WTTW
November 19, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Title
- November 19, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Many Chicago Homeowners Facing Higher Property Tax Bills
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi argues the property tax system favors corporations, and is pushing for change.
Recent Incidents Raise Questions About Treatment of Black Pregnant Women
There are demands for action after a Black woman in labor was discharged from an Indiana hospital — only to give birth in a car eight minutes later.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Pumpkin Pie This Thanksgiving? It Could Be Made From Illinois' Nestlé Libby’s
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Most residents know Illinois as the “Prairie State” or the “Land of Lincoln,” but how about as the country’s biggest producer of pumpkins?
According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Illinois produced about 690 million pounds of pumpkins in 2023. That same year, Illinois harvested more than twice as many pumpkin acres as any of the other top-producing states.
Most of the in-state pumpkins are grown in Morton, Illinois, home to Nestlé Libby’s, a food company best known for its canned 100% pure pumpkin product.
In 1978, Gov. Jim Thompson signed a proclamation declaring the city of Morton as the “Pumpkin Capital of the World” because Libby’s processed 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin.
So chances are those pumpkin pies on your Thanksgiving table are made with Libby’s.
And if not, well, how’s that for a conversation starter with Aunt Phyllis?
Video: Nicole Cardos/WTTW News
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- Title
- November 18, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- City Council Members Weigh in on Chicago's 2026 Budget
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $16.6 billion budget proposal for 2026 suffered a major blow this week when the City Council’s Finance Committee rejected it in a 10–25 vote.
Illinoisans Can Soon Add a Mobile ID to Apple Wallet
Starting Wednesday, Illinois residents will be able to add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet. The Mobile ID program will “soon” expand to Google and Samsung wallets, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
WTTW News Explains: How Are Cook County Property Tax Bills Calculated?
Property taxes can be a doozy. Or rather, how they are calculated can be. WTTW News Explains walks you through the ins and outs of the process.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 17, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 Spending Plan Fails to Advance
Much of the debate over Johnson’s spending plan has centered on his proposal to impose a $21 per month per employee tax on large companies to fund violence prevention and youth employment programs.
Former National Guard Members on Their Role in the Military
Hundreds of members of the Texas National Guard have been stationed at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, 55 miles southwest of Chicago, since Oct. 7. A federal judge prevented them from deploying into Chicago.
Tensions Escalate Between the US and Venezuela
The USS Gerald R. Ford and accompanying warships arrived in the Caribbean this weekend just as the U.S. military announced its latest in a series of strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: CPS Watchdog Flags Travel Spending; Government Shutdown Ends
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and many of his agents might be on the way out of Chicago — but not before they stop for a tourist photo op.
Block Club Chicago captures immigration agents as they pose for a photo in front of the Bean — and mock one of Chicago’s Latino strongholds.
Meanwhile, a teacher pulled from her day care is released from custody — and hundreds more detainees could be, too.
SNAP benefits are set to flow after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history comes to an end — with Democrats including Sen. Dick Durbin breaking ranks.
Chicago’s marathon city budget hearings wrap up with no easy solutions in sight.
And the Chicago Public Schools watchdog flags out-of-control spending on travel.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Volunteers Help Immigrant Parents Get Their Kids to School With the ‘Walking School Bus’
- Runtime
- 2:45
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- #ChicagoTonightWTTW #wttwnews
Since federal immigration agents began ramping up operations in Chicago communities, residents have come together to support their neighbors. In Albany Park, a group of mothers and educators recognized the need for assistance and initiated what they call the walking school bus.
“The moment that the raids started happening and people started getting pulled off the street, you could just see it,” volunteer Alyssa May said. “You could see less students, less families, less vendors. And it really did change. It just became a really quiet place.”
In response, parents, educators and neighbors decided to step up.
May runs one of the daily walking routes for an elementary school in Albany Park — stepping in to help parents who are afraid to leave their home to take their kids to school.
