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P. Scott Neville Selected as Next Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme Court

Neville, who has served on the high court for the past seven years, will take over for current Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis beginning in October. He’ll become the second Black chief justice in Illinois history.

Staff Shakeup at Fermilab and Argonne as Buyouts Follow Budgeted Funding Drop, Federal Research Shift

Employees at Fermilab in Batavia and Argonne in Lemont were recently offered voluntary separation packages. The move comes as the Department of Energy recommends funding for the local national labs be reduced by almost $240 million for the next fiscal year, and focuses on new research priorities.

Sept. 8, 2025 - Full Show

Local Congress members react to ICE’s latest move in Chicago. What to expect from the Bears this season. And the iconic Uptown Theatre turns 100.

Illinois Members of Congress on New ICE Activity, Violence Prevention and Public Safety

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is starting Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. The agency said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation is targeting “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago.”

James ‘Big Cat’ Williams on What’s in Store for the Chicago Bears and Their New Head Coach

The Chicago Bears enter a new era Monday in a highly anticipated matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears are playing with a few major changes this season. Namely, new leadership.

Long-Shuttered Uptown Theatre Marks Centennial With New Book, Renewed Momentum for Restoration

Chicago’s landmark Uptown Theatre opened its doors in August 1925 with much fanfare. Like a lot of 100-year-olds, the building’s got some aches and pains — but it’s also got a dedicated community hoping to see the long-vacant movie palace restored and brought back to life.

House Democrats Release Suggestive Letter to Jeffrey Epstein Purportedly Signed by Donald Trump, Which He Denies

The letter was included as part of a 2003 album compiled for alleged sex trafficker Epstein’s birthday. The president has denied having anything to do with it. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee received a copy of the birthday album on Monday as part of a batch of documents from Epstein’s estate.

Feds Tout New Immigration Operation in Illinois as Communities Await ICE Raids

Homeland Security officials on Monday said they intend to target “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois” in a new immigration operation after an Illinois woman was killed in a drunk driving crash allegedly involving an undocumented immigrant early this year.

Ahead of Possible Chicago Raids, Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on LA Immigration Stops Set After Agents Swept Up US Citizens

The conservative majority lifted a restraining order from a judge who found that “roving patrols” were conducting indiscriminate stops in and around LA. The order had barred immigration agents from stopping people solely based on their race, language, job or location.

6 Charged in Alleged Smash-and-Grab Burglary at Michigan Avenue Rolex Store

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office announced the charges against the six adults, who were arrested Friday after allegedly leading authorities on a chase from the store down Lake Shore Drive and the Dan Ryan Expressway before they ultimately crashed.

Republicans in Congress Are Eager for Donald Trump to Expand His Use of the Military on US Soil

President Donald Trump is swiftly implementing his vision of the military as an all-powerful tool for his policy goals. It’s ground that presidents have hardly ever crossed outside of times of war, and experts say it’s remaking the role of the most powerful military in the world and its relationship with the American public.

Potential ICE Raids, National Guard Intervention Poses Challenges for Chicago Police on the Ground

For the Chicago Police Department, the challenge is acute. The force must preserve public safety in a city already under strain while avoiding the appearance of working hand-in-hand with federal immigration authorities, a stance that could erode community trust and ignite new protests.

Cost to Settle, Defend Lawsuits Accusing CPD Officers of Misconduct During 2020 Unrest Tops $10.8M: Analysis

Chicago taxpayers paid $6.3 million to settle 54 lawsuits, according to a WTTW analysis of city records. An additional $4.5 million went to pay private lawyers to defend the conduct of CPD officers named in those lawsuits.

Chicago’s Mexican Independence Day Celebrations Shadowed by Donald Trump’s Threats

This year the typically joyful period coincides with Trump’s threats to add Chicago to the list of other Democratic-led cities he has targeted for expanded federal enforcement. His administration has said it will step up immigration enforcement in Chicago

Chicago Police Officer Shoots, Kills Person in Car That Intentionally Struck CPD Vehicles, CPD Says

Chicago police officers have now shot 16 people, killing eight, less than nine months into 2025, more than in all of last year, records show.

Week in Review: Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment in Chicago; Northwestern President Stepping Down

Chicago braces for the possibility of National Guard troops as federal immigration agents prepare to hit city streets. And concerns over changes to vaccine guidance.

Johnson Taps Walter ‘Red’ Burnett to Replace His Father, Fill Vacant 27th Ward Seat

Mayor Brandon Johnson said Walter "Red" Burnett was the best choice to replace his father, who represented parts of the West Side and the West Loop for 30 years on the Chicago City Council.

Music, History and the Multitalented Hershey Felder in ‘Rachmaninoff and the Tsar’: Review

Multitalented is hardly enough of a word to describe Hershey Felder, the Canadian-born multilingual pianist, actor, composer and playwright. He can now be captured on the Writers Theatre stage in the Chicago/Midwest premiere of “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar.”

Trump Administration Investigates Medicaid Spending on Immigrants in Democratic States

The investigations come as the White House and a Republican-controlled Congress slashed taxpayer spending on immigrant health care through cuts in President Donald Trump’s spending-and-tax law passed this summer.

CPS Rebuffs Remote Learning Calls, Says School Remains ‘Best and Safest’ Place for Students Amid ICE and National Guard Fears

Chicago Public Schools says it does not intend to offer a remote learning option to students amid a possible deployment of National Guard troops, immigration strike teams or other armed military personnel into the city.

A Wildly Popular 15-Year-Old Computer Whiz is Becoming the Catholic Church’s First Millennial Saint

In recent years, Acutis has shot to near rock star-like fame among many young Catholics, generating a global following the likes of which the Catholic Church hasn’t seen in ages. Much of that popularity is thanks to a concerted campaign by the Vatican to give the next generation of faithful a relatable, modern-day role model.

Sept. 4, 2025 - Full Show

Legal questions swirl over the possibility of National Guard troops in Chicago. And how local groups are mobilizing to push back against ICE.

Historians Warn Trump’s Crackdown on Smithsonian Museums Could Have a Chilling Effect

The president expanded his criticism of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to include additional museums. But specialists in the field said these actions could potentially “erode the public’s trust in shared institutions,” not just in Washington, D.C., but around the country.

Under Threat of ICE Strikes, El Grito Canceled and Communities Prepare for Mexican Independence Day Celebrations

Immigration and Customs Enforcement strike teams are likely to begin operations around Chicago in the coming days, and local officials expect agents to target large gatherings like Sunday’s parade in Little Village and Saturday’s 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen.

Pritzker Says He’ll File Suit to Stop ‘Nefarious’ Plan to Send National Guard, Military to Chicago

Immigration and Customs Enforcement strike teams are likely to hit Chicago’s streets late Friday or Saturday morning after gathering at Naval Station Great Lakes, which is about 35 miles outside of the city, Gov. JB Pritzker said.

RFK Jr. Tries to Defend COVID-19 Vaccine Stance, Staff Turmoil in Raucous Senate Hearing

Medical groups and several Democrats in Congress have called for Kennedy to be fired, and his exchanges with Democratic senators on the panel repeatedly devolved into shouting, from both sides. But some Republican senators also expressed unease with his changes to COVID-19 policies.

 

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