The Rundown | Chicago News

Chicago faces an $882 million dollar budget gap next year, one of the largest in city history. Joffrey Ballet President and CEO Greg Cameron is stepping down next year. Jazz Fest is underway, bringing free music this weekend to Millennium Park and the downtown Cultural Center.Plus, every year, thousands of bikers turn DuSable Lake Shore Drive into a cyclist’s paradise. For one morning, participants can ride 30 miles along Chicago’s shoreline without cars on the road. This year, Bike the Drive turns 25 years old. 

The owners of South Chicago Chapel are facing litigation. ComEd says they need to raise more than $15 billion through rate increases to deal with worsening weather conditions. A new study from Northwestern University suggests extreme heat can impact more aspects of our health than we might realize.Plus, it’s been nearly one year since hundreds of federal immigration agents arrived in Chicago to accelerate their aggressive deportation campaign. They dubbed it Operation Midway Blitz and pledged to go after the “worst of the worst.” New data analysis by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times finds the pledge was more hype than reality.

A heat wave advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday night. It’s been nearly one year since hundreds of federal immigration agents arrived in Chicago to accelerate their aggressive deportation campaign. A Northwestern University physicist may have found dark matter. Plus, Tuesday is the first day of meteorological autumn. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford walked us through a memorable summer for extreme weather and shared what could be coming next.

A man was killed and 14 others were wounded in the largest mass shooting in Chicago this year. Recent analysis by the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago shows Mayor Brandon Johnson returned record TIF surplus revenue to pay for city services. The Cubs celebrated the team's 150th anniversary over the weekend. Plus, people in Gary, Indiana, are still cleaning up after strong storms in August.

A men’s homeless shelter in Gary is trying to raise money to outfit a new facility. The Chicago Bears’ season is right around the corner, and the team is gearing up with preseason practices and games. One arm of Illinois’ Imagination Library program has seen an influx of enrollments following the passing of its founder, Dolly Parton.Plus, the Korean band BTS is back in Chicago this week for two sold-out shows at Soldier Field as a part of the group’s “Arirang” world tour. It’s been seven years since the K-pop boy band last performed in Chicago. The group has built an army of fans in Chicago and around the world. We hear from fans about what this moment means for them.

People will have stricter guidelines next year when they use e-bikes and other micro-mobility vehicles. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his tenure hasn’t been “perfect,” but he’s touting his efforts to boost mental health access, youth jobs and new revenue streams. Sky gazers in the Chicago area can see a partial lunar eclipse Thursday night.Plus, a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling on mail-in voting is drawing close scrutiny from pro-democracy advocates with 10 weeks until the fall election. The high court’s conservative bloc is allowing President Trump to move forward with an executive order critics say is designed to choke off the popular form of voting. Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Wednesday joined a multi-state lawsuit to block a new postal service rule regarding mail-in ballots that comes from Trump’s executive order.

Illinois could receive over $700 million in a settlement with Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. Northwest Indiana power utility NIPSCO filed multiple applications for customer rate increases while hundreds of thousands of residents were without power. Dolly Parton was widely known as an award winning music icon, but her work with her Imagination Library has made a local impact in Illinois.Plus, Monday marked the start of classes for Chicago Public Schools. The day was filled with all the typical excitement and nerves you see on the first day. But there were also lingering concerns about the district’s budget and whether schools will see more cuts later this year.

Power is expected to return to all Northwest Indiana residents Tuesday. Democratic Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is calling on the head of the postal service to resign. A private group wants to slash the travel time from downtown Chicago to O’Hare to 15 minutes. A Chicago zoologist has named a newly-discovered species of snake after Slash, the guitarist for Guns N’ Roses. Plus, an update from WFYI reporter Barb Anguiano on the situation in Indiana. 

Indiana Governor Mike Braun is calling for an investigation into NIPSCO’s response to power outages in Northwest Indiana. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public School leaders rang the symbolic bell at a West Side elementary school Monday morning. People who live on Chicago’s South Side will soon have the chance to train as midwives in their own community. Plus, besides deep-fried Oreos, Cheetos-covered corndogs, and pork belly and fries in a cone, the Illinois State Fair last week offered a heaping serving of politics. Democrats are working to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker, replace retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and weather a sexual harassment scandal confronting House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Republicans are working to overcome a possible Democratic wave across the country this fall. They are trying to exploit the Welch crisis, and they blame Pritzker for rising household costs. 