May estimated that 80 to 100 kids get picked up each day.
WTTW News reporter Joanna He...
- Title
- Iconic Foods — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 55:54
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Chicago is one of the world’s great food cities, offering customers a seemingly inexhaustible feast, with everything from award-winning, one-of-a-kind, chef-driven restaurants to spectacular street food from food trucks and carts. Sure, Chicago is celebrated for its own creations, such as hot dogs piled high with condiments and vegetables, slow cooked beef sandwiches found nowhere else, and hearty deep dish pizza. But there is even more to the city’s food scene. Dig in to the dining rooms, kitchens, and street corners where Chicagoans have been eating since the city began.
Audio-narrated descriptions are available.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/iconicfoods
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#ChicagoStoriesWTTW
- Title
- November 13, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:49
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Debate Over Chicago’s 2026 Spending Plan Reaches Tipping Point
Major parts of Mayor Brandon Johnson's $16.6 billion budget for 2026 remain in flux, even as officials scheduled crucial votes on the spending plan for Monday.
Volunteers Help Immigrant Neighbors Get Kids to School
In Albany Park, a group of mothers and educators recognized the need for assistance and initiated what they call the walking school bus.
Ken Burns on His New Documentary Series 'The American Revolution'
More than nine years in the making, this six-part,12-hour documentary series tells the tale of the country's founding struggle from viewpoints you haven't seen before.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 12, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Trump Proposes 50-Year Mortgage. A Look at the Pros and Cons
The shift could lower monthly payments for homebuyers, but economists warn it could also saddle Americans with much higher interest costs over time.
City Officials Make the Case for Johnson’s Budget to Fund Youth Services
Much of the debate over Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget proposal centers around his plan to impose a head tax on large companies. He said that would generate $100 million to fund violence prevention and youth employment programs.
Coin Enthusiast Shares Some of His Collection With Neighbors
A Rogers Park resident started a scavenger hunt game for his neighbors, but ongoing federal immigration enforcement in the city caused him to change course.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Rod Blagojevich — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 53:20
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- In 2008, then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (known by the nickname “Blago”) made national news for all the wrong reasons. After he was arrested by federal authorities at his Ravenswood Manor home, stunning accusations emerged. Prosecutors said Blagojevich had tried to sell Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat, and that he had sought millions of dollars from people with state business in all sorts of other scenarios. Caught on hours of damning secret FBI phone recordings, Blagojevich became a household name. After eight years in federal prison, President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s prison sentence in 2020. The president then issued him a full pardon in 2025. Chicago Stories revisits the Blagojevich saga with analysis of one of the most scandalous political stories in recent American history – with Blagojevich telling his side of the story.
Audio-narrated descriptions are available.
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Dive deeper into the story:...
- Title
- Inside the Tylenol Murders — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 56:03
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- On September 29, 1982, 12-year-old Mary Kellerman of Elk Grove, Illinois, woke up in the morning with cold symptoms. Her parents gave her Tylenol to ease her discomfort. Hours later, Mary was dead. What followed was a string of seven Chicago-area deaths connected by one thing: Each victim had died shortly after taking Tylenol. Lab tests confirmed the victims were poisoned, the pills all laced with a lethal dose of cyanide. A massive, multi-jurisdictional task force was formed, and thousands of leads were run down. Authorities eventually focused on one suspect, James Lewis, after discovering he had penned extortion letters demanding $1 million dollars to stop the killings. Lewis denied his involvement in the murders for decades, and no hard evidence ever led to a prosecution in the case. Now 40 years later, the Tylenol murders remain one of the nation’s most notorious – and unsolved – crimes.
Audio-narrated descriptions are available.
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- Title
- November 11, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- During Government Shutdown, Veterans Brace for More Federal Cuts
Veterans relying on food assistance are facing challenges during the historic shutdown. Some worry about the future of veterans' benefits amid staffing cuts.
