The Rundown | Chicago News

University of Chicago officials say a person of interest has been identified after a woman reported being sexually assaulted at a frat house over the weekend. Endeavor Health plans to merge under the umbrella of Rush University System for Health. Democratic Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey are sparring over data centers. Lyric Opera of Chicago makes history this week with an American Sign Language interpretation of Mozart's Italian-language "Don Giovanni."

Plus, we have fewer than three weeks until election day. As campaigns hit high gear, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican candidate Darren Bailey...

There are new updates in a sexual assault case unfolding at a University of Chicago fraternity house. Pope Leo XIV is recovering after having surgery today to remove a lung nodule. A group of Pulitzer Prize winners is in Chicago this week helping to open a new traveling exhibit.

Plus, Chicago songwriter Vivian McConnell is known for fusing indie rock with unexpected flares. You can hear Latin rhythms and the flute she learned to play in high school. Around town, she performs with artists like Finom or Spencer Tweedy. But under the moniker VV Lightbody, she has...

The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to the hospital Tuesday morning. Chicago police are investigating the sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman at a fraternity house near the University of Chicago in Hyde Park. More than 54,000 runners participated in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Plus, Civil Rights Activist Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior would have turned 85 last week. His fraternity brothers hosted youth events at the Rainbow PUSH Headquarters to celebrate his birthday and honor his legacy. 

Community leaders in Little Village are calling for accountability after an off-duty Chicago cop allegedly shot a man over the weekend. A point-in-time count of Chicago’s homeless residents shows a 12.4 percent decrease in the city’s unhoused population compared to the same count last year. Republican gubernatorial challenger Darren Bailey wants the Trump administration to reconsider sending aid after severe weather in August. The 3-and-1 Chicago Bears are headed to Green Bay to face the Packers on Sunday.

Plus, former Bears Coach Mike Ditka has died at age 86. He became a symbol for the city of Chic...

The Chicago White Sox try again tonight to win their way into the American League Championship series. The White Sox hold a 2 games to 1 lead over Cleveland in this best-of-five series. First pitch at Rate Field tonight is a little after 7:00.  The family of Silverio Villegas González filed an administrative complaint today seeking compensation from the federal government for his death. A coalition of housing advocates say thousands of Chicagoans are at risk for homelessness if the City Council does not provide enough funding in next year’s budget. Some Illinois students are calling on colleges to cancel thei...

For the first time during their playoff run, the White Sox are playing in front of their home crowd today. If the Sox win, it’ll be their first time clinching a playoff series while at home since 1906. An Evanston mom is training to run the Chicago Marathon while pushing her daughter in an adaptive wheelchair. Employees at the Barack Obama Foundation and Presidential Center are unionizing. The new AFSCME union will represent more than 250 people who work for the Obama Foundation in Chicago, Washington DC and across the country. 

Plus, Before Pope Leo the 14th became the...

The Chicago White Sox are heading home to try and sweep the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series. The White Sox's #1 fan, Pope Leo the 14th, is the subject of a new book. Palmer Square in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood is the first city park accredited as an arboretum. Mosquitoes around the Chicago area are starting to hibernate. Chicago has been named the best big city in the country for the 10th consecutive year by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

Plus, Dennis Hastert once was U.S. House speaker, but died a sex of...

A woman who was shot by a Border Patrol agent at the height of Operation Midway Blitz is suing the federal government. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says downsizing a southern Illinois mental health facility is to protect the patients who live there. The University of Chicago gave children and adults the opportunity to be scientists for the day during their fifth annual South Side Science Festival.

Plus, August storms knocked out power for nearly 375,000 residents in Northwest Indiana, leaving people in the dark for days. One house kept its lights on the whole time because it’s wh...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson appears to have been left out of a high-stakes meeting on the future of the Chicago Bears. Former Illinois U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger says he has nothing to hide. Northwestern Wildcats fans will experience the newly built Ryan Field during tonight’s game against Penn State.

Plus, Chicago loves its basketball. It’s not just the 90s Bulls. Any park you go to will have folks playing a pick up game. Chicago Public League high school stars become celebrities in this town. The love this city has for the game is so stro...

An effort by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s opposition to ding him for running promotional videos produced by a semi-public agency amid his reelection went nowhere on Thursday. The White Sox are heading to the American League Division Series after sweeping the Astros in Houston – they won last night 7-3. Meantime, The Chicago Cubs’ season is over.

