Watch CBS News
The head of a prison watchdog group says the prevalence of mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes is driving up the cost of our criminal justice system, and not doing society much good either, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
A day after the Illinois State Board of Education launched a financial probe of the Chicago Public Schools, Gov. Bruce Rauner said he believes state lawmakers eventually will give him power to take control of the Chicago school system.
The Chicago Democrat says the political establishment -- led by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan -- is behind a smear campaign. CBS 2's Mike Parker reports.
Hillary Clinton is in Chicago today, raising money for her presidential run.
More than 100 activists gathered outside City Hall on Wednesday, ahead of a City Council Housing Committee hearing, calling on aldermen to pass a long-stalled proposal to overhaul the Chicago Housing Authority.
In an attempt to end Illinois' historic budget stalemate, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that lawmakers have only two options: Implement his cost-saving proposals in exchange for a $36 billion budget, or give him authority to make $4 billion in cuts.
A federal judge has declined city officials' request to lift an injunction preventing the start of construction on the Lucas Museum, at least for now.
Students, parents, and teachers at nearly 200 schools across Chicago were staging a series of "walk-in" demonstrations, to protest budget cuts by the Chicago Public Schools.
Hillary Clinton is campaigning with the mother of a black suburban Chicago woman who was found dead in her jail cell following a traffic stop in Texas.
After eight months of operating without a budget, tomorrow Governor Rauner outlines his state spending plan for next year.
In next month's Illinois Primary, voters in one Chicago neighborhood have a choice to make that could be historic should they nominate a Muslim candidate, an immigrant from India to run for the state legislature.
A group of civil rights attorneys, elected officials, and civil rights activists has filed a petition asking a judge to appoint a special prosecutor to take over the Laquan McDonald murder case, claiming Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez can't be trusted to oversee the matter.
A dozen protesters were arrested Tuesday morning, after blocking traffic on Congress Parkway as part of an anti-deportation rally that lasted more than an hour.
An expert on the politics of the U.S. Supreme Court has said it will likely take until next year before the Senate approves any nominee to fill the vacancy of the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Wily inmates and their associates on the outside are deploying drones to deliver drugs, cellphones, and other contraband to prison yards, leaving prison guards and correctional authorities trying to decide how to deal with the new technology.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch is apologizing for his interactions with a former staff member who brought a sexual harassment complaint against ex-Rep. Harry Benton to his office.
In a CBS News Chicago exclusive, Willie Wilson said he is making another run for mayor in 2027, becoming the 10th candidate to enter the race.
A Dane County judge ruled Tuesday that Wisconsin's paper-only absentee ballot system denies disabled voters the equal opportunity to vote privately and independently, though a trial on electronic voting as a remedy is still ahead.
The Milwaukee mosque leader's former Israeli attorney testified in immigration court that Sarsour was coerced into confessions and was never convicted of any charge linking him to a terrorist organization.
Former state health official Abdul El-Sayed faced Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan in a closely watched contest that represented the latest test of the party's divisions.
The Trump administration is taking aim at power grid operator PJM Interconnection over rising electricity bills that affect Illinois and Indiana residents.
Chicago remained the most bed bug-treated city in the country, according to Orkin's latest annual rankings covering a full year of residential and commercial treatment data.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul this week warned residents cleaning up from last month's storms to be on the lookout for scams.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed several new consumer protections into law, including a ban on junk fees.
CBS News Chicago has learned that Illinois home insurance premiums are not only higher than the nation's average, but going up faster too.
With the cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce growing and consumers wary of the products on grocery shelves, many in Chicago are turning to local farmers market for fresh and safe greens.
East Chicago, Indiana is being placed on a precautionary boil water advisory starting Monday morning for planned installations that could affect water safety.
A new Northwestern Medicine study on long COVID shows women show more neurological symptoms than men.
A lettuce supplier to fast-food giant Taco Bell has been linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people, the CDC said.
Chicago just barely made the top 20 in the American College of Sports Medicine's 2026 ranking of the country's fittest cities.
While the building that housed the flagship Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont Avenue has been torn down, the renowned Chicago restaurant chain is now set to open a new Lakeview location.