Some Warn AI Market Bubble is Set to Burst
Some investors are questioning whether AI tools are at the level they need to draw a return on investment.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Legendary Blizzards — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 55:23
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Anyone who lives in the Windy City knows that wild weather is part of what makes Chicago, well, Chicago. But there were two blizzards that brought the city to its knees. The blizzard of January 1967 brought a record 23 inches of snow to Chicagoland, stopping the city in its tracks. The storm would require 2,500 people and 500 pieces of equipment to clear the roads. Then 12 years later, Chicagoans faced another behemoth: the blizzard of 1979. Forecasters called for just 2 to 4 inches, but the 38-hour blizzard dumped 21 inches. Mayor Michael Bilandic was blamed for the city’s woefully inadequate response, and a woman named Jane Byrne would capitalize on his blunders and go on to become the city’s first female mayor.
Audio-narrated descriptions available.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/legendaryblizzards
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagos...
- Title
- November 10, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- How the Government Shutdown is Impacting Air Traffic
Airports nationwide have seen intermittent delays since the shutdown began because the FAA slows air traffic when it’s short on controllers to ensure flights remain safe.
Bill Allowing 'Medical Aid in Dying' Headed to Pritzker's Desk
Supporters of the measure say it gives those who are already dying a compassionate way to go. Opponents say the measure will worsen longstanding health care disparities.
WTTW News Explains: What Exactly Is Lake Effect Snow?
You may know that Lake Michigan serves as a moderating factor to Chicago weather — cooler near the lake in the summer, warmer near the lake in the winter. How else does the lake affect Chicago’s climate?
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Ken Burns Answers Your Burn(s)ing Questions
- Runtime
- 2:33
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Description: When Ken Burns stopped by WTTW this fall, we asked him some questions submitted by our audience. Watch the video below! The American Revolution premieres Sunday, November 16 at 7:00 pm on WTTW and streaming on the PBS app.
https://www.wttw.com/americanrevolution
- Title
- Week in Review: Johnson Defends Budget Plan; Federal Agents Arrest Teacher at Day Care
- Runtime
- 26:59
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Community members cry foul after federal agents drag a teacher out of a day care. The community is calling for the teacher’s release — saying she has a valid work permit.
A federal judge in Chicago slaps tight restrictions on immigration agents’ use of force.
Mayor Brandon Johnson defends his budget proposal — as alderpeople force a special meeting over potential cost-cutting measures.
Meanwhile, the city’s watchdog hits Johnson — again — over the mayor’s gift room.
U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García makes a surprise announcement that he won’t run for reelection — and there’s a successor waiting in the wings.
And travelers brace for mayhem as the FAA restricts air traffic amid the record-long government shutdown.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #wttwnews
- Title
- November 6, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight.
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Judge Imposes Strict Restrictions on Immigration Agents’ Use of Force
Finding that federal immigration enforcement agents repeatedly used force that “shocks the conscience” and then lied about their actions, U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis issued a sweeping injunction Thursday designed to permanently rein in agents’ use of tear gas, pepper balls and other crowd control measures.
Some Chicago Businesses Are Feeling the Impact of Immigration Raids
As ramped-up immigration enforcement efforts continue across the Chicago region, some businesses report that sales are as bad as they were during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Budget Debate Heats Up as Johnson Pushes for Head Tax
Mayor Brandon Johnson said his proposal would generate $100 million to fund violence prevention efforts. Critics said the tax would hurt the local economy.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Chicago Works with Geoffrey Baer - Trailer
- Runtime
- 1:12
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Chicago is known, famously, as “the city that works.” The 2.6 million residents of “the city of the big shoulders,” as Carl Sandburg described it, are regarded as hard-working, tenacious, and resilient with a well-deserved reputation for Midwestern realness and approachability. In a new 60-minute special, CHICAGO WORKS, Geoffrey Baer introduces the industrious workers across the city they take pride in – the people who operate the city’s moveable bridges, deliver millions of packages, care for the city’s animals, process recycling, man the ballpark scoreboard, and more. CHICAGO WORKS with Geoffrey Baer premieres on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 7:00 pm on WTTW, the PBS app and wttw.com/chicagoworks.
- Title
- Chicago Works - Trailer
- Runtime
- 1:12
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Chicago is known as "the city that works." The inhabitants of the "City of the Big Shoulders," as Carl Sandburg described it, are widely regarded as hard-working, tenacious, and resilient with a well-deserved reputation for Midwestern friendliness and approachability. Explore some of the city’s most unique jobs with Geoffrey Baer.
- Title
- November 5, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Illinois Lawmakers Approve $1.5B Transit Funding Bill
The plan creates a new Northern Illinois Transit Authority to oversee CTA, Metra and Pace — agencies critics say have long failed to coordinate their services and meet rider needs.
New Books Says US Constitution Was Intended to Be Amended
Historian and author Jill Lepore explores the U.S. Constitution in her new book, "We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution."
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- The American Revolution: A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein & David Schmidt — Trailer
- Runtime
- 2:22
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Begins Sunday, November 16 at 7 pm on WTTW, the PBS app, and wttw.com/watch. Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world. wttw.com/americanrevolution
- Title
- November 4, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Illinois Lawmakers Consider Redistricting Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Republicans and Democrats are in an escalating national fight over congressional seats.
Trump Administration Moves to End Automatic Renewals for Some Work Permits
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the change is aimed at increasing vetting and ensuring national security. Critics said it could impact both the economy and thousands of workers.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 3, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Illinois Members of Congress on SNAP, Government Shutdown
Funds for a handful of federal programs, including food assistance for millions of Americans, dried up over the weekend as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.
Meet Adler Planetarium's New President
Elizabeth Babcock shares her vision for the historic institution and discusses the pressures museums are facing under the Trump administration.
#chicagotonightwttw #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: Transit Funding Package; Feds Charge Anti-ICE Protesters
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Springfield lawmakers scare up new funding to prevent a zombie transit system.
In a marathon final day of the fall veto session, legislators pass a revenue-and-reform measure for transit — plus, a clean energy bill and an effort to stymie aggressive immigration enforcement.
An appeals court blocks an order for the head of “Operation Midway Blitz” to make daily court appearances.
With no end to the government shutdown in sight, Illinois and other states sue to ensure SNAP benefits keep flowing.
A second-degree murder conviction for the former sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey after a 911 call.
And it might feel early — but candidate filing is underway for the March primary election.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Where Are The Most Haunted Places in Chicago? Here’s Where the Ghosts of Politicians Still Roam
- Runtime
- 3:00
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Chicago is a six-sport city: baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, football and politics.
With spooky season in full effect, these are WTTW News reporter (and political junkie) Heather Cherone’s favorite places in Chicago said to be haunted by the ghosts of politicians – and their scandals:
👻 Congress Hotel
👻 The Iroquois Theatre
👻 Camp Douglas
👻 City Hall
What’s your favorite haunted place in Chicago? Let us in the comments!
Story: Heather Cherone/WTTW News
Video: Nicole Cardos/WTTW News
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #wttwnews
- Title
- October 30, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Government Shutdown Hits 30-Day Mark. A Look at the Impact
Thousands of federal workers are still on the job without pay. Democrats and Republicans in Congress remain deadlocked over a funding agreement.
Illinois Residents May See Increase in Health Insurance Premiums
Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. About 50 million Americans are insured through ACA plans.
Celebrating Day of the Dead at a Pilsen Museum
The Mexican holiday honors deceased loved ones by creating altars and sharing memories.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Pritzker Denounces Ramped Up Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Raids, Calls Federal Agents ‘Thugs’
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that abuses committed by federal agents carrying out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts have become “wider and more intense” during the past week of ramped up raids across Chicago and the suburbs.
