Local News

Reporting and community updates from across the Chicago area.

Add an article

Chicago|Things To Do|4d

Chicago Cinema Weekend will bring indie films to local theaters March 19-21

Music Box Theatre, Gene Siskel Film Center and other Chicago venues will participate in a three-day film celebration in March 2027, with some screenings offered free. The program will bring together independent releases, locally made classics and festival selections, giving residents more ways to explore the city’s film community.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|5d

Gage Park WIC clinic brings nutrition services next to grocery shopping

Near North Health and Catholic Charities are linking WIC enrollment and nutrition guidance with an adjacent store stocked with program-approved foods in Gage Park. The clinic offers weekday appointments and support with feeding questions and service referrals, while weekend grocery hours give Chicago families additional shopping flexibility.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Oak Lawn|Community Corner|6d

Therapy dog brings everyday skills practice to Oak Lawn hospital rehabilitation

Patients at Advocate Christ Medical Center practice movements such as brushing and using utensils with help from Milo, a trained therapy dog. The Oak Lawn program adapts activities to individual rehabilitation needs, and the participating animal-therapy organization offers information for people interested in becoming trained volunteers.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Weather|6d

Chicago Halloween forecast favors lighter rain by trick-or-treat time

Chicago families can expect a wet start to Halloween, with steadier showers easing before afternoon trick-or-treating and occasional drizzle possible into the evening. Temperatures in the low 60s and light winds should keep conditions mild, though an umbrella may still be useful for neighborhood rounds.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|7d

Chicago students mark first votes with downtown Parade to the Polls

Chicago Votes planned to bring more than 1,000 eligible CPS and Noble Schools students downtown Oct. 28 and 29, pairing ballot preparation with music and art. First-time voters described how the experience connected family milestones and everyday concerns, including public transportation, with participation in city life.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Politics & Government|10d

Chicago early voting sites open in all 50 wards through Nov. 2

Chicago voters can use any ward early voting center, regardless of their home address, with seven-day availability through Nov. 2. Two downtown options also serve city voters, while suburban Cook County residents have a separate downtown voting location at the county clerk’s office.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|10d

Arts in the Dark brings Chicago performers and colorful floats to Columbus Drive

An estimated 100,000 people attended Chicago’s 12th Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, which included more than 1,000 performers and participation from 11 high schools and three colleges. Youth programs, cultural organizations and elaborate floats made the downtown celebration a showcase for the city’s creative communities.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Schools|11d

MeMa Music brings song-based learning to Chicago classrooms and adult programs

At Chicago Collegiate Charter School, students explore history and song lyrics through a partnership with nonprofit MeMa Music. Founded by music industry veteran Jeanne Warsaw, the organization also works with schools and community groups across Chicago and offers adults, including veterans, opportunities for reflection through music.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Niles|Sports|11d

Notre Dame’s record-setting passing duo leads playoff win in Niles

Eric Couper threw five touchdown passes as Notre Dame advanced with a 44-0 victory over Maine West, adding to a season of school records. His longtime friendship with receiver Peter Panagiotopoulos, formed at St. Juliana on Chicago’s Northwest Side, has helped power the Niles team’s offense.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|12d

Siskel and Ebert sculpture planned for Chicago’s Prudential Plaza

A bronze tribute designed by Illinois artist Preston Jackson is expected to arrive in early 2028, with seats where visitors can sit beside the celebrated critics. Supported by both families, the project recognizes a Chicago partnership that brought newspaper film criticism to a national television audience.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Sports|13d

Bears reach 5-2 as Chicago teams give local fans more to follow

Chicago’s 30-24 victory over New England at Soldier Field comes alongside playoff appearances by both local baseball teams and notable players to watch in basketball and hockey. With the Bears now 5-2, the city’s sports calendar offers fans several reasons to stay engaged across seasons.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Schools|14d

Albany Park’s Edison tops Illinois elementary school rankings for 2027

U.S. News & World Report placed seven Chicago schools among Illinois’ top 25 elementary schools, with Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center leading the state. The rankings weigh math and reading results alongside socioeconomic context, giving local families another source of information about schools.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Sports|15d

