WTTW - Chicago PBS

War Powers Debate Intensifies After Trump Orders Attack on Iran Without Approval by Congress While presidents have the authority as the commander in chief to conduct certain strategic military operations on their own, the Constitution vests Congress with the power to wage war.

Key members of Congress are demanding a vote on a war powers resolution that would restrain President Donald Trump’s military attack on Iran unless the administration wins their approval for what they warn is a potentially illegal campaign. https://to.wttw.com/4rKh0ep

US and Israel Launch a Major Attack on Iran. Trump Urges Iranians to ‘Take Over’ Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region, and exchanges of fire continued into the night.

Several members of Congress from Illinois denounced the attack, saying it was launched without congressional authorization. The U.N. Security Council said it would hold an emergency meeting Saturday. https://to.wttw.com/3MVW84H

County jails and local election officials in Illinois are required to allow those in custody the opportunity to vote. WTTW News reached out to every county jail with a set of three questions to see how voting is implemented. #FirsthandWTTW to.wttw.com/46gcJ9Q

CPS Board Approves Academic Calendars for Next 2 School Years CPS classes for K-12 students in the 2026-27 academic year will begin Aug. 24 and end June 11. The following year, they’ll begin Aug. 23 and run through June 9.

Chicago Public Schools students now know when the next two school years will kick off and conclude. https://to.wttw.com/40vDnYW

Crowds of Mourners Line Up for Memorial Services for Jesse Jackson in Chicago The protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate will lie in repose for two days at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition before events in Washington, D.C., ...

A line of mourners streamed through a Chicago auditorium Thursday to pay final respects to the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. as cross-country memorial services began in the city the late civil rights leader called home. https://to.wttw.com/4cjI5jO

The Behind-the-Scenes Work to Secure Local Elections | FIRSTHAND: Democracy When it comes time for voters across Chicago and Illinois to cast their ballots this year, how much faith should they have that they not only will be counted, but counted accurately?

When it comes time for voters across Chicago and Illinois to cast their ballots this year, how much faith should they have that they not only will be counted, but counted accurately? https://to.wttw.com/4aU8DFX

Lawmakers Take Step to Incentivize Bears to Stay in Illinois The bill would give local governments power to negotiate with the Chicago Bears — and other “megadevelopments” — over property tax payments.

An Illinois House committee voted to advance a major economic development bill on Thursday that could ultimately help convince the Chicago Bears to stay in Illinois rather than bolting for Indiana. https://to.wttw.com/4rGjtGw

From a Documentary Grappling With US History to an Irish Dance Show, Here Are 4 Arts Picks for Your Week Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

Now that February is wrapping up, it’s safe to say that we’re fully settled into 2026. Winter is showing signs of thawing (at least in Chicago) and the city’s arts communities have ramped up their cultural offerings and events. https://to.wttw.com/4u1NLW0

Illinois Law Allows Those in Jail Voting Access. How Do Counties Make That Happen? | FIRSTHAND: Democracy County jails and local election officials in Illinois are required to allow those in custody the opportunity to vote. To see how local sheriffs and election officials have actually implemented voting,...

Illinois county jails and local election officials must allow those in custody the opportunity to vote. To see how sheriffs and election officials have actually implemented this, we reached out to every county jail in Illinois with a set of questions. https://to.wttw.com/46gcJ9Q

Man Accused With Heather Mack in Bali Suitcase Murder Pleads Not Guilty, Intends to Represent Himself Tommy Schaefer, the man who allegedly conspired with his then-girlfriend Heather Mack to kill her mother at a luxury resort in Bali, said he intends to represent himself and pleaded not guilty to the ...

Tommy Schaefer, the man who allegedly conspired with his then-girlfriend Heather Mack to kill her mother at a luxury resort in Bali, said he intends to represent himself and pleaded not guilty to the crime in a Chicago courtroom Thursday. https://to.wttw.com/3ZTS9bP

Lurie Garden Skipping Spring, Closing for Repairs Through July Lurie Garden will be closed to the public beginning Monday through early July while major repairs are made to the garden’s water feature and boardwalk.