“Our Chicagoland neighborhoods are being bombarded with tear gas, invaded by unidentified masked men in unmarked vehicles, thugs who are intimidating workers and children and grandparents, most of whom are Black or brown, most of whom have committed no offense at all,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker, who is running for a third term as Illinois governor and has refused to rule out a run for president in 2028, demanded that the Trump administration pause what they call “Operation Midway Blitz” to allow children to celebrate Halloween for the next three days.
“I’m asking for basic human decency,” Pritzker said, addressing Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino directly. “I think their response will be...
- Title
- October 29, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:50
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Millions of Americans Set to Lose SNAP Benefits
The federal government has been without a budget since Oct. 1, making this one of the longest government shutdowns ever. The USDA said it will not use emergency funds to keep SNAP running.
Cuts to Local News at a Record High. What's Behind the Losses
Researchers say federal funding cuts to public broadcasting could make challenges even worse.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Dressing Up for Halloween, Chicago? These Local Costume Shops Can Help
- Runtime
- 2:39
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- #ChicagoTonightWTTW #wttwnews
With Halloween just days away, WTTW News recently explored some of Chicago’s independent costume shops that are open year-round and can help outfit any customer’s dreams – or nightmares.
📍Fantasy Costumes Chicago | Portage Park
📍Chicago Costume | Lincoln Park & Portage Park
📍Lost Eras | Rogers Park
Video: Nicole Cardos/WTTW News
- Title
- October 28, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Federal Judge Orders Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino to Wear Camera
Federal agents fired tear gas at Chicagoans on Thursday in Little Village, on Friday in Lakeview and in Old Irving Park on Saturday. Since Oct. 3, federal agents have fired tear gas at protesters seven times.
Religious Leaders Discuss Immigration Enforcement
ICE’s national detention standards state that “detainees shall have the opportunity to engage in practices of their religious faith.” But leaders in Chicago are questioning whether that promise is being kept.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- October 27, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- A Required CPD Study on Officer Deployment is Nearly Complete: Officials
It is likely to be released publicly not long before the seventh anniversary of the implementation of the consent decree.
How Local Law Enforcement Is Reacting to Feds in the City
Federal agents' increasingly aggressive tactics have led to protests and clashes with local law enforcement.
WTTW News Explains: Chicago's History as a Sanctuary City
For four decades, Chicago has held the designation of a sanctuary city — but what does it mean, and how has Chicago’s status endured? WTTW News explains.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Latino Pharmacist Bridging Cultural, Language Gaps on Chicago’s Northwest Side
- Runtime
- 2:11
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- #ChicagoTonightWTTW #wttwnews
A local pharmacist is determined to bridge gaps in his community.
Freddy Gomez, 26, is a first-generation Mexican American who works as a Walgreens pharmacy manager on the Northwest Side.
“When you go to the pharmacy, you typically don’t expect a kid like me in a white coat,” Gomez said.
The Belmont Cragin pharmacy where he works serves a large Latino population.
“I love giving back, and the thing is, us pharmacists, we’re the most accessible health care provider in the community,” Gomez said. “For example, in this neighborhood, (there are) a lot of uninsured, underinsured patients. So if they have anything going on, they’re going to come to me first to avoid the cost or the troubles of going to a hospital without having insurance. Because it’s scary for them.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Gomez began working at his local Walgreens as a customer sales associat...
- Title
- Week in Review: Federal Immigration Tactics Questioned; City Budget Hearings
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Illinois sets up a new accountability commission to track allegations of illegal activity amid “Operation Midway Blitz.” But Chicago communities are repeatedly choked by tear gas as federal agents threaten and detain elected officials and city staffers.
Taxes and TIF sweeps and slots, oh my! The mayor’s spending plan is under the microscope as city budget hearings get underway.
Meanwhile, some state lawmakers cast a skeptical eye toward redrawing Congressional maps.
