Page Updated: Wednesday, July 01, 2026 3:02 PM ET

Chicago Tribune - Top Stories

New Illinois laws take effect Wednesday including gas tax freeze and changes for driving tests and tuition

8 hours ago

Changes to student loans are taking effect July 1. Here's what to know.

59 minutes ago

ComEd says power grid under 'critical strain' during Chicago's extreme heat

15 minutes ago

Chicago ended 2025 with extra money, but long-term troubles linger

4 hours ago

How (and why) pop culture has painted the Cubs as 'lovable losers'

8 hours ago

Chicago Blackhawks in NHL free agency: Forward Ilya Mikheyev leaves for Tampa Bay Lightning

41 minutes ago

Chicago Cubs' Alex Bregman downplays thumbs-down gestures after homering at Wrigley for 1st time since March

15 minutes ago

Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting married at Madison Square Garden? Here's what we know.

59 minutes ago

President Donald Trump filing shows he took in about $1.2 billion from crypto businesses last year

59 minutes ago

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh emphasizes political independence, signals focus on inflation

41 minutes ago

What to know about fireworks and the risk of wildfires this July 4th

41 minutes ago

Off-duty Mundelein police officer killed in motorcycle crash: 'A heartbreaking loss'

1 hour ago

Laura Washington: Should Chicago mayoral candidates be allowed to run for two offices at the same time?

8 hours ago

Editorial: The DuSable, the other South Side museum celebrating civil rights, needs some help

8 hours ago

Steve Chapman: On its 250th birthday, the promise of America has darkened

8 hours ago

Editorial: On the birthright matter, the US Constitution is pretty clear

23 hours ago

How the Supreme Court became a pivotal force in Trump's immigration agenda

5 hours ago

Trump's actions signal a move toward institutionalizing people with disabilities, advocates warn

5 hours ago

Writer E. Jean Carroll calls for Trump to pay $5.8M after high court appeal fails

5 hours ago

Ship runs aground in Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state TV reports

5 hours ago

Mike Campbell shares a Tom Petty memory ahead of Dirty Knobs concert: 'I've never talked about this'

8 hours ago

Column: Celebrating history on the Fourth? Look and listen to the river.

7 hours ago

10 pop-up events to eat and drink at in Chicago this July, from a spicy margarita competition to a taco crawl

8 hours ago

Chicago Theater Report: Sing-along 'Hamilton' is coming to Obama center, Hand & The Eye offers happy hour

23 hours ago

Chicago Bulls in NBA free agency: Norman Powell joins on a 2-year deal — and center Zach Collins is extended

4 hours ago

Northwestern's $875 million Ryan Field is taking shape before October debut as turf field is installed

6 hours ago

Can US men avoid another quick exit from the World Cup knockout round?

7 hours ago

France looks like World Cup juggernaut with fearsome foursome of Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise and Barcola

4 hours ago

Photos: Six Flags Great America celebrates 50 years

1 month ago

Photos: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

27 days ago

Photos: Sam Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern

1 month ago

Chicago Tribune wins Pulitzer Prize for local reporting: Read the stories and see the photos

1 month ago

Route 66: Photos from the 'Main Street of America'

2 months ago

No end date for South Shore Line busing after derailment last month

1 hour ago

Mariano's owner Kroger buying regional grocer and pharmacy retailer Giant Eagle in deal valued at $1.65 billion

4 hours ago

Egg producers will pay $3.3M and donate 53 million eggs to settle price fixing claims

20 hours ago

US airlines cut seats to focus on profit over July 4 holiday

23 hours ago

Libertyville man faces hate crime charge for ICE poster: 'Hate must have no home in Lake County'

5 hours ago

Illinois immigrants and leaders rejoice as Supreme Court affirms birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump's order

7 hours ago

Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump's proposed limits

1 day ago

Merrillville, Rokita in spat about town's opposition to ICE facility

1 day ago

No 'cakewalk': Chicago school board president reflects on shift to elected governance

19 hours ago

Public universities, community colleges to see funding boost from state budget

22 hours ago

Chicago Board of Elections says circulation rule doesn't apply to school board

20 hours ago

Oak Park and River Forest District 200 moves forward with Act 3 project

1 day ago

Crime and Public Safety

7 months ago

Police identify Wheatfield woman as victim in fatal crash

41 minutes ago

Southland crime: Ambulance crash in Alsip, gaming machines burglarized

2 hours ago

Chicago homicides in 2026: Here's how the numbers compare with previous years

2 hours ago

Man, 30, fatally wounded in double shooting in River North

5 hours ago

'It's so hot': Hitting the beach is one way to beat the heat as high temps linger

21 hours ago

Nature, science intersect at Living With Lakes seminar in Valparaiso

1 day ago

Nationally recognized Indiana Dunes trailmaster Ron Seman dies at age 64

2 days ago

Illinois 250: What the state has uniquely contributed to the nation — and the world

2 days ago

Restaurants, Food and Drink

7 months ago

Restaurant news: World's largest Hello Kitty Cafe opens in Chicago with afternoon tea and Italian beef croissants

1 day ago

July 4 dining guide: 20 Chicago restaurants and bars with specials for America 250

2 days ago

From giardiniera dogs to fried apple pie, Portillo's and McDonald's join fast-food promotion of America 250

1 day ago

American wines worth celebrating this Fourth of July

2 days ago

Bill aims to curb abandoned oil and gas wells in Illinois through stiffer fines

5 days ago

Read the Tribune's investigation into Illinois' abandoned oil wells

8 days ago

In Illinois, getting oil and gas operators to pay for abandoned wells can take decades

9 days ago

Microplastics linger inside people and animals, multiple studies show. But regulation is still far off.

10 days ago

Today in Chicago History: More than 60,000 visitors overwhelm Brookfield Zoo on first day

9 hours ago

Red coats or not, toy soldiers help East Dundee salute US' 250th anniversary

15 minutes ago

Thousands flock to Waukegan's American Independence Parade: 'Anyone who walks by is welcome'

15 minutes ago

Portage Mayor Austin Bonta urges NIPSCO to meet with public on infrastructure, reliability

1 hour ago

Court news: Plea deal in shooting death, appeals court trims sentence

3 hours ago

Best cheap combat boots

7 hours ago

Every captain benefits from these must-have boat accessories

7 hours ago

July 4th Must-Know BBQ Hacks

8 hours ago

Take to the water with the best pedal boat

1 day ago