Mayor Brandon Johnson joined survivors and city leaders as the long‑delayed Chicago Torture Justice Memorial broke ground in Washington Park. The ceremony was streamed by the city.

Tow crews worked Wednesday to lift a partially submerged boat off 31st Street Beach. The Coast Guard says the recovery may be tied to a weekend sinking that left four people rescued.

Groundswell Coffee is opening a Loop café at the Fine Arts Building on July 20, 2026, bringing a shop-exclusive roast and quick breakfast items to 410 S. Michigan Ave.

A Chicago man was sentenced to 31 years for the 2023 South Loop killing of an 18‑year‑old Perspectives student. Court records say he must serve the full term.

A CTA rail switcher was fatally shot during an apparent carjacking in Roseland. Police released an image of a person of interest and are seeking tips.

Elgin detectives say a detective-hosted podcast and a lobby kiosk have generated hundreds of tips and helped revive decades-old files.

Illinois has expanded resident‑directed cameras to assisted living and shared housing, changing consent, signage and disclosure rules and taking effect Jan. 1, 2027.

A four-block social district in Arlington Heights will let adults carry to-go drinks in the Arlington Alfresco area this summer; wristbands and approved cups are required. The pilot runs July 30–Sept. 26.

Chicago's ethics committee advanced an ordinance to bar city employees and elected officials from using nonpublic information to bet on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.

An Austin investor bought SoNo East, a 324-unit Lincoln Park tower at 840 W. Blackhawk, in a roughly $125 million deal that underlines strong demand for Chicago apartments.

LaSalle County coroner identified a 15-year-old Mendota girl killed in a July 3 rollover; investigators say the car struck a utility pole and rolled into a farm field.

A man was shot and later died in a Garfield Park alley on the 3400 block of West Polk Street. Area 4 detectives are investigating and no arrests have been announced.

John and Jess Feller are opening Home Bar in West Town’s former Rhine Hall space with martinis, $12 cocktails and a martini membership. The room will include a retail nook.