And UIC says it’ll stop taking race and gender into consideration for hiring or financial aid.
Guests:
Geoff Buchholz, WBBM Newsradio
Rufus Williams, WVON
Simone Alicea, City Cast Chicago
Justin Kaufman, Axios Chicago
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Despite IL Sanctuary Laws, Over a Dozen County Sheriffs Have Contracts to Hold People in ICE Custody
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- As federal immigration agents continue daily raids across Chicago and its suburbs, at least 17 sheriff’s offices across Illinois were found to have contracts on the books to detain people on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Those agreements are in apparent violation of the Illinois TRUST Act, signed in 2017 by then Gov. Bruce Rauner, and its amendment, the Illinois Way Forward Act, signed in 2021 by Gov. JB Pritzker.
The acts explicitly prohibit law enforcement agencies from entering into or renewing intergovernmental service agreements to house or detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. Agencies with an existing contract were legally required to terminate it by Jan. 1, 2022.
Counties typically enter into contracts with the Marshals Service to detain or transport people on behalf of the federal government for a per diem rate. Other agencies, like ICE, can be checked off on these contracts as an additional ...
- Title
- October 23, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- A new state commission will document what Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is calling "countless acts of harassment, intimidation, brutality and abuses of power" by federal immigration agents.
A number of Illinois counties might be violating sanctuary laws. A WTTW News investigation found that more than a dozen sheriff's offices have agreements with ICE to house detainees.
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates will take on a new role as leader of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Pritzker Forms Commission to Document ‘Abuses’ by Federal Agents During Immigration Raids
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday he would form a commission to document what he called “countless acts of harassment and intimidation and brutality and abuse of power” during a series of increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement raids across Chicago and the suburbs.
“Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Tom Homan, and Greg Bovino have failed their oaths of office and allowed agents under their command to act unconscionably under the color of law,” Pritzker said. “They have given the impression that their actions are immune from investigation or accountability. They are not.”
Pritzker, who is running for a third term as Illinois governor and has refused to rule out a run for president in 2028, has opposed Trump at every opportunity and accused his fellow Democrats of not doing enough to block the president’s efforts.
“Donald Trump is counting on your silence,” Pritzker said. “We are counting on your courage.”
- Title
- October 22, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- US Border Patrol agents conducted an immigration raid in Little Village, home to a large population of Chicago's Mexican community. A Chicago aldermen says two members of his staff, who are both U.S. citizens, were also taken into custody.
Illinois lawmakers are headed back to Springfield next week to finish out the fall veto session. On the agenda: public transportation funding, regulating hemp sales and managing energy reform.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Illinois State Rep.: Border Patrol Agent Pointed Gun as He Warned Residents About Immigration Raids
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent pointed a gun at state Rep. Hoan Huynh while he warned North Side residents that immigration agents were conducting enforcement operations, Huynh said.
Huynh, a Vietnamese refugee and candidate to represent Illinois’ 9th District in Congress, said he was near Montrose and Kimball avenues at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after receiving reports that Department of Homeland Security agents were in Albany Park.
As Huynh honked his car’s horn and yelled to warn residents about the presence of the agents, “six armed CBP agents blocked the front and back of the vehicle, sandwiching it on the street, and approached the car with a gun drawn, which the officer pressed against the window of the car and tried to bash the car windows in,” according to the statement released by his congressional campaign.
The video shared by Huynh’s campaign does not show the agent pointing the gun at Huynh, but it does show one agent p...
- Title
- October 21, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- The US Supreme Court is likely to soon weigh in on whether President Donald Trump can deploy the National Guard in the Chicago area. Meanwhile, a federal order remains in place keeping them from being deployed.
A new book from CNN anchor Abby Phillip explores the political rise and lasting impact of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his history making runs for president.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Students With Disabilities Practice With UIC Women’s Basketball Team For Beautiful Lives Project
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- A group of about 50 people with disabilities joined the UIC Flames women’s basketball team as part of an event Oct. 16 organized by the Beautiful Lives Project. The organization works to empower those with disabilities through sports and arts programming across the country.
