Jared Rutecki

Son of Drug Kingpin ‘El Chapo’ Pleads Guilty in US Drug Trafficking Case in Deal With Prosecutors A son of notorious Mexican drug kingpin “El Chapo” pleaded guilty Monday to U.S. drug trafficking charges, months after his brother entered a plea deal.

A son of notorious Mexican drug kingpin “El Chapo” pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom in Chicago Monday to drug trafficking charges, months after his brother entered a plea deal.

https://to.wttw.com/3KAc5w7

Christkindlmarket Organizers and Chicago Officials Negotiating Capacity Compromise. Is a Change in Venue Next? After strictly limiting visitors, city officials said they are working with the Christkindlmarket's organizers to allow more people to enjoy the experience, safely.

After strictly limiting visitors, city officials said they are working with the Christkindlmarket's organizers to allow more people to enjoy the experience, safely.

Chicago Spent $212M on Police Overtime So Far This Year, 6% More Than New Limit Set for 2026 Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling told the Chicago City Council on Nov. 5 that he was confident that CPD would be able to spend no more than $200 million on overtime in 2026.

Chicago spent more than $212 million on overtime for members of the Chicago Police Department in the first 10 months of 2025 — 6% more than the amount Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to set aside for police overtime in all of 2026, records show. https://to.wttw.com/49QGPU6

Will read while I solemnly recall the time I watched him cash a paycheck at the Mandalay Bay sportsbook in Vegas

Charles Beach Sworn in as Cook County’s New Chief Judge Charles Beach took his oath of office and officially took over as chief judge, months after he defeated eight-time incumbent Tim Evans in a September election held by Cook County judges.

Charles Beach took his oath of office and officially took over as chief judge in one of the nation’s largest unified court systems, months after he defeated eight-time incumbent Tim Evans in a September election held by Cook County judges.

Northwestern to Pay $75 Million in Deal with Trump Administration to Restore Federal Funding Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the U.S. government to end a series of investigations and restore hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding.

Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the U.S. government in a deal with the Trump administration to end a series of investigations and restore hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding.

Weekend Storm Set a Chicago Record for November Snowfall The weekend snowstorm set a new record for November.

According to the Chicago office of the National Weather Service, the 8.4 inches of snow reported at O’Hare Airport on Nov. 29 set a single calendar day record for the month of November. news.wttw.com/2025/12/01/w...

Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson Fined $5K for Revealing Botched Little Village Smokestack Implosion Could Have Been Prevented Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who paid the $5,000 fine, said that while he was disappointed by the board's decision, he had no regrets about his decision to divulge the confidential report.

The Chicago Board of Ethics voted 4-1 to fine former IG Joe Ferguson $5K for violating the city’s ethics ordinance by divulging a confidential report that found city officials could have prevented a plume of dust from enveloping Little Village when crews demolished the former Crawford Power Plant.

Chicago Rapper Adamn Killa on His Social Media Success, Fans and Career Adam Kelly, better known as rapper Adamn Killa, has garnered a lot of attention for his often viral social media presence.

Adam Kelly, better known as rapper Adamn Killa, has garnered a lot of attention for his often viral social media presence. He talks about media success, his fans and career on “Chicago Tonight.” news.wttw.com/2025/11/26/c...

Chicago Group Raises $300K for Struggling Street Vendors Amid Fears of Immigration Raids Many of Chicago’s street vendors say they’re being pushed out of business amid concerns over federal immigration enforcement. A number of vendors have stopped selling altogether.

The Street Vendors Association of Chicago not only met its GoFundMe goal of $300,000 — it exceeded that goal, raising more than $337,000. news.wttw.com/2025/11/26/c...

Lawsuit Filed by Man Police Shot in CTA Red Line Station Set for Trial The trial, set to start Dec. 8 and last 10 days, represents a high-stakes gamble for the city, whose lawyers typically recommend settling civil cases involving actions by the police that led to crimin...

NEW: A federal jury is set to decide whether Chicago police officers violated the civil rights of the Chicago man they shot during a February 2020 incident in the Grand Red Line CTA station, records show. @wttw.bsky.social

Lawsuit Filed by Man Police Shot in CTA Red Line Station Set for Trial The trial, set to start Dec. 8 and last 10 days, represents a high-stakes gamble for the city, whose lawyers typically recommend settling civil cases involving actions by the police that led to crimin...

A federal jury is set to decide whether Chicago police officers violated the civil rights of the Chicago man they shot during a February 2020 incident in the Grand Red Line CTA station. (Via @heathercherone.bsky.social)

Week in Review: Consumer Spending, Budget Battles and the Impact of Tariffs As the holiday season hits, we’re looking at the economy — consumer spending, budget battles, and the impact of tariffs and immigration enforcement on local businesses.

Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review: Consumer Spending, Budget Battles and the Impact of Tariffs, with Shruti Singh, Brian Rogal, Amy Yee & host @ndblumberg.bsky.social on @wttw.bsky.social

Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson Fined $5K for Revealing Botched Little Village Smokestack Implosion Could Have Been Prevented Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who paid the $5,000 fine, said that while he was disappointed by the board's decision, he had no regrets about his decision to divulge the confidential report.

Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson was fined $5K for violating the city’s ethics ordinance by divulging a confidential report that found officials could have prevented a plume of dust from enveloping Little Village when crews demolished a power plant. https://to.wttw.com/4iv4HPg

NFC North Team Bears Packers Lions Vikings W L T Pct PF PA 9 3 0.750 313 307 8 3 1 .708 294 226 7 5 .583 350 274 4 7 .364 224 255

Bears bears bears bears bears

What’s Open on Thanksgiving? Not Much, as Many Stores Rest Ahead of Black Friday Most big U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, many will open early the following day, Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday gift-buying season and the biggest shopping d...

Here’s what is open and closed this Thanksgiving, along with a travel forecast from the experts at AAA auto club.

https://to.wttw.com/3M1RdOY

Cook County Chief Judge Launches Review After Man on Pretrial Release Charged in CTA Arson Attack Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans said his office is “reviewing all actions” after a Chicago man who had been out on pretrial release allegedly doused a woman in gasoline and lit her on fire on board ...

“We will continue to work closely with our justice-system partners to assess current procedures and determine whether additional safeguards or policy adjustments are warranted. The Office of the Chief Judge remains committed to fairness, accountability and the highest standards of public trust.”

To help cope with what they call “unprecedented circumstances,” the Cook County Board of Review announced that everyone who lives in a Cook County township that’s already closed its 2025 property tax appeal window will have another shot to file.

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

Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House

BREAKING from New York Times: Northwestern is nearing a $75 million deal with the Trump administration to free up federal funding and close out ongoing antisemitism investigations

The find would be the second largest after Columbia's $200m payment www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...

Judge’s Footnote on Immigration Agents Using AI in Chicago Area Raises Accuracy and Privacy Concerns U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote the footnote in a 223-page opinion issued last week, noting that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines agents’ credibility and “ma...

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis wrote the footnote in a 223-page opinion issued last week, noting that the practice of using ChatGPT to write use-of-force reports undermines agents’ credibility and “may explain the inaccuracy of these reports.”

The Chicago Park District's budget proposal for next year includes a new fieldhouse, turning a toxic waste site into a lakefront park and plans to address homelessness.

Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa joined “Chicago Tonight” discusses the proposal. https://to.wttw.com/43RkhyB

Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Nov. 26-Dec. 2 Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations: Saba/Pivot Gang, Billy Corgan at Lyric Opera House, Snocaps/Bonny Doon and more.

Thanksgiving Weekend Forecast Calls for High Winds and Winter Storm With ‘Plowable’ Levels of Snow Possible High winds and the potential for significant snowfall are likely to affect travelers on the front and back ends of the Thanksgiving weekend.

The National Weather Service is warning of wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour Wednesday, which will have the greatest impact on motorists on north/south roads.

https://to.wttw.com/49GoxEX

Illinois Supreme Court to Decide Whether Serious CPD Discipline Hearings Must Take Place in Public The decision by the state’s highest court keeps the system Chicago officials used for 60 years to hold officers accused of the most egregious misconduct in a deep freeze. Oral arguments will take plac...

BREAKING: The Illinois Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether Chicago police officers accused of serious misconduct have the right to ask an arbitrator — and not the Chicago Police Board — to decide their fate, but those proceedings must take place in public. @wttw.bsky.social

Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Leaves Hospital After Treatment for Neurological Disorder The 84-year-old civil rights leader was discharged Monday from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, his son and family spokesperson Yusef Jackson said.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been released from a Chicago hospital where he was treated for a rare neurological disorder, his son said. news.wttw.com/2025/11/25/c...

Cook County Board of Review to Reopen 2025 Property Tax Appeals Window The Cook County Board of Review, the office tasked with settling appeals, announced that everyone who lives in a Cook County township that’s already closed its 2025 property tax appeal window will hav...

To help cope with what they call “unprecedented circumstances,” the Cook County Board of Review, the office tasked with settling appeals, announced that everyone who lives in a Cook County township that’s already closed its 2025 property tax appeal window will have another shot to file.

Chicago Park District Budget Proposal Aims to Tackle New Projects, Address Homeless Encampments A long-awaited new fieldhouse, the transformation of a toxic waste site into a lakefront park and plans to address homelessness are all on the list of priorities for the Chicago Park District.

Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss the Chicago Park District budget proposal.

Trump’s Immigration Forces Deploy “Less Lethal” Weapons in Dangerous Ways, Skirting Rules and Maiming Protesters Civil rights and weapons experts cite the consequences of federal agents’ use of crowd control weapons: religious leaders shot with pepper balls and noxious chemicals. A nurse nearly blinded by tear g...

NEW: Civil rights and weapons experts cite the consequences of federal agents’ use of crowd control weapons: religious leaders shot with pepper balls and noxious chemicals. A nurse nearly blinded by tear gas. Protestors trapped, struggling to breathe.

With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social

Family of Blue Line Burn Victim Launches Fundraiser to Aid in Her Recovery The family of a woman who was set on fire on board a CTA Blue Line train last week has launched an online fundraiser to aid in her medical bills as she recovers from the severe burns she sustained.

A GoFundMe launched by the family of Bethany MaGee has raised more than $12,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. Her family confirmed the fundraiser is authentic through a Cook County Health spokesperson.

Thanksgiving Travelers Expected to Pass Through O’Hare, Hit the Road in Record Numbers This Year O’Hare is likely to see its busiest Thanksgiving travel week in the airport’s 70-year history, according to the city’s aviation department. In Illinois, more than 4.1 million residents are expected to...

O’Hare is likely to see its busiest Thanksgiving travel week in the airport’s history, according to the city’s aviation department. The peak day for travel at O’Hare and Midway is expected to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving.