The Rundown | Chicago News

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Friday, November 6, 2026 Nov 06, 2026

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Some local immigrant advocates are speaking out about their priorities for newly-elected lawmakers following the midterm election. Hundreds of nurses, physician assistants and midwives at UI Health voted to strike after they say they were denied a 2% raise given to other hospital workers. The Chicago Bears are trying to extend their winning streak to four games.

Plus, we take you inside the fall blockbuster exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago showcasing the work of Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt.

Thursday, November 5, 2026 Nov 05, 2026

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More than two dozen Democratic Illinois State Representatives want to replace Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. A dozen Chicago restaurants made a new list from reservation booking site OpenTable of the top 100 restaurants in the country. Four White Sox players are finalists for this year’s Silver Slugger Award.

Plus, Chicago now has its own brewery for Korea’s oldest alcoholic drink. Makgeolli is a rice wine that has been around for centuries, and it’s now growing in popularity in the U.S.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Nov 04, 2026

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It was a blue wave last night as Democrats secured control of the House and Senate. Voters called into WBEZ’s Say More program to share their thoughts on the results. Statewide winners include Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker and Senator-elect Juliana Stratton. Jessica Biggs beat out the Chicago Teachers Union candidate in Chicago’s first-ever school board presidential election.

Plus, we hear from WBEZ’s senior statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal about how the election shook out.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 Nov 03, 2026

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It’s Election Day! Polls are open until 7 p.m. Some voters in Pilsen encountered long wait times today amid a shortage of paper ballots. Chicago has approved a $260 million police misconduct settlement tied to disgraced former Chicago Police Detective Reynaldo Guevara. The 32nd annual Black Harvest Film Festival is back this week.

Plus, for the first time, Chicagoans will vote for all 21 members of the city school board. It includes a citywide race for board president.

Monday, November 2, 2026 Nov 02, 2026

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Suburban Cook County voters have cast over 240,000 ballots before Election Day. A majority of Chicago City Council members are already overriding a small slice of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget proposal. Chicago’s former FBI boss has filed a lawsuit against top Trump administration officials.

Plus, today marks the 10th anniversary of when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016. The win ended a 108-year championship drought. We look back at what Wrigleyville sounded like when it happened.

Friday, October 30, 2026 Oct 30, 2026

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The Pope has cast his vote in Illinois. Math scores for students in Illinois continue to be low. Daylight saving time ends on Sunday.
Plus, Curious City hosted a live Halloween event at the Empty Bottle. We hear a story from one Chicagoan.

Thursday, October 29, 2026 Oct 29, 2026

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More than 100 University of Chicago students, faculty and staff rallied in the Main Quad Wednesday night to protest the way the school has handled reports of sexual assault. The city is launching a new program to bring childhood lead testing directly to the South Side. The Chicago Bears have pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans for star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons.

Plus, parents in Chicago have a wide range of choices when it comes to where their children go to school, but navigating the public school system can be daunting. Candidates for school board president have distinct views on how to help parents choose a school.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Oct 28, 2026

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Election officials say early voting numbers in Chicago are up. Former Democratic Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is asking voters to check yes on a Cook County ballot referendum asking whether there should be a 3% income tax on millionaires. Voters in west suburban Oak Park are being asked what they think about Illinois fiscal policy.

Plus, most low-income residents in Chicago who use housing vouchers to subsidize their rent live in high-poverty communities. That’s because there’s not enough affordable housing in low-poverty neighborhoods. Some landlords discriminate against renters using vouchers despite it being against the law. There is one tool that has helped thousands of people successfully move to higher-income neighborhoods and suburbs. They’re known as housing mobility programs.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 Oct 27, 2026

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The fall ballot will ask Chicago voters if they want a permanent site for large-scale festivals and events. Some homeowners on Chicago’s South and West sides could be eligible for thousands of dollars to help avoid losing their homes. Illinois Republican congressman Darin LaHood is asking the Trump administration to reconsider denying disaster aid to communities affected by severe weather in August.

Plus, new analysis of more than two decades of travel times by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times show gridlock on the Kennedy Expressway has never been worse than these past few years. We look into why record-breaking delays persist on the Kennedy.

Monday, October 26, 2026 Oct 26, 2026

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Advocates for street vendors and food workers in Chicago are demanding reforms to some city regulations around food carts. Illinois is joining 19 other states and the Federal Trade Commission in suing the bargain chain Dollar General. The Blackhawks had a disappointing loss on Sunday night.

Plus, four years ago, billionaire businessman Michael Sacks wrote a $200,000 check to Brandon Johnson’s inaugural committee and went to see the Chicago mayor-elect to help him set up his administration.When Johnson launched his campaign last month for a second, he named one man as his primary political opponent: Michael Sacks. Who is this Chicago power player now in the eye of the political storm? And how did his once promising relationship with the mayor deteriorate?

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