The Rundown | Chicago News

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the state should consider alternate revenue sources before taxing everyday riders to make up for a $770 million budget shortfall for local transit agencies. Despite a state law barring cooperating with immigration officials, Illinois State Police are sharing their gang database with ICE. The Chicago Fire plan to build a new stadium at The 78, a vacant space on Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River in the South Loop.
 
 Plus, we look at a new opera premiering at the Chicago Opera Theatre that highlights the lesser-known women at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement: “She Who Dared.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was in Joliet today talking about water. A new study shows exercise improved survival in colon cancer patients. And a bill that would increase funding for Illinois public transit stalled in the General Assembly over the weekend.Illinois lawmakers have adjourned for the summer. WBEZ’s Alex Degman has an update on the state budget passed this weekend. 

The archbishop of Chicago has issued a rare statement to condemn a bill at the Illinois statehouse known as “Medical Aid in Dying." People living with old criminal records may soon get what advocates are calling a “second chance.” Illinois health organizations and doctors are concerned about HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
 
 Plus, WBEZ’s Curious City looked at Chicago’s curious hundred-year-long tradition of everyone moving on the same day.

The Illinois House passed a measure restricting the ability of ICE to operate at public schools. A measure to overhaul public transit has surfaced at the Illinois capitol – this one includes tax and fee hikes to pay for it. The Chicago area has been stuck with daily cloud cover and cooler temperatures but higher temps are expected by the start of next week.
 
 Plus, a conversation with Chicago musician Dreamer Isioma on their new album, Star Crossed Lover.

An Illinois House committee has approved a measure that would let doctors prescribe life-ending medication to terminally ill patients. A City of Chicago program wants to turn vacant city land into housing for working middle-class families. Pope Leo won’t make an in-person appearance at Rate Field next month to celebrate his papacy.Plus, WBEZ Contributor Adora Namigadde reports on a new play co-written by children who are in the foster care system.

Shootings and homicides this past Memorial Day weekend were significantly lower compared with last year. The Chicago Housing Authority has a new team that will address environmental issues like lead, mold, and air quality. State lawmakers are considering a bill to place a statue of Pope Leo the 14th on the grounds of the state capitol in Springfield.Plus, Sueños Music Festival was this past weekend. WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana reports on a shift in its reggaeton identity. 

Local Jewish leaders are condemning the killing of two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. Chicago’s lakefront beaches are officially open for the summer. Festival season is back with Sueños this Saturday and Sunday. Plus, the Trump administration’s tariffs are meant to encourage companies manufacturing overseas to shift operations back to American soil. WBEZ’s Michael Puente reports on some people in Northwest Indiana hoping to take advantage of a process known as “reshoring.”

Chicago city leaders are condemning the killing of two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. last night. This season Chicago Sky fans have the opportunity to purchase student-designed apparel. The Northwestern Women's Golf team are national champions.
 
 Plus, President Donald Trump is going after student borrowers and it has some Chicagoans feeling stressed and hopeless. WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip shares the story of a longtime Little Village resident who is trying to navigate the new reality.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the Bears moving to Arlington Heights is not a done deal. The Chicago City Council is considering a measure to require landlords to have a valid reason for evicting tenants. Beloved Chicago actor and comedian George Wendt died this week.Plus, President Donald Trump is going after student borrowers and it has some Chicagoans feeling stressed and hopeless. WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip brings you the story of one man who went back to school to gain financial security.

House Republicans are proposing roughly $300 billion dollars in cuts to SNAP. The non-profit Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Evanston says it has raised one-million dollars. A former Chicago priest with several accusations of child molestation says the newly-elected pope signed off on moving him into a monastery that sits next to an elementary school.Plus, new analysis by WBEZ and Chalkbeat shows about 25,000 Chicago public school students were absent for more than a month last year. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp has the story.

The WNBA is investigating racial slurs directed at Chicago Sky star Angel Reese by fans during the Sky’s season opener loss against the Indiana Fever on Saturday. Illinois preschool providers say they're struggling after the Trump administration closed half of the federal offices for the early childhood education program Head Start. The dust storm that swept across the Chicago area on Friday is believed to be the first of its kind to reach Chicago since the 1930s.Plus, an investigation by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp in partnership with Chalkbeat finds that one in four high school students missed more than a month of school last year.

A measure in Springfield to preempt potential actions by President Trump on abortion is one vote away from heading to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. The Chicago Bears are reportedly shifting their focus back toward Arlington Heights as the site of the team's new stadium. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has tapped two people – the CEOs of the Chicago Urban League and the investment banking firm Loop Capital – to help solve the city’s financial problems.

After months of negotiations, some Illinois lawmakers are convinced they can find enough money to stave off cuts to public transit. A new study from Northwestern Medicine finds participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program leads to better health outcomes for kids. The Illinois governor’s budget office says the state will have less money than expected going into the next fiscal year.
 
 Plus, WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip sat down with Chicago State University President Z Scott to discuss what federal funding cuts mean for her university and its students.

