Stories by Blair Paddock

With Federal Funding Ending, Child Care Advocates Warn of Looming Cliff

File photo of a child in a classroom. (WTTW News)

A report from the Century Foundation shows that without pandemic-era federal funding, thousands of providers would no longer be able to hire and pay staff, meaning rapid shutdowns in families with small children fending for themselves.

‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy in Marquette Park

(WTTW News)

Over 50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. marched through the park and hundreds gathered to fight for fair housing. How the community has changed since then.

Updating: Brutal Cold Grips Chicago, Temps Will Stay Below Zero

(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

The snow total from Thursday was a mere 1.3 inches at O'Hare (though northwest Indiana and lower Michigan have been hammered with lake effect), but the real danger of this system was always the wind and cold, meteorologists said.

‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Impact of Obama Center Construction on Woodlawn

The Obama Presidential Center has been the source of excitement and anxiety for residents in the South Side Woodlawn community, who are eager to benefit from the major development but are concerned about being priced out. The’re also raising concerns about the difficulty of getting around the massive construction site. 

One-on-One With Gov. Pritzker: Redistricting, Reopening and More

Gov. J.B. Pritzker appears on “Chicago Tonight” via Zoom on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (WTTW News)

One-on-one with Gov. J.B. Pritzker about the budget, redistricting, the state reopening and more.