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Friday, September 11, 2026 Sep 11, 2026

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Illinois' new "medical aid in dying" law goes into effect on Saturday. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown. Chicago will mark Mexican Independence Day with festivities all around the city this weekend.

Plus, Illinois elected officials commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a day of service in Chicago.

Thursday, September 10, 2026 Sep 10, 2026

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Enrollment is up at the University of Illinois system, hitting more than 102,000 students for the first time. A Chicago man is offering walking tours that highlight the history of brick in the city. People who live in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side have a new sculpture park.

Plus, teen takeovers and trends were a big topic on social media and in the news this summer. The coverage and rhetoric around it has left some of Chicago’s teens feeling discouraged and unwelcome in their own city, but they aren’t giving up. In August, more than 150 young Chicagoans threw a party at North Avenue Beach. The event was peaceful but it wasn’t without conflict.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Sep 09, 2026

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Dozens of students walked out of class today at Lincoln-Way East High School in south suburban Frankfort. A second case of measles has been reported in Kane County. The National Weather Service reports Chicago had its warmest September start on record.

Plus, WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang met up with Darren Hightower, one of the dozens of people who were forced out of their homes after one of the definitive moments of Operation Midway Blitz: the military-style raid of an apartment complex in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood last September.

Bearing Witness to the Blitz Sep 08, 2026

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It's been a year since the Trump administration launched Operation Midway Blitz, an aggressive anti-immigration campaign they said was targeting the "worst of the worst,” in Chicago. In reality, Operation Midway Blitz spread fear throughout the city, as federal immigration agents conducted mass arrests of people, including U.S. citizens, who were not criminals. WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times reporters were there as federal agents descended on Chicago. Those reporters reflect back on the key moments and lasting effects of the sweeping enforcement operation.

Friday, September 4, 2026 Sep 04, 2026

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With national arts funding under threat, advocates say local government support is more critical than ever. Thousands of people will turn DuSable Lake Shore Drive into a cyclist’s paradise on Sunday. The Chicago Labor Day Parade kicks off on Chicago’s Southeast Side at 11 a.m. on Saturday, immediately followed by Eddie Fest at Steelworkers Park.

Plus, Kanye West plays two nearly sold-out shows this week at Soldier Field. West found his voice in Chicago as a young artist. He returns a polarizing figure, after recently apologizing for anti-semitic and racist behavior. What should his legacy be?

Thursday, September 3, 2026 Sep 03, 2026

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Chicago faces an $882 million dollar budget gap next year, one of the largest in city history. Joffrey Ballet President and CEO Greg Cameron is stepping down next year. Jazz Fest is underway, bringing free music this weekend to Millennium Park and the downtown Cultural Center.

Plus, every year, thousands of bikers turn DuSable Lake Shore Drive into a cyclist’s paradise. For one morning, participants can ride 30 miles along Chicago’s shoreline without cars on the road. This year, Bike the Drive turns 25 years old.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Sep 02, 2026

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The owners of South Chicago Chapel are facing litigation. ComEd says they need to raise more than $15 billion through rate increases to deal with worsening weather conditions. A new study from Northwestern University suggests extreme heat can impact more aspects of our health than we might realize.

Plus, it’s been nearly one year since hundreds of federal immigration agents arrived in Chicago to accelerate their aggressive deportation campaign. They dubbed it Operation Midway Blitz and pledged to go after the “worst of the worst.” New data analysis by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times finds the pledge was more hype than reality.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 Sep 01, 2026

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A heat wave advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday night. It’s been nearly one year since hundreds of federal immigration agents arrived in Chicago to accelerate their aggressive deportation campaign. A Northwestern University physicist may have found dark matter.

Plus, Tuesday is the first day of meteorological autumn. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford walked us through a memorable summer for extreme weather and shared what could be coming next.

Monday, August 31, 2026 Aug 31, 2026

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A man was killed and 14 others were wounded in the largest mass shooting in Chicago this year. Recent analysis by the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago shows Mayor Brandon Johnson returned record TIF surplus revenue to pay for city services. The Cubs celebrated the team's 150th anniversary over the weekend.

Plus, people in Gary, Indiana, are still cleaning up after strong storms in August.

Friday, August 28, 2026 Aug 28, 2026

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A men’s homeless shelter in Gary is trying to raise money to outfit a new facility. The Chicago Bears’ season is right around the corner, and the team is gearing up with preseason practices and games. One arm of Illinois’ Imagination Library program has seen an influx of enrollments following the passing of its founder, Dolly Parton.

Plus, the Korean band BTS is back in Chicago this week for two sold-out shows at Soldier Field as a part of the group’s “Arirang” world tour. It’s been seven years since the K-pop boy band last performed in Chicago. The group has built an army of fans in Chicago and around the world. We hear from fans about what this moment means for them.

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