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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.
New ‘Stranger Things’ star Jake Connelly on going from Feldco window commercials to Netflix
www.wbez.org
December 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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.’”
After fleeing the war in Ukraine, they thought they were safe. Then came Trump’s deportation blitz.
www.wbez.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
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.
A filmmaker on the vanguard of virtual reality designs an up-close refugee experience
www.wbez.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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.
Mayor Brandon Johnson will not veto City Council's alternate budget
www.wbez.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
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.
U.S. Supreme Court sides against Trump, won't lift block on National Guard deployment in Illinois
www.wbez.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
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...
Living through the holiday season, behind prison walls
Listen here for this year's Prisoncast! holiday show for conversations on grief, money and spending the holidays away from loved ones.
www.wbez.org
December 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
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.
How ICE raids are impacting classrooms
www.wbez.org
December 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
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.
Her special-needs son loves holiday music. She helped design a concert for him.
www.wbez.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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.
Hear how Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino became the face of Trump’s deportation campaign
www.wbez.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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.
The best things we ate around Chicago in 2025
www.wbez.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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.
Art Institute curators hope to introduce architect Bruce Goff to new generation with career-spanning show
www.wbez.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
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.
I was a goose peddler, for one night only, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Goodman Theatre
www.wbez.org
December 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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.
“It changes lives”: Inside the service dog training program at an Illinois women’s prison
www.wbez.org
December 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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.
Property tax payment delay costs CPS almost a quarter million dollars a day
www.wbez.org
December 20, 2025 at 2:06 AM
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.
Border Patrol agent’s camera captures detainee’s lament: ‘We don’t have the opportunity that you have’
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
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.
Trump administration threatens $50 million CTA funding cut, says security plan is 'materially deficient'
chicago.suntimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:37 PM
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.
Pairing of two young classical supernovas – Klaus Mäkelä and pianist Yunchan Lim — thrills beyond the Beethoven
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:52 PM
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.
City Council approves alternate revenue plan — minus Mayor Brandon Johnson's corporate head tax
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
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.
Under CTA 'security surge plan,’ more officers to be on trains, platforms and buses
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
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.
I was a goose peddler, for one night only, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Goodman Theatre
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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.
A parranda pop-up in Humboldt Park takes inspiration from Puerto Rican Christmas traditions — and Bad Bunny's 'casita'
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
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.
Trump admin ending grants for support services at many Illinois schools
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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.
Chicago's Instituto charter school sanctioned for special education violations
www.wbez.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM
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.
CPS picks buyers for 3 closed schools, including mom of slain officer Aréanah Preston
www.wbez.org
December 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM
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.
Bears looking past Arlington Heights for possible stadium sites, including Northwest Indiana
www.wbez.org
December 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights — and no longer Illinois.