Bulls open with two road games before Saturday’s United Center debut

Chicago fans can watch the Bulls begin their season against Toronto at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on CHSN, with a Saturday home opener against Washington to follow. The opening stretch brings three games in four days under new coach Thiago Splitter, followed by home visits from New York and Philadelphia.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Wicker Park|Community Corner|16d

Queer Couture Runway spotlights nine designers in Wicker Park

More than 100 people attended a sold-out Chicago Fashion Week presentation at Public Works Gallery on Oct. 15, featuring nine designers with varied backgrounds and styles. The event gave emerging local talent a place to explore identity through clothing, including collections shaped by quilting traditions and Mexican heritage.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Politics & Government|17d

Chicago opens early voting in all 50 wards ahead of Nov. 3 election

Chicago voters can use any city early voting site following the Oct. 19 expansion, giving residents more flexibility before Election Day. Mail ballot drop boxes, including one at Soldier Field, offer another return option, while the Cook County clerk is adding postal scanning information to ballot tracking.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Restaurants & Bars|18d

Near West Side brewery brings locally made makgeolli to Chicago

Yido Brews founder Peter Quinn Woo Chung turned years of home experimentation into a Chicago business producing naturally fermented Korean rice wine. Its White Tiger bottle is available through city retailers, while Chung hopes eventually to create a brewpub that also serves as a community gathering place.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Weather|19d

Chicago heads toward sunny skies and 70-degree afternoons this week

Chicago residents can expect a dry workweek, with afternoon temperatures building from Monday’s 60s into the low 70s by midweek, according to NBC 5 forecasters. The outlook also brings comfortable lakefront conditions for Thursday evening’s Bears game, though chilly nights remain part of the early-week forecast.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Weather|19d

Chicago weekend forecast brings sunshine, then a warmup toward 70

Chicago’s forecast calls for a Saturday high near 56 degrees, followed by 63 on Sunday and readings around 70 by Tuesday. Sunshine and a dry stretch into next weekend should give residents more opportunities for outdoor plans, though Saturday outings and early starts will still call for a jacket.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|19d

Chicago readers find small-town character in neighborhood shops, streets and familiar faces

In a Sun-Times reader roundup, Chicagoans pointed to walkable business districts, neighborhood history and everyday connections as sources of a small-town atmosphere. Responses ranged from Lincoln Square and Norwood Park to Little Village, offering a resident-led look at what gives different parts of the city their community identity.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Sports|22d

Five Cubs named Gold Glove finalists; winners due Nov. 1

Chicago has finalists at all three outfield positions, shortstop and third base, with Pete Crow-Armstrong seeking a second consecutive award and Seiya Suzuki pursuing his first. Winners will be announced Nov. 1, giving Cubs fans another opportunity to follow the team's accomplishments after a strong defensive season.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|24d

House of Blues concert pairs Chicago music with energy career exploration

Energy Up Chicago combines performances with mentorship and employer connections to introduce young adults to energy-sector work, including paths that do not require a four-year degree. The free Wednesday event at House of Blues is already at capacity and is part of a broader Urban League workforce initiative.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|Oct 6

City adds accessible benches at two Ukrainian Village bus stops

A neighborhood seating project prompted the city to provide accessible benches at Damen and Thomas and Division and Oakley. The original handmade seats have moved to two other stops, and organizers plan additional installations in Ukrainian Village and Humboldt Park.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Sports|Sep 28

Sky guard Sydney Taylor earns AP All-Rookie honors

After going undrafted and playing overseas, Taylor earned a starting role and averaged 13.6 points for Chicago. The AP recognition caps her breakthrough season as she approaches reserved free agency and expresses interest in a multiyear agreement with the Sky.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Sports|Sep 28

White Sox playoff paths hinge on final two games at Rate Field

The final weekend determines whether Chicago receives a division-series home opener or travels for a wild-card matchup. Two Sox wins plus a Cleveland loss would secure the division through the head-to-head tiebreaker, making results elsewhere as important as the games at Rate Field.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor

Chicago|Community Corner|Sep 28

Three Chicago Vintage Shops Make Yelp’s National Most-Saved List

Knee Deep Vintage, Kokorokoko and Shangri-La Vintage earned spots on a 25-business national list that considers saves and ratings. Their Pilsen, Wicker Park and Roscoe Village locations offer different vintage specialties, giving shoppers three neighborhood destinations to explore.

Read the full story

The Chicago Forum, Community Contributor