Chicago is changing its migrant arrivals playbook
Taking advantage of a slowing number of buses arriving in Chicago and with an eye toward winter, the city is retooling its approach to welcoming migrants, aiming to soon empty all police stations.
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COVID-19 dogs Burke trial, but no plans to halt rest of week’s testimony
COVID-19 is arguably one of the reasons it took so long for the feds to take former Ald. Ed Burke to trial in the first place.
Congressional Dems see potential challengers as 2024 election gets under way
A slew of statewide and county candidates filed petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Cook County clerk’s office on the first day of the week-long filing period to gain a spot on the March 19 primary ballot.
COVID, RSV on the rise in the Chicago area
COVID risk is still low in our area, but with cases up, what can we expect during the winter months?
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Fall Eats
Our favorite seasonal foods in the Midwest
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Six Chicago pop-up restaurants to try now
A restaurant industry in flux has spurred on the pop-up scene, which in turn is giving Chicago diners more options for creative and inexpensive cooking.
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Black Panthers’ legacy, image at issue in feud over historic sites
A push to memorialize the Illinois Black Panther Party on the National Register of Historic Places has advanced to the national level.
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Column: Slain drill rapper King Von looms on King Drive
King Von’s controversial mural near Parkway Gardens symbolizes not only the birthplace of drill, which boasts a global reach, but the neglect and violence troubling the community.
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How one Chicago artist is creating space for Indigenous queer, trans and two-spirit writers
For River Ian Kerstetter, collaboration and community are key.
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Your Chicago holiday season bucket list: 33 festive things to do, from lights to live shows
Whether you’re looking for holiday songs, ice skating or a tea party, there’s a whole lot to do in Chicago right now. This curated list will jumpstart your planning.
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Convention for Palestine brings thousands to Tinley Park amid the Israel-Hamas war
More than 4,000 people packed the Tinley Park Convention Center for the 16th annual event that aims to preserve culture and history.
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U.S. airlines lose 2 million suitcases a year. Where do they all go?
When luggage and its owner can’t be reunited, airlines sell it to a store in Alabama, where its contents are sold to the public. The result is a grab bag of normal and odd things people travel with.
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Who was Betty Boop? A new stage musical in Chicago tells a tale of the timeless cartoon creation.
Almost 100 years after Max Fleischer created the character, she remains a wildly popular slice of American pop culture.
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When Magic Happens: What Are We Binge-watching?
From vintage sitcom marathons to guilty pleasure trash TV, we’re spilling everything we’ve been watching.
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Justice reform groups partner with Vic Mensa’s pot company to provide care packages to people released from jail
The packages are co-branded with the logos of the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice and the rapper’s cannabis company, 93 Boyz.
Get used to it: COVID is a part of the holidays. Here’s how to think about risks now
As the country enters its fourth holiday season with COVID-19, experts offer advice about how Americans should navigate the risks and what precautions still make sense.
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Chicago’s small-business owners have their day amid the holiday hoopla
Big-box chains still draw the crowds, but many shoppers prefer to support local merchants. They’re getting a push from Chicago-area festivities planned for Small Business Saturday.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters rally on Mag Mile to draw attention to Israel-Hamas war
Many attendees said terms of a four-day cease-fire in the Israeli bombardment of Hamas weren’t enough to end the long-term misery either.
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Making the holiday trains: How CTA decks the L’s at Santa’s Skokie workshop
It takes three months to ready the festive rail cars, which will start picking up passengers Nov. 24.
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Dog bites hit South and West Sides hardest — areas that lack dog parks, pet shops, other resources
While dog bites since 2019 have taken place all across the city, communities with the highest number of complaints are largely on the West Side, where there are fewer resources for dogs and their owners.
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In a Northbrook mural, nods to nature and, of course, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’
Terry Luc and Gerry Luc included a water tower bearing the words “Save Ferris” like a real one nearby was painted for the 1986 movie by John Hughes, who grew up in Northbrook.
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Thousands flock toward Loop for 89th annual Thanksgiving Parade
The award-winning parade returns to Chicago Thursday, starting on State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive until Randolph Street.
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‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ turns 50 this year. How has it held up?
CBS first aired the televised holiday special in 1973. The message still shines, but some characters and scenes feel a little dated.
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How Chicago’s Mexican bakeries stay competitive
Lots of Mexican panaderías can be found near one another in neighborhoods like Pilsen. Here’s what it takes to stay in business.
Netflix’s ‘High on the Hog’ features new episode on Chicago food history
The docuseries explores Black foodways and the contributions of Black culture to the American palate and kitchen.
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Feds dropped in on Burger King owner the same day they raided Ed Burke’s aldermanic offices
“I was relieved when they said it before they got in the house that I’m not in trouble,” Shoukat Dhanani testified. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let them in.”
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Thousands of holiday meals get prepped for delivery to migrants, residents on Thanksgiving
“It’s the greatest thing we do,” said Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy Restaurants, which teams with the Salvation Army to prepare and distribute 4,000 Thanksgiving meals.
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Chicago area reacts to Israel-Hamas four-day truce, hostage release
Some called it “good news” that the warring parties agreed to release 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. Others were grateful that more humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza.
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Former Illinois State Senate President James ‘Pate’ Philip dead at 93
The Republican Senate president was known for his influence in state government and often controversial blunt comments.
Lake View’s Berlin Nightclub closes its doors after four decades: ‘The music is silenced and our dreams are now memories’
The nightclub owners cited ‘expenses of increased security, insurance and licensing, equipment, rent and more’ as some of the reasons for the closure.
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Departing Chicago Tribune food critic reflects on local culinary scene
Nick Kindelsperger provides takeaways from his seven years covering food for the Chicago Tribune and reflects on how food connects us.
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What Chicago footwork can teach us about public housing
ShaDawn “Boobie” Battle was named the latest “Artist as Instigator” at the National Public Housing Museum.
