Stories by WTTW News

We're live from Milwaukee as Day 1 of the Republican National Convention comes to a close.

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

The Republican presidential ticket came together on Monday when Donald Trump named J.D. Vance as his running mate. In turning to the 39-year-old Ohio senator, the Republican nominee injected new energy into a campaign that has centered in recent weeks on questions of age following President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance.

Even after successfully breaking into his phone and searching his computer, scouring his search history and bedroom, and interviewing his family and friends, agents still haven’t found evidence that would suggest political or ideological impetus for the shooting, law enforcement sources told CNN.

We’re live from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with local reaction to former President Trump’s VP pick and this weekend’s attempted assassination.

The 39-year-old Vance rose to national fame with the 2016 publication of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” He was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has become one of the staunchest champions of the former president’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, particularly on trade, foreign policy and immigration.

Thousands of anti-Donald Trump protesters gathered in downtown Milwaukee on Monday to protest the first day of the Republican National Convention. WTTW News social media producer Michael Izquierdo documented the march in photos.

These are not your “ordinary run-of-the-mill winds,” the weather service said.

Thousands of protesters — including many from Chicago — took part in the first major protest of the Republican National Convention through the heart of Milwaukee on Monday in a peaceful march that briefly shut down streets around the convention hall.

The chicks have seemed healthy, but then become lethargic. Necropsies have been performed to help determine the cause.

Applause broke out Monday morning as Illinois delegates got word during their meeting at the Republican National Convention that a judge dismissed the federal classified documents case against former President Donald Trump.

Even with conventions choreographed down to tiny details, the unexpected can still happen. Here’s a look at the floor fights, street battles and other memorable convention scenes that were uplifting, outlandish or just plain awkward.

Illinoisans in Wisconsin for their first Republican National Convention say they’re excited about the week ahead and motivated by their passion to see former President Donald Trump reclaim the White House.

“God spared our great leader Donald J. Trump,” said U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Springfield), kicking off the breakfast. “The darker it gets the brighter we can shine.”

The decision, which can be appealed and may be overruled by a higher court, brings at least for now a stunning and abrupt conclusion to a criminal case that at the time it was filed was widely regarded as the most perilous of all the legal threats the Republican former president confronted.

The 3.4 magnitude tremor struck just before 3 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The convention’s first day is still expected to focus on the economy even after Saturday’s shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania in which the former president was injured.

Illinois might be a solidly blue state when it comes to presidential elections, but the Land of Lincoln still has plenty of big-money donors backing conservative candidates and causes. With the Republican National Convention upon us, here’s a look at the Illinoisans who have been spending big so far in this political cycle.

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence — for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception. We can’t allow this violence to be normalized,” President Joe Biden said.

The FBI early Sunday identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as it pressed its investigation. An FBI official said investigators had not yet determined a motive.

Investigators were working Sunday to gather more information about Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who they say opened fire from a rooftop outside the rally venue in Butler before he was killed by Secret Service.

President Joe Biden said Sunday he has directed US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle “to review all security measures — all security measures — for the Republican National Convention.”

At least one attendee was dead and two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter — who it said attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue, a farm show in Butler, Pennsylvania — and that Trump was safe.

Before Saturday’s apparent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.

Donald Trump’s campaign says he is “fine” after what law enforcement officials are treating as an apparent assassination attempt during a rally. Illinois officials reacted to the news. 

President Joe Biden said he is grateful former President Donald Trump is safe after a shooting at his rally in Pennsylvania. Speaking from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, about two hours after the shooting, Biden said, “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence.”