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As Trump Threatens to Send National Guard to Chicago, Public Safety Experts Weigh in on Crime Data and Public Spending

Chicago Police Department data shows that compared to last year, violent crime in the city is down 22% through the end of July. There have been 36% fewer shootings, and homicides are down 32%.

Illinois Holocaust Museum Opens Satellite Location in Downtown Chicago

Experience360 is the first satellite branch for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, which is currently under renovation. The new space in River North, just steps from Marina Towers, opens to the public Tuesday.

US Dept. of Justice Demands Illinois Voter Personal Information by Sept. 1

Federal officials are continuing to press their demand for Illinois’ unredacted voter registration database, which includes sensitive personal information, and are now giving state officials until Monday, Sept. 1, to comply.

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting No-Cash Bail Policies in Illinois and Across US

President Donald Trump signed an order threatening to freeze federal funding to governments and jurisdictions that have eliminated the use of cash bail as a means of holding defendants in jail pretrial. Local officials say the system put in place in Illinois in 2023 is working.

Pritzker Vows to Stop Trump From Sending National Guard to Chicago

Gov. JB Pritzker vowed Monday to stop President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard to Chicago, dismissing Trump’s latest pledge to combat crime as cover for an unconstitutional federal overreach.

Some FEMA Staff Call out Trump Cuts in Public Letter Warning of Hurricane Katrina-Like Catastrophe

The statement in it is noteworthy not only for its content but for its overall existence; a fierce approach toward critics by the Trump administration has caused many in the federal government to hesitate before locking heads with the White House.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Yanking Funding From Chicago Over Immigrant Protections

U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued an injunction late Friday to that will prevent the Trump administration from blocking funding for some of the nation’s largest cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston and Baltimore.

Some National Guard Units in Washington Are Now Carrying Firearms as Trump Threatens Deployment in Chicago

A Defense Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly said some units on certain missions would be armed — some with handguns and others with rifles. The spokesperson said that all units with firearms have been trained and are operating under strict rules for use of force.

Week in Review: RTA Eyes Stopgap Funding to Avoid Service Cuts; Pleas for Flood Relief in Chicago

President Donald Trump again floats the idea of sending troops to Chicago. And residents call for aid after getting slammed with storms and flooding.

Mayor Johnson Hits Back at Trump’s ‘Illegal’ Plans to Deploy National Guard to Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson said he takes Trump’s statement seriously, but claimed the city has not received any word from federal authorities about the deployment of any additional law enforcement into Chicago.

United Methodist Church Buys Southern Illinois Billboard Space That Hosted Proud Boys Sign for ‘Love Unites’ Message

In response to the uproar over a Proud Boys message displayed on a billboard near Central Community High School, the United Methodist Church has a simple message: “Hate Divides, Love Unites.”

Pritzker Signs Bill Requiring Public Colleges in Illinois to Offer Contraception, Medication Abortion

Two bills aimed at further protecting reproductive rights in Illinois were signed by Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday, expanding protections to health care providers and making contraception and medication abortion more accessible to college students.

Green Spaces Are Key to Combating Record Heat in Marginalized Communities

Extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s the top cause of weather-related fatalities nationwide.

Pritzker Signs Law Expanding Lawsuit Protections for Illinois News Media

A state law designed to prevent lawsuits that curtail public participation in government now explicitly protects the news media.

Feds Launch New Unit to Prosecute Health Care Fraud Cases in Illinois

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced Friday the creation of a new section within the Northern District of Illinois’s Criminal Division that will be dedicated to the prosecution of health care fraud.

New Dinosaur Just Dropped. This One Had a Striking Sail-Like Back

The bones of Istiorachis macarthurae, named in honor of record-breaking British sailor Ellen MacArthur, were uncovered on the Isle of Wight, a small island just off the south coast of England, where it roamed more than 120 million years ago.

A Look Inside the Facility Where ICE is Training Recruits to Take on Trump’s Deportation Goals

With lots of money approved by Congress this summer starting to flow into ICE, the agency is in midst of a huge hiring effort as it aims to get thousands of new deportation officers into the field in the coming months.

Aug. 21, 2025 - Full Show

The impact big data centers are having on the Great Lakes water supply. And Veterans Affairs staff speaks out after losing union protections — what it could mean for local veterans.

Veterans Affairs Workers, Unions Push Trump Administration to Reinstate Collective Bargaining Rights

The Trump administration cut union contracts for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees earlier this month as part of a larger effort to strip federal workers of union protections.

Wonders of Art and Technology Get Clicks at WNDR Museum, an Influencer Hotspot: Review

A funhouse of art and technology, the WNDR Museum started as a pop-up in 2018 and then became a fixed destination in the West Loop. WTTW News arts correspondent Marc Vitali explored the space.

Supreme Court Lets Trump Administration Cut $783M of Research Funding in Anti-DEI Push

The high court majority lifted a judge’s order blocking $783 million worth of cuts made by the National Institutes of Health to align with Republican President Donald Trump’s priorities.

Passengers Sue United and Delta for Selling ‘Window’ Seats Next to Blank Walls

The lawsuits allege that United and Delta long have been aware of consumer complaints posted on social media about the windowless seats yet continued charging extra for window seats without windows.

New Female Polar Bear Coming to Brookfield Zoo This Fall, Bringing Long Gestating Hope for Cubs With Her

On Thursday, Brookfield Zoo announced that Amelia Gray, an 8-year-old female, will be making the move from the Oregon Zoo to Chicago’s suburbs, where she’ll also be paired up with 5-year-old Hudson.

Trump Administration Reviewing All 55M People With US Visas for Potential Deportable Violations

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, his administration has thus far focused on deporting migrants illegally in the United States as well as holders of student and visitor exchange visas.

Some Outbound Kennedy Lanes to Reopen Next Week, But Expect Some Ramp Closures: IDOT

Several overnight ramp and lane closures are scheduled to take place over the next week to facilitate the reopening of lanes on the north end of the work zone, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

Insurance Industry Opposes Regulation, Blames Inflation and Climate Change for Rate Hikes

Robert Gordon, a senior vice president at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said property losses from natural disasters are common in Illinois, and they have been growing more frequent.

 

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