Remembering Phil Donahue, a TV pioneer with deep Chicago connections
While his move to New York took place nearly 40 years ago, Donahue is remembered fondly to this day among those who worked with him in Chicago.
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While his move to New York took place nearly 40 years ago, Donahue is remembered fondly to this day among those who worked with him in Chicago.
Phil Donahue, a celebrated daytime talk show host who pioneered the television staple, died after a long illness, his publicist said in a statement.
Donahue died Sunday at the age of 88 after a long illness. Lauren Victory looks back at his career and his time in Chicago, including a period of time during which he taped his show at the old CBS Chicago studios.
Phil Donahue moved production of "Donahue" from CBS Chicago's old Streeterville headquarters to New York City at the beginning of 1985. In this clip, Don Craig has a look back on Donahue's show over the years, and Donahue himself joins Walter Jacobson to talk his success in Chicago and his impending move. This aired as part of the Channel 2 News at Six with Don Craig and Harry Porterfield.
Donahue spent more than 10 years doing the national show in chicago, at WGN, and then at our Streeterville studios on McClurg Court. Sarah Sidner has a look back at Phil Donahue's life and legacy.
Donahue, 88, was visibly moved as President Joe Biden gave him the prestigious honor.
Donahue, 88, was visibly moved as President Joe Biden gave him the prestigious honor.
President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to 19 recipients.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
The CTA is halting trains on its Red, Yellow, and Purple lines on the North Side after a train derailed near the Howard terminal during the Thursday evening rush.
A Chicago area woman has turned her moments of sadness and joy into a one-person play that gives back to those battling dementia.
There are 22 city of Chicago crews out on our roads filling potholes across the city day in and day out.
Dansby Swanson had his first game-ending hit in five years, and the Chicago Cubs rebounded from a pair of blown leads to beat Philadelphia 8-7 in 10 innings for their ninth straight win and the Phillies' ninth loss in a row.
The Justice Department's internal watchdog said it will audit the department's compliance with the law that required the release of the Epstein files.
President Trump intends to nominate David Cummins to lead the Transportation Security Administration, according to a person familiar with the decision.
The order places FDA-approved products containing marijuana and state-regulated medical marijuana products at a lower drug classification.
The Senate adopted a budget resolution after a six-hour "vote-a-rama," with the GOP moving forward to fund ICE without Democrats.
Will Chicago see another surge in immigration raids like last year's Operation Midway Blitz? That was a topic on Capitol Hill as Chicagoans testified at a congressional hearing about their encounters with Border Patrol and ICE agents.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Skyrocketing property taxes continue to be a hot-button issue in Cook County — particularly since last fall, when many residents saw their tax bills increase by 100% or more.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias this weekend issued a warning about a surge in text messages that falsely claim to come from his office or the DMV within it.
Tenants at a South Loop luxury high-rise that has been plagued with problems like broken elevators are vowing to fight five-day eviction notices.
A new $48 million wellness center opened Thursday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The goal is to improve the health and quality of life for people on the West Side of Chicago.
La Rabida Children's Hospital went all out for Earth Day on Wednesday, with volunteer cleanup efforts by staffers and activities for patients and families.
It has been several weeks since West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois, abruptly shut down — and then on Wednesday, it just as swiftly partially reopened, with some services available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 80% of deaths related to pregnancy are preventable, and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The United States has long struggled with understanding and finding ways to help treat mental illness. A new documentary, which is screening Saturday in Chicago, examines the reality of living with mental illness in America.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board approved a pre-development agreement with the mall, providing a roadmap with the property owner for further preparations and government approvals for redevelopment.
The only remaining location of Pal Joey's pizzeria in Batavia, Illinois, will soon be going out of business, its owner announced this week.
Investment research firm Morningstar could move into the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago once Google is done renovating the former Illinois state government building.
Trader Joe's is planning to open a new location at the Lincoln Village Shopping Center in Chicago's North Park neighborhood, the office of Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) recently announced.
The satirical news outlet The Onion has a new plan to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars platforms and turn them into parodies.
Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season went on sale Thursday morning.
The satirical news outlet The Onion has a new plan to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars platforms and turn them into parodies.
Emily Saliers, one-half of the Atlanta folk duo The Indigo Girls, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with two incurable movement disorders that will forever change the way that she sings.
Blues icon and world music pioneer Taj Mahal will be headlining the Chicago Blues Festival this June.
The United States has long struggled with understanding and finding ways to help treat mental illness. A new documentary, which is screening Saturday in Chicago, examines the reality of living with mental illness in America.
The CTA is halting trains on its Red, Yellow, and Purple lines on the North Side after a train derailed near the Howard terminal during the Thursday evening rush.
Hyde Park is one of Chicago's most iconic neighborhoods. Nestled on the city's South Side, it's the birthplace of improv comedy and the company now known as The Second City, is home to Promontory Point, is the neighborhood where Barack Obama got his political start (and where the rock commemorating his and Michelle's first kiss can be found), and where the Atomic Age was birthed under the University of Chicago football stadium. And of course, its crown jewel is the University of Chicago itself, one of the country's most prestigious and storied universities. U of C isn't just known for its stellar academics and the dozens of notable figures its produced; it's also a founding Big 10 school and the "Monsters of the Midway" nickname? Yeah, the Bears stole that from them.
Scattered showers and storms overnight Thursday into Friday. Lows in the low 60s.
The National Guard is sending 150 troops to southeast Georgia to help with raging wildfires.
Following a second round of peace talks at the White House, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks. Meantime, peace talks between Iran and the U.S. remain stalled, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
The man killed in a Little Village shooting Wednesday was a well-known neighborhood fruit vendor with a wife and baby who were just steps away when gunfire erupted, neighbors said.
The CTA is halting trains on its Red, Yellow, and Purple lines on the North Side after a train derailed near the Howard terminal during the Thursday evening rush.
A man was injured Thursday morning in an apparent road rage shooting near Union Station in Chicago.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
A Chicago area woman has turned her moments of sadness and joy into a one-person play that gives back to those battling dementia.
There are 22 city of Chicago crews out on our roads filling potholes across the city day in and day out.
Michaels spent years as an advocate for sexual assault survivors, putting pressure on Congress and speaking out on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein survivors, like herself.
Residents in one part of Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood say they've been dealing with cars careening off the Kennedy Expressway and crashing into their front yard for decades, and the state won't help.
Madeline Morgan said she was repeatedly stalked and abused, even though the man responsible was forced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, which was cut off.
Chicago deals with the worst traffic congestion in the U.S., according to the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard from INRIX, a transportation analytics company.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
Dansby Swanson had his first game-ending hit in five years, and the Chicago Cubs rebounded from a pair of blown leads to beat Philadelphia 8-7 in 10 innings for their ninth straight win and the Phillies' ninth loss in a row.
A year after his passing, the late Chicago Bears legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael is being honored for advancing CTE research.
Here is what to know about where and when to watch the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cubs have outscored their opponents 58-20 during the franchise's longest win streak since it also won eight in a row from July 21-29, 2023.
The family of a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed while waiting for the bus near Hyde Park Academy High School said they believe the shooting was sparked by a minor argument earlier in the day at school.
A woman was ordered detained Thursday on charges that she shot and wounded three men on busy Irving Park Road in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name earlier this month.
A lockdown was lifted at Evanston Township High School on Thursday afternoon, after shots were fired at a park near the school.
Matthew Keirans used William Woods's identity for decades, then manipulated police into prosecuting Woods, who spent 428 days in jail and 147 days in a mental hospital before DNA evidence proved his innocence.
Chicago police are searching for a man wanted in an act of public indecency on a CTA 'L' train in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
