Tess Kenny

Story from @tesskenny.bsky.social:

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/29/a...

At one time, Illinois was a top oil producer. Today, that legacy is a $160M problem. Abandoned oil and gas wells pose environmental and public health risks. For three decades, the state has mismanaged funds earmarked for minimizing the threat.

At one time, Illinois was a top oil producer. Today, that legacy is a $160 million problem.

Very proud of this investigation for @chicagotribune.com with Jonathan Bullington, graphics by Claire Malon and photos by E. Jason Wambsgans. Gift link:

Documenting the immigration crackdown, from Chicago to Minneapolis Andrew Freer is part of a small band of filmmakers from across the Chicago area on a mission to protect constitutional rights through on the ground, documentary-style videos.

As the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown persists, a group of Chicago filmmakers are on a mission to document enforcement firsthand.

This week, they were headed to Minnesota to continue their work.

My latest for @chicagotribune.com:

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near school on busy Northwest Side street The deployment of smoke canisters — some witnesses described it as tear gas — came as tensions boiled over on the city’s Northwest Side Friday afternoon.

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near a school on a busy Northwest Side street.

"It’s upsetting to see people being paid to attack our community for senseless stupid reasons.”

📝 @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social, @jake-sheridan.bsky.social and @tesskenny.bsky.social

This morning's front page @chicagotribune.com. Photo by @staceywescott.bsky.social

At Broadview ICE facility, federal agents hurl tear gas and pepper spray at protesters blocking vans Federal agents hurled tear gas and pepper spray into a crowd of about 100 protesters who attempted to block vans from entering and exiting a U.S. Immigration and Customs holding facility in Broadvi…

At Broadview ICE facility, federal agents hurl tear gas and pepper spray at protesters blocking vans www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/19/t...

After surviving an explosion, burn victim celebrates recovery with 19-mile run to Maywood hospital that saved his life Michael Benjamin was gravely burned in a fire on Sept. 8, 2021 at his then-Evanston home.

Four years ago, Michael Benjamin was gravely burned in a fire at his then-Evanston home. Last week, he returned to the hospital that saved his life. Only this time, he ran there.

All 19.8 miles.

My latest for @chicagotribune.com:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/15/b...

‘He still meant something to all of us’: Shooting death of homeless man known as ‘Pepe’ shakes Pilsen Pedro Toledo Catalan, known as Pepe, was shot and killed early Sunday morning in Pilsen, leaving his neighbors to hold nightly vigils for him.

A really tragic and mysterious shooting in Pilsen rattles community and takes Pepe, a well-known homeless man. Story by @tesskenny.bsky.social and @ckubzansky.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/05/s...

‘Dehumanizing’: Inside the Broadview ICE facility where immigrants sleep on cold concrete An investigation by the Chicago Tribune found that immigration detainees have been held for days at the processing center in west suburban Broadview.

My latest: Immigrants held for days without beds or showers at Broadview processing center despite a 12-hour limit.

Data show the federal agency has routinely violated ICE’s internal guidelines, sometimes keeping people there for up to 6 days.

W/ Joe Mahr

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/03/d...

Today, @chicagotribune.com laid off five guild staff members in a roughly 10% cut to our newsroom. These layoffs underscore a sad but unsurprising failure of leadership by Alden Global Capital, our hedge fund owner, and local management.

‘We’re all people’: Chicago ‘No Kings’ demonstration sees giant crowd march peacefully around Loop The sounds of one of Chicago’s largest protests in recent memory reverberated throughout downtown Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered in a united admonishment of President Trump.

The sounds of one of Chicago’s largest protests in recent memory reverberated throughout downtown Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered in a united admonishment of President Donald Trump, marching through the center of the city, pausing in front of the tower bearing his name to direct their ire.

Naperville now the 3rd-largest city in Illinois, latest census data shows Naperville is now the third-largest city in Illinois, according to new estimates from the U.S. census. The city added 1,958 residents between mid-2023 and mid-2024, bringing its total population to…

Naperville is now the third-largest city in Illinois, according to new estimates from the U.S. census.

How the new Pope Leo XIV’s childhood church in Chicago fell into disrepair — and what may lie ahead Many sites associated with past popes have become museums or holy destinations for the faithful. But Pope Leo XIV’s childhood church closed years ago.

Now-Pope Leo's childhood church is in bad shape, though still beautiful. It is already becoming an unofficial pilgrimage site. Archdiocese said there are no plans to purchase the property back from its current owner.
What could be next, for @chicagotribune.com
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/10/p...

Your museum’s federal grant has been terminated. Best wishes, Keith E. Sonderling Dozens of Illinois museums expected federal funding this year. The Trump Administration is now rescinding many of those grants.

And our second story, both for @chicagotribune.com/Naperville Sun/Aurora Beacon-News:

Federal cuts threaten program that allows suburban libraries to share books A program that allows Chicago-area libraries to share books is in jeopardy after President Donald Trump gutted the federal agency that helped fund it.

Last month, President Donald Trump ordered the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

For Illinois, cuts could threaten a statewide service that makes interlibrary loans possible — and have already translated into a loss of local grant money.

✍️ with @mollymorrow.bsky.social:

Longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford, a Naperville resident, named to Basketball Hall of Fame After 32 seasons as an NBA referee, Danny Crawford — a longtime Naperville resident — is headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Danny Crawford is used to making the calls, not calling attention to himself. But in his case, one begets the other.

After 32 seasons spent as one of the NBA’s most respected officials, Crawford — a longtime Naperville resident — is headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

‘I just try to imagine why this happened’: Neighbors, victims live with aftershocks of Rockford rampage It’s been a year since a quiet neighborhood in Rockford was ravaged in a knife, softball bat and truck attack that killed four and left seven wounded.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara pointed out that while the deaths hit the neighborhood the hardest, all of Rockford — population just over 146,000 — felt the ripple effects.

“It impacted every single person who calls Rockford home,” he said.

Naperville council candidate says he received endorsements from two congressmen. He didn’t. Naperville City Council candidate Nag Jaiswal claimed on Facebook last week that he’d been endorsed by U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Danny Davis, but that was not true.

Last week, Naperville City Council candidate Nag Jaiswal took to Facebook to proudly announce the endorsements he said he received from U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, and Danny Davis, of Chicago.

Except, neither Davis nor Krishnamoorthi has endorsed Jaiswal.

Tennis Bums show age is but a number: ‘They liven the courts up in the morning’ The Tennis Bums have been a local staple for more than two decades. A community tennis group with a 4.0 rating by U.S. Tennis Association standards, it boasts members from Naperville and surroundin…

It was 2017 when Richard Wolff met the Tennis Bums at Naperville's Nike Park.

“They said, ‘Hey, you want to play tennis? You look like you’re old enough,” Wolff said, flashing a grin.

The Tennis Bums have been a local staple since 2003. The catch: members are, at their youngest, in their 60s.

Energy procurement options presented to Naperville board as city continues to consider future of electricity grid As Naperville considers the future of its electric grid, an array of energy procurement options was presented to a special meeting of the city’s Public Utilities Advisory Board Thursday night.

As Naperville considers the future of its electric grid, an array of energy procurement options was presented to a special meeting of the city’s Public Utilities Advisory Board Thursday night.

DuPage County Board votes to strip US Rep. Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse The DuPage County courthouse will no longer bear the name of the late U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde. The DuPage County Board voted 10-5 at its Tuesday meeting to remove the Republican congressman’s name fro…

The DuPage County courthouse will no longer bear the name of the late U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde.

Ranked choice voting could boost election fairness, supporters say. But it faces a steep uphill climb in Cook County. Evanston and Oak Park have approved ranked choice voting, but the Cook County Clerk is waiting to act. DuPage and Will Counties may enact it first.

Ranked choice voting could boost election fairness, supporters say. But it faces a steep uphill climb in Cook County.

W/ @adquig.bsky.social and Richie Requena:

North Central’s marching band relishes third NCAA championship: ‘Their win feels just as much our win’ Since 2019, North Central has appeared in the NCAA Division III football championships five times. The Stagg Bowl has taken Naperville Cardinals from Ohio to Maryland to Virginia and, most recently…

Since 2019, Naperville's North Central College has appeared in the NCAA Division III football championships five times. And every appearance, the North Central Cardinal Band has marched right alongside the team.

As a former band kid, this was a fun one: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/09/n...

Naperville’s top stories of 2024: Demise of Ribfest, $25.5 million lawsuit payout, deluge of cicadas and more As we anticipate the new year, here are the Naperville stories that encapsulate 2024 as decided by the Naperville Sun.

For Naperville, 2024 was a year of many (many) business closures and openings, a myriad of roadwork, the occasional city council kerfuffle, Topgolf arrests and Ribfest's sudden demise.

Here's a lookback at the year through the Naperville Sun's coverage: www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/31/n...

Taylor ‘Swiftmas’ is back for another holiday season in Naperville For the second year in a row, Amy and Brian Scott have decked their Naperville home near Atlas Lane and Tupelo Avenue in a Taylor Swift-inspired Christmas lights display.

PSA: Swiftmas is back in Naperville✨
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/06/n...

Chicago Tribune's Starter Pack Join the conversation

Here's our starter pack to follow Chicago Tribune reporters, photographers and editors. We'll keep this list updated as more members of our newsroom join!

Jeremy Allen White lookalike competition in Chicago (Tribune photo)

Jeremy Allen White lookalike competition in Chicago (Tribune photo)

Jeremy Allen White lookalike competition in Chicago (Tribune photo)

Jeremy Allen White lookalike competition in Chicago (Tribune photo)

Meet the winner of the Jeremy Allen White lookalike competition in Chicago.

📷 Tess Crowley / Chicago Tribune

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/16/p...