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Which Republicans Are Seeking Statewide Office in Illinois in 2026? So Far, Hardly Any

With U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and others not seeking reelection in 2026, robust fields are growing in the Democratic primaries for the open seats. But on the Republican side, it’s a ghost town in primary races for statewide offices so far.

On the Front Lines in Eastern Ukraine, Peace Feels Far Away

Recent suggestions by U.S. President Donald Trump that there will be some “swapping of territories” — and media reports that it would involve Ukrainian troops leaving the Donetsk region where they have fought for years defending every inch of land — have stirred confusion and rejection among the soldiers.

AOL Will Stop Offering Dial-Up Internet Service Next Month After More Than 30 Years

The company that brought the internet to the masses in the 1990s and early 2000s recently posted a notice on its website saying that it “routinely evaluates its products and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet” on Sept. 30, ending more than three decades of operations.

Donald Trump Says He’s Placing Washington Police Under Federal Control, Deploying the National Guard

President Donald Trump said Monday that he’s deploying the National Guard across Washington and taking over the city’s police department in the hopes of reducing crime, even as the city’s mayor has noted that crime is falling in the nation’s capital.

Week in Review: Texas Democrats Take Refuge in Illinois; DHS Secretary Noem Returns to Slam Sanctuary Cities

Texas Democrats hightail it to Illinois to stymie a redistricting effort. And Chicago Public Schools grapples with its fiscal crisis as a budget deadline approaches.

Want to Represent the 27th Ward on the Chicago City Council? Here’s How to Apply

Walter Burnett, who represented parts of the West Side and the West Loop for 30 years on the Chicago City Council, retired July 31.

James Lovell, Apollo 13 Moon Mission Leader Who Settled in Chicago Suburbs, Dies at 97

James Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly can-do engineering, has died. He was 97. Lovell died Thursday in Lake Forest.

Chicago Bungalow Garden Contest Winners Work Wonders in Small Spaces — From a Backyard Oasis to a Pollinator Haven

Chicago’s bungalows may be modest in size, but that doesn’t keep their owners from having grand ambitions when it comes to gardening.

Illinois Newsrooms Receive $4M From State Through Tax Credits

Most of the funding went to organizations outside the Chicago metro area. Nonprofit outlets received 30% of the money. The vast majority of news organizations in Illinois are for-profit.

College Endowment Tax is Leading to Hiring Freezes and Could Mean Cuts in Financial Aid

President Donald Trump signed the tax increase into law last month as part of his signature spending bill.

Trump Seeks to Change How Census Collects Data and Wants to Exclude Immigrants in US Illegally

Any changes in the conduct of a national census, which is the biggest non-military undertaking by the federal government, would require alterations to the Census Act and approval from Congress, which has oversight responsibilities, and there likely would be a fierce fight.

Homeland Security Head Noem Criticizes Pritzker, Johnson in Illinois Visit While Local Officials Brand Her a ‘Liar’

Kristi Noem, whose office oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), visited suburban Lombard on Friday to criticize Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom he claimed have “worked so hard to protect these dangerous criminals” through their refusal to cooperate with ICE officials.

Chicago Park District Will Stagger Pool Closings as Summer Heat Lingers, But Lifeguards Are Heading Back to School

The district's goal is to continue to provide Chicagoans with cooling options to the extent possible, even as many of its lifeguards head back to school.

Appeals Court Rules Serious CPD Discipline Hearings Must Take Place in Public

The ruling, which is likely to be appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, endorses the effort backed by the city’s largest police union to upend the system used for 60 years to punish officers.

Abrupt Closure of Illinois-Based Newspaper Chain Leaves Dozens of Communities Without a News Source

News Media Corp., which owns local newspapers across five states, said it will close 14 operations in Wyoming, seven in Illinois, five in Arizona, four in South Dakota and one in Nebraska.

Aug. 7, 2025 - Full Show

A wide-ranging one-on-one with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. And Illinois wildlife just got more interesting — we explain.

Sen. Dick Durbin on Texas Democrats, the War in Gaza and His Upcoming Retirement

Longtime lawmaker Dick Durbin announced plans to retire after five terms in the U.S. Senate. He joined “Chicago Tonight” for a wide-ranging interview.

Chicago River Swim Announced for September, and This Time Organizers Have the City’s Approval

The event will mark the first open water swim in the Chicago River in nearly 100 years, according to organizers.

US Air Force to Deny Retirement Pay to Transgender Service Members Being Separated From the Service

All transgender members of the Air Force are being separated from the service under the Trump administration’s policies.

This Weekend’s Rusty Rodeo Is All About Wrangling the Invasive Rusty Crayfish

On Saturday, people of all ages are invited to join the rodeo in Kane County and wrangle the rusty crayfish, an invasive species that's infiltrated local waterways.

Pritzker: FBI Can’t Arrest Texas Lawmakers Sheltering in Illinois

Pritzker’s comments came amid escalating tensions over the Texas redistricting drama. Earlier in the day, according to the New York Times, Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, of Texas, said the FBI had agreed to his request to help locate the absent Texas lawmakers.

Chicago Man Accused of Killing 2 Israeli Embassy Staffers in DC Now Facing Hate Crime Charges

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Elias Rodriguez, 31, with several new counts including murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill more than two months after he allegedly killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum.

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Aug. 6, 2025 - Full Show

Democrats push back against Texas redistricting — despite a potential bomb threat. And an economic boost for a Far South Side community.

Pullman Community Sees $1.5B Economic Boost From Decade of Investment

A $693 million investment into the Pullman neighborhood has generated a $1.5 billion economic impact, according to a newly released study commissioned by the nonprofit real estate developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI).

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Elects First Black Presiding Bishop, a Chicago Native

Bishop Yehiel Curry will start his new role in October. “In many ways, this is an example of the church saying, ‘We see you,’” Curry said.

CPD Data Shows Steep Drop in Shootings, Homicides in Neighborhoods Where ShotSpotter Was Removed: Analysis

Police beats that had ShotSpotter sensors saw an approximately 17.8% decrease in violent crime and a 37.5% decrease in homicides during the first six months of 2025, as compared with the first six months of 2024, according to the analysis of Chicago crime data by Rob Vargas, a sociology professor at the University of Chicago.

 

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