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Prime Time for the Primaries
Election Day in Illinois is March 17. Yup, St. Patrick’s Day. So for the love of God, Chicago: Vote early. Here’s what to know about the congressional races.
Get Your Kicks in 2026
Route 66 turns 100 this year, and it’s worth all the centennial hubbub. Here’s what to know about this asphalt-turned-artifact.
It’s Owe Time
New year, same old mountain of IOUs. Where did Chicago’s massive debt come from, and why can’t we shake it?
Making Some “Illinoise”
Sufjan Stevens’s sweeping ode to the Prairie State turns 20. Let’s explore the album’s enduring status as a cult classic.
Brother, Can You Spare a Billion?
Facing a projected $1 billion shortfall, the mayor and the City Council are scrambling to balance the 2025 budget. How did we get here?
The Bear, Season 3
Chicago’s streaming obsession returns to Hulu in June. Now that the gang has opened a fancy restaurant, what can we expect?
Cicadapocalypse Now
The emergence of two long-subterranean cicada broods at once will mean a creepy-crawly — not to mention loud — springtime here. It’s gonna be bugs on bugs on bugs.
The Thompson Center Reboot
Architectural treasure? Taxpayer money pit? Charming fixer-upper? Spaceship? All of the above? Here’s what to know about the Googleplexing of Helmut Jahn’s opus.
Why the Polar Vortex May Return Soon
Don’t be surprised if our old friend returns this winter, bringing tundra temperatures.
The Blackhawks’ Wunderkind
Chicago is positively giddy about a certain Canadian teenager moving to town. But who exactly is Connor Bedard? And can he possibly live up to the hype?