Participants practiced with Flames players on skills like defense, passing, dribble work and form shooting.
The group of participants included those with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Many were students attending schools in Chicago, including some adults in day programs, according to Bryce Weiler, co-founder of the Beautiful Lives Project.
This year marked the fourth year the organization partnered with @uic_wbb for an event, according to Weiler.
Since 2017, @thebeautifullivesproject has hosted more than 200 events across the U.S.
Weiler, who is blind, said he hopes the events help eradicate barriers and stereotypes that peopl...
- Title
- October 20, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Two federal officials defended a series of increasingly aggressive raids across Chicago and the suburbs to a federal judge, saying agents were forced to deploy tear gas and pepper balls in the face of intense opposition from residents.
Mayor Brandon Johnson is proposing more than $617 million in new taxes, mostly targeting Chicago's wealthiest residents and biggest company's. Members of the City Council react to the plan ahead of key budget hearings.
Chicago Nonprofit Connect aims to help Chicago-area nonprofits break out of their silos and find ways to make the work they do more effective and more sustainable.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- 'We the People' Banner Carried Through Chicago 'No Kings' Rally
- Runtime
- 0:49
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Over 100,000 people showed up to Chicago’s “No Kings” rally Saturday. They wore costumes, carried signs, and one sign in particular brought some attention.
Sara Stevens is a volunteer with Indivisible Chicago. She was helping hold up a large banner showing the preamble to the Constitution.
“The power resides in ‘We the people,’” Stevens said. “The Constitution is a fundamental part of America. Right now, our current government is willing to just straight out ignore parts of it. At least, for me and a lot of other systems, that’s not OK.”
Lucy Larkin, an activist coordinator with the Seattle-based organization Backbone Campaign, said versions of the banner with the Constitution’s preamble were also used in protests in Washington, D.C. and Seattle.
Larkin said this protest was their first time in Chicago. “It was iconic,” Larkin said. “Walking in front of the Trump Tower — it was crazy.”
R...
- Title
- Chicago’s Anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ Protest Fills Downtown Streets With Huge Crowd: ‘We Need to Act Now’
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Thousands of protesters marched through downtown Chicago Saturday and gathered at sites across the city and suburbs as part of the national “No Kings” movement.
The demonstrations are a mass mobilization effort across the U.S. and globe positioned as a denouncement of President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. More than 2,600 rallies were planned Saturday in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners.
In Chicago, the largest protest began in Grant Park at noon, with a march through downtown stepping off after 1 p.m.
Organizers say they believe more than 100,000 people filled Grant Park but that number doesn’t include those who didn’t make it into the park before the march started.
As of 3:15 p.m, CPD reported there were no major incidents from the march or rally. By 4 p.m., after the march returned to Grant Park, a small group remained banging drums and chanting, “More power to th...
- Title
- Week in Review: Johnson Proposes $617M in New Taxes; Federal Courts Rule on ICE Tactics
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Mayor Brandon Johnson tells big companies and wealthy Chicagoans it’s time to pay up. The mayor’s budget proposal calls for more than $617 million in new revenue — trying to close a gaping budget deficit without hiking property taxes.
Federal courts continue to stymie President Donald Trump’s aggressive push into Chicago — slamming immigration agents for apparently defying a judge’s order limiting the use of tear gas.
O’Hare and Midway join a slew of airports that refuse to air a partisan video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers head back to Springfield, eyeing transit funding, energy costs and anti-Trump efforts.
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reports to federal prison in West Virginia.
And a Chicago legend sees it shine dimmed — as scientists say the famous rat hole was almost certainly made by a squirrel.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- October 16, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Johnson Calls for $617M in New Taxes to Close Budget Gap
The city will borrow to cover the cost of “extraordinary and one-time” expenses, including the massive cost of resolving police misconduct lawsuits and paying Chicago firefighters and paramedics the retroactive pay they are owed after working without a contract for four years, officials said.
