Dan Petrella –

MK Pritzker speaks at a press conference on Aug. 6, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Illinois first lady MK Pritzker commits $500,000 to Ohio’s Amy Acton after Ramaswamy ad featuring her mother

October 21, 2026 at 3:55 p.m.

The usually low-profile first lady is giving Acton the maximum and the rest to Ohio Democrats after Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign planned a $4 million push for an ad featuring...

Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, right, speaks with Chicago voters during a Northside Republicans candidate meet-and-greet at the Billy Goat Tavern in Wrigleyville on Oct. 12, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Democrats lead fundraising in Illinois and federal races as megadonors fail to materialize for Darren Bailey

October 16, 2026 at 7:11 p.m.

Newly filed campaign finance records show Republican Darren Bailey entered the final month before the Nov. 3 election with $431,787 in cash on hand, a disadvantage of better than 100...

Gov. JB Pritzker walks a hallway after his gubernatorial debate with Republican nominee challenger Darren Bailey at the WTTW-Ch. 11 on Oct. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Gov. Pritzker tax returns show $8.5 million income for 2025, no blackjack windfall; trust records still secret

October 15, 2026 at 6:24 p.m.

Partial returns released before the Nov. 3 election show Gov. JB Pritzker paid $2.2 million in federal income tax. Records for trusts holding much of his fortune remain secret; GOP...

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Republican nominee challenger Darren Bailey prepare for their gubernatorial debate at WTTW-Ch. 11 on Oct. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

In lone debate for Illinois governor, Darren Bailey gets testy as JB Pritzker links challenger to Trump

October 13, 2026 at 11:12 p.m.

Republican Darren Bailey repeatedly interrupted Gov. JB Pritzker in their only scheduled debate, while the Democrat cast him as a Trump-following extremist.

Collin Corbett, center, stands next to his wife, Abbey, and speaks with supporters Michael Berthold, left, and Marilynn and Bruce Plaxton during a fundraising event at the Long Story Short Pub on Sept. 30, 2026, in Barrington. Corbett is running for governor as an Independent. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Illinois governor’s race: Collin Corbett, an ex-GOP strategist, hopes to find votes from those in the middle

October 8, 2026 at 11:39 a.m.

Collin Corbett, a former Republican strategist from Palatine, is the first independent on the Illinois ballot for governor in 16 years. He concedes he's unlikely to beat JB Pritzker or...

Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey gives a thumbs-up as he leaves a press conference near McCormick Place on Sept. 4, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Illinois Democrats accuse Darren Bailey of failing to disclose who provides rent-free Chicago apartment

October 6, 2026 at 5:25 p.m.

The Illinois Democratic Party has accused Darren Bailey, the Republican nominee for governor, of violating state campaign disclosure law by failing to publicly reveal who is providing him with a...

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, center left, and Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren chat before a Bears-Jaguars game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13, 2024, in London. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Chicago Bears stadium: JB Pritzker, Illinois leaders meet with NFL’s Roger Goodell as team weighs Indiana move

October 1, 2026 at 4:39 p.m.

For the first time, Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois legislative leaders met Thursday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in person, the latest indication a team stadium in Illinois is still...

A U.S. Border Patrol agent reaches over Chicago police officers while threatening to use a canister against protesters in Brighton Park on Oct. 4, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Keeping federal agents in check still a challenge one year after Operation Midway Blitz

September 27, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A year after Operation Midway Blitz, encounters involving immigration authorities continue to leave the public and elected officials alike grasping for answers and seeking accountability.

Gov. JB Pritzker joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot, right, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, second from left, and public health experts in updating residents on March 12, 2020, in the early days of the pandemic. Illinois, Chicago and Cook County received $11 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A Tribune-University of Chicago Mansueto Institute analysis revealed few efforts to identify potential waste and abuse of that money. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Illinois, Chicago, Cook County got $11B in pandemic aid but there were gaps in oversight and transparency

September 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Tribune and the University of Chicago's Mansueto Institute examined how Illinois, Chicago and Cook County used aid through the American Rescue Plan Act. The analysis revealed maze-like money trails...

Surveillance video of the Lyons Township clerk's office shows a kiss between Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg and Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek. The video has become a political flashpoint in the race for the Cook County Board's 17th District seat, in which Hoffenberg is running against Republican Liz Gordon. (Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg)

Kiss video at center of Lyons Township FOIA fight could impact Cook County Board, Congress races

August 27, 2026 at 8:49 p.m.

Surveillance video showing a kiss between Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg and Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek has become a political flashpoint in both a Cook County board race and the...

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