Stories by Associated Press
Judge Questions the Trump Administration’s Plan to Suspend SNAP Benefits for Millions
| Associated Press
“You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace,” U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said in court.
Patients Go Without Needed Treatment After the Government Shutdown Disrupts a Telehealth Program
| Associated Press
Medical providers are deciding whether they can continue offering telehealth services without the guarantee of reimbursement or whether they need to halt virtual visits altogether.
Chicago Man Detained by ICE Whose Daughter Is Fighting Stage 4 Cancer Set to be Released From Custody
| Matt Masterson
Ruben Torres Maldonado, who was detained by immigration agents earlier this month and whose teenage daughter is fighting cancer, is set to be released from custody after a judge on Thursday granted him a bond.
Chicagoans Come Together to Help Kids Feel Safe Celebrating Halloween Amid Immigration Raids
| Eunice Alpasan
Community groups and neighbors are coming together to help children and families feel safe during Halloween celebrations, with some families choosing to opt out of trick-or-treating altogether amid fears of immigration raids.
Details of DHS Agreement Reveal Risks of Trump Administration’s Use of Social Security Data for Voter Citizenship Checks
| Jen Fifield — ProPublica
A recently released agreement gives the Department of Homeland Security access to hundreds of millions of Americans’ Social Security data. It contains alarmingly few provisions to ensure accuracy and privacy, experts say.
Donald Trump Appears to Suggest the US Will Resume Testing Nuclear Weapons for First Time in 30 Years
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump appeared to suggest the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades, saying it would be on an “equal basis” with Russia and China.
Pritzker Denounces Ramped Up Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Raids, Calls Federal Agents ‘Thugs’
| Heather Cherone
“Our Chicagoland neighborhoods are being bombarded with tear gas, invaded by unidentified masked men in unmarked vehicles, thugs who are intimidating workers and children and grandparents, most of whom are Black or Brown, most of whom have committed no offense at all,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.
CPS Says New Data Shows Elementary, High School Students Continuing Academic Gains
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools leaders say new data shows elementary school students showed improvements in reading and math proficiency, while high schoolers increased their graduation rates while earning a record-high of more than $3 billion in scholarships this past year.
From a Stand-Up Comedy Festival to a Día de los Muertos Dance Party, Here Are 4 Arts Picks for Your Week
| Josh Terry
Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.
Oct. 29, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The verdict is in for an Illinois sheriff’s deputy facing murder charges in the shooting of Sonya Massey. And what you should know as millions could soon lose food assistance benefits.
Nearly 2M Illinois Residents Stand to Lose SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown
| Shelby Hawkins
Nearly 2 million Illinois residents, including 900,000 people in Cook County, face losing their benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if Congress fails to pass a budget by Nov. 1.
Local News Deserts Rose to Record Levels as Federal Funding Cuts Threaten Public Broadcasting, New Report Finds
| Eunice Alpasan
Nearly 300 public radio stations and more than 100 public television stations in the U.S. are producing local reporting, researchers found. In nine counties, public radio is the sole news source.
Former Top Aide to Ex-Ald. Carrie Austin Pleads Guilty to Stealing Food Stamps
| Heather Cherone
Chester Wilson, 59, was former Ald. Carrie Austin’s chief of staff when he was indicted in July 2021 alongside his boss, once one of the most powerful politicians in Chicago.
Lawmakers Advance Bill Allowing Public Officials to Conceal Personal Information
| Brenden Moore — Capitol News Illinois
The proposal passed the House with an overwhelmingly bipartisan roll call and is expected to receive a vote in the Illinois Senate later this week. It comes amid a startling rise in violence and threats aimed at public officials.
Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino Gets Out of Daily Check-Ins For Now After Appeals Court Grants Emergency Stay
| Matt Masterson
The DOJ filed the motion with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday afternoon, hours before Bovino was set to appear at the Dirksen Federal Building to meet with U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis.
Chicago, Cook County Appealing Trump’s Denial of Disaster Relief Funds Following Summer’s Severe Flooding
| Patty Wetli
The city of Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois are joining forces to appeal the Trump Administration's denial of federal disaster relief funds that would have supported the recovery from a pair of severe flooding events this past summer.
Illinois Deputy Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in the Shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black Woman Who Called 911
| Associated Press
An Illinois jury on Wednesday convicted a former sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 asking for help.
Trump Administration Moves to Overrule State Laws Protecting Credit Reports From Medical Debt
| Associated Press
Medical debt is often the most disputed part of a consumer’s credit report, because insurance payments can take time, and oftentimes patients do not have the means to fully pay a medical bill if insurance is not covering a procedure that has already taken place.
Federal Reserve Cuts Key Rate as Government Shutdown Clouds Economic Outlook
| Associated Press
Wednesday’s decision brings the Fed’s key rate down to about 3.9%, from about 4.1%. The central bank had cranked its rate to roughly 5.3% in 2023 and 2024 to combat the biggest inflation spike in four decades.
Chicago Leaders Applaud Glock’s Reported Decision to Phase Out Pistols That Easily Convert to Automatic Weapons
| Matt Masterson
Mayor Brandon Johnson is lauding a reported move by Glock Inc. to discontinue its existing line of pistols that can be converted into illegal machine guns after the city filed suit against the firearms manufacturer.
Pritzker Throws Cold Water on Public Transit Revenue Ideas: ‘As It Is, It’s Not Going Forward’
| Nick Blumberg
Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday expressed skepticism about some of the revenue streams House Democrats pitched in a transit rescue bill filed late Tuesday night.
Kat Abughazaleh, Other Democratic Candidates Indicted for ‘Impeding’ Federal Agent Outside Broadview ICE Facility
| Heather Cherone
Kat Abughazaleh, who is running to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, and Catherine “Cat” Sharp, who is running to represent the 12th District on the Cook County Board, were indicted alongside 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and three others.
Cook County Forest Preserve Police Increasing Patrols After Bikers Harass Trail Users in Separate Incidents
| Patty Wetli
Cook County forest preserve police will be increasing their patrols on trails after bikers harassed and assaulted other park visitors in separate incidents last weekend at Busse Woods and LaBagh Woods.
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Oct. 29-Nov. 4
| Josh Terry
Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Oct. 28, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
A judge grills Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino over immigration agents’ use of force. And Chicago’s faith leaders are speaking out on immigration enforcement.
Faith Under Fire: Chicago Religious Leaders Talk ICE Presence
| Blake Thor
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, released a statement on immigration last week. “Let me be clear. The Church stands with migrants,” Cupich said. Here’s where four more of Chicago’s faith leaders stand on the issue.
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