The Rundown | Chicago News

We’ll hear about a charity created by Illinois’ House Speaker that is accepting donations from interests that stand to benefit from his actions in Springfield. Incarceration has long-lasting effects on young people as they grow into adults, according to a study out of Northwestern University. Most Illinois residents think public higher ed in the state isn’t affordable, a new study finds.

A new coalition says neighborhood street festivals in Chicago are struggling to survive. As the Trump administration continues to make changes to the Social Security system – some Illinois residents say they’re worried about accessing their benefits. Plus, Illinois Democratic politicians say the party needs to focus on kitchen table issues in order to win voters. 

A report from Northwestern University points to an initiative as part of the reason why shootings are down in Chicago. Questions continue swirling around U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s plans as other Illinois Democrats consider their own futures. Northwestern students and professors are calling on their leaders to defend the university against President Trump.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said a proposal that would give Chicago Police sole discretion to implement immediate curfews for kids needs “deeper vetting.” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said public safety is under attack under Donald Trump’s administration. Chicago’s Links Hall announced that it will close its doors for good after its current season.

Those who’ve been convicted of a crime for participating in the January 6th insurrection can no longer work for the city of Chicago. A nearly three-year upswing in Chicago robberies has ended. Dozens of Chicago History Museum employees and supporters of the local ASFCME union protested at the museum yesterday.

Illinois educators are unsure of how to protect their students as the Trump administration has cancelled hundreds of student visas. Some Illinois Democrats are growing impatient with Senator Dick Durbin. Plus, the Chicago Blackhawks season is over.

Former President Joe Biden is using Chicago as a venue to hit his GOP successor, President Donald Trump, on Social Security cutbacks. A Chicago city council member plans to push for a vote today on his stalled ordinance to create an 8 p.m. curfew for kids in the city’s downtown area. Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker says he’s committed to protecting college and university students in the state.

Former President Joe Biden is in Chicago. Governor Pritzker’s office is shelling out millions of taxpayer dollars to Illinois’ film and TV industry. Plus, Portillo’s launched its breakfast menu today.

Some parents are breathing a sign of relief now that the teachers union has approved a new contract with the Chicago Public Schools. WBEZ has tips for how to best protect your financial investments during uncertain economic times. A dark humorist from Madison delivers a new play that blends stand-up comedy and drama.

The Chicago Teachers Union contract has been ratified with nearly unanimous support. Registration for Chicago Park District summer camps has begun. Piping plovers have returned to Montrose Beach.

Some crime survivors held a healing vigil on Chicago’s West Side this weekend. Tariff uncertainty is impacting Illinois farmers ahead of a new planting season. The Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo filled McCormick Place over the weekend.

Introducing WBEZ's latest podcast series, Making: Stories Without End. Host Natalie Moore takes you on a journey to learn about daytime soap operas and their broad reach on television. From the early radio days in the 1930s through the invention of TV to streaming, this way of telling immersive stories has endured. There are intergenerational family stories, discussions about divorce and abortion,...

A Chicago City Council committee voted to reject a 1.25 million dollar settlement for the family of Dexter Reed, who was shot dead by police officers last year. Cook County Health is trying to increase awareness of H-I-V prevention, testing, and services. Plus, tomorrow is national record store day.

Members of Chicago’s arts community are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to address issues within the city’s cultural affairs department. Public health officials are closely watching measles outbreaks locally as the highly contagious virus circulates in the U.S. New research from Northwestern University explains why some people’s brains become deeply political while others remain disengaged.

Homeowners in Cook County who struggle the most with big property tax hikes could soon get a thousand dollars. The Illinois Supreme Court will not consider a lawsuit over what Republicans call unconstitutional political maps. Plus, Third Coast Percussion, is celebrating its 20th year with a new album out tomorrow.

Northwestern faculty say the Trump Administration’s pause on federal funding could devastate research there. A new lawsuit aims to prevent Northwestern from cooperating with a Congressional investigation. Illinois State Board responds to the Trump threat to pull funding if diversity, equity and inclusion programs aren't eliminated.

The police officer charged with murdering Sonya Massey in Springfield is getting his trial moved. President Trump has reportedly frozen nearly $800 million in federal funding for Northwestern University. Cook County residents who struggle with big property tax hikes might get a one-time payment of $1,000 dollars.

A group of former Northwestern football players is settling a series of lawsuits against the university, which alleged hazing and abusive behavior on the team. A top economic official in Chicago is warning about possible shellshocks from President Trump’s tariffs. The Chicago Bears are back on the field. 

Early findings suggest that Cook County’s guaranteed income pilot program helped provide economic stability for thousands of residents. How a U.S. Supreme Court order affects teacher training programs in Illinois. Democrats in Springfield are hoping to crack down on so-called “crime-free” housing laws.

A Chicago man is in police custody in connection with multiple sex crimes against female victims on the city’s North West Side. Blustery snow showers are expected to continue across the Chicago area into the evening as temperatures are expected to tumble into the mid-20s tonight. Registration for Chicago Park District summer camps begins Monday April 14 at 9 AM.

Thousands of Chicagoans took to the streets this weekend (SAT) to protest the way the Trump administration is running the country. Medical students at Northwestern University are urging their teaching hospital to resume surgeries for transgender youth. A Chicago OBGYN is on a Fulbright scholarship in Uganda. Now that Washington has frozen her funding, she has to cut her mission short.

Parts of the Midwest and South are facing the possibility of torrential rains and life-threatening flash floods. Illinois’ Attorney General is once again battling President Donald Trump – this time over election law. Plus, Wrigleyville is alive once again.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul likely isn’t going to take any action against hospitals in Chicago that have stopped gender care surgeries. Democratic attorneys general in 19 states – including Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan – are suing over President Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape elections across the U.S. The Chicago Cubs will play in their home opener at Wrigley Field today after a l...

Mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services are endangering the Head Start child care program that serves thousands of Illinois’ neediest kids and families. Tree pollen is higher than usual for this time of year thanks to an unseasonably warm March. The Chicago Latino Film Festival begins today and runs through April 14.

The installation of a citywide air monitoring network has been pushed back several months. Pollen counts by Loyola Medicine help Chicagoans manage their allergies. For over a year, the Bears have said Chicago’s lakefront was their sole focus as the site for a new stadium. But now, their vision is shifting.