Stories by

(WTTW News)

Chicago Teachers Union Leaders Hopeful for ‘New Chapter’ in Contract Negotiations as Bargaining Set to Begin

CTU leaders on Tuesday announced their contract demands as bargaining gets underway on a new deal as the union’s existing contract is set to expire in June.

Cook County Medical Examiner's Office (WTTW News)

Cook County Event Aims to Provide Resources, Support to Families and Friends of Missing Persons

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office is hosting its fourth Missing Persons Day on Saturday as a way to provide support and resources for the loved ones of missing persons.

Amanda Vinicky (WTTW News)

April 15, 2024 - Full Show

The chief medical examiner on supporting the loved ones of missing persons. Navigating neuro-divergence and the path to a diagnosis. And exploring Chicago’s gospel music history. 

Karen Clark Sheard, Lamar Campbell and The Spirit of Praise, Smokie Norful, and The Chicago Mass Choir.

Concert to Celebrate Chicago’s Place in Gospel Music History

Some of gospel’s biggest stars are coming together for a night of performances in the city where it all began.

Megan Roberts, a professor in communication sciences and disorders at Northwestern. (Credit: Medill)

Project Aims to Reduce Wait Times for an Autism Diagnosis in Illinois: ‘Is There an Alternative Model?’

With $3 million in federal funding, researchers are studying how to expand the types of professionals who can issue a diagnosis. Currently in Illinois, only physicians and clinical psychologists can do so.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin is pictured in a campaign photo. (Credit: Campaign photo)

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin Fined $60K for Violating Ethics Ordinance

The board found Conyears-Ervin committed 12 total violations of Chicago’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance for violating her fiduciary duty to the city, for the unauthorized use of city property and prohibited political activity.

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan criminal court with his legal team, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. The hush money trial of former President Donald Trump begins Monday with jury selection. It's a singular moment for American history as the first criminal trial of a former U.S. commander in chief. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Trump’s Historic Hush-Money Trial Underway; 1st Day Ends Without Any Jurors Being Picked

It’s the first criminal trial of any former U.S. commander-in-chief and the first of Trump’s four indictments to go to trial.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a news conference Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (WTTW News)

Key City Panel Advances Plan to Spend $70M More to Care for Migrants in Chicago

The City Council’s Budget Committee voted 20-8 to advance the proposal to the full City Council, which could vote on it as early as Wednesday. The panel also agreed to accept $48 million in federal and state grants to care for the migrants.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Police Lieutenant Who Failed to Investigate Sergeant Accused of Sexual Assault for 5 Years Should Be Fired, Watchdog Says

A 2016 probe by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Chicago police officers were rarely held accountable for misconduct because of badly broken systems as well as a “code of silence” among officers that allowed them to act with impunity. CPD has fully complied with just 6% of the court order known as the consent decree designed to require the police department to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers.

Former Illinois House Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Courthouse on Jan. 3, 2024. (WTTW News)

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Bribery Statute at Heart of Michael Madigan Trial

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguements in a case that could have wide-ranging impacts on bribery cases like the one involving former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

O’Hare International Airport is pictured in a file photo. (WTTW News)

Protesters Calling for Cease-Fire in Gaza Temporarily Blocked Traffic Near O’Hare Airport

Demonstrators used the traffic shutdown to bring attention to the continuing war in Palestine and push for a cease-fire in Gaza. Traffic flow resumed by about 9:20 a.m. 

A sign outside the Internal Revenue Service building is seen, May 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky, File)

Tax Day Reveals a Major Split in How Joe Biden and Donald Trump Would Govern

Tax Day reveals a major split in how Joe Biden and Donald Trump would govern: The presidential candidates have conflicting ideas about how much to reveal about their own finances and the best ways to boost the economy through tax policy.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

‘We Are All Allowed to be Outraged Today’: Young Girl Among 7 People Killed by Gunfire Over Weekend Across Chicago

According to the Chicago Police Department, 48 people were shot in separate incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, marking one of the most violent weekends in the city thus far this year.

Art on display in “Alice Shaddle: Fuller Circles” at the Hyde Park Art Center. (Marc Vitali / WTTW News)

Discover an Unsung Chicago Artist, Explore Colorful Collaborations at Hyde Park Art Center

It’s an inspiring spring at the Hyde Park Art Center, where two shows by essential Chicago artists are currently in bloom.