New analysis shows the Illinois governor’s budget office expects fewer revenue dollars for the next fiscal year. A new HIV center in Edgewater hopes to be a resource for the thousands of people living with HIV in Chicago. Chicago has been selected to host next year’s UNESCO’s International Jazz Day.Plus, WBEZ’s data intern Ashley Soriano looked into Chicago landlords denying potential tenants that rely on Section 8 housing vouchers, despite that being illegal.

Illinois plans to sue the Trump administration again. Chicago's former cultural commissioner was in town today urging local arts leaders to think big when it comes to advocacy in the Trump era. And, an innovative public defender's office is now open on Chicago’s far south side.Plus, WBEZ’s Dave McKinney reports on whether Governor Pritzker should seek re-election if he’s also eying the White House.

Democratic Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is offering DEI advice to businesses, nonprofits and educators by encouraging noncompliance with Trump administration demands. Illinois now has a new state law to protect victims of domestic violence; Karina’s Law took effect on Mother’s Day and mandates judges to order the removal of guns from people accused of abusing a domestic partner. Tick season is beginning.
 
 Plus, Chicago-area teens say participating in a United Nations simulation is helping them feel hopeful about the future.

Pope Leo is the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago, Pope Leo the 14th is being honored at the most revered place in Chicago -- Portillo's. Despite celebrations around the election of Pope Leo – there are some groups asking questions.WBEZ's Anna Savchenko checked in with Chicago Catholics to get their reaction. 

The Catholic Church has a new pope and he has local roots. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said the election is a "historic moment” for the Chicago-area native. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote on X: “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!”
 
 Plus, a new exhibition on display at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood is attracting a lot of local attention. It's called “The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869 to 1939.”

Barricades outside Trump International Hotel and Tower have finally come down. The roll out of Real IDs for travel kicked off smoothly today. Senior drivers may be able to wait a few more years before being required to take a driving test to renew their license.Plus, our former colleague and Rundown host Adora Namigadde filed one last report on property taxes and their appeal process.

Illinois state Senator Laura Fine is running for US Representative Schakowsky's seat. US Representative Robin Kelly has entered the race to replace Senator Durbin in 2027. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says people should make sure they need a REAL ID before trying to get one.Plus, Vocalo’s Morgan Ciocca asked Chicago musician Chillona about her fashion sense. The alt-reggaeton diva takes inspiration from drag and burlesque.

Attorneys general in 19 states, including Illinois, are challenging cuts to the U.S. Health and Human Services agency. Longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky announced she is not seeking re-election. The Chicago Blackhawks have the second-best odds to win the top pick in tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery.
 
 Plus, WBEZ’s Mike Davis reports from New York at the Broadway opening of “Purpose,” a play recently nominated for six Tony Awards that had its world premiere at Steppenwolf last spring.

Former Illinois Governor George Ryan has died. The non-profit organization that oversees WBEZ is bracing for a possible financial hit from President Trump’s latest executive order. Jeppson’s Malört has something new for Chicagoans.

Thousands of people in Chicago joined in a May Day rally in opposition to President Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrants and workers. Fallen Illinois law enforcement officers were honored in Springfield yesterday. Landmarks Illinois announced this year’s list of the state’s most endangered historic places.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the next leader of the CTA will need to beef up staffing at the agency and help create more express bus lanes to speed up service. Police say the driver of a car that barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp in central Illinois may have had a medical emergency. Illinois organizations are seeing firsthand the effects of federal cuts to Americorps services.

Chicago this past month saw fewer murders than any April in more than six decades. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle pushes transit consolidation in Springfield. Major protests are expected around the country on this May Day, pushing back against the “billionaire takeover of the federal government.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Springfield pitching state lawmakers to fund budget items from what he calls a “modest” wish list. Former Pitchfork music festival founder and jazz-drummer Mike Reed announced that he’s backing the new Sound and Gravity Fest this fall. Chemistry teacher Victor Gomez from North West suburban East Leyden High School was named teacher of the year by the Illinois State Board of Education.

A key city council panel is set to vote today on a revised curfew proposal that some say raises significant constitutional questions. Hundreds attended yesterday’s funeral for a fallen Chicago firefighter. An international student forced to leave Chicago for India this month says his legal immigration status has been restored but that he likely won’t return to the U.S.

Hundreds of people paid their last respects at the funeral for Chicago Fire Department Captain David Meyer. North suburban Highland Park will have two memorials for the victims of the 2022 mass shooting. The city of Chicago has joined more than two dozen unions, non-profit groups and several cities filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its ongoing mass firings of federal workers.

The latest in ongoing negotiations over a curfew proposal aimed at addressing “teen takeovers.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson heads to Springfield this week, but the governor isn’t sure what the state can offer. Governor Pritzker spoke out in support of Illinois student loan borrowers yesterday.

Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren has sent a letter to the new head of the Chicago Park District expressing the team's concerns over the condition of Soldier Field. A man who was convicted and then pardoned for assaulting an officer and a cameraman in the January 6th riots is now on trial in Springfield for the murder of a woman from north suburban Skokie. The Northwestern women’s lacrosse team has won the Big Ten conference championship for the third straight year.

