Stories by Josh Terry
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for July 8-14
| Josh Terry
Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
July 7, 2026 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Concerns over the city’s budget as the mayor says some revenue sources haven’t materialized. And reports of immigration enforcement are surging around the country — what’s happening in Chicago?
With ICE Arrests Surging, Chicago Community Groups Build on Past Networks
| Andrew Montequin
Reports of immigration-related arrests around the country surged at the end of June, including 10,000 arrests over a five-day period.
Chicago’s New Air Pollution Monitors Face Summer Heat as Researchers Work to Inform, Protect Communities
| Jessica Watts
Last fall, the Chicago Department of Public Health and the University of Illinois Chicago joined forces to install 277 air quality monitors around the city, the largest system of its kind in the United States.
Chicago Is $130M Short After Revenue Backed by City Council Fails to Materialize, Johnson Says
| Heather Cherone
“I want to say this clearly,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “There were other options. We did not need to cede to big money interests and fall back on the tired practice of balancing budgets on the backs of working people.”
Chicago Is Building a Pair of Underground Reservoirs to Ease West Side Flooding
| Patty Wetli
Mini underground reservoirs are Chicago’s latest solution to its flooding problem. But there’s no one silver bullet, officials said.
Push to Rename Northerly Island for Pope Leo Fails to Take Off
| Heather Cherone
Chicago Park District rules prohibit parks from being renamed for anyone who has not yet been dead a year. The rules also prohibit parks from being named for anyone endorsing “a specific religious affiliation.”
George E. Johnson, Black Hair Care Pioneer and Chicago Businessman Who Created Afro Sheen, Dies at 99
| Eunice Alpasan
Johnson Products Company became the first Black-owned business listed on the American Stock Exchange in 1971 and was a national sponsor of the hit television show “Soul Train.”
Chicago City Council Committee Calls on U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to Resign
| Heather Cherone
The City Council’s Ethics and Government Oversight Committee’s endorsement sends the nonbinding resolution calling for the resignation of the top federal prosector in Chicago to the full City Council for a final vote on July 15.
Ban on City Employees From Using Private Info in Prediction Markets Advances
| Heather Cherone
The City Council’s Ethics and Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously to advance a measure that would amend the city’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance to ban employees from using insider information to bet on prediction markets.
Cardiologist, VA Whistleblower Lisa Nee Announces Run for Chicago Mayor
| Eunice Alpasan
Nee began her career as a nurse, and later became an interventional cardiologist, treating complex and high-risk heart conditions, according to a biography. While working at Hines VA Hospital, Nee spoke out about failures in patient care that put veterans at risk.
Chicago Police Department Overspent Its 2025 Budget by $162.5M: City Analysis
| Heather Cherone
The Chicago Police Department has overspent its budget five years in a row, according to Chicago’s annual financial reports.
Bipartisan Housing Bill Still Awaits Trump’s Signature. Here’s What the Bill Would Do
| Shelby Hawkins
President Donald Trump has so far declined to sign the measure, calling it a “big yawn.” The housing bill will automatically become law on July 10 unless the president decides to veto it.
July 6, 2026 - Full Show
| WTTW News
What’s in the bipartisan housing bill that’s sitting on the president’s desk. And remembering a legendary Black entrepreneur.
Pritzker Signs Landmark AI Regulation Bill That Aims to Mitigate Risks
| Maggie Dougherty — Capitol News Illinois
The legislation is based on similar bills from California and New York. Lawmakers estimate that the three states account for roughly 40% of the U.S. AI market, thus effectively establishing a de facto national standard in lieu of federal regulations.
Chicago’s Pension Debt Increased in 2025 to $36.4B: City Analysis
| Heather Cherone
Chicago’s pension debt has grown by nearly 11% since 2020, adding approximately $3.5 billion to the city’s debt, records show.
Deep Tunnel Reservoirs Nearly Full as Chicago Region Pounded With Rain Over Holiday Weekend
| Patty Wetli
Some areas reported 8 to 10 inches of rain in a 48-hour period.
2nd Piping Plover Chick Dies at Montrose, Monitors Report
| Patty Wetli
Chicago piping plover monitors are mourning the loss of a second chick in less than a week at Montrose Beach.
July 2, 2026 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Why some transit commuters are seeing more law enforcement on their ride. And one on one with Chicago’s aviation commissioner.
New Law Puts Cook County Sheriff’s Police on the ‘L.’ Here’s How It Works
| Brandis Friedman
Since March, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has placed teams of officers — 50 per day, working 12-hour shifts — on the Green and Red lines.
Transgender Chicagoans Find Services, Support at Brave Space Alliance: ‘You Get Community Here’
| Joanna Hernandez
For many transgender people, finding an affirming place where they can simply be themselves isn’t something they take for granted. As transgender identities continue to be the subject of political and legal debates across the country, organizations like Brave Space Alliance say the demand for their services remains constant.
Chicago Aviation Commissioner Looks Ahead as Airport Expansion Plans Take Off
| Andrew Montequin
Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports operate around the clock to keep people and goods moving around the globe. Managing it all, from the runways to the restaurants, is the city’s Department of Aviation.
New Illinois Regulations on Intoxicating Hemp Are ‘Long Overdue,’ Pritzker Says
| Ben Szalinski — Capitol News Illinois
A wide-ranging new state law on hemp and other cannabis regulations was “long overdue,” Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday at an event in Chicago to celebrate the new law he signed last month.
How John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’ Became the Soundtrack of the US Team’s World Cup Run
| Associated Press
It’s become one of the enduring scenes of the U.S. team during this World Cup: jubilant U.S. players joining tens of thousands of fans in singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Did the Milk Expire? California Moves Away From ‘Sell By’ Food Labels to Cut Food Waste
| Associated Press
Manufacturers selling food in California must now use two standardized labels — a “Best if Used By” label for peak quality and “Use By” label for product safety.
US Attorney Andrew Boutros Touts Scores of Arrests in Violence Disruption Operation Amid ‘Broadview Six’ Fallout
| Matt Masterson
Chicago’s U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros on Thursday announced the results of “Operation New Dawn,” a 60-day law enforcement enforcement initiative that included 11 federal agencies working together in a “cohesive, unified partnership” targeting dangerous criminals.
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