Stories by Heather Cherone

Since officials’ dire warnings of a renewed surge, fewer than 1,600 migrants have made their way to Chicago, and the shelter population has remained at the lowest point since the crisis began, according to city data.

Full supermoons appear brighter because the moon is closer to earth when they occur.

Final touches at the United Center before next week’s Democratic National Convention. And reports that Mayor Johnson is trying to oust the leader of Chicago Public Schools days before classes start.

Organizers said 17,000 people have applied to volunteer at the Democratic National Convention, with an additional 15,000 people on the waitlist.

The release attributed to anonymous employees comes at a critical juncture for the Department of Energy, which is currently exploring options for new lab management. The lab will have limited operations for a short time due to budget issues starting this month.

Dragonflies are on the move, turning up in swarms during feeding frenzies as they begin migrating south for the winter. “It’s the most exciting time of the year if you love dragonflies,” said Cindy Crosby, a dragonfly monitor.

“We can’t let these things fade,” President Joe Biden said Friday. He added, “I know this may not seem significant to most Americans, but it’s of great significance. ... It can happen again if we don’t take care of and fight for our democracy.”

Pew Research estimates Latinos make up nearly 15% of the eligible voting population in the United States, with roughly 36.2 million Latino voters. That’s up from 32.3 million in 2020.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Supt. Larry Snelling announced the new Bell 429 helicopter Friday, saying it would be used to help patrol around the convention sites and keep eyes on activities citywide.

Teamsters Local 727, which represents more than 800 drivers, announced this week that its members have voted to authorize a work stoppage after they claim their employer, SCR Medical Transportation, has refused to bargain in good faith.

Charles Cui, 53, of Lake Forest, was convicted in December alongside Ed Burke of one count of federal program bribery, three counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. 

Illinois Republicans say they are still as united about the upcoming election as they were at their national convention in Milwaukee last month, despite surge of enthusiasm for the Democrats’ new presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

One on one with the chair of the state’s Democratic Party ahead of the DNC. What issues are most important to Latinos this election cycle. And a local restaurant puts a Caribbean twist on brunch.

The Illinois Democratic Party is gearing up for a busy week in Chicago. During the Democratic National Convention, members will be meeting with other party leaders, discussing policies and rallying behind presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Latin Restaurant Weeks are back with specials across the Chicago area. It’s an opportunity to sample flavors from across Latin America without leaving Illinois.

In the meeting, Qatar, Egypt and the United States were expected to present a plan to implement a deal that could bring about a ceasefire in the 10-month-long war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages. The deal was proposed by US President Joe Biden in May – but unresolved differences have left the path forward unclear.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is one of only a few zoos in the U.S. to have successfully bred and birthed pangolins. The newest pup arrived July 25, according to zoo officials.

A former Cook County prosecutor and two Chicago police officers are facing felony charges alleging they fraudulently collected more than $100,000 in overtime pay.

The ceremony comes just 5 1/2 weeks after the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, by a white sheriff’s deputy in her Springfield home after she called 911 for help.

Democrats gathered in Springfield Wednesday for their annual rally at the Illinois State Fair amid a surge of enthusiasm and a renewed sense of optimism about their chances of retaining the White House in November.

Local efforts to engage the city’s Black voters. And meet Chicago entrepreneurs hoping to make an impression at next week’s Democratic National Convention.

A Chicago church is launching a strategic voting initiative, bringing in local and national star power like the Rev. Al Sharpton to engage more Black voters and encourage them to coalesce around one candidate.

Next week’s Democratic National Convention is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to Chicago. Looking to get a slice of the economic action, as well as network with folks from across the country, are many Black business owners.

The system should document red flags of prospective officers for law enforcement employers, civil rights attorney BenjaminCrump said, to ensure the safety of citizens. He said he intends to lobby for the passage of federal legislation, such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Chicago is under pressure to secure a bus depot in short order to avoid Greyhound’s travelers this winter having nowhere warm and sheltered to wait for their bus, store their luggage or go to the bathroom.

Donald Trump opened his speech with off-script attacks on the media and aired his grievances over the Democrats swapping Vice President Kamala Harris for President Joe Biden, questioning her intelligence and saying she has “the laugh of a crazy person.”