An effort to plant more trees in underserved areas. A new movie shines light on the history of “racial passing.” Two local social media stars tour a South Side neighborhood. And meet Poppin’ Chuck.

Chicago is set to invest $46 million in tree planting over the next five years. Trees can help improve air quality, reduce flooding, and offer several other health and social benefits. But the distribution of trees throughout Chicago is far from equal.

The new Netflix movie “Passing” centers around two Black women who can both “pass” as white but take different paths, one choosing to live as white, the other Black. The film is an adaptation of the 1929 novel by Chicago author Nella Larsen.

“Chicago Party Aunt,” based on the fictional Twitter account by Chris Witaske went national last September with the premiere of the Netflix series. But Witaske has roots primarily in the western suburbs which leaves some things out. So another Chicago social media star gave him a tour of a prominent South Side neighborhood.

We introduced you to a violinist who's one of dozens of Chicago artists receiving cash grants to pursue their careers. Now, meet an artist with a dance style that started in the late ‘60s but has evolved through the decades. 

The state invests $250 million in its latest public health crisis: gun violence. James “Big Cat” Williams on the latest in football and what’s next for the Bears. And the Black Harvest Film Festival opens.

Community organizations working to prevent gun violence will soon get a boost in funding from the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order declaring gun violence a public health crisis and announced a plan to address it.

A new Netflix series on Colin Kaepernick’s life is causing a stir; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not vaccinated after all; and on the field, the Chicago Bears prepare to tackle the Pittsburgh Steelers. We get into it with former Bears’ offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams.

The 27th annual Black Harvest Film Festival kicked off Friday. After going fully virtual last year, the festival is back in-person at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Audiences can watch more than 30 films and documentaries and six short film series.

What the city’s new budget could mean for Black Chicagoans. Efforts to get some of the city’s youngest residents vaccinated. Artistry pays off. And The Last Word on community mobility.

Key components include a universal basic income pilot program, $6.3 million to hire employees at the city’s public mental health clinics, $5 million to expand efforts to renovate single-room occupancy hotels to help prevent homelessness and investments in affordable housing, violence prevention and job programs.

Chicago health officials say they’re ready to roll out a coronavirus vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 now that the FDA has given emergency use authorization for kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine

Dozens of Chicago artists are receiving a total of nearly $1 million in cash grants from the Chicago-based nonprofit, 3 Arts. One of those recipients is violinist Caitlin Edwards, who shared her passion for music and the violin with us.

Chicagoans are fortunate to have many options for moving about the city — from cars, buses and trains to bikes, scooters, and our own two feet. But the infrastructure for those transportation methods is not offered in equal measure to all of Chicago's communities.

We look at the Chicago Sky’s championship-winning impact on women’s sports. Plus a documentary on the legacy of Harold Washington. And a breakout choreographer for the Joffrey Ballet.

The city is still celebrating the Chicago Sky’s historic win. After the Sky beat the Phoenix Mercury 80 to 74, it was an exciting and significant victory for the city, fans, and women athletes.