Stories by Patty Wetli

A new policy gives Park District commissioners final say over permits for so-called “mega festivals.” It received its first test Wednesday.

“The Cherry Orchard,” Anton Chekhov’s masterful play, is about change — social, historical, financial and emotional. And change is of the essence at the Goodman Theatre too, with this production marking the retirement of artistic director Robert Falls.

Leaders of both museums cited inflation and the higher cost of wages and benefits among the reasons for raising admission fees.

The agreement with New York, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Washington, D.C. marks the latest in a string of recent legal settlements Juul has reached across the country with cities and states.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy announced the designation Wednesday, the first time the office has used it since the category for fast-growing drug dangers was created in 2019.

The government said Wednesday that consumer prices rose just 0.1% from February to March, down from 0.4% from January to February and the smallest increase since December.

Walmart says it is cutting its losses in the Chicago market, announcing Tuesday it will close four of its eight stores in the city by April 16.

More on what sealed the deal for Chicago to host the 2024 DNC. The appellate court abortion pill ruling’s impact on Illinois. And we’re live from EXPO Chicago at Navy Pier.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Expo Chicago, the city’s biggest annual celebration of all that Chicago's art scene has to offer.

Mifepristone was approved for use by the FDA more than two decades ago. In a ruling Friday, a federal judge in Texas blocked the FDA’s approval of the drug. At virtually the same time, a judge in Washington state ordered the FDA not to do anything that might affect the drug’s availability.

Governors State University is the third public university in Illinois to go on strike this month. Union members are calling for a cost-of-living adjustment in their wages.

A former precinct chief and longtime ally of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan testified that for years he received checks from Commonwealth Edison representatives to do “little or no work” as part of an alleged scheme to corruptly influence Madigan.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg seeks to halt a House Judiciary Committee inquiry that the prosecutor contends is a “transparent campaign to intimidate and attack” him over his indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Top lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had for months been asking the Justice Department to provide access to the documents — or at least an assessment of what was in them — so that Congress could gauge the potential national security harm.

For the first time, you may have to pick up some or all of the costs of COVID-19 testing, depending on insurance coverage and whether the tests are done at home or in a doctor’s office.

Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, putting the city and its leaders at the center of the national political spotlight next summer. 

A look at law enforcement leaders: Chicago’s new FBI chief and the search for a new Chicago Police Department superintendent. How the NASCAR race will impact non-pro drivers’ daily routes.

Today marks 100 days on the job for Robert “Wes” Wheeler Jr,, Chicago’s new FBI chief. It's already been an eventful few months involving bribery, kidnapping and carjacking cases, and of course, there are ongoing corruption cases that the FBI’s had a hand in pursuing. 

It’s now the job of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to lead a search and to nominate three police superintendent candidates for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to consider.

Revolution Farms of Caledonia, Michigan, voluntarily recalled lettuce produced and sold under the brand Revolution Farms on April 5, 2023, due to the potential for listeria contamination.

While the Chicago State strike continues, faculty and staff at south suburban Governors State University are preparing to go on strike and instructors at Eastern Illinois University continue a work stoppage that began last week.

City and race officials on Monday detailed their traffic plans for the July 2 race, which will include a 12-turn, 2.2-mile track that will close off several streets around Grant Park from June 25 into mid-July.

 The Biden administration will propose strict new automobile pollution limits this week that would require at least 54% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2030 and as many as two of every three by 2032, according to industry and environmental officials briefed on the plan.

Donald Trump’s repetition of those words, which have been taken up by other top Republicans, show how he is trying to turn his historic position as the first former president charged with crimes to his advantage.

According to Chicago Police Department data, 20 people were shot in 17 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Victims included 15-year-old Demea Morris and 17-year-old Daniel Rios, who were each killed.

Louisiana State University women’s college basketball star Angel Reese has been in the center of conversations about double standards Black women face in sports, in light of the final moments of LSU’s national championship game against the University of Iowa.