The Rundown | Chicago News

Some crime survivors held a healing vigil on Chicago’s West Side this weekend. Tariff uncertainty is impacting Illinois farmers ahead of a new planting season. The Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo filled McCormick Place over the weekend.

Introducing WBEZ's latest podcast series, Making: Stories Without End. Host Natalie Moore takes you on a journey to learn about daytime soap operas and their broad reach on television. From the early radio days in the 1930s through the invention of TV to streaming, this way of telling immersive stories has endured. There are intergenerational family stories, discussions about divorce and abortion, groundbreaking storylines dealing with queer representation. And all these threads go back to one Chicago woman, Irna Phillips. The queen of soaps originated, wrote or supervised more than a dozen daytime serials for more than 40 years… and left a lasting mark on the television industry. You’ll hear the story behind the stories from scholars, actors, writers – from the past and now – as well as fans.

A Chicago City Council committee voted to reject a 1.25 million dollar settlement for the family of Dexter Reed, who was shot dead by police officers last year. Cook County Health is trying to increase awareness of H-I-V prevention, testing, and services. Plus, tomorrow is national record store day.

Members of Chicago’s arts community are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to address issues within the city’s cultural affairs department. Public health officials are closely watching measles outbreaks locally as the highly contagious virus circulates in the U.S. New research from Northwestern University explains why some people’s brains become deeply political while others remain disengaged.

Homeowners in Cook County who struggle the most with big property tax hikes could soon get a thousand dollars. The Illinois Supreme Court will not consider a lawsuit over what Republicans call unconstitutional political maps. Plus, Third Coast Percussion, is celebrating its 20th year with a new album out tomorrow.

Northwestern faculty say the Trump Administration’s pause on federal funding could devastate research there. A new lawsuit aims to prevent Northwestern from cooperating with a Congressional investigation. Illinois State Board responds to the Trump threat to pull funding if diversity, equity and inclusion programs aren't eliminated.

The police officer charged with murdering Sonya Massey in Springfield is getting his trial moved. President Trump has reportedly frozen nearly $800 million in federal funding for Northwestern University. Cook County residents who struggle with big property tax hikes might get a one-time payment of $1,000 dollars.

A group of former Northwestern football players is settling a series of lawsuits against the university, which alleged hazing and abusive behavior on the team. A top economic official in Chicago is warning about possible shellshocks from President Trump’s tariffs. The Chicago Bears are back on the field. 

Early findings suggest that Cook County’s guaranteed income pilot program helped provide economic stability for thousands of residents. How a U.S. Supreme Court order affects teacher training programs in Illinois. Democrats in Springfield are hoping to crack down on so-called “crime-free” housing laws.

A Chicago man is in police custody in connection with multiple sex crimes against female victims on the city’s North West Side. Blustery snow showers are expected to continue across the Chicago area into the evening as temperatures are expected to tumble into the mid-20s tonight. Registration for Chicago Park District summer camps begins Monday April 14 at 9 AM.

Thousands of Chicagoans took to the streets this weekend (SAT) to protest the way the Trump administration is running the country. Medical students at Northwestern University are urging their teaching hospital to resume surgeries for transgender youth. A Chicago OBGYN is on a Fulbright scholarship in Uganda. Now that Washington has frozen her funding, she has to cut her mission short.

Parts of the Midwest and South are facing the possibility of torrential rains and life-threatening flash floods. Illinois’ Attorney General is once again battling President Donald Trump – this time over election law. Plus, Wrigleyville is alive once again.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul likely isn’t going to take any action against hospitals in Chicago that have stopped gender care surgeries. Democratic attorneys general in 19 states – including Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan – are suing over President Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape elections across the U.S. The Chicago Cubs will play in their home opener at Wrigley Field today after a long stretch of away games to start the season.

Mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services are endangering the Head Start child care program that serves thousands of Illinois’ neediest kids and families. Tree pollen is higher than usual for this time of year thanks to an unseasonably warm March. The Chicago Latino Film Festival begins today and runs through April 14.

The installation of a citywide air monitoring network has been pushed back several months. Pollen counts by Loyola Medicine help Chicagoans manage their allergies. For over a year, the Bears have said Chicago’s lakefront was their sole focus as the site for a new stadium. But now, their vision is shifting.

