Malcolm X College kicked off a week of Kwanzaa celebrations on Friday, The events encourage people to build stronger communities.

Chicago always throws a good New Year’s Eve party or two. But this year’s slate of events promises to be over-the-top, especially with Chance the Rapper hosting the first local edition of “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve” in its 55-year-history from Downtown, and more.

How do films get overlooked? Many are increasingly bypassing theaters. Online platforms offer stand-alone films and episodic series. Only big-budget, star-studded Hollywood products get publicized.

Volunteers packed catered meals, toys and gift cards, bringing them to shelters and veterans homes. “Nobody should feel like they’re a burden or they’re forgotten or isolated,” the Rev. Michael Pfleger said.

Re-released this month, the 11-minute “Prayer for amerikkka” honors a Salvadoran immigrant who spent years in a detention center waiting to reunite with her family.

The Arlington Heights native, who likes video games and the Chicago Bears, said he pretty much “winged it” for his big debut as Derek, a bully-turned-hero.

As the war in Ukraine drags on and U.S. policies shift, many Ukrainians “are stranded,” says a Chicago immigration attorney. “‘They’re saying, ‘We didn't violate the law, we came here to be protected, and now, we're treated as though we did something wrong.’”

Victoria Bousis’ VR movie, “Stay Alive My Son: A True Story About A Father's Relentless Search For His Son,” immerses viewers in the harrowing story of a survivor of the Cambodian genocide.

Chicago Mayor Brandon says he will not veto a 2026 budget that he has called “morally bankrupt,” instead allowing it to go into effect and staving off political gridlock and the risk of an unprecedented government shutdown.

The decision, appearing on the high court’s “emergency” or “shadow” docket, is the first from the justices addressing President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops into American cities against the will of local elected officials.

Tune in this Christmas Day at 9am CT for our Prisoncast! 2025 Holiday Special Encore, featuring a special visit to a canine Christmas party, a guide to processing grief behind bars, with suggestions from incarcerated listeners who have lost loved ones, and more. www.wbez.org/prisoncast-i...

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Seth Lavin, a Chicago school principal, about the impact on students and staff of ICE raids. Listen to the full story here.

In Evanston, the debut “barrier-free” concert invited people to move around and make noise during an orchestral performance. Parents said such opportunities are rare.

Gregory Bovino led aggressive U.S. Border Patrol enforcement operations in Chicago, often portraying himself as a hero come to save the city from immigrants. In "Becoming Bovino," WBEZ and Sun-Times reporters investigate his upbringing and rise.

We dined out, then debated, then went for another round to compile this list of 16 eats that will take you around the city, from Uptown to Hyde Park to Beverly.

Goff’s unconventional work isn’t easily categorized, but he left his mark on the Chicago area with some unusual residences.

A Chicago Sun-Times reporter takes to the stage in a walk-on cameo role and earns a rave review from the littlest critic — his second-grade son Matteo.

Incarcerated trainers in the Helping PAWS program at Logan Correctional Center raise puppies that will later work as mobility assistance dogs.

Every day that Chicago Public Schools goes without much-delayed property tax revenue, the school district is paying $220,000 in interest on short-term loans it took out to make payroll — the equivalent of two teachers’ annual salaries.

Dozens of hours of body-camera footage offer a new lens into clashes between immigration agents and the public during "Operation Midway Blitz" on the Northwest Side in Chicago.

Federal Transit Administrator Marc Molinaro said the CTA's increase in security staffing doesn't do enough to target violent crime and ordered the transit agency to draft a new plan by March 19 or lose funding.

This Chicago Symphony Orchestra program running through Saturday offers an exciting glimpse into what Mäkelä, the group's music director designate, has in store for local audiences.

The 29-19 vote was five votes short of the 34 that would be needed to override a mayoral veto. But opposition council members said they think they'd get the needed votes if Johnson does issue a veto.

Under the plan, CPD will increase the number of officers patrolling the CTA in its Voluntary Special Employment Program from an average of 77 officers per day to 120, the CTA said in a statement.

