Registration opened for the Chicago Polar Plunge, set for March 1 at North Avenue Beach. Participants are asked to raise $200 to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

Chicago-area residents say Chase locked accounts and held funds for weeks, in some cases tens of thousands. The bank says it acted to protect accounts and later released funds.

A Chicago family says ICE detained a father who needs twice‑daily seizure medication; attorneys have filed a habeas petition seeking his release and urgent care.

Santita Jackson says Rev. Jesse Jackson is 'doing quite well,' the family's clearest update since his hospitalization and PSP diagnosis.

Illinois AG Kwame Raoul praised retiring Justice Mary Jane Theis for her commitment to the judiciary and for making court processes more transparent and accessible.

December’s U.S. jobs report added just 50,000 payrolls while unemployment fell to 4.4%, leaving Chicago employers and workers with a muddled hiring picture.

New SNAP work and reporting rules land Feb. 1, 2026 in Illinois; ABAWDs 18–64 will face documentation requirements and possible limits. Local food banks and state tools offer help.

The Chicago Police Department will conduct a DUI Saturation Patrol in the 10th District on January 10-11, focusing on impaired drivers, speeding, and seatbelt violations.

Northwestern staffers rallied over chronic ER understaffing as an Illinois review board prepares a Jan. 13 vote on ICU additions and a possible new tower.

Chicago introduces a new surcharge for rideshare pickups and drop-offs in expanded "Congestion Zones," with $1.50 per trip in downtown areas and a reduced $0.60 for shared rides on weekdays.

An Illinois Lottery player won $1 million in the Lucky Day Lotto after matching five numbers in the Jan. 4 evening draw. The winning play was purchased online.

A Chicago nonprofit bought a 15-seat van for a Tulkarem orphanage, funding it through a Humanity 5K to ease school runs and medical trips for dozens of children.

Protests erupted in Chicago against U.S. military action in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, with demonstrators demanding respect for Venezuelan sovereignty and opposing potential war.