Finnegan Belleau –

Linda Jones-Woodley smiles while describing the roofing, gutter and tuck-pointing work that was done on her renovated home on Oct. 21, 2026, in Westchester. Jones-Woodley received home improvements through a Cook County program called Healthy Homes for Healthy Families. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

More than 350 suburban homes benefit from program targeting lead and other health risks

October 23, 2026 at 11:03 a.m.

Improving energy efficiency is also called an important goal of the program as Chicago faces more severe weather events.

Brooke Andresen holds her 8-month-old-daughter Eden Pecho as her mom, Darlene Andresen follows behind while walking in front of a bright yellow Amur Corktree at the Morton Arboretum on Oct. 14, 2026, in Lisle. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Strong El Niño delays peak fall foliage in Chicago, brings forecast for warmer winter

October 22, 2026 at 1:33 p.m.

Temperature plays a crucial role in when and how trees change color, experts say, but precipitation and sunlight are also factors.

John Stefanik, left, speaks alongside other contenders on his way to winning the Mike Ditka lookalike contest, Oct. 18, 2026, on the late Bears coach’s birthday at Pippin’s Tavern in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Mike Ditka lookalike contest at Near North Side tavern marks late coach’s birthday

October 18, 2026 at 4:59 p.m.

Four people participated in the contest, which took place during halftime of the Bears’ game against the Atlanta Falcons.

4 wounded early Sunday in Austin drive-by shooting

October 18, 2026 at 9:01 a.m.

One man was shot multiple times, and three victims later presented to local hospitals with gunshot injuries, Chicago police said.

Runners cross the LaSalle Street Bridge as spectators cheer on Oct. 11, 2026, during the Chicago Marathon. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Chicago Marathon spectators cheer for charity, culture and support for the running community

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

The sidelines of this year’s Chicago Marathon featured cutouts of Pope Leo XIV and tributes to Mike Ditka.

Tom Godowski, of Itasca, tailgates while dressed as Mike Ditka before the Bears and Jets played Oct. 4, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

‘We’ll never forget him, ever’: Chicago Bears fans reminisce on Mike Ditka’s legacy

October 9, 2026 at 10:34 a.m.

Football fans at Chicago Bears tailgates reflected on a tough coach whose spirit became synonymous with Chicago.

A team works on the uprate project to install higher-efficiency turbines while Unit 2 is temporarily shut down for refueling April 21, 2026, at the Braidwood Generating Station nuclear power plant. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)s

Constellation and Google announce plan to increase nuclear capacity in Illinois, tout cost savings for residents

October 6, 2026 at 5:37 p.m.

About half of Constellation’s investment, or $2 billion, will be spent at the Byron, Braidwood, LaSalle and Quad Cities plants In Illinois, the company said.

Homes near the Pullman Innovations plant on 100th Street on Aug. 18, 2026, on the Southeast Side. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Illinois attorney general files motion to halt operations at South Deering plant accused of excessive odors

October 1, 2026 at 6:38 p.m.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a motion Thursday to halt operations at a Southeast Side plant accused of emitting bad odors into the surrounding neighborhood, according to a news...

The Obama Presidential Center on June 3, 2026, in Chicago’s Jackson Park. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

More than 175,000 people have visited the Obama Presidential Center since its June opening

September 27, 2026 at 3:47 p.m.

There were four known marriage proposals, three bald eagle sightings and about 11,000 “Obama Burgers” eaten at the campus, according to the Obama Foundation.

Green Line train heading to Forest Park evacuated Saturday

September 27, 2026 at 11:56 a.m.

The incident was not a derailment, and all train wheels remained on the tracks, according to the CTA.

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