Stories by Paul Caine

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Monday leaves open the possibility that ICE agents can use ethnicity among other factors when making immigration sweeps. The ruling coincides with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s announcement of “Operation Midway Blitz,” which is expected to ramp up ICE’s presence in Chicago.

Bruce Dumont, the longtime television and radio correspondent, broadcaster and producer who helped create and lead WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight,” has passed away at the age of 81.

Tim Evans, who has served as Cook County’s chief judge for more than two decades, was defeated in his run for a ninth term and will be replaced later this year by Judge Charles Beach.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuits, which date back to 2017, spent nearly 200 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted based on what they allege was fabricated evidence gathered by Sgt. Ronald Watts, who was convicted in 2013 of taking bribes, and other officers.

On Thursday, America marked the 24th anniversary of the deadly attacks with solemn ceremonies in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The commemorations were punctuated by moments of silence, the tolling of bells and the reading of the names of the nearly 3,000 killed.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office urged U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer to order CPD officers to keep their cameras on “in the immediate aftermath of an officer-involved shooting or death” over the objections of CPD leaders and city lawyers.

Chicago arts are deeply rooted, part of the city’s DNA, and they aren’t as moveable as a football team. Here are this week’s cultural points of interest, taking you from the South Loop to the North Side to Arlington Heights.

Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday at an event at a Utah college. President Donald Trump announced his death in a social media post.

The latest on conservative activist and Chicago-area native Charlie Kirk, who was shot at an event in Utah. And how people who are homeless could be impacted if the National Guard is deployed in Chicago.

With the possibility of a National Guard deployment in Chicago, advocates for people experiencing homelessness are concerned about how a military presence might affect the vulnerable population. Washington, D.C., saw more than 50 encampment clearings since the National Guard arrived there.

Illinois Department of Public Health data shows Black and Hispanic people make up about 73% of HIV and AIDS cases diagnosed in the state since 2018. But U.S. Census data shows the state is only 14% Black and 18% Hispanic.

Goodman Theatre rings in 100 years with an anniversary season packed with nods to its hometown and an assist from a pair of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. WTTW News sat down with artistic director Susan Booth.

The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an event in Utah had particular resonance for public figures who have experienced political violence themselves.

How Charlie Kirk rose from a teenage conservative campus activist in the Chicago suburbs to a national political force in the conservative movement.

Chicago Public Schools’ Loop headquarters was placed under a temporary lockdown Wednesday morning following a reported shooting nearby.

In a launch video, Ald. Brendan Reilly touted his record as an independent member of the Chicago City Council and vowed to fight crime, build more housing and root out corruption.

A recent strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat is raising stark questions about just how far President Donald Trump intends to wield his power over the U.S. military without a robust check.

Movie theaters across the country are pulling out the stops for Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday in December. A new documentary about the song and dance man’s life, “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration,” will be in theaters over his birthday weekend in December.

Potbelly, which was founded in Chicago in 1977, has 445 restaurants across the U.S. The company said the deal with RaceTrac will help it reach its goal of quadrupling in size to 2,000 locations. Potbelly stores are both company- and franchise-owned.

Chicago Police Department officers pointed a gun at a person, on average, more than 11 times every day in 2024, according to an CPD annual report on officers’ use of force.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

New insight into how Chicagoans could react if National Guard troops are deployed here. And what federal changes to vaccine guidelines could mean for your health.

The latest COVID-19 vaccines were approved for people who are 65 and older or have certain health conditions. But medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics — and some states — are breaking from the federal guidelines by expanding their recommendations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s launch of “Operation Midway Blitz” this week is expected to ramp up the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Chicago.

The Evanston university on Tuesday announced that Bienen will begin serving as its interim president beginning Sept. 16.

The former state senator and farmer from Clay County would become the highest-profile Republican to enter the race, having lost the 2022 campaign against Gov. JB Pritzker and a close primary race in 2024 against U.S. Rep. Mike Bost for a downstate congressional seat.