Construction on Andersonville’s Elise Malary Plaza will begin in May, converting Catalpa between Clark and Ashland into the neighborhood’s first permanent car-free public plaza. The block will host markets, seating and new lighting when finished.

Surveillance video shows thieves smashing game machines and taking cash at Prohibition THCafe in the South Loop. Owner Tyrone Muhummad estimates roughly $50,000 in damage and plans a May 1 re-opening.

Scattered showers arrive after 1 p.m. with a high near 47°F. Lakefront stays cool; expect wet roads for the evening commute.

Kuma's Corner is courting franchise partners to expand its heavy‑metal burger concept across the U.S. and overseas, with talks in India and a June Italy collaboration.

Good Night John Boy has turned Thursdays into a vintage market in the West Loop — think retro racks beneath a disco ball with DJs, pizza and cocktails.

A tank leak at UIC’s Biologic Resources Laboratory triggered a safety alert at the UI Health campus; officials say crews contained the spill in about 30 minutes.

A city proposal would bar workplace retaliation against domestic‑violence survivors, aiming to make it safer to report abuse and seek help without losing a job.

Two teens, 15 and 17, face multiple felony counts after three armed robberies across Chicago in mid‑March. Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Associate Superintendent Briant Kelly was placed on leave after a fiery District 128 board meeting that forced public scrutiny of how the district handled a grooming lawsuit. Parents and advocates want answers and administrative accountability.

CPS is now projected to finish the fiscal year with a roughly $45 million shortfall as the district contends with dwindling federal relief, short‑term borrowing and rising costs. The numbers emerged in board financial reports and the district’s audited statements.

Green Street's latest mall grades, covered by Crain's on April 29, flag six Chicago-area malls as at risk of a 'death loop.' Investors, cities and shoppers are watching whether reinvention can arrive in time.

State hearings in Springfield exposed monitoring gaps and pushed data‑center water use into the spotlight as drought forces local emergencies and lake closures.

Cedarhurst and Dover moved an 89‑unit, $38M assisted‑living and memory‑care plan forward in Vernon Hills, seeking annexation of about 6.5 acres near Milwaukee Avenue.