Stories by Heather Cherone

The lawsuit filed by John Velez, who spent 17 years in prison before his conviction in the murder of 26-year-old Anthony Hueneca in Little Village was overturned, is set for trial for July 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Edmond Chang ruled Tuesday.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump joined the family of Sonya Massey in West Garfield Park on Tuesday, demanding justice for the woman who was shot and killed by police in her Springfield home earlier this month.

Biden is expected to deliver a primetime speech during the opening night of the Chicago convention, according to three sources familiar with the planning, with the evening’s programming centering on Biden’s legacy and achievements. 

The National Weather Service in Chicago has so far reported 31 tornadoes in one storm event — surpassing the previous daily record of 22 measured just last year. While there’s debate over how these storms should be defined — researchers are looking into the factors leading to extreme weather and how to protect communities.

Pushback after former President Donald Trump is invited to speak at a convention for Black journalists in Chicago. And what could be behind the recent severe weather across Illinois. 

Vice President Harris, the likely Democratic nominee, appears intent on making a choice that she’s comfortable with personally and that can expand her electoral appeal in a matter of days.

Guzmán López, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, stood with feet shackled as federal prosecutors in Chicago detailed a five-count indictment that also includes money laundering, conspiracy and weapons charges.

An eruption of solar particles is headed toward Earth and the impact could be strong enough to make the aurora borealis visible in the lower Midwest, including northern Illinois, through Thursday.

Republican nominee for president Donald Trump is set to take questions about the “most pressing issues facing the Black community” at noon Wednesday at the Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue.

In a petition filed last week and unsealed Monday, Kelly’s defense team asked the court to take another look at the case after a lower court rejected his appeal earlier this year.

Carbon capture and sequestration, known as CCS, is a technology that prompts both eager anticipation and environmental anxiety. It’s a technology that’s been eyed by energy producers in Illinois for years, with multiple previous proposals and one that’s expected to resurface soon. And it’s a technology that landowners and environmentalists view with concern at best and fear at worst.

The changes are detailed in the zoo’s $500 million Next Century Plan, which is in anticipation of the zoo’s 100th anniversary in 2034. Dr. Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of Brookfield Zoo, joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss the plan.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) is proposing to reduce Chicago’s citywide speed limit from 30 mph to 25. Advocates of the ordinance say the small change could significantly curb the amount of traffic injuries and fatalities, and improve public safety.

A push to lower the city-wide speed limit from 20 miles per hour to 25. And Brookfield Zoo unveils its wild renovation plans. 

The law requires insurers that provide state-regulated health care plans to cover pregnancy and postpartum services for covered individuals, including midwife services, doula visits, and lactation consultants for up to 12 months after the end of a pregnancy.

A male Grevy’s zebra foal arrived July 27, Brookfield Zoo announced. The newcomer is already off and running.

Before his policing career began with six jobs in four years — the first three of which were part time — 30-year-old Sean Grayson was convicted twice within a year of driving under the influence, which cost him his hitch in the military.

Three people were killed and a 3-month-old boy was critically wounded in separate shootings over the weekend across Chicago, according to the Chicago Police Department.

McDonald's global same-stores fell for the first time in nearly four years in the second quarter as inflation-weary consumers skipped meals out or chose cheaper options. The company said it's working on fixes, but it expects same-store sales to be down for the next few quarters.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability has yet to provide the Office of the Inspector General with the evidence that prompted the commission to call for a probe into “the quality and integrity” of the investigations into police misconduct by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, according to a letter obtained by WTTW News.

The Margaret A. Muir sank only a few miles off the entrance to Algoma Harbor. It went undetected for more than a century despite hundreds of boats passing over it each fishing season.

As Democrats rally behind a new candidate for president, could Illinois’ governor be on the ticket? And Chicago Public Schools budget math. 

Firefighter Jermaine Pelt was killed battling a West Pullman blaze in April 2023. Two men have been charged with murder and arson, while a third faces fraud and forgery charges.

The not-so-little one — measuring 5 feet and weighing 105 pounds — arrived Wednesday night, the first beluga born at Shedd since 2020.

Something appears to be lurking in the water at Lincoln Park’s North Pond, and some swear it’s an alligator.

Advocacy groups are sounding the alarm on a spike in domestic violence cases. A new report from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence says domestic violence deaths in Illinois rose by 110% last year, with 94 incidents of domestic violence leading to 120 deaths in 2023.