Stories by Patty Wetli

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus — representing 275 local governments in the Chicago metro area — has kicked off a joint recycling education campaign across six counties.

Chicago is suing the Trump administration over “unlawful conditions” placed on federal grants that would force the city to abandon diversity, equity and inclusion efforts or risk losing that funding.

In all, CPD’s budget is set to swell to $2.1 billion, increasing by $37.9 million to cover the cost of salary increases required by agreements with unions representing members.

The gatherings are part of a mass mobilization across the U.S. and globe positioned as a denouncement of President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. In Chicago, they come amid sustained immigration raids.

The mobile film closet offered thousands of movies released by the film distributor Criterion Collection and whose catalog — with a focus on restorations, special features and physical releases — has gained a cult following among movie lovers.

The mayor’s budget proposal takes aim at wealthy Chicagoans and big businesses. And a federal judge slams immigration agents for apparently defying court orders.

A pair of newly identified comets are jointly appearing in the October sky, and it’s possible to see both — if you know where to look and when.

The Trump administration told the Supreme Court that it wanted to deploy 300 members of the Illinois National Guard and 400 members of the Texas National Guard.

As part of Filipino American History Month in October, the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago is unveiling a new exhibit, “Chicago in Quotas and Communities,” at its museum space in Mana Contemporary.

Chicago’s top federal judge announced plans to halt pay and some operations as the court system continues “feeling the pain” of the ongoing government shutdown.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement official Russell Hott is exiting his post in Chicago and returning to Washington, a day after a federal judge in Illinois demanded he appear in court to answer questions about his agency’s continued use of tear gas in and around the city.

The semi-annual Reuse-a-Palooza at The Plant is happening Sunday, a one-stop shop for recycling, repairing and repurposing items that would otherwise go to waste.

On Saturday, thousands of Illinois residents will take to the streets as part of the “No Kings” protests happening nationwide. Here are the details.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s spending plan taxes the rich and avoids layoffs. And what’s in the new budget proposal for Cook County.

By contrast, Krishnamoorthi’s two main rivals in the Democratic primary, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Matteson, have yet to spend a dime on television advertising.

“The Gales of November” takes a look back at the SS Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years after its sinking. The 729-foot Great Lakes freighter sank in Lake Superior during a strong storm, killing all 29 crew members.

Cook County is putting forth a $10.1 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The plan includes no new taxes or fees, but officials warn of tough waters in the years ahead as potential federal funding cuts threaten to hit the county’s bottom line.

“Our founders understood that freedom cannot thrive under the shadow of military control,” retired Maj. Gen. Randy Manner said. “Civilian police accountable to local leaders and bound by civil law are the right tools for maintaining order, not troops and tanks.”

ICE agents arrested a police officer Thursday morning in suburban Hanover Park, accusing him of being an unlawful immigrant from Montenegro.

The Beautiful Lives Project works to empower those with disabilities through sports and arts programming across the country.

A three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s request to allow the president to immediately deploy National Guard troops into Chicago.

Illinois’ Republican primary for governor is growing expensive as the party's 2022 nominee works to rebuild his campaign fund while another candidate receives support from one of the state’s wealthiest Republican donors.

The City Council also agreed to pay $8 million to the family of Leonardo Guerrero, who died after being strapped to a stretcher by Chicago Fire Department paramedics.

In response, Judge Sar Ellis announced Thursday she will require all federal agents with body cameras to have them on during encounters with immigration protesters.

The summaries offer a glimpse into the billionaire governor’s finances, although the campaign did not disclose the total income of trusts benefiting his family. Pritzker does not take a salary from the state and placed his assets in a “blind” trust when he became governor.

“The line to draw here is that we either are going to protect working people in Chicago from Trump’s cuts, or we are going to open up the floodgates and allow these individuals to be hurt and harmed further,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.