Toni Preckwinkle on Cook County's Budget, Potential Cuts
The proposed budget includes no new taxes, employee layoffs or fees — but officials warn of tough waters ahead as federal funding cuts threaten to hit the county's bottom line.
New Book Searches for Answers in Sinking of SS Edmund Fitzgerald
The huge vessel was renowned for its ingenious design as a cargo ship — but amid nearly hurricane force winds and waves more than three stories high, she broke in two and sank to the bottom of Lake Superior.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- Federal Immigration Agents Targeted Northwest Side Neighborhoods. Residents Pushed Back Together
- Runtime
- 2:58
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Luis Kevin Islas says lately the Rogers Park neighborhood is like a “ghost town.”
In recent weeks, the area has seen an increase in federal immigration agents and raids.
“I go to St. Jerome all the time,” Islas said. “I’m always here. My family had a business for 20 years, and now, it’s like nobody’s here, nobody is shopping, nobody is going to the restaurants.”
A video shared by a local resident shows community volunteers confronting a federal vehicle by blowing whistles and warning others in the area. Islas has joined the efforts to patrol his community.
“I feel like most of the groups that we have here in Rogers Park weren’t expecting this, specifically how they came at us,” Islas said. “They were very precise in the way that they got us, going to churches, going to schools.”
Local businesses are also feeling the impact. Rueben Hernandez, who owns multiple businesses in the area, says foot t...
- Title
- ‘Back Off’: Pritzker Blames ICE Strike Teams for Creating ‘Mayhem’ Across Chicago
- Runtime
- 1:59
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday blamed immigration enforcement agents for creating “mayhem” across Chicago and told them to “back off.”
In the past 12 days, Department of Homeland Security agents have deployed tear gas against Chicagoans who gathered to protest their efforts to detain people they believe to be in the country illegally four times: in Logan Square on Oct. 3; in Brighton Park on Oct. 4; in Albany Park on Sunday and in East Side Tuesday.
In addition to dozens of Chicagoans, none of whom have been charged with a crime in connection with the incidents, 40 CPD officers have been exposed to the chemical agent, officials said.
“ICE is causing this mayhem,” Pritzker told reporters after an unrelated event. “They’re the ones who are tossing tear gas when people are peacefully protesting. ICE is the one who’s going into neighborhoods where they, frankly, are causing fear among people who live in those neighborhoods, work in th...
- Title
- October 15, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- In recent weeks, Chicago's Northwest Side has seen an increase in federal immigration agents and raids. Community groups are working to protect their neighbors.
Ald. Walter Redmond "Red" Burnett recently became the newest member of Chicago's City Council. He was confirmed to replace his father, Walter, Burnett, and becomes the youngest current member.
Chicago photographer and social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson is among the 22 new MacArthur Fellows. Her work explores issues of segregation in the city.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- October 14, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 8 months ago
- Description
- Enhanced ACA Subsidies Are Set to Expire. What That Means for Illinois
The enhanced tax credits, which were introduced in 2022, helped more than double enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplace plans. If those subsidies aren't extended, millions could lose their health insurance coverage.
Judge Temporarily Bars Feds From Using Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Against Reporters
The ruling comes after the Chicago Headline Club, Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, Block Club Chicago and other media organizations, journalists and protesters sued the Trump administration last week.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
- Title
- October 13, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 9 months ago
- Description
- New Supreme Court Term Begins. Here's What's on the Agenda
The justices are set to weigh in on cases involving free speech, LGBTQ rights, tariffs, executive power and more.
Remembering Sister Jean
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain of the men’s basketball team at Loyola University Chicago, died last week. A wake and funeral are planned for this week.
#WTTWNews #ChicagoTonightWTTW
