Stories by Heather Cherone

The festivities will take place along the Chicago Riverwalk at Wacker Drive from Wells Street to Lake Street, with a main stage located at Wacker and Franklin, officials said.

It is not the first time the state and federal government have been entangled in litigation relating to immigration policy.

The money is a small fraction of what the U.S. has contributed in the past but reflects what the administration believes is a generous amount that will maintain the United States’ status as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.

Supporters of the gunshot detection system said it helped officers save lives when shootings were not reported to emergency services. ShotSpotter was never used to dispatch paramedics.

We’re looking back at the stories that defined 2025 — from a massive immigration crackdown and congressional musical chairs to city budget battles and a hometown Holy Father.

Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966 and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations.

Nearly 300 new Illinois laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Chicago is once again hosting collection sites for real trees at 27 locations around the city, Jan. 3-17.

Revisiting some of our favorite conversations that we've had on "Chicago Tonight" this year.

The mayor lets the budget he objects to go into effect. And a Chicagoan wins CNN’s Hero of the Year Award.

Quilen Blackwell, whose nonprofit Southside Blooms transforms vacant lots on Chicago’s South Side into flower farms that employ at-risk young people, is the 2025 CNN Hero of the Year.

A Dec. 18 concert by the ever-superb Chicago Symphony Orchestra was a stunner, with Klaus Mäkelä in top form.

Leo said he had spoken “explicitly” with Gov. JB Pritzker and urged him to not sign the bill into law. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich did the same, Leo told reporters as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

The city budget, which will take effect Jan. 1, will double CPD’s overtime budget from $100 million to $200 million, the first increase since 2020, when the budget for police overtime went from $95 million to $100 million, records show.

The Illinois Supreme Court is set to weigh in next year on whether serious Chicago Police Department misconduct cases must be heard publicly.

The Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace are encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly and take advantage of the free late-night transit services to get around on New Year’s Eve.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its immigration crackdown.

Before testing positive for rabies, the dog was surrendered to a local rescue and euthanized after the dog had a “marked” change in behavior on Dec. 16, according to a news release.

From light shows to plays, sing-alongs and festive pop-ups, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. We’ve rounded up some of the season’s highlights in Chicago and the suburbs.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s decision not to veto the budget he called “morally bankrupt” immediately averts what could have been the city most severe fiscal crisis in more than 40 years.

According to the Chicago Police Department, a 44-year-old man was killed in a shooting just before 1:30 a.m. in the 100 block of North Wells.

Are Chicago police officers being held accountable for misconduct? And the years-long battle over police discipline makes its way to the Illinois Supreme Court.

The Justice Department’s release of thousands of documents and pictures related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein on Friday was highly anticipated and provided a glimpse into the life of the late sex offender and his associations with some of the richest and most powerful people in the world.

The announcement came shortly after a council of Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously inside a packed room at the state Capitol to allow for STAR bonds to be issued to cover up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and accompanying mixed-use district.

Illinois U.S. Reps. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Delia Ramirez, Jonathan Jackson and Danny Davis toured the controversial west suburban facility Monday, months after being denied access.

More than 550 personalized license plate requests were denied by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office this year after it deemed them inflammatory, profane, offensive or too difficult to read.