Stories by Eunice Alpasan
Millions of Travelers Expected to Pass Through Chicago Airports, Roads During Extended Labor Day Weekend
| Eunice Alpasan
The busiest day for O’Hare and Midway airports is expected to be Friday, with O’Hare seeing nearly 285,000 passengers and Midway seeing nearly 58,000 passengers, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation
Trump Administration Plans Big Immigration Enforcement Operation in Chicago as Soon as Next Week
| CNN
President Donald Trump and his aides have repeatedly slammed Chicago over policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement.
CPD Will Be Ready if Trump Sends National Guard, ICE Strike Team to Chicago: Top Cop
| Heather Cherone
If Trump federalizes the National Guard or sends additional ICE agents to Chicago, all Chicago Police officers will be required to wear their uniforms and will not be dispatched to immigration enforcement operations, Supt. Larry Snelling said Thursday.
National Guard Deployment in DC Costing Roughly $1M a Day, Estimates Say
| CNN
The ongoing National Guard mission in Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in the city, is costing roughly $1 million a day, experts estimated to CNN.
Chicago Native Taylor Townsend Gets Into a Tense Back-and-Forth With Opponent After US Open Match
| Associated Press
Townsend, an American who is ranked No. 1 in doubles, said Ostapenko, a Latvian, who won the 2017 French Open, told her she has “no class” and “no education.”
National Guard Not Needed in Chicago, Pritzker Says During Tour of City to Counter Trump’s Crime Claims
| Associated Press
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is doubling down on his message to President Donald Trump that the nation’s third-largest city doesn’t need or want military intervention to fight crime.
From an Exhibit Celebrating a World’s Fair to Jazz Fest, Here Are 7 Arts Picks for This Week
| Marc Vitali
From the semi-obvious to the semi-obscure, a roundup of Chicago-area arts recommendations awaits.
Shooting at Minneapolis Catholic School Kills 2 Children, Injures 17 People
| Associated Press
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Aug. 27, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
How local officials plan to push back if the National Guard is deployed here. And the head of Chicago Public Schools on a crucial budget vote.
Austin Community Hub Creating New Opportunities for West Side Residents
| Joanna Hernandez
In 2013, Emmet Elementary School was one of 50 schools closed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools. The Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together collaborated to redevelop the vacant building.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on the National Guard, Cash Bail and Civil Commitments
| Shelby Hawkins
President Donald Trump has threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago to address crime, calling the city “a killing field” despite violent crime being on a downward trend.
Interim CPS CEO Macquline King on Budget Proposal, Borrowing and City Pensions
| Bridgette Adu-Wadier
CPS officials have laid out a plan that aims to fill a $734 million budget gap. But there’s still debate over whether a loan should be a part of the final plan — and whether the district should take on a $175 million pension payment.
Chicago Launches Narcan Newsstands in Uptown to Distribute Opioid Overdose Reversal Medication
| Eunice Alpasan
The Narcan newsstands, which were officially launched during a harm reduction event Wednesday, will be at four locations in Uptown.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Kidnapping Charge After 2022 Postal Worker Attack
| Matt Masterson
Cesar Ramirez, 47, received his sentence this week after he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated kidnapping stemming from the October 2022 incident. He was initially charged with numerous felonies that also included attempted aggravated sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual abuse and aggravated battery.
Chicago’s Mushroom Club on Mission to Spread the Wonders of Fungi
| Patty Wetli
Locally foraged fungi — in all their fascinating, weird and beautiful-ugly forms — will take center stage Sunday at the Illinois Mycological Association’s annual mushroom show.
Pritzker: No Word From Trump on Reported Use of Suburban Naval Base to House Immigration Agents, National Guard
| Matt Masterson
Gov. JB Pritzker said he’s received no word from the Trump administration following reports it intends to use the Naval Station Great Lakes outside Chicago to house federal immigration agents or National Guard troops.
FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Shots but Limits Access for Some Kids and Adults
| Associated Press
The new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are approved for all seniors. But the Food and Drug Administration narrowed their use for younger adults and children to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma or obesity.
Chicago Paid $100K to 14-Year-Old Boy Pinned to Park Ridge Sidewalk by Off-Duty CPD Sergeant: Records
| Heather Cherone
Had the settlement been even one dollar more, it would have required Chicago City Council approval under city rules. Instead, it was authorized by Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson Lowry.
Former Chicago Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler Pleads Guilty to DUI, Sentenced to 4 Days in Jail
| CNN
Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler was sentenced to four days in jail as part of a plea deal on Tuesday, after being charged with driving under the influence and possession of a firearm in 2024.
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Aug. 27-Sept. 2
| 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.
Aug. 26, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Clock’s ticking for the Chicago Board of Education to balance the budget. And we sit down with Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy to discuss his new memoir, “Fireproof.”
Chef Curtis Duffy Tracks Tragedy, Success in New Memoir: ‘It Was Very Therapeutic’
| Abena Bediako
Decorated chef Curtis Duffy has made his mark on Chicago’s food scene over the past 25 years. His new book outlines his rise to success and dives deep into challenging and traumatic events he faced throughout his childhood.
CPS Board to Vote on School Budget Thursday, But Questions Remain About Filling $734M Shortfall
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools is set to finalize its fiscal year 2026 budget this week, but questions remain about how the cash-strapped school district intends to plug a $734 million shortfall.
Alt-Weekly Chicago Reader Acquired By Seattle-Based Media Company, Months After Being on Brink of Closure
| Eunice Alpasan
The Reader announced it would be introducing Noisy Creek’s event discovery platform, EverOut, as well as entertainment ticketing service Bold Type Tickets to Chicago as a way to help diversify revenue sources, with goals to launch those services early next year.
Study Says AI Chatbots Need to Fix Suicide Response, as Family Sues Over ChatGPT Role in Boy’s Death
| Associated Press
A study of how three popular AI chatbots respond to queries about suicide found they generally avoid answering questions that pose the highest risk to the user, such as for specific how-to guidance. But they are inconsistent in their replies to less extreme prompts that could still harm people.
Chicago Grocery Mart Owner Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison For Defrauding Millions in SNAP Benefits
| Matt Masterson
A federal judge in Chicago sentenced Yousef Abu Alhawa to 42 months in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and tax charges.
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