Plus, since President Trump was re-elected, about a dozen veteran immigration judges in Chicago have stepped down or been fired. Some of those judges have told WBEZ they faced intense pressure to find fewer reasons to grant asylum. Their replacements have limite...

An Illinois housing advocacy group is suing the Trump administration for cutting off federal funds for programs like homebuyer counseling and homelessness prevention. One of the four remaining candidates for Chicago school board president is suspending his campaign. Chicago’s top local food honors, the Banchet Awards, have announced the 2027 finalists.

Plus, disinvestment in Chicago’s South and West sides has long impacted opportunities for residents, and new data show young people are also feeling the effects. My Block, My Hood, My City surveyed teens to find out what they would like to see in their communities.

The Chicago City Council has overwhelmingly approved the sale of the city’s parking meter contract in a deal that sweetens the terms for Chicago taxpayers. Dozens of elected officials in Chicago are speaking out against Peoples Gas proposed $144 million rate hike. The White Sox and Cubs kick off the post season today.

Plus, a number of new art galleries and collections have hit the scene in Chicago for the fall. With their arrival comes a renewed push to bring more young people into the art gallery scene and get them to start collections of their own.

A majority of Chicago alderpersons have signed onto a letter asking Mayor Brandon Johnson not to pursue another corporate head tax in his 2027 budget. Third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to get the start for the Bears tonight against the Eagles. The Chicago White Sox finished their season 84 and 78, one game behind the American League Central champions Cleveland Guardians.

Plus, protests took place this weekend outside of the Presidents Cup golf tournament in northwest suburban Bloomingdale. Several groups gathered at Medinah Country Club in objection to President Trump's visit. 

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants state lawmakers to consider new restrictions on data centers after the November election. Chicago art lovers have a chance to experience two of Yayoi Kusama’s popular Infinity Mirror Rooms this fall. The White Sox and Cubs are both in the post season, and it’s the first time the two teams have clinched a playoff spot on the same day.

Plus, comedian Lil Rel is back in Chicago. The West Side native is hosting the What’s Funny Comedy Festival through Saturday. He spoke about his career in standup and returning to the...

The National Weather Service has issued a new report on two back-to-back extreme weather events from this summer. Data from the Illinois Department of Public Health shows hospitalizations creeping up for COVID and influenza, while RSV admissions were steady from week to week. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and its nonprofit parent organization rolled out a new logo and rebrand on Thursday.

Plus, on Chicago’s South Side, 78th Street from South Shore Drive to Coles Avenue has now officially been designated as “Doctor Donda West Way.” The dedication ceremony was this week. 

A Cook County Board committee has deferred a vote on a resolution that would authorize an independent review of the county jail. Some residents in the Lincoln Park neighborhood are fed up with the demolition of historic homes. The White Sox and Cubs have a chance to clinch a playoff spot Wednesday night.

Plus, for the first time, the Chicago school board will be fully elected. All 20 members, plus a president, will be chosen in the November election. WBEZ helped create a comprehensive CPS School Board voter guide out this week.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is losing a pillar in the city’s first line of defense against the Trump administration. Illinois’ top law enforcement official is touting a federal court order that will protect health, education and social services for low-income families regardless of immigration status. Another beluga whale has died at Shedd Aquarium after being transferred from the shuttered Marineland aquarium in Canada. 

A new book details the life and legacy of the Gay Sisters, a family group who shaped the Gospel music genre. The singers are best known for their 1951 hit record "God Will Take Care...

Some advocates are pushing for an independent review of the Cook County Jail, citing concerns about deaths and inadequate supervision. Riot Fest organizers have until Friday to clean and restore the grounds at Douglass Park on Chicago’s south side. With a net worth of $4.2 billion dollars, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has dropped in Forbes’ ranking of the richest people in the world.

Plus, Governor Pritzker is, for the first time, opening up about his weight-loss journey using a GLP-1 medication to manage his glucose levels. 

Five years ago, Illinois became the first state to require every public elementary and high school to teach a unit of Asian American history. Lawmakers passed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act – or the TEAACH Act – in 2021. Advocates said the bill would help combat racial stereotypes in the midst of rising anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic, and other states have since followed in Illinois’ footsteps. 

