Angie Leventis Lourgos

Angie Leventis Lourgos has been a Chicago Tribune staff writer since 2009. Her work has won two Lisagor awards, one Sarah Brown Boyden award and several Illinois Press Association awards. She is the author of "Life-Altering: Abortion Stories from the Midwest."

Pope Leo XIV, center bottom, leaves after an audience with Catholic religion teachers in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on April 25, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

One year of Chicago native Pope Leo XIV: Championing migrants, uplifting his hometown — and challenging Donald Trump

May 6, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As the first year of Pope Leo's pontificate comes to a close, the Chicago-area native has emerged as a powerful counter to President Donald Trump.

Students learn Arabic words while playing with bilingual flash cards during Modern Arabic 1 class at Richards High School in Oak Lawn on April 17, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Southwest suburban school district faces controversy over multiyear attempt to add Arabic language curriculum

May 3, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Despite a sizable population of Arab American students and groundswell of support from many parents, Orland Park-based High School District 230 is facing controversy over a proposal to create an...

Pope Leo XIV meets the Algerian community in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers on April 13, 2026, on the first day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Local Catholic leaders express support for Chicago native Pope Leo after Trump calls him ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’

April 13, 2026 at 4:51 p.m.

Local Catholic leaders expressed support for Chicago native Pope Leo XIV after President Donald Trump called the Holy Father “weak” and “terrible” in a rambling social media post.

Church members including Joy Shahabi, from left, Narjes Delacai and Fereidoon Tadayyon greet each other during services on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Kheimeh Molaghat, in Addison. The nondenominational church has a predominantly Iranian American congregation. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

At Easter time, local Iranian Christians pray for regime change and freedom of worship as war rages in their homeland

April 4, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As a small Persian church in the western suburbs prepares for Easter, its members hope for renewal, the freedom to worship and a U.S. victory in Iran.

Lisa Fleischmann measures a Trump sign to install on the wall in her store, the Trump Truth Store and Hangout, on Jan. 13, 2026, in Crystal Lake. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Trump Truth Store temporarily closes on account of low sales amid Iran war

April 3, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Shop owner says would-be customers might be hesitant to buy or wear pro-Trump merchandise due to the broadly unpopular conflict.

Terese Jackway, left, of Naperville, Lynne Sherman, of Lisle, and Lisa Yost, of Naperville, make signs during a "No Kings" protest sign-making event at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Naperville, March 16, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

At ‘No Kings’ protests, clergy and protesters of faith plan to rally against Donald Trump

March 25, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A diverse array of Chicago area religious leaders are gearing up to take part in the third return of No Kings protests. They say their faith compels them to do...

Artist Pablo Serrano stands by a new painting March 10, 2026, in his Pilsen studio. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Locals with birthright citizenship hope the practice prevails as Supreme Court to weigh in

March 22, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Oral arguments in the birthright citizenship case Trump v. Barbara are slated to begin April 1, with a ruling expected by the summer.

Melissa Bean, 8th Congressional District candidate, greets supporters as she enters her election night party at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg on March 17, 2026, in Schaumburg. (John Konstantaras/for the Chicago Tribune)

Melissa Bean wins 8th District Democratic primary in race to succeed US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

March 18, 2026 at 3:16 p.m.

Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean won Tuesday's Democratic primary to succeed outgoing Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th Congressional District in the northwest suburbs.

Amy Hicks on Jan. 30, 2026, after an interview about a lawsuit filed on her behalf against the Illinois Department of Corrections, in downstate East Alton. Hicks said she was forced to undergo an induced childbirth at a medical facility while incarcerated for a nonviolent drug offense at Logan Correctional Center in 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Ex-Illinois inmate’s lawsuit over forced labor induction tests Gov. JB Pritzker on reproductive rights

March 1, 2026 at 1:41 p.m.

Illinois has positioned itself as a national safeguard for reproductive rights. But a new case raises questions about how those principles are applied behind state prison walls.

Heather Mack of Chicago, center, is escorted by immigration officers to the immigration detention center in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia, on Oct. 29, 2021. Indonesian authorities on Nov. 2, 2021, announced that Mack, an American woman convicted of helping to kill her mother on Indonesia's tourist island of Bali in 2014, has left the island to be deported to the United States after serving seven years of a 10-year sentence.

The Bali ‘suitcase murder’: Heather Mack’s murder conviction, Indonesian imprisonment, deportation

February 26, 2026 at 11:59 a.m.

Heather Mack — the Chicago woman convicted of helping kill her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali in 2014 — served...

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