Stories by CNN

This UChicago Legend Was the First Player Ever Drafted Into the NFL. He Never Played a Professional Game

There was little doubt that University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger would go first that year. The standout player of his class had just received the first ever Heisman Trophy and been named as the Chicago Tribune’s Big 10 player of the year.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump from Yanking Funding from 16 Sanctuary Cities, Counties in Ruling That Could Bolster Chicago’s Efforts

The injunction issued by U.S. District Judge William Orrick does not apply to Chicago or Cook County but is likely to bolster efforts by city officials to prevent President Donald Trump from blowing a $3 billion hole in Chicago’s budget.

Survivors of Highland Park Parade Shooting Recount ‘Utter Chaos’ as Gunman Sentenced to Consecutive Life Terms

Robert Crimo III, 24, on Thursday was handed seven consecutive life terms, along with the maximum of 50 years in prison on each of the 48 counts of attempted murder he faced.

From Expo Chicago to a Karaoke Fundraiser, Here Are 5 Arts and Culture Picks for the Weekend

Want to sing your karaoke version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in front of actual talent agents? Ponder the rise of fascism in Germany? How about visit the year’s biggest art fair, view short films or learn a new definition of “Black magic?” April ends with a shower of cultural possibilities, so run around out there.

Illinois Health Officials Confirm State’s First Measles Case of 2025

The case in Illinois is not considered an outbreak and the risk of measles transmission for the general public in the state remains low, according to IDPH.

Chicago Bears Great Steve McMichael Dies at 67 After Battle With ALS

Whether he was terrorizing opponents or discussing the Bears on sports talk radio, the man known as “Ming The Merciless” and “Mongo” after the character in “Blazing Saddles” who knocked out a horse remained a prominent presence in Chicago long after his playing days ended.

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, April 23, 2025 - Full Show

Emotional testimony at the sentencing hearing of the Highland Park parade shooter. And a long-stalled push for reparations in Chicago is moving forward.

Jamila Woods Teams With Black Chamber Music Collective to Create ‘Sound Healing Experience’

Singer, poet and South Side native Jamila Woods has been using music as a tool for self-healing for most of her life. She first found the power of an artistic community in her grandmother’s church choir and now finds a similar solace through connections with fans and musicians alike.

Long-Stalled Push for Reparations in Chicago Moving Forward, Johnson Says

The 40-member task force will be charged with developing “Chicago’s first comprehensive reparations study, a critical step forward in acknowledging, addressing and repairing generations of harm experienced by Black communities,” according to a statement from the mayor’s office.

Illinois Joins 11 Other States in Suing the Trump Administration Over ‘Tax Hikes’ Through Tariffs

Twelve states sued the Trump administration Wednesday for “illegally imposing” tax hikes on Americans through tariffs.

IRS Turmoil: Leadership Churn, Worker Exodus and Threats to Groups’ Tax-Exempt Status Roil Agency

The agency shuffled through three acting directors over the course of a week. It’s preparing to lose tens of thousands of workers to layoffs and voluntary retirements. And President Donald Trump is weighing in on which nonprofits should lose their tax-exempt status.

84% of the World’s Coral Reefs Hit by Worst Bleaching Event on Record: ‘Changing the Face of our Planet’

The bleaching event has been so severe that NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program has had to add levels to its bleaching alert scale to account for the growing risk of coral death.

Chicago Firefighter Dies From Injuries After Battling Blaze in Austin Neighborhood

Captain David Meyer, 54, died from injuries after a garage collapsed from a West Side fire early Wednesday morning. He joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1996.

Black Churches Back Embattled Smithsonian African American History Museum After Trump’s Order

In a March 27 executive order, President Donald Trump alleged that Smithsonian exhibits had disparaged the nation’s history via a “divisive, race-centered ideology.” A group of pastors is pushing back.

Local Live Music Recommendations for Apr. 23-29

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

Judge Holds Off on Dismissing Indictment of Ex-Ald. Carrie Austin, as Feds Insist She Is Healthy Enough to Stand Trial

U.S. District Court Judge John F. Kness granted federal prosecutors’ request to hold an evidentiary hearing about whether the former alderperson is healthy enough to stand trial.

Dick Durbin Announces He Will Not Run for Reelection, Setting Off Scramble for Rare Open U.S. Senate Seat

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Wednesday he will not seek a sixth term in the U.S. Senate, setting off a scramble for a rare open seat that will reshape Illinois politics.

Riot Fest Announces 20th Anniversary Lineup With Headliners Green Day, Blink-182, Weezer and Jack White

More than 90 bands will be performing during the three-day festival held Sept. 19-21 in Douglass Park.

April 22, 2025 - Full Show

The president’s fight to end birthright citizenship is headed to the Supreme Court. And possible signs of life on a faraway planet.

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Trump’s Plan to End Birthright Citizenship

President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for the children of people who are in the U.S. illegally has been halted nationwide by three district courts around the country. Appeals courts have declined to disturb those rulings.

2 Months After Mayor Johnson Formed Task Force to Rid CPD of Extremist Groups, No Public Sign of Progress

The task force, formed in February, has met twice, and the next meeting is set for Wednesday, Deputy Mayor Garien Gatewood said.

Cambridge Astronomers Detect Tentative Signs of Life on Distant World

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers said they were able to detect signs of sulfur-based molecules called dimethyl sulfide or DMS, which on Earth are only produced by life, primarily marine phytoplankton.

Illinois University Leaders Join Condemnation of Trump Administration’s ‘Unprecedented Government Overreach’

Leaders from several Illinois universities signed onto a public statement Tuesday, alongside more than 200 university leaders across the U.S., speaking out against the Trump administration’s efforts to change university policies under the threat of cutting federal funding.

CPS CEO Pedro Martinez Tapped to Become Next Massachusetts State Education Commissioner

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 9-0 in favor of selecting the embattled CPS chief from a pool of three finalists to become the state’s next Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioner.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Captures Mahler’s Magic: Review

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra took their place on stage for three performances led by visiting conductor Jaap van Zweden. The sheer immensity of Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 7” was immediately evident.

Pritzker Balances Messaging as Some Dems Encourage Party to Avoid LGBTQ Issues

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has made supporting LGBTQ rights a regular part of his platform as governor, including speaking at dinner events for the HRC and Equality Illinois in recent months. He’s set to speak to the New Hampshire Democratic Party on Sunday – one of the first Democratic presidential primary states.
 

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