Stories by WTTW News
Viewer Feedback: ‘Stay on the Warpath Protestors!’
| WTTW News
Your thoughts about a planned anti-violence march along Lake Shore Drive to Wrigley Field.
Local School Councils: What They Do, What Challenges They Face
| Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools implemented local school councils almost 30 years ago with hundreds of thousands of participants. Times have changed.
Jamie Bernstein Recalls Life with ‘Lenny’ in ‘Famous Father Girl’
| Eddie Arruza
Jamie Bernstein on her new book and Ravinia performance remembering her famous father, Leonard Bernstein.
Willie Wilson Addresses Charity Event Cash Controversy
| Nicole Cardos
The Chicago mayoral candidate faces criticism after handing out nearly $300,000 in cash and checks at a charity event. “I haven’t done anything but give my own money away,” Wilson said of the cash controversy.
Mars Glows Bright as it Readies for Opposition, Close Approach
| Evan Garcia
For the next several days, the celestial event calendar includes some stellar highlights for observers in Chicago and around the globe.
In New Role, Nneka Jones Tapia to Address Mental Wellness of Youth
| Kristen Thometz
The former Cook County Jail executive director will focus on mental wellness, particularly among Chicago youth whose parents have been incarcerated.
Black Ensemble Unwraps the Joyful Healing Properties of the Blues
| Hedy Weiss
In her deftly crafted new show, “Rick Stone the Blues Man,” writer/director Jackie Taylor has devised a wonderfully engaging way to explore the full spectrum of blues classics.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: July 26-29
| Kristen Thometz
Street fests, sudsy beverages, acrobatic acts and printmaking usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Critics Say CPS Budget Promotes Inequality Across District
| Brandis Friedman
Some are questioning the way Chicago Public Schools is spending its biggest budget in the last five years.
Consent Decree, Gang Database Front and Center at City Council
| Paris Schutz
Talks on a police consent decree hit a snag as City Council moves to weaken a controversial police gang database.
History or Hate? Chicago’s Controversial Monuments and Street Names
| Evan Garcia
Balbo Drive isn’t getting renamed anytime soon, but a stretch of Congress Parkway will be named after African-American journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells. What else is causing controversy.
Van Dyke Case: Defense Believes Judge Too ‘Prejudiced’ to Decide Trial Venue
| Matt Masterson
Defense attorneys claim the judge handling the high-profile murder case is “prejudiced” against their motion to move the trial outside Cook County and should recuse himself from deciding the matter.
Cases of Foodborne Illness in Illinois Surpass 500
| Nicole Cardos
There are more and more cases of food poisoning in Illinois. What’s behind the problem – and how to protect yourself.
Transportation Planners Consider Bus-Only Lane on Lake Shore Drive
| Nick Blumberg
It is perhaps Chicago’s most iconic roadway, and it’s certainly among the busiest. Could dedicating a lane to buses ease congestion on Lake Shore Drive?
Field Museum Scientist Develops ‘Easy-Bake Fossil’
| Alex Ruppenthal
Fossils typically take tens of millions of years to develop, but a Chicago scientist recently helped discover a new way to simulate the fossilization process in a lab – in just 24 hours.
Illinois Gets ‘D’ Grade in New Report Evaluating Renewable Energy Standards
| Alex Ruppenthal
A new report from an environmental advocacy group criticizes Illinois and more than two dozen other states for adopting renewable energy plans that allow for dirty energy sources.
New Collaborative Focused on Children’s Health Policy
| Kristen Thometz
A statewide initiative aims to move the dial on child health policy by addressing issues such as infant mortality, violent injury and death, and barriers to health care.
Simeon Parents Speak Out on Behalf of Exiled Principal
| Matt Masterson
Parents from a South Side high school are calling on CPS leaders to bring back their ousted principal, a month after an investigation revealed he had failed to safeguard students from abuse.
Making Baby Walleye in Cook County
| Jay Shefsky
Though not a terribly romantic process, walleye breeding at the Cook County Forest Preserve District produces thousands of young fish for county lakes. We take a closer look.
The ‘Buzz’ Behind Beekeeping: Colonizing a New Hive
| Amanda Vinicky
If you’re not ready to raise chickens in your backyard, you could try your hand at another popular trend: urban beekeeping.
‘Something in the Game’ Wins One for The Gipper, and for Musical Theater, Too
| Hedy Weiss
In spinning the tale of Knute Rockne and his prize athlete, the creators of this terrific show have tapped into much grander themes than the nature of intensely competitive college football.
Intuit Exhibition Highlights Chicago’s Embrace of Outside Art
| Marc Vitali
We visit the local gallery and museum that preserves and promotes unusual art made by unusual people.
$70 Million Albany Park Floodwater Tunnel Goes Online
| Paris Schutz
The latest on a major city infrastructure project that officials say was made necessary because of climate change.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
Chicago Police Board Votes to Fire Officer Who Tested Positive for Marijuana
2025 Chicago Holiday Events Guide
City Council Votes 30-18 to Approve Final Part of 2026 Budget. Will Mayor Veto It?
1 Killed, 1 Wounded in Shooting on CTA Train in Downtown Chicago
Mayor Brandon Johnson Will Not Veto $16.6B Budget Plan Passed Over His Objections
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter