The Rundown | Chicago News

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...

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...

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 lin...

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 memoria...

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 w...

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 s...

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....

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...

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 cre...

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 de...

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...

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill to protect patient information from states that criminalize abortion. Chicago has been nationally recognized as a local government that shows a strong commitment to immigrant inclusion. It’s summer in Chicago, so people can see performances inside theaters and outdoors. Plus, Kathy Osterman Beach, or Hollywood Beach, is known as Chicago’s gay beach. But...

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says his office has been advising the Chicago Bears on crafting a new proposal that would keep the team on their home turf. Lawmakers in Springfield did not pass Governor Pritzker’s widely-touted plan to build more affordable housing. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros plans to review nearly 20 years of grand jury proceedings involving a veteran prosecutor at the center of...

Illinois has broken the record for most tornadoes in a year, and it’s only June. Public health officials are revealing why Chicagoans can expect to live longer than ever. More than 180 drawings created by famed artist Willem de Kooning are now on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. Plus, last week, chefs and celebrities from across the country came to Chicago for the annual James Beard Awards...

The Obama Presidential Center was dedicated today in a star-studded ceremony featuring everyone from former presidents to Grammy-winning artists. Chicago actor Harry Lennix is in town this weekend lending his booming voice to an orchestral performance. Illinois’ largest labor union, AFL-CIO, is putting off endorsing candidates running for office this fall. Nurses at Chicago’s Saint Mary of Nazaret...

A Hazardous Weather Outlook is in effect for parts of north central and northeast Illinois as well as northwest Indiana. The city of Chicago is cracking down on airbag thefts. The City Council passed a measure Wednesday making it unlawful to purchase airbags from anywhere other than a repair shop, recycling facility or original manufacturer. Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill this week so Medicaid...

Another veteran politician is entering what’s expected to be a crowded 2027 race for Chicago mayor. Illinois Democratic lawmakers have passed a measure to protect trans youth in foster care. The James Beard Awards brought some of the country’s biggest food names to town, and at last night’s ceremony, immigration was a throughline. Plus, the Supreme Court is set to decide whether birthright citizen...

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are back in Chicago for the Obama Presidential Center's official grand opening later this week. The head of the team that steers arts and culture programming in Chicago says she wants to create more career paths for young creatives. Roosevelt University graduate student Joabe Barbosa has now run every street in Chicago. Plus, the h...

Storms that swept through the Chicago region on Wednesday caused damage across the city. The annual Thai Festival Chicago returns to the Uptown neighborhood this weekend with new vendors and performances. The Chicago Wolves will play in game 1 of the Calder Cup Final Friday night. Plus, securing safe and affordable housing has long been a challenge for some of Chicago’s Black residents. Since the...

The Chicago area could see destructive winds up to 80 miles per hour, damaging hail and flash flooding. Chicagoans have registered at least 5600 complaints with the city's 311 hotline following Wednesday night’s storm. The World Cup kicked off this afternoon in Mexico City, and three players with the Chicago Fire are on the pitch for the tournament. Plus, the annual James Beard Awards return to Ch...

Republican lawmakers grilled the leader of Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday about transgender students, race, abortion and religion. A local immigration coalition is raising awareness about World Cup soccer team delegations struggling to enter the U.S. Fans heading to Wednesday night’s White Sox game will be able to pick up a limited edition hat. Plus, four months ago, the organization behind t...

A coalition of Chicago alderpersons say they plan to reject the proposed sale of the city's parking meters to a New York investment firm. Queer elders in Chicago say it’s important to bridge the gap between the generations as the Trump administration rolls back protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. The Chicago Wolves have clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Final. Plus, when you go to an art museum, the...

More than 100 former federal prosecutors say there has been a failure of leadership in the office of Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros. Bears fans across Illinois are holding on to hope the team will reverse its decision and stay in state. Chicago Bulls analyst Stacey King died Sunday at age 59. Plus, it looks like the Bears may have finally landed on a location for a new stadium, and it’s Hamm...

The Chicago Bears’ board is moving forward with a new home in Hammond, but political leaders on both sides of the Illinois-Indiana state line have vastly different takes on the development. Federal officials say a person in a vehicle died from an explosion on the Eisenhower Expressway yesterday. Chicago’s annual Blues Festival is officially underway at the Ramova Theatre. Plus, we head to Simeon C...

Community leaders in Chicago are demanding a dedicated office to investigate cases of missing and murdered Black girls and women. The Obama Presidential Center Museum opens to the public on Juneteenth. The Shedd Aquarium has agreed to take some animals from a shuttered marine park at Niagara Falls. Plus, the Chicago Blues Festival kicks off Thursday night and celebrates 55 years of Chicago’s own A...