The union for Cook County probation officers is concerned about a huge increase in caseloads now that the sheriff is no longer handling electronic monitoring. More than 900 flights have been delayed at O'Hare and Midway airports today as severe weather moves through the area. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is throwing shade at billionaire Elon Musk after Pritzker helped a Democrat win a key Wisconsin Supreme Court seat.

The union for Cook County probation officers is concerned about a huge increase in caseloads now that the sheriff is no longer handling electronic monitoring. More than 900 flights have been delayed at O'Hare and Midway airports today as severe weather moves through the area. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is throwing shade at billionaire Elon Musk after Pritzker helped a Democrat win a key Wisconsin Supreme Court seat.

Dozens of new employees will have to be hired by the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County now that the county sheriff is no longer allowing new adults into its electronic monitoring program. Illinois’ Attorney General is asking for more money from state lawmakers as he tries to plan his budget for next year. We’ll hear about a debt relief program for those with outstanding driving tickets in Chicago.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is taking a victory lap as the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools are on the verge of inking a contract. Illinois State Senator Robert Peters is sounding the alarm about a new congressional inquiry into Northwestern University’s law school. Also, stormy weather is in the forecast for the next 24 hours. 

The Chicago Teachers Union has an official tentative agreement with Chicago Public Schools. What’s at stake in the latest federal investigation into Northwestern? An executive order signed by President Trump won’t affect today’s municipal elections in Illinois.

Northwestern University officials today released a “progress report” on efforts to combat antisemitism on campus. The CTA has long lagged in its goal to make all train stations accessible by 2038 — citing funding as the biggest impediment. Plus, the Chicago Blackhawks debuted two recent draft picks during last night’s 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

Federal prosecutors in Chicago are seeking a multimillion-dollar judgment from convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Some Illinois lawmakers want to see more of a focus on crime and safety as conversations continue about public transit reform in Chicago. Ice coverage on Lake Michigan was far below historical averages.

Leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools have landed a potential contract deal. The Chicago law firm targeted by a punishing executive order from President Trump is fighting back in federal court. Plus, The Chicago Bulls bested the Los Angeles Lakers last night.

The Trump administration this week cancelled $125 million in funding for infectious disease prevention in Illinois. Some small business owners in Chicago say potential tariffs are adding to an already uncertain economic future. Some Metra services could be gone for a long time if they get cut due to budget constraints next year.

The Trump administration this week pulled back $153 million in funding to the Illinois Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health. The Chicago City Clerk is waiving vehicle sticker penalties in April. The White Sox host the Angels while the Cubs visit the Diamondbacks on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.

The Arab American Action Network is focusing on community-based organizing ahead of an expected announcement of a new federal “travel ban.” A new poll shows that most Illinois residents want more funding for public schools. A new study finds wide disparities in who turns out to vote in property tax referendums.

President Trump is targeting a Chicago legal powerhouse in his latest attack on US law firms. A major labor union is furious with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Plus, Illinois residents are worried about teacher shortages and underfunded public schools.

What will happen if Chicago Public Schools refuses to make a $175 million dollar pension payment by the end of the month? A progressive influencer who doesn’t live in the district plans a primary challenge against Evanston Democratic congressmember Jan Schakowsky. Piping Plover “monitors” are gearing up for another season looking after the protected habitat at Chicago’s Montrose beach.

The Trump administration's recent program cuts and policy changes are throwing some Chicago-area undergraduates into crisis. The Department of Education is threatening federal funding for some Illinois school districts over accommodations for trans students. Plus, Northwestern women’s basketball coach plans to retire after next season.

We hear from a local food bank that’s dealing with extensive cuts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We'll hear about the practice of “curbstoning” and how the city of Chicago is cracking down on it. Should Illinois fix its public defense system?

Members of the unions representing Chicago teachers and Chicago firefighters joined forces this morning at a rally near a school and a fire station in the West Loop. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is trying to chart a path for national Democrats to counter President Donald Trump. Plus, local arborists are encouraging Illinois residents to keep an eye out for a spreading invasive insect. 

The Chicago-based American Library Association says a recent executive order could make it harder for rural Americans to access the internet. A new library cart at a Lurie Children’s outpatient center features books whose main characters have disabilities. A new study says adopting tougher emission standards for trucks, like the standards in California, would prevent 500 deaths per year in the Chicago region by 2050.

