Facebook icon Twitter icon Instagram icon YouTube icon

Stories by

From State Offices to Control of Congress, Illinois Voters Have Plenty of Decisions to Make Election Day

Illinois voters on Tuesday will decide races ranging from who will be the next governor and secretary of state, to whether the state will amend its constitution. We break down the races. 

Students at Jones College Prep Protest Following Halloween Costume Controversy

The calls come following their principal’s response to a student who wore a military uniform costume on Halloween that was widely interpreted to represent a Nazi soldier. 

Illinois Voters to Decide If Workers’ Rights Amendment Will Be Added to State Constitution

The so-called “Workers’ Rights Amendment” aims to codify in the state constitution the right to form a union and collectively bargain over a host of issues. It would effectively prohibit any future anti-union legislation, like right-to-work laws.

Chicago City Council Approves Lightfoot’s $16.4B Budget After Tense Debate

The budget takes effect Jan. 1, 2023, approximately two months before Mayor Lori Lightfoot is set to ask voters for a second term as Chicago mayor, does not include a property tax hike to keep up with the soaring rate of inflation, or any other tax or fee hikes.

Crain’s Headlines: Walgreens Backs Purchase of VillageMD

Walgreens backs a deal to purchase a medical center company. The owners of a landmark hotel on Michigan Avenue are hunting for a buyer — again. And a new report finds Chicago’s affordable housing problem isn’t as bad as some other cities.

Brookfield Zoo Marks 100 Years Since Groundbreaking With Eye Toward the Future

Brookfield Zoo is celebrating a big milestone. It was a century ago when construction on the grounds began.

‘Native Truths’ Offer Fresh Perspective at the Field Museum

The Field Museum renovated its Native North America Hall and drastically shifted its focus. The new approach emphasizes story-telling and contemporary art – as well as historical items from the collection. The exhibition space is called “Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories.”

Walgreens Push Into Comprehensive Care Picks up Momentum

Walgreens extended its push into more comprehensive health care with its VillageMD unit acquiring another urgent and primary care chain, Summit Health-CityMD, in a deal worth close to $9 billion.

What to Watch in the High-Stakes 2022 Midterm Elections

Republicans are predicting a massive red wave as anxious Democrats defend their narrow majorities in Congress while struggling to overcome pervasive concerns about the economy, crime and President Joe Biden’s leadership.

Lunar Eclipse on Election Day: Here's How, and When, To View the Sky Show in Chicago

Election Day 2022 will kick off with a pre-dawn total lunar eclipse. There won't be another like it until March 2025.

5 People Killed, Nearly 30 Others Wounded in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police

Those killed in separate shootings over the weekend included a 15-year-old boy shot in a drive-by shooting and a 30-year-old man killed outside a River North club.

With City Council Poised to Borrow $1.85B to Fund 2nd Phase of Infrastructure Plan, Results of 1st Phase Unclear

Representatives of the city’s Department of Transportation and the Budget Office declined to provide WTTW News with a full breakdown of spending during 2021 and 2022 under the banner of Chicago Works.

Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, Nov. 5, 2022 - Full Show

Election disinformation targeted at Latinos. Disparities in prostate cancer outcomes. And a local playwright pays tribute to the community that raised him.

Documentary ‘Southeast: A City Within A City’ Is a Love Letter to Chicago’s Southeast Side

Through interviews with his grandfather and others who lived through the neighborhood’s rise and fall, filmmaker Steven Walsh shows what he says is the forgotten story of the area in his documentary “Southeast: a City Within a City.”

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Nov. 5, 2022 - Full Show

A rise in anti-Black hate crimes in Chicago. In a follow-up to our Permanent Punishment series: the right to vote for people with criminal records. And art therapy for young people who’ve been incarcerated. 

Hate Crimes Against Black Chicagoans Up 50% This Year, City Agency Finds

Commissioner Nancy Andrade said during a budget committee hearing on Oct. 20 that Black people are one of the most frequently targeted groups for hate crimes. 

Art Program Helps Former, Currently Incarcerated Youth Create

Just Us is the program created by SkyART to create a safe space for youth ages 14 to 21 in the juvenile justice system. Instead of talk therapy, they’re utilizing art therapy.

Advocates Look to Combat Election Disinformation Campaigns Targeting Latinos

Latinos are the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the U.S. electorate since the last midterm elections. A total of 34.5 million Latinos are eligible to vote, making them a crucial demographic for politicians. Latinos are also increasingly the target for disinformation campaigns. 

Improving Prostate Cancer Outcomes for Latino Men Through Awareness

While issues like a lack of access to consistent health care as well as language and cultural barriers contribute to those numbers, modern prostate cancer care approaches have evolved to make screening and treatment more successful than ever.

Week in Review: Biden In Town Ahead of Midterms

Major national figures are in town as local midterm races go down to the wire. Mayor Lightfoot is facing a budget revolt. The Bears pull off huge trades and hedge for the future while the White Sox name a new manager.

US Flu Season Off to Unusually Fast Start as Other Viruses Spread

Reports of flu are already high in 17 states, and the hospitalization rate hasn’t been this high this early since the 2009 swine flu pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, there have been an estimated 730 flu deaths, including at least two children.

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Nov. 4 - 6

Hot cocoa runs, Black, LGBTQ+ and Native American film festivals and more fun surprises usher in the weekend. Here are 5 things to do in and around Chicago.

Chicago Officials Announce Election Safety Measures: ‘Everything’s Changed Since 2020’

The Chicago Police Department, Cook County State's Attorney's Office and Chicago Board of Elections are coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of voters and poll workers.

US Employers Are Hiring Briskly Even In Face of Rate Hikes

Friday’s report from the government showed that hiring was brisk across industries last month, though the overall gain declined from 315,000 in September. The unemployment rate rose from a five-decade low of 3.5% to a still-healthy 3.7%.

Powerball Jackpot Up to $1.6 Billion, New Lottery Record

A drawing will be held Saturday night for the Powerball prize, which hasn’t been won in more than three months. That string of 39 consecutive drawings without a winner is a reflection of the tough odds of winning a jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million.

President Joe Biden Set to Plug Tech Bill in California, Campaign for Congressional Candidates in Illinois on Friday

President Biden will head to Chicago to participate in a political reception. He is heading to the Democratic stronghold amid signs that some House members representing suburban Chicago districts may be facing more competitive than expected reelection battles.
 

Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors