Stories by Associated Press

For the next 30 days, Muslims will refrain from eating or drinking anything — even the tiniest sip of water — from sunrise to sunset. Many will more strictly observe prayers, donate to charity and devote more time to reading the Quran as they seek to draw closer to God.

From Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, there appears to be little rush to join the field of official presidential candidates. The reluctance reflects the unsettled nature of U.S. politics.

Will Trump be indicted this week? We assess all of the ongoing criminal cases. Vallas and Johnson duke it out in their latest debate. And a proposal to protect undocumented workers from retaliation.

Every year on Match Day, medical students across the U.S. anxiously open envelopes to learn the name of the institution where they will start the next chapter of their careers. 

The law would protect employees from immigration-related threats when reporting labor violations like wage theft, discrimination and unsafe working conditions. It would also give the attorney general the power to investigate and fine employers who make immigration-status threats against workers.

The race for Chicago mayor continues to focus nearly entirely on the crime and violence that both candidates agree threaten the city’s economic vitality. They offered wildly different solutions to the seemingly intractable problem.

Former President Donald Trump’s prediction that he would be arrested Tuesday didn’t bear out, but he still faces the prospect of indictment. That’s now in the hands of a New York grand jury.

It will be up to the next mayor to decide how to respond to Chicagoans’ growing frustration with these mega-events.

The fungus, Candida auris, is a form of yeast that is usually not harmful to healthy people but can be a deadly risk to fragile hospital and nursing home patients.

The annual four-day music festival will take place in Grant Park Aug. 3-6.

Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, led Chicago’s effort to fight the deadly virus. On this third anniversary of the pandemic, Arwady reflects on lessons learned and whether she would have done anything differently. 

Paint containing lead has been outlawed in Chicago since 1978, but a WTTW News investigation has found the vast majority of Chicago’s housing stock still contains potentially toxic levels of the substance.

Local officials in the south suburbs are renewing efforts to get a regional airport to take flight. The idea for a third Chicago area airport has been floated for decades, and not lightly — Illinois has spent close to $100 million to buy land

Lead paint was outlawed 45 years ago. Why is it still the city’s No. 1 lead poisoning danger? Dr. Arwady on the three-year anniversary of COVID. And a city franchise agreement with ComEd is practically DOA.

Law enforcement officials are bracing for protests and the possibility of violence after Donald Trump called on his supporters to protest ahead of a possible indictment in New York.

Humanity still has a chance, close to the last, to prevent the worst of climate change’s future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists said Monday.

Spring is always an iffy proposition in Chicago, but it officially begins Monday. 

According to Chicago Police Department data, 18 people were shot in 14 separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

If the ComEd deal faced an uphill climb before Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s defeat, its prospects declined precipitously afterward, handing her what is likely to be one last defeat and all but ensuring that it will be up to Chicago’s next mayor to negotiate a new deal with ComEd.

Fueled by changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of votes cast by mail soared by nearly 20% in the 2023 election as compared to the 2019 election, according to data from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

When it comes to philanthropy, it’s usually universities, museums and hospitals that get major donations. But there’s a Chicago organization shaking up that paradigm.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed Smart Start program would allow an additional 5,000 kids to go to preschool next year, eventually adding a total of 20,000 slots. The plan would also add money to increase wages for early education providers.

The colors and flavors of Latino cuisine can be found all over Chicago now, but it hasn’t always been considered worthy of fine dining. Chef Mark Mendez of Libertad said Latino cuisine deserves a spot among the world’s great culinary traditions.

If you like a little salsa with your fish, Ritmo del Mar at the Shedd Aquarium might be the event for you. The adults-only evening will combine Latino music and cuisine with the aquatic life and cityscapes of the Shedd.

The state’s littlest learners might be getting more funding. Helping charitable donations reach overlooked organizations. And arts reporter Angel Idowu is getting inked!

More paid leave is coming to Illinois workers. Why the state leads the country in student debt relief applications. And a hot take on the seriousness of Latin cuisine.