Jared Rutecki

“Sinners” shines a spotlight on blues music, introducing a whole new generation to the genre.

While the blues may be having a mainstream moment, the Chicago blues community has long been dedicated to the art form’s preservation, history and future. https://to.wttw.com/4ut2zx1

Southwest Airlines to Discontinue Service at O’Hare Airport in June “Operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging,” according to a Southwest Airlines spokesperson in a Friday statement, “and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland through our strongly-hel...

Southwest Airlines will discontinue service at O’Hare International Airport starting June 4, the airline announced.

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

St. Patrick’s Day Dyeing O’ the Pond Tradition Returns to Garfield Park Conservatory In a miniature version of the Chicago River dyeing celebration, Garfield Park Conservatory turned its fern pond green for St. Patrick's Day.

As an opening act for the traditional St. Patrick’s Day dyeing of the Chicago River, the fern pond at Garfield Park Conservatory turned its own shade of Kelly green.

Though slightly less dramatic than the downtown ceremony, the conservatory’s produced the same electric effect.

Up For 16 Oscars, ‘Sinners’ Sparks Conversation on Chicago Blues History and Its Future While the blues may be having a mainstream moment, the Chicago blues community has long been dedicated to the art form’s preservation, history and future.

Academy Awards: The film “Sinners” shines a spotlight on blues music. WTTW News spoke with some of the guardians of the Chicago blues community, long dedicated to the art form’s preservation, history and future.

Police Oversight Board Taps COPA’s Interim Head to Lead Police Misconduct Agency Permanently The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability voted unanimously to select LaKenya White, a 26-year veteran of Chicago’s police accountability system, to lead the agency known as COPA.

The City Council's Police & Fire Committee unanimously endorsed the Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability selection of interim Civilian Office of Police Accountability LaKenya White to lead the agency permanently
Background, for @wttw.bsky.social:

Interim CPS CEO Macquline King Among 3 Finalists to Become School District’s Next Permanent Leader King is joined on the list of finalists by former New York City Public Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter and Sito Narcisse, who previously led the East Baton Rouge Parish school district in Louisiana.

Macquline King is joined on the list of finalists by former New York City Public Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter and Sito Narcisse, who previously led the East Baton Rouge Parish school district in Louisiana, as three finalists to take over the CPS CEO role on a permanent basis.

Tech Group Sues Chicago Over First in the Nation Social Media Tax NetChoice, a trade association representing the tech industry, filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court to block the Social Media Amusement Tax included in the city’s 2026 spending plan.

BREAKING: A tech industry trade association sued the city of Chicago Friday in an effort to block a first-of-its-kind tax on social media companies, records show. @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2026/03/13/t...

Approved, without a single no vote.

Final vote set for Wednesday.

John Hendricks, managing deputy corporation counsel, litigation, for the Chicago Department of Law, tells the Finance Committee has prevailed just once at trial in a lawsuit alleging someone was injured in a police pursuit.

Kimberlyn Myers, who was seriously injured in the 2017 crash that killed her mother, just collapsed in loud sobs and screams as she attempted to address the City Council's Finance Committee, which is about consider paying to $27M to resolve her family's lawsuit.

Federal Prosecutors Drop Charges Against 2 of ‘Broadview 6’ in Conspiracy Case Prosecutors filed a motion Thursday afternoon in which they plan to drop charges against Catherine Sharp and Joselyn Walsh, while continuing on in their case against four others.

Federal prosecutors intend to dismiss criminal charges against two of the so-called “Broadview Six” who are accused of interfering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations outside a suburban processing center.

Illinois Regulators Say Prediction Markets Are Illegal Gambling, But Bettors — and the Trump Family — Love Them Prediction markets rake in millions from wagers on sports but pay nothing in state betting taxes and ignore other state regulations.

illinoisanswers.org/2026/03/13/p... My latest about the Polymarket CEO giving a UChicago freshman $20k to start a campus prediction market club, Coinbase suing Illinois while donating $20k to House and Senate Dems, and the prediction markets running wild in defiance of state gambling regulators

Officers Attempted to Cover Up Pursuit That Killed Mother of 6, Lawyers for Her Family Say Lawyers for the Harrell family all but dared the Chicago City Council to reject their lawyers’ recommendation to pay $27 million to resolve the lawsuit blaming the Chicago Police Department for the de...

Lawyers for the family of a woman who was struck and killed by a driver being chased by Chicago police in 2017 said that officers attempted to cover up the pursuit, citing newly discovered video footage.

The Market is ‘Volatile.’ How Should You Think About Your Investments Amid the Uncertainty? “Volatile” is the word many are using to describe the economy these days. How should you react to the ups and downs of the market?

Danielle Moore, a financial advisor at Savant Wealth management, and Tassos Malliaris, a professor of economics at Loyola University Chicago, joined “Chicago Tonight” to break down what economic volatility means for investors. news.wttw.com/2026/03/12/m...

After Inaugural Splash, Chicago River Swim Coming Back for Second Year After a successful inaugural event in 2025, the Chicago River Swim is coming back in September, officials announced.

