Illinois members of Congress on avoiding the looming government shutdown. The history and purpose of Chicago’s water cribs. And reaction to how the city handles Mexican Independence Day celebrations.

Meet Ellis Chesbrough, Chicago’s first city engineer and designer of the water delivery system we still use today. WTTW News Explains how water cribs work out on Lake Michigan. 

Larry Snelling is sworn in as Chicago’s police superintendent. The city battles the infestation of a new invasive species. And we introduce you to a local champion of artists with disabilities.

Matt Bodett recently received a 2023 Midwest Award for Artists With Disabilities. His work is currently on display in a new exhibit in the Hermosa community.

Mayor Brandon Johnson picked Larry Snelling to implement Johnson’s pledge to fight crime in Chicago with a holistic approach that focuses on the root causes of violence.

The insect was found in the Fuller Park neighborhood of Chicago, according to a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The local impact of the auto worker strike. A judge says an alderman violated the First Amendment — the price he might have to pay. And the host of PBS’ “America Outdoors” on exploring nature.

Experts in presidential and U.S. labor history say they cannot recall an instance when a sitting president has joined an ongoing strike, even during the tenures of the more ardent pro-union presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

In the PBS series “America Outdoors,” host Baratunde Thurston explores our country’s relationship to its natural places.

Striking writers could be heading back to work after months on the picket lines. Easing fears for neighbors near the Obama Center. And 60 years since the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

The Writers Guild of America announced the deal in a joint statement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies in negotiations.

“The record is clear that Gardiner engaged in both content-based and speaker-based restrictions on his Facebook page, according to the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. The Court thus finds Gardiner in violation of the First Amendment.”

Chicago inks a $29 million contract to build six winterized shelter camps with the same company hired by Florida to bus those people here. Meanwhile, the Biden administration approves work permits only for some Venezuelan migrants.