A Chicago police officer who racked up more complaints than any other officer in recent years now faces firing. Tornado sirens were accidentally activated this morning in multiple Chicago suburbs for the second time in three days. The annual Supertri Chicago is returning this weekend to the city.Plus, we hear from a journalist in Gary, Indiana, about the city’s continued struggle to regain electricity following last week’s storm.

Northwest Indiana power utility NIPSCO now says all of its customers should be restored by the end of Tuesday. Chicago will continue to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. with a free concert at Clarendon Community Center Park. The Pulitzer Prizes and the Chicago-based American Library Association on Thursday announced the national tour of “Pulitzer on the Road.”Plus, when a 64-year-old man from west suburban Addison was detained during the early weeks of Operation Midway Blitz last September, his family tried for months to keep his sandwich shop afloat while trying to get him out of detention. But Asif Amin Cheema was deported to his native Pakistan in January. So much has changed in the past year for the family without their patriarch. 

The Illinois Tollway Board Wednesday morning unanimously approved the first passenger toll increase since 2012. Rats are a problem that have plagued Chicago for years, but there are ways to prevent their spread. The Chicago Bears are continuing training camp, but their injury list is starting to pile up.Plus, school lunch used to be good. We explore how Chicago Public School lunches went from delicious to disappointing.

A gruesome discovery at a far South Side funeral home earlier this month has exposed a lack of state oversight of the funeral and burial industry. A long-delayed casino complex in Chicago's River West neighborhood says its massive debt creates “substantial doubt” for its future. Millions of birds migrate through Chicago every year, but traveling around glass buildings can be deadly.Plus, Puerto Rico is going through a major water crisis due to severe drought. The island’s government began cutting water service to people’s homes and that’s causing anger. The crisis is exposing major weakness in Puerto Rico’s water delivery infrastructure. 

Puerto Rico is experiencing a major water crisis due to severe drought, and Chicago's large Puerto Rican community is keeping an eye on what’s happening on the ground. Chicago has a break from the rain on Monday, but don’t put away the umbrellas yet. The Chicago Bears beat the Cleveland Browns in a preseason matchup on Saturday and had a practice Sunday. Plus, former charter school operator Aspira has declared bankruptcy. It comes just 11 years after the nonprofit built a modern school in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood with $27 million dollars from the state of Illinois. Now, Aspira wants to sell the building for $11 million dollars and pocket some of the proceeds for its own operations.

Chicago homeowners affected by severe flooding could see some financial relief. The Chicago Sinfonietta has reached a one-year labor agreement with its musicians. The Chicago Bears open the preseason on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.Plus, in recent years, many Chicago renters have been priced out of their neighborhoods. In some parts of the city, there’s an ordinance in place that gives tenants a shot at buying their building if it goes up for sale. But, it’s not easy buying a building. One Northwest Side group is trying to change that with help from some young organizers.

Four more belugas arrived at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on Thursday from a shuttered aquatic park in Niagara Falls, Canada. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says the Chicago Bears have discussed various provisions they want to see in an Illinois stadium plan, but the team hasn't put a specific legislative proposal on the table. A new study shows chatbots could be changing who wins some research grants. Plus, for Muslim families in the Chicago area, it is a challenge to find a preschool that reflects their values and supports their children’s development. Culturally and religiously competent options are scarce. Some families are choosing to enroll their children in a full Arabic immersion preschool in southwest suburban Bridgeview.

A bloc of 27 Chicago City Council members is calling on Bally's to resume construction on its full, planned downtown casino development. Tornadoes have been sweeping through Illinois and the Chicago metro area this year, far from the traditional Tornado Alley. The Chicago Bears open the preseason at Soldier Field on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.Plus, when Alexandra Usher was a grad student at University of Chicago, she’d often get stuck in traffic on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. It gave her a lot of time to stare off into the lake. One day she noticed something odd. What she saw was the wreck of the Silver Spray. Alexandra wants to know the story behind that wreck and what about other shipwrecks in the lake and whether the average Chicagoan can visit them.

The Chicago area is relatively calm after a wild afternoon of thunderstorms, strong winds and tornado warnings. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is using his executive order pen to tighten the rules on data centers. The Chicago Sky fell to the Seattle Storm on Monday night.Plus, you might notice signs that are often wooden and hand painted while driving around neighborhoods on Chicago’s south and west sides. More or less, they read “Hey, welcome to the neighborhood. Welcome to the block.” These are signs for block clubs. We break down the history behind them. 

Nine people filed reports with the Chicago Police Department on Monday alleging crimes committed by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz. More scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday night and throughout the week. Former Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is retiring. Plus, Lollapalooza recently brought thousands of people to Grant Park along Chicago’s lakefront. Amid the headliners and packed crowds, another group made its way through the festival: parents.

The superintendent of Chicago Public Schools is now confident that school will start on time. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey are trading blows over misconduct investigations into several members of the House. Plus, the Women's Professional Baseball League kicked off in Springfield, Illinois this week, marking the first women's professional baseball on American soil in over 70 years.

Cities across Illinois range widely in their regulations on data centers. The Chicago Cubs swept the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, beating them 7-6 in the last of their three-game series. A Batavia woman thought dogs in her community deserved their own free little library – just like people have.Plus, the Trump administration is shifting tactics in its deportation campaign. Last year, the focus was aggressive arrests, highlighted by Operation Midway Blitz. This year, Chicago advocates say the strategy is much more subtle. They accuse the administration of weaponizing immigration courts – speeding up cases and creating a chaotic process that’s causing many immigrants to miss hearings, leading to deportation orders. 

Alaina Hampton is calling for Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s resignation. The Chicago Cubs’ newest starter, Kevin Gausman won’t be pitching against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, on Thursday. The National Beep Baseball World Series is underway this week in west suburban AuroraPlus, while growing up on the city’s blue collar northwest side, musician and comedian Al Scorch would imitate a classic Chicago accent as comedic relief with his friends. Scorch has tapped into that character for many creative projects since, from a poem about hot dogs to a popular series reviewing Park District bathrooms. Now, he’s embarking on a major endeavor: to read the city of Chicago’s roughly 3,000 page municipal code out loud, for a podcast, in his Chicago accent. 

Illinoisans with home and auto insurance will see more protections against unjustified rate hikes. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his budget director is resigning to care for her ailing mother who lives out of state. The Major League Baseball trade deadline was Monday, and Chicago’s teams walked away with a handful of roster changes. Plus, to the uninitiated, a Rainbow Cone might seem like a recent Instagram-inspired creation. Five colorful layers stacked on top of each other. But Chicagoans, especially those on the South Side, know the Original Rainbow Cone shop is a long-loved, local institution. Launched in August 1926 in a small shack in Beverly, Rainbow Cone turns 100 this year.

Illinois residents can save some money on clothing and school supplies for ten days this month. The nation's first women's professional baseball league in nearly 30 years is officially underway. Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs is setting up for an iCash auction at the Illinois State Fair later this month.Plus, the number of Illinois residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has declined by 16% over the past year, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services.

A former sheriff’s deputy convicted of murdering an unarmed Black woman in her Springfield, Illinois area home will not get out of prison early. Cook County Health expects the county will provide nearly $500 million in charity care next year – the largest amount in more than a decade. The historic 400 Theater in Rogers Park reopened today [FRI] under new ownership. Plus, WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell brings us the story of a man serving a 30-year sentence for murder who says he’s innocent – so much so that he turned down a deal that would have released him from prison, in order to continue fighting for exoneration.

After matching a decade-long high in heat-related deaths just last week, Cook County has recorded another three. Voters in Evanston will not be asked whether Northwestern University should make payments to the city for commercial events it hosts. People in Chicago’s music community are remembering Irish musician Glen Hansard. Plus, funk legend George Clinton is best known as a writer for Motown and as the leader of the popular Parliament-Funkadelic movement. But starting with the COVID pandemic, Clinton got serious about painting. A major exhibition of his work just opened at Chicago’s Mariane Ibrahim Gallery. 

People around Chicago and the suburbs are cleaning up and rebuilding after severe weather on Monday. A Chicago man is suing the federal government over a raid of his home at the height of Operation Midway Blitz. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants his administration to establish stricter standards for purchasing guns.Plus, Chicagoans with big dreams of becoming this city’s mayor fanned out across town Tuesday to collect the signatures needed to get on the ballot. That’s 12,500 valid signatures, to be exact. Tuesday marked the unofficial start to what’s sure to be a jam packed and contentious mayor’s race.

Illinois now has a statewide cell phone ban in public schools. Gambling addiction is now officially considered a public health issue in Illinois. A new class has been enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Plus, the Joliet Treatment Center – about an hour outside of Chicago – is a specialized Illinois prison meant to provide intensive mental healthcare. But some incarcerated people and civil rights lawyers say the treatment there is abysmal, and men are frequently left isolated in their cells for long stretches, their mental health deteriorating.  Desperate for help, some have chosen to do something extreme to bring attention to their troubles. They set their locked cells – or their own bodies – on fire. In the last three years, there have been more than 70 fires at Joliet Treatment Center, including at least a dozen cases of self-immolation.

Severe weather continues to move through the Chicago area, and a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the Chicago area until at least 7 p.m. Monday. ComEd says the western and northwestern suburbs were hit with the first wave of outages during Monday’s severe storms. A new investigation finds some men locked inside one Illinois prison have become so desperate, they set themselves on fire.Plus, several times a year, our show Prisoncast sends hundreds of surveys inside prisons and jails in Illinois. One thing we ask the people incarcerated there: What’s a sound from the outside world that you miss hearing the most? The idea is to connect our listeners behind bars, with the communities they’ll return to. Recently, Prisoncast got a letter from Scott at Sheridan prison, requesting the sound of a hockey game at a local ice arena.

Four beluga whales who arrived at the Shedd Aquarium this week are showing signs of “relaxed behavior.” The city of Chicago is marking the completion of a years-long campaign to commemorate the 1919 race riot. Patrick Kane was reintroduced as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.Plus, America is celebrating its 250th anniversary this month. At a recent reading of the Declaration of Independence at Chicago’s Newberry Library, some Chicagoans shared their thoughts on the milestone. 

A new state law makes July 25 Emmett Till Day in Illinois. More than 800 unionized workers at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, have been blocked from returning to work for more than four months. One of the greatest Chicago Blackhawks in franchise history is returning to the team.Plus, Annie Clark, the superstar guitarist who performs under the name St. Vincent, will play with the Chicago Symphony this weekend at Ravinia. It’s a stop on her nationwide tour, appearing with local orchestras. It’s part of a larger trend that puts Clark in the company of many of her pop peers.

Chicago Police have finally issued guidelines on how to collect and retain evidence against federal immigration agents suspected of violating state law. The National Archives at Chicago is closing within the next few years. One of the few living Negro League Baseball players will be at tonight’s Double Duty Classic game at Rate Field. Plus, brothers and restaurateurs Teddy and Alexis Vejar spent their childhood surrounded by great cooks both in Mexico and the U.S. Now, they run the restaurant Jarabe on the city’s Near West Side, where they serve cochinita pibil. The dish reminds them of when their dad would cook it for them when they were kids. 

Six people in Cook County have died from heat-related causes so far in July. Two independent candidates seeking to replace Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia won’t appear on the fall ballot. A new study from Northwestern Medicine says women experience more severe neurological symptoms of long COVID than men. Plus, school districts across the country are seeing a spike in students with autism. As it has in other places, the increase in students with special needs is putting a tremendous strain on Chicago Public Schools’ budget. It’s a key reason why, despite declining enrollment, CPS has added staff.

The National Weather Service is predicting scattered thunderstorms will roll through the area this evening in addition to the air quality alert already in effect as pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke persists. Illinois' former state public health director has dropped his bid to be the next U.S. Senator from Maine. Current Blackhawks star Connor Bedard hopes he can team up with a star of Blackhawks past.Plus, it’s been more than three months since West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park suddenly closed. Now, patients nearby on Chicago’s West Side are traveling farther for care and ending up in crowded emergency departments at other hospitals. These are the unintended consequences when a community hospital shuts down. Doctors worry more hospitals like West Suburban could close. 

Rain could be returning to the Chicago area this weekend, which could potentially help improve the poor air quality we’ve seen. Judges with the Illinois State Board of elections do not think two independent candidates should be on the ballot in the state's fourth congressional district. The 19th annual Silver Room Sound System Block Party returns this Saturday.Plus, indie rocker Lucy Dacus performs this weekend in Millennium Park. She is backed by the Chicago Philharmonic, and it’s a full circle moment of sorts. 

Chicago’s air quality today is among the worst in the world. The candidates for Illinois governor show a stark contrast in campaign spending as they face off for the second time. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has less than $1 million in the bank roughly two weeks before candidates for mayor start collecting signatures to get on the ballot. Plus, layoff notices went out to more than 1500 Chicago Public School staffers yesterday. This includes nearly 800 teachers. The cash-strapped district plans to furlough staff for five days when students aren’t in class to save money. This is part of the budget plan for the school year that starts next month, and the deficit is $732 million. 

Wildfire smoke from Canada is moving into the Chicago area Wednesday night. It could cause hazy conditions, reduced visibility and a slight smoky smell. Northwestern Medicine recently performed a rare quadruple organ transplant. A new whimsically-colored piano has popped up at Navy Pier, thanks to the group Chicago Plays.Plus, the big draw in Chicago theater this summer is “Iceboy! The Musical.” The world premiere currently running at the Goodman is a spoof of playwright Eugene O’Neill’s process for writing the play “The Iceman Cometh.” It features real-life married couple Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, who have both starred in popular TV comedies.

The appointment of Dr. Garth Walker to lead the Chicago Department of Public Health has sailed through a key city council panel. People who live in Chicago’s most heat-vulnerable neighborhoods will soon have improved cooling options. A new analysis says Illinois residents lost nearly $8 billion to sports betting last year. Plus, Vladimir Putin’s government made it illegal to criticize the war after Russia invaded Ukraine. But one Russian family couldn’t hold back their outrage. That led to persecution and a frantic effort to seek asylum in the U.S. — a country with a long history of protecting Russian dissidents. Instead of being welcomed, some of the family has been in detention for almost nine months. The rest of the family is in Chicago’s northern suburbs, trying to get them out. 

A second summer heat wave is hitting the Chicago area this week. A sweeping, bipartisan housing bill that expands access to financing and restricts home purchases by large investors became law in the U.S. Chicago Transit Authority officials say a security surge over the last six months has led to a 30% decline in all reported transit crime.Plus, Illinois is legally required to provide health care to people locked up in state prisons. It’s been a year since the state backed out of a massive contract with the private company charged with providing that care. People incarcerated in Illinois say they’re still not getting even basic medical attention for treatable conditions. Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Corrections has been signing short-term deals with a different for-profit prison health care company called Centurion Health.

A key city council panel is rejecting Mayor Brandon Johnson’s bid to drum up support for a millionaires tax with Chicago voters. Democratic State Rep. Carol Ammons of Champaign says she has “done nothing wrong” after a federal grand jury indictment for wire fraud and obstruction of justice. The Chicago White Sox have reinstated Munetaka Murakami from the injured list ahead of their weekend series against the Athletics.Plus, Chicago has the largest known inventory of lead pipes of any city in the country. It’s got more than 400,000 lines. An investigation by WBEZ, Grist, and Inside Climate News has found the city is also paying more to replace lead lines. Other cities with a lot of lead pipes are spending less than half what Chicago does.

