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File photo of a Family Dollar store. (WTTW News)

City Council Votes 42-7 to Crack Down on New Dollar Stores in Chicago

The new regulations ban new dollar stores — defined as stores offering an assortment of goods, most advertised at less than $5 — from opening within one mile of another dollar store owned by the same company.

(WTTW News)

Brandon Johnson Proposes Borrowing $1.25B to Fund Economic Development, Affordable Housing Projects

The proposal, now in the hands of the Chicago City Council, would phase out the city’s decades-long reliance on tax-increment financing districts and reshape the way Chicago uses its financial resources to spur redevelopment and eradicate blight.

President Joe Biden speaks at Culver City Julian Dixon Library in Culver City, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Joe Biden Says Too Many Americans Are Saddled With School Debt as He Cancels Federal Loans for 153,000

Joe Biden, who is in the midst of a three-day campaign swing through California, made the announcement as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster path to forgiveness, putting the spotlight on his debt cancellation efforts in his reelection campaign.

Washington Football Team assistant running backs coach Jennifer King works with the team before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo / Mark Tenally)

Chicago Bears Add Jennifer King as Their 1st Ever Female Assistant Coach

Jennifer King became the first Black female in NFL history to serve as a primary position coach in 2021 with Washington.

(WTTW News)

2 Teens Facing Murder Charges in Shooting That Killed 1 Senn High School Student, Wounded 2 Others

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Kashawn Perdue, 17, and a 14-year-old juvenile boy have both been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder following the Jan. 31 killing of Daveon Gibson.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump. (AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

Joe Biden and Democrats Build Cash Edge Over Donald Trump and GOP, and Other Campaign Finance Takeaways

Biden’s campaign entered February with nearly $56 million cash reserves in his main campaign committee compared to a little more than $30 million in the coffers of Trump’s equivalent account.

Robert E. Crimo, III appears for a case management meeting before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the at the Lake County Courthouse Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Waukegan, Ill. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Man Charged With Killing 7 People, Wounding Dozens More During Highland Park Parade Set to Stand Trial in February 2025

Robert Crimo III had briefly been set to go to trial this week after he temporarily demanded to represent himself. But after he changed his mind, Judge Victoria Rossetti on Wednesday reset the initial Feb. 24, 2025 trial date.

Election judges demonstrate the accuracy of the city’s voting equipment on Oct. 28, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo / Abbie Parr)

Election Officials in the US Face Daunting Challenges in 2024. And Congress Isn’t Coming to Help

Election officials face a long list of challenges this year, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs attacking computer systems and the persistence of election misinformation that has led to harassment of election officials and undermined public confidence.

Flooding in Chicago on July 6, 2023. (WTTW News)

Chicago Suing Oil, Gas Companies Over ‘Climate Deception’

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court, against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell and their largest trade association, the American Petroleum Institute.

Feb. 20, 2024 - Full Show

Two alderpeople weigh in on canceling the ShotSpotter contract. A preview of Pritzker’s budget address and what it means for Chicago. And sitting down with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.

Chicago police officers use ShotSpotter technology. (WTTW News)

City Council Members Weigh in on ShotSpotter Contract Extension, CPD Discipline System

Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to push forward with the progressive policing strategies he promised during his campaign to prioritize. He announced the city will be phasing out its contract with ShotSpotter, the controversial gunshot detection technology.

A rendering of a White Sox stadium at The 78 site with additional development. (Credit: Related Midwest)

White Sox Owner Meets With State Lawmakers as Team Seeks Public Funds for New Stadium

The White Sox have played in Bridgeport for more than a century, but owner Jerry Reinsdorf and developer Related Midwest proposed building a new stadium in the South Loop as an anchor to a 62-acre site dubbed The 78.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump appears on “Chicago Tonight” in an interview that aired Feb. 20, 2024. (WTTW News)

With Federal Progress Slow, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Takes On Police Reform Case by Case

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is responsible for making household names out of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others.

Eaglet heads poke above the top of their nest in 2023. Fingers crossed for a repeat in 2024. (Will County Forest Preserve / Chad Merda)

Bald Eagles Confirmed Nesting in Will County. Eaglet Watch Is On

All signs are pointing to another successful year of bald eagle mating in Will County.

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Greer, S.C. (AP Photo / David Yeazell)

She’s Not Quitting. Takeaways From Nikki Haley’s Push to Stay in the GOP Contest Against Donald Trump

Ahead of a major speech on Tuesday, Haley told The Associated Press that she’s staying in the race no matter what at least until after another 20 states vote through Super Tuesday on March 5. That’s even as Donald Trump’s MAGA movement is furious that she’s refusing to drop out. After all, she’s the last major candidate standing in his path to the nomination.

