Charlie Engle is no stranger to failure or success; he has experienced both in his journey to overcome addiction. Now, he speaks openly and candidly to others on the journey about losing everything and choosing to keep going anyway.

Over 120 girls from Chicago and Milwaukee took part in a free flag football camp offered by Concrete Rose 773, with the aim of developing their skills and potentially earning college scholarships.

If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, head to the Historic Pullman Foundation’s Exhibit Hall for a one-of-a-kind model train experience.

Hundreds gathered today to honor the life and legacy of Park Forest police detective Tim Jones, who died nearly a decade after being paralyzed in a line of duty shooting. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/4xnju7km 

Today marked 10 years since Quintonio LeGrier, a 19-year-old experiencing a mental health crisis, was fatally shot by Chicago police officer Robert Rialmo. His mother is holding a balloon release in his honor. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/536uhj9t 

Millions of travelers are pouring through Chicago this holiday season, with airports and highways packed as the year comes to a close. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/yc8yn6jv 

A family attacked by a group of kids while walking home from school on Chicago’s Far South Side last month received special Christmas gifts from rapper Lil Zay Osama and local organization Roseland Ceasefire. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/49tazjry 

The CDC issued a warning after dozens of people across the country, including one in Illinois, became sick in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters.

A Secret Santa delivered presents to seven-year-old Carlos Smith, who lost his mother to gun violence earlier this fall. The company also presented a $3,500 check to Smith's grandmother, who is now raising him following his mother's death. MORE: https://tinyurl.com/crhxtzjv 

A Batavia man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead inside an apartment early Tuesday morning, following a call in which the man told dispatchers he killed his wife.

Safety concerns are growing amongst commuters following a shooting on a Pink Line train left a 44-year-old man dead and a 23-year-old man injured early this morning in the Loop. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/5n8u9r7e 

With just two days left before Christmas, thousands of shoppers are flooding the Magnificent Mile, searching for the season’s most memorable gifts. Have you completed your shopping yet? READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/bdekr5ne 

The Supreme Court declined the Trump administration’s emergency request to overturn a ruling by a U.S. District Judge that had blocked the deployment of troops in Chicago. An appeals court also had refused to step in. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/24kz7yxv 

It’s not every day you meet a teacher who can talk about anime, sci-fi films and Japanese comics with genuine enthusiasm. Oak Lawn teacher Eric Kallenborn does exactly that by listening to his students' interests and finding ways to connect with them.

Six horses were killed early this morning when they escaped from their stables, wandered into the roadway and collided with a pickup truck in Kenosha County, authorities said.

"I'm thankful for anything." Operation Cover Chicago gave out 20,000 toys to kids at a South Side church this evening. Families had been lined up since the early-morning hours for their chance to get a gift. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/2xy299h2 

UPDATE: 2 juveniles, both 15, have been charged with aggravated battery in the beating of a 62-year-old man aboard a CTA bus on the West Side last week.

The FDA has expanded a recall to include frozen raw shrimp sold at Jewel-Osco stores under the Waterfront Bistro brand due to possible radioactive contamination. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/uktncz2h

At least two potential suspects are being questioned by police following the attack of a 62-year-old man on a CTA bus on the West Side last week. The victim’s family says he is no longer in a coma but is unable to remember the incident. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/3524wwhp

College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and Professionals offers relief, resources, and research backed information for families, students, and staff already at college or beginning the application process.

Santa's elves were hard at work inside a special workshop in Chicago today, as preparations for Christmas continued in the Windy City.

Police say a 62-year-old was brutally beaten by three teens on a CTA bus in North Lawndale on Dec. 16. The suspects are still at large, and the victim remains hospitalized. MORE INFO: https://tinyurl.com/3524wwhp 

ChiGivesBack's ninth annual Chicagoland Toy Drive brought holiday joy to over 1,500 families, with the help of Mayor Brandon Johnson, Miss Illinois and a dedicated team of volunteers. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/ysb4ec3w

Santa Claus took a break from the workshop today to have breakfast in the 19th Ward with children who have intellectual and physical disabilities.

From road trips to tropical vacations, holiday travel is on track to set a new record, with millions heading out across the country by car and plane. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/4j8w8ehf 

A routine overnight patrol turned into a race against time when Oak Brook police officers pulled a driver from a burning, overturned car on I-88, an act the department says saved the person’s life. FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/473mx62n 

Pastor Donovan Price and students from Whitney Young High School have partnered to deliver gifts to families affected by gun violence during the holiday season. The students raised money, purchased gifts, and wrapped them themselves.

Seven juveniles, all 13 years old or younger, have been charged in connection with a viral attack on a mother and her young son near an elementary school on Chicago’s Far South Side in November. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/5fjba7k7 

For nearly 40 years, internationally acclaimed Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick ended the year with a special exhibition. He died in October, but artists united this weekend to honor his life and keep his tradition alive. More: https://tinyurl.com/bdhsuppv 

Roseland Community Hospital is celebrating a century of serving the city's Far South Side. On Saturday, Santa paid a visit during the hospital's toy giveaway. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/398f2ab7 

The Chicago City Council passed a 2026 budget that does not include the controversial corporate head tax. Mayor Brandon Johnson could still veto the plan. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/4erahx6f

Chicago police are investigating an incident where two men allegedly tried to lure children into a van on the city’s West Side. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3bnweszb 

A woman has died and a man was injured in a crash stemming from a shooting Saturday morning on the city’s South Side. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3mhmfksb 

BULLS WIN! Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vučević each scored 24 points as the Bulls outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night by a final score of 136-125. Latest on the Bulls: https://wgntv.com/sports/bulls/ 

For those doing some last-minute holiday shopping, finding the right gift is one half of the battle. Here are some way to make sure your gifts get under the Christmas tree in time.

Chicago police are warning the public of recent armed robberies linked to Facebook Marketplace meetups in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the Far South Side. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4shx34vr 

One person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting Wednesday evening in Hazel Crest.

The woman said her incident occurred near Southport and Addison. She was approached by three men who claimed they were collecting money for a South Side daycare. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/mryjds7h 

The CTA said beginning Friday, Dec. 19, the number of Chicago police officers patrolling bus and train stations will increase from 77 officers per day to 120 officers per day. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2kb7jwju 

Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren posted a letter letting fans know that other stadium sites in Illinois and/or Northwest Indiana are now on the table, leaving Northwest Indiana residents and politicians excited. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4fp9njhs 

The Illinois Accountability Commission held a public hearing Thursday to investigate the use of chemical weapons by federal agents in Chicagoland, and heard testimony from witnesses and experts on the impact of the irritants used. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/5667e9jv 

BREAKING UPDATE: A grand jury has indicted a man on charges related to an incident where he allegedly set a young woman on fire while aboard a CTA Blue Line train, and another incident where he reportedly set a fire outside City Hall. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2vyj2xm6 

Two people are dead after a small plane crashed shortly after takeoff at DuPage Airport in West Chicago, according to airport spokespeople.

Way to go officers! Two Glendale Heights police officers rescued three people from an icy pond, and it was all caught on camera. Read the full story: https://tinyurl.com/43vwnmep 

BREAKING: A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a car Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of a Walgreens in Hillside, according to authorities. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/y5yen57n 

Chicago is on track to have the fewest murders in at least a decade. The city's top cop talks to Ben Bradley about the reasons why, concerns about immigration agents' tactics and why he tries to stay out of the spotlight. Full story: https://tinyurl.com/yaytrd4h 

BREAKING: Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, Los Angeles County prosecutors said Tuesday. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/ys5m7bua 

Mayor Brandon Johnson and several aldermen who oppose his budget met face to face during a power meeting at City Hall this afternoon, but the talks ended abruptly when alders walked away without a deal.

A WGN Investigates review of a new website highlighting Illinois arrests labeled by Homeland Security as "the worst of the worst" also includes a few people identified only as having convictions for shoplifting and traffic offenses.

Firefighters raced into icy water this morning to save a husky that had fallen into a pond near St. Charles, as the dog struggled in frigid conditions. The dog has a microchip, but the phone number associated with it is not working. READ MORE: https://tinyurl.com/5r63dbhp