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Granddaughter of ‘Charlotte’s Web’ Author Criticizes Use of Book Title in DHS Immigration Operation

Federal immigration officials used the popular children’s book “Charlotte’s Web” to name their latest crackdown, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Donald Trump’s Republican Party Insists There’s No Affordability Crisis, Dismisses Recent Election Losses

President Donald Trump says Democrats and the media are misleading voters who are concerned about high costs and the economy.

NIH Funding Cuts Have Affected Over 74,000 People Enrolled in Experiments, New Report Says

Between the end of February and mid-August, funding ceased for 383 studies that were testing treatments for conditions including cancer, heart disease and brain disease.

Property Tax Bills for South, West Side Homeowners Set to Jump 30%: Study

The most recent reassessment of the value of Chicago properties resulted in a “record-setting” 16.7% increase in the median homeowner’s bill, according to a new analysis from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ research team.

Chicago Set to Borrow $283.3M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits

It will likely cost Chicago taxpayers approximately $52 million in interest to borrow that money and pay off during the next five years, according to estimates provided to the Chicago City Council by Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski.

Week in Review: CPS Watchdog Flags Travel Spending; Government Shutdown Ends

Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and his agents are reportedly leaving Chicago soon. And the federal government reopens after a record shutdown — with dissent among the Democrats.

From New Train Lines to Parking Regulations: What Else is in Illinois’ Transit Bill

While Senate Bill 2111 was widely covered for the $1.5 billion it drives to transit throughout Illinois and its governance reforms in the Chicago region, the more than 1,000-page bill outlines a new approach to public transportation.

Protesters Arrested, Officers Injured in Clash Outside Broadview ICE Facility

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said most faced charges of obstruction, disorderly conduct, and walking on a highway. One also faced a charge of mob action. Their ages ranged from 23 to 67.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Reduces Corporate Tax Hike Proposal as Crucial Votes Loom

The current proposed budget would impose a monthly $21 per employee tax on companies with more than 200 employees to generate $82 million to fund violence prevention and youth employment programs.

DoorDash Agrees to Pay $18M to Settle Chicago Lawsuit Alleging Firms Hurt Restaurants During COVID-19 Pandemic

The city’s lawsuit accused DoorDash of advertising delivery services from restaurants without their consent, damaging the restaurants’ reputations and forcing them to scramble to resolve complaints.

Cost to Resolve Lawsuits Tied to Disgraced Ex-CPD Detective Tops $112M, With 44 Lawsuits Pending

Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $285.3 million to resolve lawsuits alleging Chicago police officers committed a wide range of misconduct — including wrongful convictions and improper pursuits — so far this year, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News.

Nov. 13, 2025 - Full Show

The mayor bats down concerns over efficiencies as budget hearings wrap up. And parents help immigrant neighbors get kids to school.

Ken Burns Sees ‘Rhymes of History’ in New Documentary on the American Revolution

More than nine years in the making, the six-part,12-hour documentary series tells the tale of the country’s founding struggle from multiple viewpoints.

Volunteers Help Immigrant Parents Get Their Kids to School With the ‘Walking School Bus’

“The moment that the raids started happening and people started getting pulled off the street, you could just see it,” volunteer Alyssa May said. “You could see less students, less families, less vendors. And it really did change. It just became a really quiet place.”

Illinois SNAP Recipients Will Receive Remaining Benefit Payments Starting Friday

The Illinois Department of Human Services, which previously issued partial November benefits, said that it is “working to restore full SNAP benefits.” But it won’t happen instantly.

Federal Agents Have Already Violated Judge’s Order Restricting Their Use of Force, Attorneys Claim

Attorneys representing a group of Chicago journalists and protesters claim immigration agents have repeatedly violated a sweeping injunction limiting the use of “riot control weapons,” less than a week after it was put into effect by a federal judge.

A Chicago Coin Collector Planned Treasure Hunts to Share His Collection. Things Changed When Immigration Agents Arrived

Jon Martin started his coin collection 20 years ago and has amassed about 600 pieces. In a bid to connect with his community and perhaps get more people interested in numismatics, the Rogers Park resident recently decided to give away some of his collection.

‘I Lost Everything’: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime

Federal prosecutors have not filed criminal charges against anyone who was arrested. Nor have they revealed any evidence showing that two immigrants arrested in the building belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang, or even provided their names.

North Center Daycare Teacher Detained by ICE Released From Custody

Diana Santillana Galeano, who had been held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention in Clay County, Indiana, was released Wednesday night, hours after a federal judge granted a habeas petition.

President Trump Signs Government Funding Bill, Ending Shutdown After a Record 43 Days

The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers — to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.

Trump Deserves No Credit for Continued Drop in Crime in Chicago: Johnson, Pritzker

Crime in Chicago has been dropping significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began to wane in 2022, a trend that accelerated after Mayor Brandon Johnson took office in May 2023 and has continued since, according to Chicago Police Department data.

From a Black Film Festival to a 20th Century Cantata, Here Are 5 Arts Picks for Your Week

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

Nov. 12, 2025 - Full Show

Could 50-year mortgages soon become an option? A look at the pros and cons. And a local coin enthusiast shares some of his collection with neighbors.

Chicago Officials Make the Case for Funding Youth Programs in 2026 Budget

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget proposal includes a controversial head tax he hopes will generate $100 million to fund violence prevention and youth employment programs in the city.

Trump Floated a 50-Year Mortgage. Is That a Good Idea?

Most first-time homebuyers in the United States take out 30-year mortgages. Under a new proposal from the Trump administration, they may soon have an even longer loan option.

Toxic Dump Set for Transformation Into Chicago’s Next Lakefront Destination, Introducing Park #608

A stretch of Chicago’s southernmost lakefront long used as a toxic landfill is now one step closer to becoming parkland open to all.
 

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