The Rundown | Chicago News

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Monday, April 20, 2026 Apr 20, 2026

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A federal judge has confirmed President Trump’s orders to deploy National Guard troops into Chicago are no longer in effect. A local anti-violence group is upping its presence on the CTA after a couple of recent attacks on women. Ten Chicago-area high schoolers have been honored at the 4th annual Randall Albers Young Writers Awards. Plus, an 18-year-old and his mother were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement a month ago. The teen had just played his first soccer game of the spring season, and he was getting ready to graduate from Mather High School on the North Side. His abrupt absence left a hole in his community.

Friday, April 17, 2026 Apr 17, 2026

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New body camera footage shows that a Chicago cop hid for more than 90 seconds and failed to provide aid after shooting his partner, Krystal Rivera. Months after “Operation Midway Blitz,” the Village of Broadview says it’s had to deal with the financial fallout of the deportation campaign on its own. A push by Governor JB Pritzker to prohibit the use of cell phones and other smart devices in the classroom is on its way to the state Senate after passing the Illinois House. Plus, in his heyday, the Black media mogul John H. Johnson reached millions with his iconic magazines “Ebony” and “Jet.” His wife, Eunice, founded the Ebony Fashion Fair and the beauty line of the same name. Now their granddaughter, Alexa Rice, is making her own way in the beauty business decades later.

Thursday, April 16, 2026 Apr 16, 2026

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A new Inspector General report reveals cases of wrongdoing by city employees. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson tells WBEZ that Rahm Emanuel is the only Democratic politician he would automatically oppose if Emanuel makes a run for president in 2028. That’s a wrap for the Chicago Blackhawks, who ended their season by announcing General Manager Kyle Davidson has been signed to a multi-year contract extension. Plus, piles of research have shown that education leads to better outcomes for people getting out of prison and prevents them from going back. In Illinois, a small percentage of people in custody get to take college classes while they serve time. But when they do get out and want to continue their education, there’s another barrier. They might encounter a criminal history review — a process universities say is about campus safety. For applicants with a record, it can feel like the door to higher education was never really open.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026

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Taxi fares will soon rise in Chicago by roughly 20% after the City Council approved the first fare hike in a decade at its April meeting on Wednesday. A federal appeals court ordered the release of former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain from prison on Tuesday. Chicago White Sox pitcher Noah Schultz made his Major League debut Tuesday night. Plus, Humboldt Park resident Brendan Byrne owed federal taxes after filing his 2023 return, and like many people, he paid the balance through an online tax platform. His payment fell into limbo when the IRS-authorized payment vendor he used disappeared.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Apr 14, 2026

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A measure to explicitly ban Chicago police officers from being members of extremist groups like the far-right Proud Boys has gotten the greenlight from a key City Council panel. Twin bills in the state legislature could bring autonomous vehicles to Illinois. Students at a private school in Chicago will be learning by artificial intelligence rather than teachers. Plus, Chicago’s inaugural poet laureate, Avery R. Young, will soon debut his brand new opera. The show is loosely based on his family’s story during the Great Migration. It brings notes of blues and funk to the Lyric Opera House.

Monday, April 13, 2026 Apr 13, 2026

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President Trump got on Truth Social on Sunday night to insult Pope Leo over the pontiff’s disapproval of the war in Iran. More than 100 parents from across the city brought their children for a massive playdate this weekend at Maggie Daley Park in downtown Chicago. The Chicago Bulls now look toward several important weeks for the organization as the team begins its search for a new top decision-maker. Plus, some people locked up in prison in Illinois say personal appearance takes on a whole new significance behind bars. It’s one thing they can control. But in a prison, beauty and hygiene products can be expensive and hard to come by. Still, women in state custody have learned to reclaim their beauty.

Friday, April 10, 2026 Apr 10, 2026

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Chicago’s top watchdog says the city’s police department has no consistent playbook for sidelining officers during misconduct investigations. People who buy 30-day CTA and Pace passes can get Divvy discounts starting later this month. A group of Black art collectors are attending the art fair EXPO Chicago this weekend with a mission to place more works by Black creatives in museums. Plus, we’ll learn how some Illinois arts groups are planning on celebrating America’s 250th birthday later this year.

Thursday, April 9, 2026 Apr 09, 2026

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Registered nurses at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a union election. Some Democratic lawmakers in Illinois want more oversight over hospitals to be better prepared in case they close. After seemingly turning a corner in their first home series of the season, the White Sox are back to their losing ways. Plus, WBEZ’s Michael Puente sits down with Cardinal Blase Cupich, head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, about President Trump’s rhetoric in his war with Iran.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Apr 08, 2026

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Terms are still unclear for a two-week ceasefire deal between the U.S., Iran, and Israel. Illinois Republicans hope to combat rising gas prices by pausing a state sales tax on fuel. The Chicago Park District is unveiling two temporary art installations Wednesday as part of its Monument Response Project. Plus, it’s been one blow after another for many migrants in Chicago in the last year. The Trump administration ended programs that allowed them to work and live in the United States legally, and without a steady income, finding affordable housing has become even harder. On top of that, these challenges make them particularly vulnerable to scams, and a new state housing law is only making a difficult situation worse.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Apr 07, 2026

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has joined a growing list of elected officials calling for President Trump’s removal via the 25th Amendment. Fifteen affordable housing projects around Chicago have been approved to receive millions of dollars in local funding and federal tax credits. The Chicago Bulls are embracing change after years of mediocrity – starting with the firing of executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley. Plus, Chicago-based influencer Helena “Yoonie” Kim carefully restores vintage Coach bags in social media videos that rack up millions of views. The passion for finding and restoring vintage Coach bags is now an Internet-wide trend, with dozens of Facebook groups and hundreds of Depop shops bringing together hobbyists who curate their own vintage Coach collections.

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