The inaugural Chicago River Swim made such a splash in 2025, city officials are welcoming the event back for a second year, organizers announced Thursday. https://to.wttw.com/4t1R4eD

Anjanette Young, 5 Others Nominated to Fill 3 Vacant Seats on CPD Oversight Board Anjanette Young has worked for more than six years to force CPD to change the way it uses search warrants after a botched raid of her apartment.

BREAKING: Anjanette Young, a social worker who was handcuffed while naked during a botched 2019 Chicago Police Department raid, is among six nominees to fill three vacant seats on the city’s police oversight board, officials announced Thursday. @wttw.bsky.social

Key City Panel Rejects Bid to Ban Video Gambling in 6 Chicago Wards, Defying Local Alderpeople The ordinances rejected by the committee would have banned video slots and poker machines in the 26th Ward, the 27th Ward, the 28th Ward, the 33rd Ward, the 35th Ward and the 49th Ward.

NEW: A key Chicago City Council panel voted Thursday to reject efforts to ban video gambling from bars and restaurants in six wards, defying the decades-old tradition that gives alderpeople the final authority over licensing in their own wards. @wttw.bsky.social

Chicago Teachers Union Officials Pass Resolution Pushing for May 1 Day of ‘No School, No Work’ The union’s House of Delegates approved a resolution Wednesday seeking “full support” from Chicago’s Board of Education and Mayor Brandon Johnson to declare May 1 as a “Day of Civic Action.”

Chicago Teachers Union leaders are pushing for a day of no work and no school this spring in solidarity with the national May Day movement.

Group of Cook County Leaders Seek Special Prosecutor, Claim Eileen O’Neill Burke ‘Abandoned’ Duties to Investigate ICE That coalition on Thursday filed a petition in Cook County court after they said State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has failed to hold federal agents accountable.

A coalition of Chicago-area officials, organizations and individuals has taken the first step in a push for a special prosecutor to investigate criminal misconduct by federal agents last fall during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.

https://to.wttw.com/4sb4m8u

Pee-EWW! Foul Odor in North Side Neighborhoods Linked to Deep Tunnel Shafts Residents in several North Side neighborhoods reported a foul stench on Tuesday, described by some as “skunk”-like but mostly sewage.

Residents in several North Side neighborhoods reported a foul stench on Tuesday, described by some as “skunk”-like but mostly sewage. https://to.wttw.com/4urk0hg

Press release from CBOE about polling places with limited English proficiency assistance

From a Jewish Film Festival to ‘The Jackie Wilson Story,’ 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.

Arts Beat: Temperatures have ticked up, we’re thawing out and the sun has made a few welcome appearances to give us the energy to explore all of Chicago’s arts and culture offerings. Here is a small sample of what you can dive into this weekend and beyond.

Ravinia Festival Announces 2026 Summer Lineup: Paul Simon, Gladys Knight, Chance the Rapper and More The outdoor music festival in Highland Park runs from June to September. Festival tickets for this summer go on sale to the public April 23.

Ravinia Festival released its summer festival lineup, with performers such as Paul Simon, Chance the Rapper, Gladys Knight, Ricky Martin, Brandi Carlile and more.

The outdoor music festival in Highland Park runs from June to September.

Iran Targets Ships, Dubai Airport and Oil Facilities as Economic Concerns Mount Iran’s response to the surprise Israeli and U.S. bombardment that started 12 days ago has upended trade routes, choked supplies of fuel and fertilizer coming out of the Gulf and threatened air traffic...

Economic concerns from Iran: Joining “Chicago Tonight” is Leslie Vinjamuri, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and previous director of the U.S. and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London

Illinois Author Has Spent Decades Detailing Underground Railroad History: ‘You’re Never Unqualified to Be Courageous’ At 92 years old, Glennette Tilley Turner is still telling the stories that shaped her life. The author has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Harriet Tubman and the freedom seeker...

Illinois Author Has Spent Decades Detailing Underground Railroad History: ‘You’re Never Unqualified to Be Courageous’ news.wttw.com/2026/03/11/i...

Veterans Who Depend on Mental Health Care Keep Losing Their Therapists Under Trump Hundreds of mental health professionals have left the Department of Veterans Affairs since President Donald Trump took office, leaving staff “at a breaking point” and some veterans waiting as long as ...

NEW: Hundreds of mental health professionals have left the Department of Veterans Affairs since President Donald Trump took office, leaving staff “at a breaking point” and some veterans waiting as long as six months for help.

Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room, Pope Leo XIV’s Childhood Church Among ‘Most Endangered’ Sites for 2026 Preservation Chicago’s annual “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” list aims to sound the alarm on historic buildings and sites at risk of demolition. By spreading awareness, the organization aims to mobilize ...

Most Endangered Sites: Joining “Chicago Tonight” on March 11, 2026, is Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago

World Baseball Classic 2026: Japanese fans give Czech electrical worker, pitcher Ondřej Satoria curtain call Satoria famously struck out Shohei Ohtani in the 2023 WBC.

I want this to be everyday, TBH

I thought about 25%. Seemed too high. Two and a half more weeks seems like it could be fun.