A Chicago Sun-Times reporter takes to the stage in a walk-on cameo role and earns a rave review from the littlest critic — his second-grade son Matteo.

La Parranda Boricua is set up for six weeks inside an art gallery. The $10 suggested donation for entry comes with a raffle ticket and a shot of coquito.

When students at dozens of schools across Illinois return to class in January, they may find that support services they depend on, such as mental health programs and food pantries, have disappeared.

State officials gave Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy school the harshest possible sanction after an investigation found three years of "repeated and unresolved" special education violations.

The Chicago Board of Education on Thursday approved the sales of three former school buildings to buyers hoping to turn the sites into housing and a community center — but it could be years before those projects get off the ground.

The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights — and no longer Illinois.

Spacca Napoli's owner, Jonathan Goldsmith, said this year gave him a chance to reflect and feel “appreciative of how much we’ve done and how much value we’ve created and to feel really good about that.”

A thousand thanks to Tyrek Gates, Dr. Farid Muhammad & Dr. Charles Brown for being so generous with their time & answering my endless stream of questions. You'll be able to hear directly from them this afternoon on 91.5 FM 📻 #college #chicago @wbez.org @opencampus.org www.wbez.org/education/20...

WATCH: Before heading to City Hall to continue ongoing budget meetings before the Dec. 31 deadline, in today's episode of "In The Loop," Host Sasha-Ann Simons sits down with Mayor Brandon Johnson for the monthly 'Ask the Mayor' segment. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iqB...

Looking to refresh your holiday season? Vocalo's curated playlist features 20 songs for nearly four hours of seasonally appropriate musical favorites.

“We live in a country where the threat of medical debt is very real, and there’s always the chance that you could get hit by a bus or something crazy could happen,” Emily Been said. “… I just want to be insured so I don’t get buried in medical debt.”

Data: College completion rates for Black men are stagnant in Chicago and have gotten worse in the Austin community. This comes as a growing share of Black men nationally who start college are getting their degree within six years. trib.al/kT8LDkI

Chicago soul band Hollyy released their debut album last week. They’re celebrating this Friday with their fifth annual holiday show, dubbed Hollyy-Days, at Thalia Hall.

A Sun-Times investigation found the state's new prison health care provider comes with a disturbing track record.

Three Republican members of the Illinois congressional delegation are asking President Donald Trump to deny former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request for a pardon.

Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino had a tense standoff with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss after federal agents arrested a man at a gas station Wednesday. Later, agents broke out the window of a pickup truck to detain two men outside of a Home Depot.

The Leo High School choir, which captured hearts while [placing fourth](https://mrf.lu/sg0V “America’s Got Talent” in September, is booking gigs around town at an unparalleled clip — with no end in sight.

Prepare your playlists: Our favorite albums of the year include a new release from Chance the Rapper and the final album engineered by Steve Albini.

With fewer food reviewers helping diners know where to go, foodies are turning to Mitch Gropman’s Chicago Food Subreddit. Want to eat? You have to respect the rules.

The U.S. Mint made its final circulating penny in November. Some experts say the death of the copper coin isn’t that big of a deal, but the recent end of penny production has led businesses to change their payment policy.

A son’s mission to transform his mom’s health turned into Peace Runners 773, a running and walking group around Garfield Park. It’s part of a broader effort to help people live longer.

As acting cultural commissioner, Merritt said she’s focused on getting funds to neighborhood arts organizations and improving internal communication.

The move marks the second time that state public health officials have broken away from guidance under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines.

Fares will be collected under a unified system managed by a new, stronger Northern Illinois Transportation Authority.

The news is a blow to Gov. JB Pritzker’s climate change-fighting goals, too, as demand from AI data centers soars while wind and solar development stalls.

Gregory Bovino returned to Little Village Tuesday after playing a key role in the early phases of Operation Midway Blitz, the controversial immigration enforcement campaign that has stoked fear among the city’s immigrant communities and led to thousands of arrests.