Chicago

An elderly woman in Evergreen Park has died after being exposed to extreme cold inside her home, a tragic reminder of the dangers winter weather can pose — especially for seniors living alone.

Sunshine Enterprises (a Chicago nonprofit that trains, coaches + connects entrepreneurs in under-resourced South + West neighborhoods) is making a new push to help grow the small biz economy in these low-income Chicago neighborhoods.

As brutal cold grips the Midwest, many Indiana residents are seeing shocking jumps in their utility bills. We break down why heating costs have surged, what customers say they’re being charged for and how state lawmakers are responding.

As winter temperatures plunge, ice is rapidly forming across the Great Lakes. US Coast Guard vessels have begun icebreaking operations to keep waterways safe and navigable for commercial traffic and local communities.

A new community space on Chicago’s South Side is aiming to turn access into opportunity.

On this episode of “Week in Review,” we break down Indiana’s push to lure the Bears, skyrocketing utility bills and how shelters are responding during brutal cold. We also look at a devastating church fire, housing discrimination questions following an ICE raid, City Council action on hemp products and major development decisions across the region. Plus, updates on Bally’s casino construction, a new Amazon store coming to Orland Park and Chicago nominees for the James Beard Awards. 

New reporting raises concerns about a potential crisis facing Chicago Public Schools as enrollment shifts. The issue is not only fewer school-age children and fewer families choosing CPS. According to Kids First Chicago, the larger concern is that the city still lacks a concrete plan to support smaller schools and ensure students continue to have access to core classes, extracurriculars and advanced coursework.

A new nationwide report shows smoking rates are increasing among Gen Z, raising concerns among health advocates. Brian King of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids explains what’s driving the trend, how emerging products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches play a role and why experts say states need to act now to prevent long-term health impacts.