A longtime Education Department staffer told WBEZ that gutting the federal agency will cause irreparable harm, especially for students with disabilities and low-income students. A majority of the Chicago City Council wants state lawmakers to pass legislation to regulate hemp products. The Illinois men’s basketball team takes on Xavier University this evening in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Chicago School Board puts off a controversial budget vote until after the teachers union contract is finalized. Dick Durbin says bipartisanship is needed to save Medicaid. Restaurant owners in Chicago reflect on the COVID pandemic.

Postal service workers across Chicago and around the country rallied to protest a Trump administration proposal to privatize the United States Postal Service. As the Trump administration plans to dismantle the Department of Education, advocates in Illinois say the state needs to step up its commitment to public education. Now a juried film festival, “Asian Pop-Up Cinema” has returned for its 10th year in the Chicago area.

Chicago mayor says he sees no reason that a teachers contract can’t be settled today. But if it is not, the CTU is threatening to schedule a strike vote. Some Chicago alderpersons are decrying the detention of a pro-Palestinian activist in New York City. Illinois State lawmakers are weighing a new proposal to set guardrails around A-I use in schools.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson is meeting this afternoon with top school officials to try to work out a major budget disagreement. A measure to restrict police use of no knock warrants statewide is making its way through the Illinois capitol. Plus, the Chicago Cubs are leaving Tokyo winless.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker continues his appearances to bolster his national bonafides. Some alums of a south suburban high school say officials there have mishandled allegations of sexual misconduct over the last four years. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is ramping up pressure for CPS to take on a disputed pension payment.

Governor JB Pritzker announced a nearly 9% increase in Illinois community college enrollment. Early voting is underway in Wisconsin and voters are keeping an eye on the state Supreme Court. Plus, the Lollapalooza lineup is out.

Chicago health officials reflect on the start of the COVID pandemic five years ago this month. New research shows a serious shortage of affordable rental homes in Illinois for low-income households. The Trump administration’s federal freeze on climate dollars is impacting a Chicago effort to plant hundreds of trees locally.

Chicago airports are expecting record-breaking air travel this summer. Columbia College Chicago has named a new president. The Cubs open regular season play against the defending World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow in Tokyo, Japan.

A state lawsuit over a company’s publication of voters’ birthdates and home addresses is being settled. Illinois lawmakers consider a measure to legalize online gambling – meaning you’d legally be able to play poker on your phone for real money. Steppenwolf ensemble member Carrie Coon is intriguing audiences in this season of HBO’s White Lotus.

A wind advisory will be in effect later this afternoon and tonight for the Chicago area. The Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is closing. Plus, Chicago's chunky beaver has a name.

U.S. Department of Education layoffs put Illinois at risk of losing more than 3 billion in federal funding, Governor JB Pritzker warns. Chicago Board of Education members talk about the possibility of making a controversial pension payment. Cook County could lose more than $100 million dollars a year if the state ends a health insurance program for immigrants.

Governor JB Pritzker is comparing the Trump administration’s sweeping layoffs within the Education Department to dismantling democracy. The first regional branch of the Chicago Public Library to open on the city’s South Side is celebrating 50 years in business. Plus, a total lunar eclipse could be visible from Chicago tonight.

The latest round of layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education may complicate the college financial aid application process, according to laid-off workers. The Chicago Board of Education holds a hearing today on amending the current year budget. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says gun reforms are needed in the wake of two recent shootings.

Farmers in Illinois are concerned about massive cuts targeting the scientists who provide weather forecasts and storm warnings. Some Illinois education leaders say President Donald Trump’s move to cut staffing at the Department of Education by half will have dire consequences. Plus, one of Chicago’s premiere theaters celebrates its 50th birthday next season.

Eligible homeowners can now register for a chance to apply for a city program that would provide them with free roof and porch repairs. After a yearlong fight, one man earns his release from prison. New data from the state shows the Illinois teacher shortage is easing.

Students and faculty are calling on the University of Chicago to protect students from the Trump administration. Chicago’s summer jobs program is seeing yet another year of growth after a big pandemic-induced dip. Plus, Billy Corgan, of the Smashing Pumpkins, will stage a world premiere show at Lyric in November. 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is now allowing the public to see the infamous “gift room.” U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan says he does not support a government shutdown, but is also against deep cuts to Medicaid. A measure to regulate Illinois homeschooling is getting some pushback.