The Rundown | Chicago News

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Thursday, August 27, 2026 Aug 27, 2026

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People will have stricter guidelines next year when they use e-bikes and other micro-mobility vehicles. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his tenure hasn’t been “perfect,” but he’s touting his efforts to boost mental health access, youth jobs and new revenue streams. Sky gazers in the Chicago area can see a partial lunar eclipse Thursday night.

Plus, a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling on mail-in voting is drawing close scrutiny from pro-democracy advocates with 10 weeks until the fall election. The high court’s conservative bloc is allowing President Trump to move forward with an executive order critics say is designed to choke off the popular form of voting. Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Wednesday joined a multi-state lawsuit to block a new postal service rule regarding mail-in ballots that comes from Trump’s executive order.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Aug 26, 2026

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Illinois could receive over $700 million in a settlement with Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. Northwest Indiana power utility NIPSCO filed multiple applications for customer rate increases while hundreds of thousands of residents were without power. Dolly Parton was widely known as an award winning music icon, but her work with her Imagination Library has made a local impact in Illinois.

Plus, Monday marked the start of classes for Chicago Public Schools. The day was filled with all the typical excitement and nerves you see on the first day. But there were also lingering concerns about the district’s budget and whether schools will see more cuts later this year.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Aug 25, 2026

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Power is expected to return to all Northwest Indiana residents Tuesday. Democratic Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is calling on the head of the postal service to resign. A private group wants to slash the travel time from downtown Chicago to O’Hare to 15 minutes. A Chicago zoologist has named a newly-discovered species of snake after Slash, the guitarist for Guns N’ Roses.

Plus, an update from WFYI reporter Barb Anguiano on the situation in Indiana.

Monday, August 24, 2026 Aug 24, 2026

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Indiana Governor Mike Braun is calling for an investigation into NIPSCO’s response to power outages in Northwest Indiana. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public School leaders rang the symbolic bell at a West Side elementary school Monday morning. People who live on Chicago’s South Side will soon have the chance to train as midwives in their own community.

Plus, besides deep-fried Oreos, Cheetos-covered corndogs, and pork belly and fries in a cone, the Illinois State Fair last week offered a heaping serving of politics. Democrats are working to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker, replace retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and weather a sexual harassment scandal confronting House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Republicans are working to overcome a possible Democratic wave across the country this fall. They are trying to exploit the Welch crisis, and they blame Pritzker for rising household costs.

Friday, August 21, 2026 Aug 21, 2026

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A Chicago police officer who racked up more complaints than any other officer in recent years now faces firing. Tornado sirens were accidentally activated this morning in multiple Chicago suburbs for the second time in three days. The annual Supertri Chicago is returning this weekend to the city.

Plus, we hear from a journalist in Gary, Indiana, about the city’s continued struggle to regain electricity following last week’s storm.

Thursday, August 20, 2026 Aug 20, 2026

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Northwest Indiana power utility NIPSCO now says all of its customers should be restored by the end of Tuesday. Chicago will continue to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. with a free concert at Clarendon Community Center Park. The Pulitzer Prizes and the Chicago-based American Library Association on Thursday announced the national tour of “Pulitzer on the Road.”

Plus, when a 64-year-old man from west suburban Addison was detained during the early weeks of Operation Midway Blitz last September, his family tried for months to keep his sandwich shop afloat while trying to get him out of detention. But Asif Amin Cheema was deported to his native Pakistan in January. So much has changed in the past year for the family without their patriarch.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Aug 19, 2026

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The Illinois Tollway Board Wednesday morning unanimously approved the first passenger toll increase since 2012. Rats are a problem that have plagued Chicago for years, but there are ways to prevent their spread. The Chicago Bears are continuing training camp, but their injury list is starting to pile up.

Plus, school lunch used to be good. We explore how Chicago Public School lunches went from delicious to disappointing.

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 Aug 18, 2026

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A gruesome discovery at a far South Side funeral home earlier this month has exposed a lack of state oversight of the funeral and burial industry. A long-delayed casino complex in Chicago's River West neighborhood says its massive debt creates “substantial doubt” for its future. Millions of birds migrate through Chicago every year, but traveling around glass buildings can be deadly.

Plus, Puerto Rico is going through a major water crisis due to severe drought. The island’s government began cutting water service to people’s homes and that’s causing anger. The crisis is exposing major weakness in Puerto Rico’s water delivery infrastructure.

Monday, August 17, 2026 Aug 17, 2026

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Puerto Rico is experiencing a major water crisis due to severe drought, and Chicago's large Puerto Rican community is keeping an eye on what’s happening on the ground. Chicago has a break from the rain on Monday, but don’t put away the umbrellas yet. The Chicago Bears beat the Cleveland Browns in a preseason matchup on Saturday and had a practice Sunday.

Plus, former charter school operator Aspira has declared bankruptcy. It comes just 11 years after the nonprofit built a modern school in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood with $27 million dollars from the state of Illinois. Now, Aspira wants to sell the building for $11 million dollars and pocket some of the proceeds for its own operations.

Friday, August 14, 2026 Aug 14, 2026

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Chicago homeowners affected by severe flooding could see some financial relief. The Chicago Sinfonietta has reached a one-year labor agreement with its musicians. The Chicago Bears open the preseason on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.

Plus, in recent years, many Chicago renters have been priced out of their neighborhoods. In some parts of the city, there’s an ordinance in place that gives tenants a shot at buying their building if it goes up for sale. But, it’s not easy buying a building. One Northwest Side group is trying to change that with help from some young organizers.

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