Usa news

The number of visitors to Chicago last year rose 6.5% to 55.3 million, compared to 2023, the city’s tourism agency Choose Chicago announced Thursday. In 2024, international visitors to Chicago topped 2 million for the first time since 2019. Kristen …

Chicago Public Schools became the first district in the country to earn a new certification aimed at improving health and sustainability in schools, a move staff say will improve the education and well-being of its students. The Healthy Schools Campaign …

The mission always has been twofold for Sky star Angel Reese. Standing among the best basketball players in the world is her top priority — and she has climbed there at just 23 after winning a national championship at LSU …

Pope Leo XIV affirmed a core teaching of the Catholic church Friday: that family is founded on the “stable union between a man and a woman.” But some Chicago Catholics still hope Leo will continue outreach to the LGBTQ+ community …

Humboldt Park residents will soon see an affordable housing development that will also help spur homeownership with a new center operated by the nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson and other elected officials joined partner organizations Preservation …

About the so-called Crosstown Classic … Is “classic” giving it too much credit? In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, we sought your take on the Cubs–White Sox rivalry. Is it …

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch took the extraordinary actions last week of permanently kicking Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, out of the House Democratic caucus, stripping him of his legislative staff, removing him from his Appropriations Committee chair position …

White Sox general manager Chris Getz came out of the visiting clubhouse Friday at Wrigley Field, climbed up the dugout steps and walked onto the field. Getz knew exactly where he was headed as he strolled toward home plate. He …

White Sox rookie right-hander Shane Smith is gaining respect around the majors with every start. Cubs manager Craig Counsell, a straight shooter, directed some platitudes at Smith, whom he didn’t know much about, even though both were in the Brewers’ …

PAWS Chicago has more than 100 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens ready to be adopted, and families visited the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center on Friday afternoon hoping to meet the pet they just might bring home. Julie Sendre came into …

Who knows if the Cubs can find the keys to right-hander Kenta Maeda’s personal DeLorean? But they’re taking a crack at a reclamation project. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed during his pregame media session Friday that the Cubs are adding Maeda, …

The Wrigley Field video board showed a couple of young fans holding up a sign: “PCA, we skipped school to see you do a home run.” Their grammar suggests the truants maybe should have gone to class. But can you …

Musicians from the Chicago Sinfonnietta serenaded guests and beluga whales alike during a special performance Thursday at the Shedd Aquarium. The aquarium hosted a string quartet to perform Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9” and “Symphony No. 6” in the Shedd’s Abbott …

Most of the Chicago area was blanketed in a cloud of dust Friday evening, reducing visibility to nearly zero. Weather officials issued a dust storm warning for the Chicago area, central Illinois and Northwest Indiana, warning residents to seek shelter …

Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, were wounded in a shooting Friday evening in South Chicago. The three was standing on the sidewalk in the 9000 block of South Exchange Avenue when someone opened fire about 7:25 p.m., Chicago police …

A 16-year-old boy and three others were wounded in a drive-by shooting Friday night in Lawndale on the West Side. They were standing outside in the 600 block of South Homan Avenue about 9:05 p.m. when a dark SUV drove …

Moon alert Avoid shopping or important decisions after 7 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Capricorn into Aquarius. Aries (March 21-April 19) An average day Keep an eye on your money and possessions today because things are …

This week’s top photo comes from Photojournalist and Photo Desk Editor Ashlee Rezin. Follow her on X and Instagram. What makes this photo great? The stakes are high for Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai #25, who was available for …

We scrubbed and updated our annual list to bring you the most current information for farmers markets throughout the suburbs. (We broke out 49 city markets into its own 2025 guide.) This guide to farmers markets in suburban Chicago is …

You’d be right to feel disappointed if you arrived at a farmers market only to find mostly prepared foods or a craft bazaar. Some shoppers may also wonder if the produce they’re buying was actually grown by the people behind …