Illinois lawmakers and advocates are still grappling with changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. After a sold-out run at Raven Theatre this spring, the musical “Octet” is being remounted by the Goodman. About a hundred Chicagoans gathered to recite the Declaration of Independence at the Newberry Library on Wednesday. Plus, Lake Michigan is Chicago’s shimmering corner of the five Great Lakes. But there was a brief moment in the 1990s when Vermont tried to make Lake Champlain the sixth Great Lake.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has named the next public health commissioner. Mayor Johnson has made his nominees for the reconstituted Chicago Transit Authority board. A longtime-coming memorial to honor victims of Chicago police torture by notorious former commander Jon Burge is officially under construction on the South Side. Plus, the viral PopUp Bagels debuted in Chicago this spring with a line stretching several blocks down Lincoln Avenue for the private equity-backed goods. The chain’s arrival comes amid a nationwide premium bagel boom. But “Big-Bagel” shops aren’t the only breadlovers hopping in on the trend. Chicago has several new indie bagel spots.

The city of Chicago ethics committee is calling on U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign. The U.S. government eventually admitted it made an error, and Ojeda Duarte returned to Chicago. Many Chicago museums are offering free admission days this summer. Plus, America’s 250th birthday is here after months of planning. As celebrations look back across our nation’s history, one prominent work memorializes the words of the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Composer Aaron Copland captured Lincoln’s enduring wisdom in his 1942 work, “Lincoln Portrait.”

Chicago’s massive system of underground tunnels and reservoirs is almost completely full for the first time. O’Hare International Airport got as much rain in the first five days of July as it typically gets all month. Chicago saw its least violent 4th of July weekend in at least seven years. Plus, Chicago is now home to the largest cafe in the world dedicated to Hello Kitty, the iconic white cat with a red bow. Fans lined up around the block just to get a chance to sip and snack alongside each other.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling is retiring after being in charge of CPD for less than three years. Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging Chicagoans to be cautious this holiday weekend as a Midwest heat wave finally starts to let up. The Chicago Cubs crushed the San Diego Padres Wednesday, putting up a whopping 23 runs. Plus, Chicago is now home to the largest local network of air quality sensors in the country. In a single day, the city-spanning network captures over 20,000 data points, revealing disparities in air quality from neighborhood to neighborhood. It’s about to be put to the test during its first Chicago summer, which is the season when air pollution tends to worsen, partly due to climate change.

Complaints of smoking on trains and buses in Chicago are dropping. The federal government has asked a judge to halt the country’s first reparations program in Evanston, Illinois. The Chicago Blackhawks opened free agency Wednesday by signing new defenseman Bowen Byram to a six year extension. Plus, the hit Chicago-based NPR quiz show “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” sounds a little different these days. Former panelist Alzo Slade is replacing scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, who retired after 12 years on the show. We go behind the scenes at the Studebaker Theater to meet the newest cast member.

Advocates in Chicago are celebrating Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling that affirms birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court today has ruled states can block transgender athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams at public schools and colleges. Chicagoans have stepped up to collect needed supplies for those impacted by last week’s earthquake in Venezuela. Plus, census data analyzed by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times shows over the last two decades, the far southeast side of Chicago has seen steep growth in same-sex households.

The prediction market platform Kalshi is suing Illinois to block a new state tax on sports wagering. The Chicago White Sox continue to be baseball’s feel-good story, and their success continued this weekend as they won their series against the Kansas City Royals. The Community Leadership Fellows, Capstone Clique is a group working with the Chicago History Museum to archive west side history by creating a large scale map art installation. Plus, literature provides a space for authors and readers alike to explore different worlds and perspectives. For queer people, that space can be an important window into identity and community.

Concerns about teen gatherings in Chicago have grown amid conversations about violence and public safety. Chicago Public Schools has to close a $732 million budget gap for the upcoming academic year. Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre is debuting its third screen this weekend. Plus, the epic family drama “Leopoldstadt” was the last script penned by legendary playwright Tom Stoppard before his death in 2025. The Broadway version of the show boasted a cast of 38 actors. Writers Theatre in Glencoe is staging a slightly slimmed down version, directed by Stoppard's frequent collaborator Carey Perloff.

Some Chicago advocates say they are disappointed with today’s Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to end temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians in the U.S. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is creating an office of gun violence reduction after some hesitancy during his first term. Some Lakeview residents could soon have to pay the city to use parking spots behind their homes. Plus, the hit Chicago-set TV show “The Bear” returns tonight for its final season. As the on-screen chefs prepare to say goodbye, we take a look at the show's effect on Chicago's real-world food scene.