Kelli Smith

Voter Protection Director Ian Lyons conducts virtual training for poll watchers on Oct. 12, 2020, at the Democratic Party of Illinois offices in Chicago ahead of the upcoming election.

In contentious election year, political parties recruiting thousands in Illinois to keep an eye on polling places Nov. 3

October 23, 2020 at 9:54 p.m.

Both political parties are preparing thousands of volunteers to fan out to polling places across Illinois on Nov. 3, the culmination of an election season in which President Donald Trump...

Voter Michelle Bruggeman of Flossmoor votes after waiting about 3 hours at early voting place in the Prairie State College in Chicago Heights on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

Las votaciones ya comenzaron, aquí una guía para votar en Illinois

October 23, 2020 at 5:58 p.m.

El día de las elecciones en Illinois y en todo Estados Unidos es el martes 3 de noviembre, pero la votación ya comenzó. Los sitios de votación temprana están abiertos...

Cold front drops Chicago-area morning temperatures, bringing rain, brief thunderstorms; snowy mix could hit parts of area Sunday

October 23, 2020 at 4:52 p.m.

A cold front rolling through the Chicago area was expected to cool Friday's temperatures throughout the day as it brought another round of rain and thunderstorms heading into the weekend,...

Volunteer Lora Paige grabs winter coats out of boxes during the "Operation Warm" event at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago on Oct. 21, 2020.

7,500 children get free winter coats in COVID-19-adjusted CHA event: ‘Every little thing counts for me’

October 22, 2020 at 7:40 p.m.

For Louis Johnson, 51, this week's gift of a new pink winter coat for his 5-year-old daughter, Laniyah, came at just the right time. With Chicago's winter nearing, Johnson had...

Hassen Khan votes early on Oct. 20, 2020.

Rohingya Americans in Chicago venture out to local polling place en masse to cast their first-ever general election votes: ‘Really I’m so grateful’

October 21, 2020 at 1:41 a.m.

In the seven years he's lived in America, Nasir Zakaria has hardly felt as grateful as he did Tuesday waiting at the Warren Park polling site in Rogers Park to...

People fill out their ballot during early voting at Welles Park in Chicago, Oct. 14, 2020.

Early voting expands with opening of more polling places in suburban counties, prompting wait times up to 5 hours long: ‘This is a moment that’s very important’

October 19, 2020 at 11:00 p.m.

Early voting expanded Monday and some people faced hourslong waits to cast their ballot, as additional polling places opened in suburban Cook as well as in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry...

The Rev. Daniel McCarthy exits St. Tarcissus Catholic Church on Feb. 24, 2012.

Archdiocese of Chicago removes retired pastor Daniel McCarthy from Norwood Park parish following allegation of sexual abuse

October 19, 2020 at 9:46 p.m.

The Archdiocese of Chicago over the weekend removed the Rev. Daniel McCarthy from St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, a parish in Norwood Park where he was pastor emeritus, after an...

Kelli Smith

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