Stories by Eunice Alpasan
International Students at U of I Face Growing Uncertainty Amid State Department’s Vows to Revoke Chinese Student Visas
| Eunice Alpasan
In the Trump administration’s latest attack against international students, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week the U.S. will begin “aggressively” revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party and those studying in “critical fields.”
Despite Victories, Major Higher Education Policy Bills Stall in General Assembly
| Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois
“You don’t get everything done in one year,” Gov. JB Pritzker said during a post-session news conference when asked about several of his initiatives that failed to pass this year. “Sometimes they (lawmakers) spend two years, four years, six years, trying to get something big done.”
Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Feud Explodes as the President Suggests Cutting the Billionaire’s Government Contracts
| CNN
President Donald Trump confirmed the deterioration of his relationship with Elon Musk Thursday, saying he was “very disappointed” in the tech billionaire after Musk repeatedly blasted the president’s sweeping domestic agenda bill in recent days.
Chicago White Sox Announce Deal Allowing Owner Jerry Reinsdorf to Sell Future Control of Team
| Matt Masterson
The team on Thursday announced what they called “a long-term investment agreement” between the two men which creates a framework for billionaire Justin Ishbia to obtain a future controlling interest of the South Side franchise.
Illinois State Police Backs Bill Expanding Its Mission to Investigate Internet Crimes Against Children
| Jade Aubrey — Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – While Illinois State Police has long investigated child sex crimes, a new measure would explicitly name addressing internet crimes against children as a core mission of its criminal division.
Pope Leo Meets With Child Protection Advisory Board Amid Survivor Calls for Zero Tolerance on Abuse
| Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Vatican’s child protection advisory commission on Thursday for the first time amid questions about his past handling of clergy sex abuse cases and demands from survivors that he enact a true policy of zero tolerance for abuse across the Catholic Church.
In Unanimous Decision, Supreme Court Makes It Easier to Claim ‘Reverse Discrimination’ in Employment
| Associated Press
The justices’ decision affects lawsuits in 20 states and the District of Columbia where, until now, courts had set a higher bar when members of a majority group, including those who are white and heterosexual, sue for discrimination under federal law.
From Esoteric VHS Screenings to Must-See Plays, Here Are This Week’s Arts and Culture Picks
| Josh Terry
Whether it’s a musical on the “Queen of Rock’n’Roll,” an esoteric screening of VHS oddities, or two imaginative plays, you have a lot of stellar options to explore Chicago’s thriving cultural scene.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, June 4, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
A new path toward building wealth in Chicago’s Black communities. And Chicago State University is adding a football team to its roster.
With New Head Coach, Chicago State University Works to Launch Division I Football Program
| Abena Bediako
Chicago State University hired its first-ever head football coach, Bobby Rome II. Rome is tasked with building the school’s new Division I football program from the ground up. The university doesn’t have a stadium, equipment or players just yet.
‘State of Black Chicago’ Report Outlines Path to Wealth Building in Black Communities
| Bridgette Adu-Wadier
The report draws from research from the New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, which found that in 2024 the median net worth for Black Chicago-area households was zero dollars — compared to $210,000 for White households.
Jury Awards $1.5M to City Council Candidate Who Said She Was Defamed During Campaign
| Heather Cherone
Lawyer Ebony Lucas sued Ald. Lamont Robinson’s campaign and the 4th Ward Democratic Organization for launching what she called a “coordinated smear campaign.”
Illinois Lawmakers Pass Measure to Bolster Press Protections Against Lawsuits
| Capitol News Illinois
Senate Bill 1181 explicitly adds news media as an entity protected under the state’s Citizen Participation Act, which prohibits “strategic lawsuits against public participation.”
Bill Creating a State Public Defender’s Office Is Headed to Pritzker’s Desk
| Capitol News Illinois
Lawmakers voted along party lines Saturday to pass House Bill 3363, which would create the “Office of State Public Defender” that would primarily be responsible for providing public defender offices around the state with more resources.
Trump’s Promised Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Go Into Effect
| Associated Press
Foreign-made steel and aluminum is used in household products like soup cans and paper clips, as well as big-ticket items like a stainless-steel refrigerators and cars.
Federal Prosecutors Expanding Violence Prevention Initiative to Downtown Chicago, All CTA Train Lines
| Matt Masterson
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois on Wednesday announced the expansion of its Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which combines the efforts of federal, state and local authorities to help stem violent crime.
Amid Court Battle, Illinois Lawmakers Look to Push Back ‘Swipe Fees’ Ban
| Ben Szalinski — Capitol News Illinois
The ban was supposed to take effect on July 1, but lawmakers voted with strong bipartisan majorities Sunday morning to pass House Bill 742 to push the ban back until July 2026.
Battery Case Dismissed Against Aurora Resident in Dispute With Former Mayor’s Campaign Team
| Nick Blumberg
An Aurora resident who staunchly maintained his innocence on a charge of alleged battery against a member of former Mayor Richard Irvin’s campaign team had his case dismissed by a Kane County judge on Wednesday.
What is the CBO? A Look at the Small Office Inflaming Debate Over Trump’s Tax Bill
| Associated Press
The Congressional Budget Office has projected that President Donald Trump’s “one big beautiful bill” would increase federal deficits by about $2.4 trillion over 10 years.
Graceland Cemetery Bans Dogs Due to ‘Highly Territorial’ Coyote Parents Protecting Their Newborn Pups
| Patty Wetli
Graceland Cemetery's newest residents — a litter of coyote pups — are causing a stir.
Chicago Sees Fewest Homicides in Any May Since 2011: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, there were 36 homicides recorded throughout May 2025, a total that’s down 38% compared to the same month last year and down nearly 50% compared to May 2023.
Donald Trump’s Tax Bill Will Add $2.4 Trillion to the National Deficit, Leave 10.9 Million More Uninsured: CBO
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump’s big bill making its way through Congress will cut taxes by $3.75 trillion but also increase deficits by $2.4 trillion over the next decade, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Causes ‘Very Unhealthy’ Conditions Across the Midwest
| Associated Press
Smoke from Canadian wildfires carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the Midwest, where conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were rated “very unhealthy” Tuesday.
Edmund White, a Groundbreaking Gay Author Who Grew Up in the Chicago Area, Dies at 85
| Associated Press
Edmund White, the groundbreaking man of letters who documented and imagined the gay revolution through journalism, essays, plays and such novels as “A Boy’s Own Story” and “The Beautiful Room is Empty,” has died. He was 85.
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for June 4-10
| 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.
June 3, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The mayor reacts as state lawmakers fail to fund public transit. And the latest on COVID-19 vaccine guidelines.
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