Stories by WTTW News

Will a new report lead to accountability for immigration agents? And funding security for some federal workers as a record government shutdown is set to end.

Peabody and Emmy Award-winning producer Rita Coburn is offering a fresh way to look back on the legacy of civil rights pioneer and sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois.

Federal immigration agents engaged in unconstitutional uses of force including “extreme physical force" while White House officials routinely lied to conceal the motivations behind “Operation Midway Blitz,” an Illinois panel has found.

The funeral details for Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew, who was killed in a hospital shooting Saturday, have been released.

President Donald Trump swiftly signed bipartisan legislation Thursday funding much of the Department of Homeland Security, but not its immigration enforcement operations.

On Friday, thousands of Chicagoans are expected to participate in a May Day rally and march, starting at Union Park and ending at Daley Plaza in downtown. Other related actions are scheduled in different parts of the city in the morning ahead of the march.

Deborah Witzburg served a single four-year term as inspector general and declined to ask Mayor Brandon Johnson for reappointment following frequent clashes with the mayor.

A Cook County judge on Thursday ordered Alphanso Talley, 26, be detained in jail pending trial on a litany of felony charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, robbery and kidnapping.

The rapid growth of prediction markets has sparked a high-stakes debate that is playing out in courts and legislatures all over the country.

“Comedy gives you a unique avenue into all manner of news stories,” Jordan LaFlure said. “It’s a way to break down a complex issue and get to the core of the matter. … Comedy may be the best tool to hold people accountable.”

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

The war in Iran reaches a key benchmark. And The Onion moves closer to acquiring Infowars.

Four weeks into the ceasefire that has largely halted fighting in Iran, the U.S. and Iran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas passes in peacetime.

Federal prosecutors have dismissed felony conspiracy charges against the remaining members of the “Broadview Six,” and instead intend to proceed to trial on lesser misdemeanor counts in the politically-charged case.

In a 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority found that the district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, relied too heavily on race.

The hearing before the House Armed Services Committee was focused on the administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.

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

In all, Chicago taxpayers spent $285.8 million on overtime for members of the Chicago Police Department during 2025, 5.6% less than the previous year, according to the data.

The clock is ticking on Springfield’s spring session — hear from lawmakers on their priorities. And more than 100 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, a team tries to bring justice to the survivors.

It’s been nearly 105 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre claimed the lives of hundreds of Black Tulsans. Over the course of two days in 1921, a mob of White people terrorized and burned down a thriving Black community known colloquially as Black Wall Street.

Multiple representatives from different tribes spoke about the importance of gathering and speaking with elected leaders to remind them about Native issues.

With the spring legislative session coming to a close at the end of May, the clock is ticking to approve a budget. Meanwhile, affordability is front of mind for many, as bills on megaprojects and zoning reform make their way through the General Assembly.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on Tuesday in an investigation over a social media photo of seashells arranged on a beach that officials said constituted a threat against President Donald Trump.

An Illinois commission created to document alleged abuses committed by federal immigration agents has determined a Border Patrol agent had no justification when he shot Marimar Martinez in Brighton Park last year.

At least 34 people in 13 states — including Illinois — have been sickened with salmonella poisoning traced to contact with backyard poultry, federal health officials said. Backyard poultry include birds like chicken, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys.

Water supplies vary across the state because different regions rely on different sources, and some water is easier to access than in other regions.