Join us as we launch our Firsthand: Democracy initiative. We explore the state of civic participation and hear how some Chicagoans are working to strengthen democracy.

Attorneys say new evidence contradicts Border Patrol’s claims in the shooting of a Chicago woman. And the mayor is vetoing a ban on the sale of some intoxicating hemp products.

Paczki Day is coming up on Tuesday, but ask any Polish native and chances are they’ve already celebrated tłusty czwartek, or Fat Thursday, this week.

How Congress is working to change how Americans vote. And two local artists on their Super Bowl performances.

The Ravenswood shop isn’t just fixing cars — it’s working to fix an industry-wide gender gap. Founder Lisa Thompson said women make up just 2% of auto mechanics nationwide.

You don’t have to travel to Italy to experience the sport.

New evidence in the shooting of a Chicago woman by federal agents. And Democrats grill Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Republicans said the legislation is needed to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats warn it will disenfranchise millions of Americans by making it harder to vote.

The new evidence includes texts to and from Exum following the shooting, surveillance photos and body camera footage from agents who were at the scene of the Oct. 4 shooting of Marimar Martinez.

Mayor Brandon Johnson vows to fight back after the Trump administration denies a disaster relief request. And why unplugged oil wells could cost Illinois residents more than $1 billion.

The Reader was recently acquired by Noisy Creek, a startup publishing company based in Washington state focused on acquiring and restoring troubled alternative news sources.

Oil production was once a major industry in Illinois, but it has steadily declined since the 1950s. Most active wells in Illinois are “stripper” wells that produce less than 1.5 barrels per day.

Chicagoans “suffered tremendously” during those storms and should be able to rely on the federal government for help, Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday.