Chicago neighborhoods face a surge in commercial burglaries, with businesses targeted by a group using sledgehammers for break-ins and stealing various items. Police issue a citywide alert and advise on security measures.

Cook County prosecutors dropped charges against a Calumet City teacher accused of giving nicotine gum to sixth graders, and families say they won’t let the matter rest.

A Civic Federation baseline finds Illinois’ new Department of Early Childhood inherits severe provider shortages, workforce pay gaps and funding complexity that could slow reform.

Warlord owner Trevor Fleming faces felony charges after a former co-worker accused him of sharing private sexual images without her consent.

A Cook County jury convicted Melody Townsend of child endangerment and concealing a homicide in the 2017 death of her infant daughter, whose body was found in a burned Markham home.

Two men were arrested after a pre‑dawn compliance check in Chicago Heights that yielded multiple firearms and suspected narcotics, the sheriff’s office says.

Chicago Police issued an alert for a missing 11-year-old girl, Samantha Hernandez; last seen on January 26 wearing a black sweatshirt and pajama pants.

A licensed concealed‑carry holder shot one of two suspects during an attempted robbery early Tuesday on Chicago’s Northwest Side; two suspects were arrested.

Latin School has listed four Gold Coast Dearborn Parkway homes it bought in 2022; asking prices total roughly $8.09M and the sale is meant to pare debt.

A 15-year-old has been charged after an alleged Jan. 1 gunpoint robbery in Mount Greenwood; police say the suspect was arrested in Chatham. Officials declined to release the juvenile's name.

A fire in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood injured two and forced rescues, with the cause still unknown. Firefighters provided warming buses for affected residents.

A Metra Milwaukee District West train struck a vehicle near Bartlett Monday, halting inbound and outbound service and triggering extensive commuter delays.

Nationwide protests erupt after Minneapolis man Alex Jeffrey Pretti is fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent; demonstrators demand accountability and reform of immigration policies.