A Palestinian and Israeli duo is visiting Chicago this week to try and rally international support for a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is on a lobbying trip to Springfield this week. A new study from Northwestern University finds singing provides a range of benefits to older adults – some with neurocognitive disorders like dementia.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is endorsing his governing partner Juliana Stratton in her run for U.S. Senate. EXPO Chicago is underway at Navy Pier. A judge in New York has ordered the Art Institute of Chicago to return a 1916 drawing stolen during the Holocaust.

The Chicago Board of Education approved the teachers contract last night and altered this year's budget to pay for it. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering says no sentence can erase the pain of the massacre her town suffered. More than 100 Jewish professors at Northwestern University are calling on federal officials to stop threatening academic freedom in their name.

Robert Crimo III will spend the rest of his life in prison. Illinois has confirmed its first case of measles of the year. The first round of the NFL Draft kicks off tonight.

The race is now on to replace Dick Durbin, Illinois’ soon-to-be-retiring senior U.S. senator. The Illinois Governor is reevaluating the state’s relationship with El Salvador. Dozens of victims of the Highland Park mass shooting in 2022 delivered their impact statements in court yesterday, detailing how they are still reeling from the tragedy.

Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin tells WBEZ in an Illinois exclusive that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Testimony is continuing in the sentencing hearing of Robert Crimo the Third — the man who pleaded guilty to the July 4th Highland Park Parade in 2022. Riot Fest announced its 20th anniversary lineup, including Green Day, Blink-182 and Weezer.

Chicago schools chief Pedro Martinez is headed to the east coast after being fired in December. A sentencing hearing for the man who pleaded guilty last month to killing seven people and injuring dozens more at the Highland Park 4th of July parade in 2022 will get underway this morning. Students at Northeastern Illinois University rallied yesterday to demand better state funding.

A member of the politically prominent Jackson family stands to profit from a state of Illinois program. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias kicked off a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. A 26-year-old liberal influencer named Kat Abughazaleh outraised incumbent U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky in the first quarter of the year.

Catholics are reflecting on Pope Francis’ legacy upon the news of his death. The family of an teenager with autism is suing Chicago Public Schools for an alleged sexual assault at a north side high school. Chicago residents could see service cuts as the city works to address some serious budget woes.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the city of Chicago is mourning the death of the “People’s Pope.” Some piping plovers are back at Montrose Beach. Plus, Johnson’s launching a taskforce to address the city’s severe budget woes.

We’ll hear about a charity created by Illinois’ House Speaker that is accepting donations from interests that stand to benefit from his actions in Springfield. Incarceration has long-lasting effects on young people as they grow into adults, according to a study out of Northwestern University. Most Illinois residents think public higher ed in the state isn’t affordable, a new study finds.

A new coalition says neighborhood street festivals in Chicago are struggling to survive. As the Trump administration continues to make changes to the Social Security system – some Illinois residents say they’re worried about accessing their benefits. Plus, Illinois Democratic politicians say the party needs to focus on kitchen table issues in order to win voters. 

A report from Northwestern University points to an initiative as part of the reason why shootings are down in Chicago. Questions continue swirling around U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s plans as other Illinois Democrats consider their own futures. Northwestern students and professors are calling on their leaders to defend the university against President Trump.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said a proposal that would give Chicago Police sole discretion to implement immediate curfews for kids needs “deeper vetting.” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said public safety is under attack under Donald Trump’s administration. Chicago’s Links Hall announced that it will close its doors for good after its current season.

Those who’ve been convicted of a crime for participating in the January 6th insurrection can no longer work for the city of Chicago. A nearly three-year upswing in Chicago robberies has ended. Dozens of Chicago History Museum employees and supporters of the local ASFCME union protested at the museum yesterday.

Illinois educators are unsure of how to protect their students as the Trump administration has cancelled hundreds of student visas. Some Illinois Democrats are growing impatient with Senator Dick Durbin. Plus, the Chicago Blackhawks season is over.

Former President Joe Biden is using Chicago as a venue to hit his GOP successor, President Donald Trump, on Social Security cutbacks. A Chicago city council member plans to push for a vote today on his stalled ordinance to create an 8 p.m. curfew for kids in the city’s downtown area. Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker says he’s committed to protecting college and university students in the state.

Former President Joe Biden is in Chicago. Governor Pritzker’s office is shelling out millions of taxpayer dollars to Illinois’ film and TV industry. Plus, Portillo’s launched its breakfast menu today.

Some parents are breathing a sign of relief now that the teachers union has approved a new contract with the Chicago Public Schools. WBEZ has tips for how to best protect your financial investments during uncertain economic times. A dark humorist from Madison delivers a new play that blends stand-up comedy and drama.

The Chicago Teachers Union contract has been ratified with nearly unanimous support. Registration for Chicago Park District summer camps has begun. Piping plovers have returned to Montrose Beach.