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Federal Judge Upholds Chicago, Cook County and Illinois Protections for Undocumented Immigrants, Tosses Trump Lawsuit
| Heather Cherone
Forcing Chicago and Illinois law enforcement officials to help federal agents conduct deportation operations is unconstitutional, U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins ruled.
Trump’s AI Plan Calls for Massive Data Centers. Here’s How It May Affect Energy in the US
| Associated Press
The plan says to combat “radical climate dogma,” a number of restrictions — including clean air and water laws — could be lifted, aligning with Trump’s “American energy dominance” agenda and his efforts to undercut clean energy.
Deportation Flights From Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center Have Begun, DeSantis Says
| Associated Press
Critics have condemned the South Florida facility as cruel and inhumane. DeSantis and other Republican officials have defended it as part of the state’s aggressive push to support President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson Among 5 First-Time NFL Head Coaches This Season
| Associated Press
All five are long-time assistants who now each face distinct challenges and must balance the responsibilities of managing an entire roster and staff instead of focusing on one particular side of the football.
July 24, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Consumer advocates push back over rising home insurance rates — what you should know. And is the city doing enough to protect birds from colliding into buildings?
How a Gen Z Publishing Company Is Creating Space for Diverse Voices
| Abena Bediako
After writing his first novel at the age of 16, Aiden Branss started his own publishing company focused on young authors.
State Farm’s Insurance Rate Increase Sparks Backlash From Advocates, Lawmakers
| Bridgette Adu-Wadier
Illinois homeowners could soon face a higher insurance bill. State Farm is raising its rates by 27% starting Aug. 15 — which could cost customers $475 more on average.
Mayor Brandon Johnson Says He Won’t Propose Property Tax Hike to Help Fill Projected $1.2B Deficit
| Heather Cherone
“I will not be proposing a property tax increase in my budget,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said Thursday. “I’m going to continue to work hard to find progressive revenue so that we can continue to make critical investments in transforming our city.”
How a Chicago Artist Turned Jail Bars Into an Instrument
| Blair Paddock
As the nearly 100-year-old Cook County Jail dormitories were demolished in 2021, artist Maria Gaspar was able to salvage 18 cell bars and a couple of bricks.
Uncommon Impressionism: The Worldly Artwork of Gustave Caillebotte at the Art Institute
| Marc Vitali
The artist’s large canvas “Paris Street; Rainy Day” is a true icon in the Art Institute collection, and it’s one of the centerpieces of a show titled “Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World.” The exhibition features more than 120 works that capture people and places in and around 19th century Paris.
At 1st City Council Hearing on Consent Decree in 15 Months, No Sign of Urgency Around Reform Push
| Heather Cherone
None of the alderpeople at the sparsely attended committee hearing pressed CPD officials about why the department had fully complied with just 16% of the court order known as the consent decree by the end of 2024, five years after it took effect.
WTTW News Explains: What Are Chicago’s Alcohol Laws?
| Nick Blumberg
We’ve got a lot of rules on the books governing when and where we can enjoy an adult beverage. WTTW News explains.
Inspector General Launches New Dashboard to Track CPD Overtime Spending Amid Budget Crisis
| Heather Cherone
The new database launched after WTTW News reported the city spent $510.9 million on employee overtime in 2024 — 1.5% less than in 2023, with more than half of the total amount used to compensate Chicago Police Department officers for working extra hours.
Madigan Ally, Confidant Michael McClain Gets 2 Years in Prison Following ComEd Bribery Conspiracy
| Matt Masterson
Michael McClain and three codefendants — former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former contract lobbyist Jay Doherty — were each convicted of bribery conspiracy and willfully falsifying the utility company’s books in the 2023 “ComEd Four” trial.
US Fertility Rate Reached a New Low in 2024, CDC Data Shows
| Associated Press
The U.S. was once among only a few developed countries with a rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace itself — about 2.1 kids per woman. But it has been sliding in America for close to two decades as more women are waiting longer to have children or never taking that step at all.
Donald Trump’s Onetime Friendship With Jeffrey Epstein Is Well-Known — and Well-Documented in Records
| Associated Press
The president’s association with Epstein is well-established and his name was included in records that his own Justice Department released back in February as part of an effort to satisfy public interest in information from the sex-trafficking investigation.
Top Prosecutor Calls Program Allowing CPD Officers to Directly File Felony Gun Charges ‘Overwhelming Success.’ Critics Renew Objections
| Heather Cherone
Seventy-nine of the 92 cases brought as part of the pilot program have resulted in an indictment by a grand jury or a finding of probable cause by a judge, allowing a trial to proceed, according to data provided to WTTW News from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Recommendations From Task Force Charged With Ridding CPD of Extremist Groups Coming in ‘Due Time,’ Johnson Says
| Heather Cherone
“There are some recommendations that are coming through,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “In due time, we’re going to release some of those recommendations.”
Hulk Hogan, Professional Wrestling Icon, Dies at Age 71
| Associated Press
Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and WWE said Thursday.
Documentary Explores Historic Struggles, Lasting Impact of Black Librarians in America
| Shelby Hawkins
“Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Librarians” connects the history of public libraries, civil rights and literacy to the current political attacks on the public library system.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, July 23, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Former Sen. Carol Mosely Braun on her life and career. And remembering actor and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Talks ‘Cosby Show,’ Local Connections in 2006 ‘Chicago Tonight’ Interview
| WTTW News
Actor and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner died this week in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica. Warner became everyone’s brother playing Theo Huxtable in the long-running television hit “The Cosby Show.”
Carol Moseley Braun Reflects on Life, Historic Political Career in New Memoir
| Bridgette Adu-Wadier
Carol Moseley Braun is making waves in the push for more diverse leaders in politics. In 1993, she became the country’s first Black woman senator — shuttling her into the national and cultural spotlight.
Is a Bird-Friendly Building Ordinance Back on the Table? City Council Hearing Reignites Debate
| Patty Wetli
A Chicago City Council subject matter hearing reignited calls for an ordinance mandating bird-friendly building design requirements. “We know how to solve this, and for some reason we just haven’t,” said one speaker.
From a 100-Foot Piece of Art to a New Billie Jean King Play, Here’s 6 Chicago Weekend Event Picks
| Marc Vitali
Here’s a soulful and sometimes silly six-pack of the artistic and the fantastic — our shortlist of Chicago shows to kick-start your heart and make your brain buzz.
Downtown Street Fest ‘Sundays on State’ Returns in the Fall, Vendor and Performance Lineup Announced
| Eunice Alpasan
The popular downtown event will return Sept. 7 and Oct. 5, closing vehicular traffic on State Street from Randolph Street to Jackson Boulevard. The event — now in its fifth year — features performances, food, drinks, shopping and local attractions.
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