Kelli Smith

Cook County jail detainees cast their votes after registering with members of the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners for early voting inside the jail's Division 11, in March.

Cook County Jail set for in-person voting despite COVID-19 setbacks: ‘It’s also about social justice, it’s about fairness, it’s about hope’

September 21, 2020 at 6:00 a.m.

During the March primary, Cook County Jail for the first time in its long history operated as an election precinct for in-person voting, according to county officials. Officials are now...

The sun appears low on the horizon, shrouded by smoke from wildfires in Western states, on Sept. 14, 2020, in Chicago.

Smoke from West Coast fires reaches Illinois, turning sky a milky white

September 15, 2020 at 2:37 p.m.

Smoke from fires rampaging on the West Coast wafted Sunday evening into the atmosphere above northern Illinois, turning the sky a shade of milky white and potentially making the week's...

A damaged car is surrounded by downed tree branches on North Hamilton Avenue, Aug. 11, 2020, after a powerful storm tore through the area Monday evening in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. A tornado was also confirmed to have touched down in Rogers Park Monday according to the National Weather Service.

Chicago still cleaning up debris, fallen trees from August derecho storm: ‘The aftermath was felt across the city’

September 11, 2020 at 10:28 p.m.

Crews are still cleaning up the city from a derecho storm that tore through the region a month ago, spawning 15 tornadoes — and downing more than 550 trees in...

A polling place in Chicago is ready for voters on March 17, 2020.

Disinformation scams are becoming more aggressive as Election Day nears. Here’s what Illinois voters should know

September 15, 2020 at 3:50 p.m.

One of the most widespread challenges facing modern elections is false information. In Illinois, officials say misinformation and disinformation schemes are getting more aggressive. "As we get closer to Election...

Flat mail trays are seen in the parking lot of Chicago's Ravenswood Station U.S. post office on Aug. 13, 2020.

Chicago receives more than 350,000 vote-by-mail applications, working to fill 14,000 election judge spots

September 9, 2020 at 1:12 a.m.

The Chicago Board of Elections has received more than 350,000 vote-by-mail applications for the general election, up from about 250,000 in mid-August, and that number could grow to a third...

Multiple instruction stickers appear on a car seat at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge during an inspection.

Target reinstates car seat recycling program with contactless trade-in option

September 8, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Parents hoping to get rid of their child's old car seat will soon see the return of a popular sustainable option. Target reinstated its car seat recycling program this month...

Community leaders, tradesmen on Labor Day decry lack of Black representation in union apprentice programs: ‘We don’t have anything to celebrate’

September 7, 2020 at 11:54 p.m.

For Eddie Read, Labor Day isn't a real celebration. It isn't for tens of thousands of Black people in Illinois, he said. "Black people are not working, so we don't...

Kelli Smith

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