Lurie Garden, one of downtown Chicago’s premier green spaces, will be closed to the public beginning Monday through early July.

https://to.wttw.com/4kZayxp

Jury Finds CPD Officers Used Excessive Force During Botched 2018 Raid, Awards $5.7M to Family The eight-member jury found that nine CPD officers acted improperly and used excessive force against Ebony Tate, her mother, Cynthia Eason, and four children on Aug. 9, 2018, when a CPD SWAT team set ...

A federal jury ordered the city of Chicago on Wednesday to pay $5.7 million to a family with four children, determining that a botched 2018 Chicago Police raid of their Back of the Yards apartment violated their civil rights. https://to.wttw.com/3OzZA5s

Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Feb. 25-March 3 Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more. This weekend's lineup includes a few free shows around the city. Check them out here: https://to.wttw.com/4aP5W8r

A Desert Bloom in the Dead of Winter? It’s Always Summer at This Greenhouse Garden It’s always summer in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s arid greenhouse, where the view is unlike anywhere else in the world.

It’s always summer in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s arid greenhouse, where horticulturalist Sarah Nolimal tends to an assortment of cacti, agave, aloes and other succulents that require year-round warmth.

https://to.wttw.com/4aAHybQ

Iran Accuses Trump of ‘Big Lies’ Ahead of Geneva Talks in Face of Major US Military Deployment The remarks by two Iranian officials come as America has assembled its biggest deployment of aircraft and warships to the Middle East in decades. The buildup is part of President Donald Trump’s effort...

Iran pushed back against President Trump’s pressure tactics ahead of critical talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program, alternating between calling his remarks “big lies” and saying negotiations may yield an agreement through “honorable diplomacy.” https://to.wttw.com/4aEG3tm

Man Accused With Heather Mack in Bali Suitcase Murder Now in Federal Custody Tommy Schaefer, the man who in 2014 allegedly beat to death Sheila von Wiese-Mack in Bali as part of a plot with her daughter Heather Mack to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund, has been returne...

Tommy Schaefer, the man who in 2014 allegedly beat to death Sheila von Wiese-Mack in Bali as part of a plot with her daughter Heather Mack to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund, has been returned to the U.S. and is in federal custody. https://to.wttw.com/4rFRMOi

Suburban Woman to Remain in Jail After Killing of Uber Eats Driver Outside Loretto Hospital Montoya Perry, 33, will be detained in the Cook County Jail pending trial after her arrest on felony murder and vehicular hijacking charges following the death of 28-year-old Daniel Figueroa.

A suburban Maywood woman allegedly ran over and killed an Uber Eats driver as she attempted to steal his van while he made a delivery at Loretto Hospital on Chicago’s West Side early Monday morning.

https://to.wttw.com/3MsbbmA

A PR Push on the Public Dime: Chicago Police Podcast Records Peel Back Layers of Expanded Communication Costs Podcasts are a new avenue for police to reach the communities they serve. A monthslong public records battle with CPD identifies the cost of the podcast “Roll Call.” It is the latest evidence of the h...

Announced in August, the “Roll Call” podcast was launched in an effort to build community ties and inform the public about the lives of law enforcement personnel.

https://to.wttw.com/4qRPqKR

President Donald Trump’s Post-State of the Union Sales Job Begins Now President Donald Trump has delivered the State of the Union. Now the challenge for him is to make that message stick.

The president's address Tuesday was a declaration of pride in the achievements of his still-young second term, as he boasted of an economic renaissance at home while he’s imposed a new world order abroad.

https://to.wttw.com/4rVidQh

The Supreme Court’s rebuke of President Trump’s most sweeping tariffs means he can’t conjure up new import taxes on a whim anymore. But the justices’ ruling is still unlikely to ease uncertainty over Trump’s trade policy that has paralyzed businesses. https://to.wttw.com/4tV8VEZ

As a volunteer with Braver Angels, Maryanne guides community debates on a hot-button issue, teaches college students how to disagree, and shows neighbors of opposing political views how to tone down partisanship. Watch her #FirsthandWTTW documentary: to.wttw.com/4cAMIpB

Liz Moyer, a professor of atmospheric science at UChicago, and Susan Mudd, a senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law and Policy Center, spoke to "Chicago Tonight" on the recent blow to U.S. climate policy from the Trump administration. https://to.wttw.com/3OKSGdA

Jury Weighs Whether CPD’s ‘Code of Silence’ Led to Botched Raid That Traumatized 4 Kids A jury is now deciding whether CPD officers traumatized Ebony Tate, her mother and four children on Aug. 9, 2018, when a CPD SWAT team set off flashbang grenades outside the family’s apartment before ...

The jury in this case deliberated for about 90 minutes yesterday, and started at 9 a.m. today.
They've sent one note so far: they'd like a table of contents of the *voluminous* evidence they are considering. Both sides agree to make that happen. @wttw.bsky.social

Jury Weighs Whether CPD’s ‘Code of Silence’ Led to Botched Raid That Traumatized 4 Kids A jury is now deciding whether CPD officers traumatized Ebony Tate, her mother and four children on Aug. 9, 2018, when a CPD SWAT team set off flashbang grenades outside the family’s apartment before ...

A federal jury began deliberating Tuesday about whether a “code of silence” among Chicago Police Department officers led to a botched August 2018 raid of a Back of the Yards apartment that violated the civil rights of a family with four children. https://to.wttw.com/3ZR4DRt

Jury Weighs Whether CPD’s ‘Code of Silence’ Led to Botched Raid That Traumatized 4 Kids A jury is now deciding whether CPD officers traumatized Ebony Tate, her mother and four children on Aug. 9, 2018, when a CPD SWAT team set off flashbang grenades outside the family’s apartment before ...

NEW: A federal jury began deliberating Tuesday about whether a “code of silence” among Chicago Police Department officers led to a botched August 2018 raid of a Back of the Yards apartment that violated the civil rights of a family with four children. @wttw.bsky.social

Here’s Who the Illinois Congressional Delegation is Bringing to the State of the Union, as Some Choose to Skip Trump’s Speech Several Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation have announced they would not attend the speech, citing their disapproval of the president.

Though some members of the Illinois congressional delegation are choosing not to attend, several others are, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

The senator is set to bring Tereza Lee, the musical prodigy who was Durbin's inspiration to write the Dream Act. https://to.wttw.com/4aB3R1c

Illinois Legislators Introduce Bills to Regulate Pricing Based on Personal Data As top legislators emphasize affordability this session, several lawmakers are taking aim at regulating algorithmic pricing that uses consumers’ personal data.

House Bill 4248, co-sponsored by Reps. Kam Buckner and Maura Hirschauer, would require corporations to disclose the use of algorithmic pricing and consumers could opt out. House Bill 4544, sponsored by Rep. Eva Dina Delgado, would only require disclosure. https://to.wttw.com/4aUwDc5

An Extraordinary Young Violinist Lights Up the Stage With the CSO: Review The four audiences in mid-February who were able to see guest artist Himari perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra could not have been more lucky, writes WTTW News critic Hedy Weiss.

The four audiences in mid-February who were able to see guest artist Himari perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra could not have been more lucky, Hedy Weiss writes. https://to.wttw.com/4aJOTVm

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Chicago’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office Named Lead Partner in New Trade Fraud Task Force Andrew Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, has announced that his office has been selected by the Department of Justice to serve as a lead prosecutorial partner on its Trade ...

Andrew Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, has announced that his office has been selected by the Department of Justice to serve as a lead prosecutorial partner on its Trade Fraud Task Force.

https://to.wttw.com/3OuxR6h