In this special edition of three stories in the “Teaching History” series, WBEZ’s Minju Park speaks to lawmakers, teachers and students about Asian American and Pacific Islander history to explore wheth...

In Illinois, people who are terminally ill with fewer than six months to live can now request a prescription for medication to end their lives. This last summer weekend is shaping up to be a rainy one. Olympians, elected officials, members of the public and more plunged into the Chicago River on Friday for the Big Jump.

Chaka Khan is an 11-time Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and has a song preserved in the Library of Congress. The cultural icon got her start in Chicago’s Hyde Park and Auburn Gresham. Her new album dr...

More people are waiting in line to access higher education inside Illinois prisons. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to curb high inflation. The Englewood Jazz Festival gets underway tonight on Chicago’s south side. 

Plus, as enrollment continues to drop at Chicago Public Schools, there’s a growing chorus of people who say it's time to do another round of school closures.  Closing schools in Chicago became a political hot potato after former Mayor Rahm Emanuel shuttered 50 all at once in 2013. Yet, the question will no lon...

The Cook County state’s attorney is firing back after Governor JB Pritzker criticized prosecutors for not going after rogue immigration enforcement agents. The renovated plaza of the former Thompson Center in Chicago’s Loop will get a new outdoor sculpture. The Chicago Cubs try to clinch a series win over the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night. 

Plus, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has officially launched his bid for reelection. He wants his investments in the arts and culture scene in the city to “define” his administration. But how does Chicago’s spending on the arts compare to other major citie

Chicago has reached a tentative deal with an investment firm called Stonepeak Partners to buy the city’s parking meters from the company that currently owns them. Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, the nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating democracy. Students at some universities in the Chicago area are now able to major in artificial intelligence. 

Plus, celebrations for Mexican Independence Day got underway over the weekend. Thousands of people gathered in Grant Park for El Grito Chicago — a two day celebration of Mexican culture and independence.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has some serious fundraising to do after he launched his reelection campaign at the DuSable History Museum on Sunday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports COVID-19 activity is increasing nationally, but hospitalizations remain low. The Chicago Bears are coming in hot off an explosive season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Plus, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has moved as many assumed he would – announcing plans to seek a second term. He’s had successes the past three-plus years, like eliminating the subminimum wage for tipped workers and signing off on one...

Illinois' new "medical aid in dying" law goes into effect on Saturday. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown. Chicago will mark Mexican Independence Day with festivities all around the city this weekend.

Plus, Illinois elected officials commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a day of service in Chicago.

Enrollment is up at the University of Illinois system, hitting more than 102,000 students for the first time. A Chicago man is offering walking tours that highlight the history of brick in the city. People who live in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side have a new sculpture park.

Plus, teen takeovers and trends were a big topic on social media and in the news this summer. The coverage and rhetoric around it has left some of Chicago’s teens feeling discouraged and unwelcome in their own city, but they aren’t giving up. In August, more t...

Dozens of students walked out of class today at Lincoln-Way East High School in south suburban Frankfort. A second case of measles has been reported in Kane County. The National Weather Service reports Chicago had its warmest September start on record.

Plus, WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang met up with Darren Hightower, one of the dozens of people who were forced out of their homes after one of the definitive moments of Operation Midway Blitz: the military-style raid of an apartment complex in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood last September. 

It's been a year since the Trump administration launched Operation Midway Blitz, an aggressive anti-immigration campaign they said was targeting the "worst of the worst,” in Chicago. In reality, Operation Midway Blitz spread fear throughout the city, as federal immigration agents conducted mass arrests of people, including U.S. citizens, who were not criminals. WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times reporters were there as federal agents descended on Chicago. Those reporters reflect back on the key moments and lasting effects of the sweeping enforcement operation.

With national arts funding under threat, advocates say local government support is more critical than ever. Thousands of people will turn DuSable Lake Shore Drive into a cyclist’s paradise on Sunday. The Chicago Labor Day Parade kicks off on Chicago’s Southeast Side at 11 a.m. on Saturday, immediately followed by Eddie Fest at Steelworkers Park. 

Plus, Kanye West plays two nearly sold-out shows this week at Soldier Field. West found his voice in Chicago as a young artist. He returns a polarizing figure, after recently apologizing for anti-semitic and racist behavior. What should his legacy be? <

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 mo...

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 C...

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 crit...

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...

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...

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...