Nationally, data centers used 17.4 billion gallons of water in 2023 — a figure projected to reach 72.6 billion gallons by 2028, raising concerns about states' water supplies.
Chicago's Wishbone Restaurant will soon be closing after 36 years in business.
The Old Town Pour House isn't in its namesake neighborhood anymore, but it's returning to the central area of Chicago — specifically in the Loop.
Stella's Diner in Chicago's East Lakeview community has gone out of business.
Crews need about a week and a half to tear down the festival site before the city can begin its own inspection — and past cleanup costs have topped $1 million.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
If weather forces an evacuation, shelter sites are located at Grant Park North, Grant Park South, and Millennium Lakeside Garages, accessible through the vehicle entrance on Michigan Avenue.
Grant Park was filled with tens of thousands of people Thursday for the start of Lollapalooza, as warm weather greeted festivalgoers on day one of the four-day music festival.
Academy Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has died in a motorcycle crash.
Meteorologist Laura Bannon has the extended forecast.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
When someone falls into the Chicago River, jumps from a bridge, overturns a kayak, or becomes trapped beneath the surface, the Chicago Fire Department's Marine Unit is often among the first crews called to respond.
The movies have gone to the dogs. As part of a multi-city screening, ChiTown Drive-In hosted a dog-friendly screening of Air Bud with a sneak peek at the upcoming sequel Air Bud Returns.
Chicago area officials are taking extra precautions following a wave of cyberattacks on water and wastewater facilities in multiple states, including Michigan. Utility leaders explained what they're watching for here at home.
The family of the man killed in a double homicide last week in south suburban Harvey said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, helping a neighbor with a violent ex.
Chicago area officials are taking extra precautions following a wave of cyberattacks on water and wastewater facilities in multiple states, including Michigan.
When someone falls into the Chicago River, jumps from a bridge, overturns a kayak, or becomes trapped beneath the surface, the Chicago Fire Department's Marine Unit is often among the first crews called to respond.
The movies have gone to the dogs. As part of a multi-city screening, ChiTown Drive-In hosted a dog-friendly screening of Air Bud with a sneak peek at the upcoming sequel Air Bud Returns.
One person was killed in a fiery three-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on Wednesday in far northwest suburban Genoa Township.
An Illinois Tollway glitch that left thousands of drivers with unexpected warnings about unpaid tolls stemmed from an extra digit in codes within the system's computers, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
A South Holland woman said she was left high and dry after paying thousands of dollars to have her swimming pool fixed, only for the contractor to vanish.
An Elgin man has seen what he thought was the deal of a lifetime turn into weeks of frustration after a fake tracking number scam left him without goods or a refund after buying a game system on eBay.
Nationally, data centers used 17.4 billion gallons of water in 2023 — a figure projected to reach 72.6 billion gallons by 2028, raising concerns about states' water supplies.
A clean energy initiative on the South Side of Chicago is increasing access to solar energy and electric vehicle charging stations, and community members say it's making a difference.
Wilyer Abreu homered for the fourth time in three games and the surging Red Sox beat the White Sox 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright is very grateful for his historic four-year, $116 million contract extension. Wright thanked general manager Ryan Poles, who used his first 1st round draft pick to pick Wright 10th overall in 2023.
Chicago State University's new football team is just a couple weeks away from the first game of the Cougars' inaugural season.
Pete Crow-Armstrong homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs swept Shohei Ohtani and the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers with a wild 7-6 victory.
The Chicago Bears held a short and light practice Wednesday without pads, but it marked the return of linebacker T.J. Edwards.
The Milwaukee mosque leader's former Israeli attorney testified in immigration court that Sarsour was coerced into confessions and was never convicted of any charge linking him to a terrorist organization.
A woman stood charged Tuesday with stabbing a man during a fight in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood this past weekend.
An Illinois State Police trooper who has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a bartender in southwest suburban Tinley Park will remain behind bars as he awaits trial.
Thieves stole an ATM from a gas station in Chicago's Roseland community early Monday.
Two young men and a teenage boy were shot and wounded early Monday in Chicago's Park Manor community.
