A century‑old Neo‑Gothic church in Austin has been formally landmarked by the city, securing protections for its stone facade, bell tower and roofline.

Chicago's Christmas in the Wards event provided gifts to children, with more than 2,000 kids from 700 families receiving over 10,000 toys, electronics, and bikes.

A Cook County Sheriff’s probe and Rosemont police operation led to the arrest of a Des Plaines man accused of selling cocaine; officers say about 47 pounds of cannabis and a gun were seized.

A second‑floor condo blaze in Glenwood killed one person and displaced neighbors; state investigators have joined the probe and the Red Cross is helping those affected.

CRG sold the 134‑unit A.M. 1980 on the Bucktown–Logan Square edge to CedarSt in a mid‑$30M deal that tested Chicago’s Northwest Side tenant‑purchase pilot.

Chicago Police warn contractors of a series of vehicle burglaries involving theft of power tools and a handgun display in East Hyde Park and Bronzeville.

A longtime Chicago‑area McDonald’s operator is selling its restaurants and rebranding as BFRX Hospitality to build K9 Resorts pet hotels across the market.

A school bus and an SUV collided at Algonquin Road and Cedar Glen Drive, leaving the SUV ablaze; police ticketed the bus driver and no one was hurt.

A 10-year-old was briefly taken after thieves stole a running SUV on Chicago’s South Side; officers found the child unharmed a few blocks away and detectives are investigating.

Chicago faces extreme cold with wind chills reaching -21 degrees, a potential for snow, and temperatures significantly below the seasonal average. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect in some suburbs.

A federal appeals court has halted the blanket release of detainees arrested in Chicago's "Operation Midway Blitz," ruling for case-by-case assessments instead, despite a lower court's earlier decision to release over 600 immigrants on bond.

Tenants face eviction in a South Shore building post a federal raid, with concerns over finding new homes and potential homelessness.

Chicago Police have issued a missing person alert for Orlando Quiroga, last seen December 10th in Chicago, and are urging public assistance in the search.