Stories by Josh Terry

Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Feb. 18-24

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Feb. 17, 2026 - Full Show

Remembering the Rev. Jesse Jackson. We discuss the life and legacy of the civil rights icon and former presidential candidate.

‘He Was This Transformational Figure’: Reflecting on the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson

The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Chicago ties run deep, dating back to the 1960s when he was appointed by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to direct Chicago’s Operation Breadbasket program.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Chicago Organizer Who Led the Civil Rights Movement for Decades After King, Has Died at 84

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson led a lifetime of crusades in the United States and abroad, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues from voting rights and job opportunities to education and health care.

In 1972, Jesse Jackson Joined ‘Sesame Street’ to Share a Message: ‘I Am Somebody’

Before his two presidential runs and the founding of the Chicago-based Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Jesse Jackson appeared on “Sesame Street” with a simple message to share with children: “I am somebody.”

A Month Late, First Installment of 2025 Cook County Property Tax Bills to Be Due April 1

First installment property tax bills are typically released in February and due in early March, but will be delayed by one month by an overhaul of the county’s property tax system plagued with problems.

Bears Stadium Package Has ‘Positive Momentum’ in Springfield, But Work Still Remains

The renewed urgency comes as Indiana advances competing legislation backed by Gov. Mike Braun to lure the team across state lines, raising the stakes in Springfield.

A ‘Champion’ and a ‘Superhero’: Chicago Leaders Reflect on Passing of Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson

Officials from Chicago and across Illinois expressed condolences and shared their memories of legendary Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 84.

Rescuers Spring Into Action To Save Snowy Owl Injured Along Illinois Tollway

Holding a snowy owl in his hands was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for bird rescuer Ken Reinert. It’s an experience he hopes he never has to repeat.

‘Democracy Is a Verb’: How Local Groups Are Working to Increase Civic Engagement as Participation Declines

Join WTTW as we launch our Firsthand: Democracy initiative. We explore the state of civic participation and hear how some Chicagoans are working to strengthen democracy.

Feb. 16, 2026 - Full Show

Join us as we launch our Firsthand: Democracy initiative. We explore the state of civic participation and hear how some Chicagoans are working to strengthen democracy.

Debate Over Future of ICE, Response to Immigration Raids Roils Race for Cook County Board President

The debate over how to respond to President Donald Trump’s aggressive efforts to carry out the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history is the newest flashpoint in the race for Cook County Board president.

Pritzker to Present State Budget as Illinois Faces Federal Funding Uncertainty

Progressive lawmakers want the governor to raise taxes on corporations and billionaires, while Republicans are hoping to keep spending flat in fiscal year 2027.

Robert Duvall, Versatile Oscar-Winning Actor, Dead at 95

Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two “Godfather” movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in “Tender Mercies,” has died at age 95.

Penny Shortage Causes Headaches for Retailers in the Land of Lincoln

The lack of fixed guidance at the state and federal levels on how to address the scarcity of new pennies has left some businesses at a loss.

As Some People Push to Make Profound Autism Its Own Diagnosis, This Family Is Raising Twins With It

There’s now a growing push to separate profound autism — in which people need constant care for life, have a certain level of intellectual disability and are nonspeaking or minimally verbal — into its own diagnosis. The hope is that it would help ensure people get the support and services they need and that research includes them.

Ofelia Torres, Chicago Teen Who Battled Cancer While Her Father Was Detained by ICE, Has Died

Ofelia Torres, the 16-year-old whose cancer battle gained national attention last fall after her father was detained by immigration agents outside a suburban Home Depot, has died.

No Evidence CPD Provided Required Update on System That Would Flag Officers With Multiple Complaints

CPD is required to implement the system under the terms of the consent decree, the federal court order designed to compel the department to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers.

Week in Review: New Evidence in Border Patrol Shooting; Mayor Vetoes Hemp Ban

Attorneys say new evidence contradicts Border Patrol’s claims in the shooting of a Chicago woman. And the mayor is vetoing a ban on the sale of some intoxicating hemp products.

You’ve Heard About Fat Tuesday, But What About Fat Thursday? Here’s Where Chicago’s Polish Community Gets Their Paczki

Paczki Day is coming up on Tuesday, but ask any Polish native and chances are they’ve already celebrated tłusty czwartek, or Fat Thursday, this week.

Mayor Vetoes Ban on Sale of Most Intoxicating Hemp Products in Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson said the ban was too broad and punished “many of our small businesses who have been following the law and deserve to have a seat at the table,” including those owned by Black and Latino Chicagoans.

Judge Grants Temporary Order Halting Cuts to Public Health Grants in Illinois, Other States

U.S. District Judge Manish Shah signed off on the restraining order Thursday in a lawsuit brought by attorneys general from four states including Kwame Raoul that sought to prevent the cuts.

Toni Preckwinkle Urging Cook County Prosecutors to Pursue Criminal Charges Against Federal Immigration Agents

Preckwinkle urged Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to act “swiftly, proactively and transparently” in order to ensure accountability after agents have repeatedly used “excessive force."

Weekend Warmup Is Chicago’s First Dose of False Spring

The National Weather Service is predicting highs in the 50s for the Chicago region through early next.

Chicago Police Leaders Must Change How Officers Are Deployed in ‘High-Demand’ Areas: Study

The study, which examined whether officers are efficiently and effectively deployed across the city to stop crime and respond to calls for help, found “inconsistent service levels, constrained proactive time, and limited supervisory capacity in high-demand areas.”

Feb. 12, 2026 - Full Show

How Congress is working to change how Americans vote. And two local artists on their Super Bowl performances.
 

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