, messaging during polarized times and running high school voter drives.

Day 3 of the DNC is in the books, and it included both the old guard and some fresh faces. We’re live with reaction and analysis.

Labor leaders tried to draw a sharp contrast Wednesday between Democrats and Republicans at the Illinois delegation’s breakfast on the third day of the Democratic National Convention — saying the GOP and Donald Trump aren’t on the side of working people.

WTTW News reporters are spread out across Chicago covering the 2024 Democratic National Convention and Illinois’ delegation. Check back throughout the day for continuous updates.

“We will not allow people to come to this city, disrespect it and destroy it,” Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said at a news conference at the office of Office of Emergency Management and Communications. “Enough is enough.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his party’s nomination for vice president Wednesday night, using his Democratic National Convention address to thank the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to an election transformed by the elevation of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

More than 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters rallied Wednesday evening just a half mile from a Chicago park where pro-Israel demonstrators gathered on the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

The nine-acre garden was built on top of an underground parking garage.

We’re at the United Center as VP candidate Tim Walz is set to take the stage on Day 3 of the DNC. Plus, a live report from Union Park as protesters are rallying.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) on Wednesday stopped by the Illinois delegation breakfast.

Tim Walz will take centerstage on Wednesday, the third night of the DNC, introducing himself to the American people as the Democratic party's vice-presidential candidate. 

One source told WTTW News the bugs were maggots, while another said crickets were used to spoil the Indiana delegation’s breakfast. 

Speaking in the cathedral-like University Club of Chicago, she initially filibustered when asked about what she told Biden before he exited the 2024 race and backed Vice President Kamala Harris.

The award-winning singer-songwriter and global pop icon will perform on Thursday evening, the source said, ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris taking the stage for the most significant speech of her political career.

Kamala Harris’ principal campaign committee reported about $220 million in cash on hand at the end of July, besting the $151 million the Trump campaign reported in its principal account on July 31.