 A UChicago Medicine nurse submits ballot in strike authorization vote held on Feb. 20 in Hyde Park. The union National Nurses United represents 2,800 nurses at UChicago Medicine. (WTTW News)

UChicago Nurses Hold Strike Authorization Vote, Raise Concerns Over Understaffing and Patient Safety Issues

National Nurses United represents 2,800 nurses at UChicago Medicine. A strike authorization vote is part of standard procedure, where represented nurses give the union the authority to call a strike. 

A look inside “Titanic: The Exhibition,” which just opened at Westfield Old Orchard. (Marc Vitali / WTTW News)

Does It Sail or Sink? Exhibition on the Titanic Launches at Skokie Mall: Review

The most famous ship in history is being remembered at the most famous shopping mall in Skokie. “Titanic: The Exhibition” just opened at Westfield Old Orchard.

Youth activists organized a peaceful march to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s home on Aug. 13, 2020, to demand the removal of resource officers from Chicago Public Schools. (Matt Masterson / WTTW News)

Chicago Public Schools Set to Stop Using Resource Officers by Start of Next School Year, Resolution States

A new resolution from the city’s Board of Education directs Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to enact a new whole school safety policy, which “must make explicit that the use of SROs within District schools will end by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is pictured in a July 2023 file photo. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Migrant Spending, Education Funding and a Projected Shortfall Among Issues Facing Gov. J.B. Pritzker Ahead of Budget Address

If Illinois continues spending next fiscal year as it has been this year, the state will face an $891 million deficit. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to spell out exactly how he plans to address that on Wednesday, when he delivers an annual combined state of the state and budget address. 

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

3 People Killed by Gunfire, 2 Young Boys Wounded in Holiday Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department data, 19 people were injured or killed in 16 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Paris Schutz (WTTW News)

Feb. 19, 2024 - Full Show

FIRSTHAND: Homeless — a WTTW News special. Voters weigh a plan to hike taxes on sales of million-dollar homes to help fight homelessness. And efforts to help people who shelter on the CTA. 

A homeless encampment in Chicago’s Humboldt Park is pictured in February 2024. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

With Ballot Decision Looming, Chicago Homeless Advocates Push for Support and Funding

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates more than 68,000 people in Chicago are experiencing homelessness. That higher number includes people who are doubled up, or temporarily living in someone else’s home.

The Margarita Inn, 1566 Oak Ave., in Evanston, is now being used by Connections for the Homeless to provide housing and support services. (Credit: Medill School of Journalism)

Cook County Funds Purchase of Two Hotels in Effort to Provide Stable Housing, Necessary Supports

The hotels were originally used as temporary solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing advocates said the hotels are turning out to be significantly more effective than a traditional shelter approach.

Victoria Jaiani and Dylan Gutierrez in Joffrey Ballet’s “Studies in Blue.”(Credit: Todd Rosenberg)

Joffrey Ballet Soars in Bravura Study of the Human Condition: Review

The Joffrey Ballet demonstrated both the technical brilliance and emotional boldness of its dancers as the company opened its 2024 season on the Lyric Opera House stage with “Studies in Blue,” a fascinating program of three modern ballets. 

A sign marks he Paul Powell Home and Museum, Oct. 8, 2020 photo in Vienna, Ill. For more than half a century, a Powell-established $250,000 trust sustained his legacy, for better or worse. But the account that maintained his birthplace as a museum will soon run dry. (AP Photo / John O’Connor, File)

Southern Illinois Home of Paul Powell, the ‘Shoebox Scandal’ Politician, Could Soon Be Sold

For more than half a century, a Powell-established $250,000 trust sustained his legacy, for better or worse. But the account that maintained his birthplace as a museum will soon run dry. The fate of the home in Vienna, a town of 1,300 about 140 miles southeast of St. Louis, is uncertain. 

Early voter in a voting booth at the Chicago Board of Elections Loop Supersite at 191 N. Clark St. on Feb. 15. (WTTW News)

Early Voting Downtown to Resume Wednesday After Judicial Candidate Removed From Ballot

The Chicago Board of Elections offices on the sixth floor of 69 W. Washington St. and its Loop Supersite at 191 N. Clark St. will reopen for early voting on Wednesday at 9 a.m.