(WTTW News)

8-Year-Old Girl Killed, 10 People Including Small Children Wounded in Southwest Side Shooting: Chicago Police

Four victims were children, police said Sunday. An 8-year-old girl was fatally shot, while a 1-year-old boy and a 8-year-old boy were each shot multiple times and listed in critical condition.

Products that contain delta-8 THC are pictured next to the original packaging they resemble. (Hannah Meisel / Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois Lawmakers, Cannabis Industry Call for Ban on ‘Delta-8’ and Other Psychoactive Hemp Products

New legislation filed in Springfield revives an ongoing debate over delta-8 and other hemp-derived products, which are totally unregulated in Illinois even as the state approaches the five-year anniversary of legalizing cannabis.

(WTTW News)

As Illinois Continues to Inventory Lead Pipes, Full Replacement Deadlines Are Decades Away

Illinois has the most lead pipes per capita of any state, according to a 2023 study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Deb Robertson sits for a portrait at her Lombard, Ill. home, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo)

‘I’m Dying, You’re Not’: Terminally Ill Patients Ask More States to Legalize Physician-Assisted Death

A bill moving through the Illinois legislature to allow certain terminally ill patients to end their own lives with a doctor’s help had made progress. Vermont and Oregon permit any qualifying American to travel to their state for the practice.

Showcasing works by Alberte Tranberg and Christopher Michlig, Devening Projects is one of 36 galleries and artist spaces participating in this year’s Barely Fair, the fourth iteration of an international art fair with dollhouse-sized booths. (Roland Miller / Barely Fair via CNN Newsource)

Peer Inside This Tiny Chicago Art Fair, Where Major Artists Present at Miniature Scale

Chicago’s Barley Fair brings art down to a miniature size, with its participants making itty-bitty paintings, sculptures and other works to be displayed at 1:12 scale in dollhouse-sized booths.

Four active eagle nests are being monitored in the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 2024. (Forest Preserve District of Will County / Chad Merda)

Baby Bald Eagles Confirmed in 3 of 4 Nests in Will County Forest Preserves

Sharp-eyed observers have now confirmed hatchlings in three of the four bald eagle nests being monitored on Will County forest preserve property.

Week in Review: Video of Dexter Reed Shooting Raises Questions on CPD Use of Force; Biden Fundraises in Chicago

Chicago roiled by the release of video showing the fatal police shooting of Dexter Reed. President Joe Biden hits town to raise big bucks. And a special sendoff for Paris Schutz.

This Feb. 1978 photo shows Robert MacNeil, executive editor of “The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.” MacNeil, who created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show for with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades, died on Friday, April 12, 2024. (AP Photo / FILE)

Robert MacNeil, Creator and First Anchor of PBS ‘NewsHour’ Nightly Newscast, Dies at 93

Robert MacNeil first gained prominence for his coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings for the public broadcasting service and began his half-hour “Robert MacNeil Report” on PBS in 1975 with his friend Jim Lehrer as Washington correspondent.

Left: Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling appears on “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” on Oct. 18, 2023. Right: Andrea Kersten, chief administrator of Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability, appears on “Chicago Tonight” on June 28, 2023. (WTTW News)

Breach Between Top Cop, Misconduct Agency Widens Amid Probe of Shooting Death of Dexter Reed

Superintendent Larry Snelling’s remarks come nearly two months after the first sign of deep tension between CPD and COPA emerged, and reflect a widening breach between the two agencies, sources told WTTW News.

Illinois State Capitol. (WTTW News)

Illinois Senate Advances Changes to State’s Biometric Privacy Law After Business Groups Split

Illinois is the only state that grants residents the right to sue over businesses’ improper collection and mishandling of biometric data — whether they are an employee or a customer. Business groups have been clamoring for changes as upwards of 2,000 lawsuits have been filed under the law since roughly 2018.

Lights on the Museum Campus will be out during upgrades to electrical equipment. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Lighting Upgrades Will Create Mini-Blackout on Museum Campus, Lakefront Path This Weekend

Lights will be out in parking lots and along portions of the lakefront bike and pedestrian trails from 7 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The Chicago Police Department released video of robbery suspects in incidents that occurred March 14-16, 2024. (Chicago Police / YouTube)

Chicago Police Touting ‘Focused’ Approach to Stopping, Solving Armed Robberies

“These robberies have created trauma for the victims and fear in our communities,” Superintendent Larry Snelling said. “We want everyone in this city to not only feel safe, but to actually be safe.”