Laura Turbay

Laura Turbay is a bilingual journalist (English and Spanish) covering immigration and emerging news in the Chicago community. She previously covered business at Crain’s Chicago Business, and immigration for PublicSource in Pittsburgh. She graduated from Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in New York and specialized in business and economics reporting.

Chicago Fire Department Firefighter Michael Altman, who died after being critically injured during a fire in the city's Rogers Park neighborhood on March 16, 2026. (Chicago Fire Department)

Fallen Chicago firefighter’s funeral postponed after his wife goes into labor

March 26, 2026 at 10:47 a.m.

The funeral for Chicago firefighter Michael Altman, who died from injuries while fighting a blaze at a Rogers Park building, was postponed after his widow went into labor.

Michael Sousanieh rests in a hammock on an unseasonably warm day at Humboldt Park, March 21, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Expect severe thunderstorms in Chicago on Thursday

March 25, 2026 at 3:45 p.m.

A cold front could bring thunderstorms with damaging hail and winds to Chicago and other parts of Illinois and Indiana Thursday.

White Sox great Frank Thomas emerges from the dugout to throw a ceremonial first pitch before the Sox host the New York Mets at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on Aug. 31, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Frank Thomas sues Chicago White Sox and other companies for profiting from identity without his consent

March 24, 2026 at 4:07 p.m.

Retired White Sox slugger Frank Thomas filed a lawsuit against his former ballclub, Nike and Fanatics for allegedly using his identity for commercial purposes without his agreement.

A person walks past Valorie Lester, 66, of Oak Park, member of the Oak Park Friends Meeting, Pamela Harrison, 80, of Chicago, Janice Domanik, 80, of Libertyville, member of Lake Forest Friends Meeting, Joyce Meggett, 71, of Rogers Park, member of Northside Friends Meeting, and Willa Kohn, 51, of Edgewater, member of Northside Friends Meeting, as they stand together holding signs during a nationwide Love as Action vigil near Millennium Park on Saturday, March, 21, 2026. Quakers and people of faith joined together against rising authoritarianism and the growing violence in U.S. domestic and foreign policy. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Quakers gather in silent vigil against war, violence in Millennium Park

March 21, 2026 at 6:16 p.m.

Nearly a dozen members of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, gave a silent protest to war and violence steps from the tourist-thronged Cloud Gate in Millennium...

The honorary César Chavez street sign marks a stretch of South Blue Island Avenue on March 19, 2026, in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago schools, parks consider renaming César Chavez monuments after bombshell sexual abuse allegations

March 19, 2026 at 6:52 p.m.

The reaction to the César Chavez allegations was swift as leaders across the country, including CPS, began talking about changing institutions named in his honor.

Election workers assemble a voting booth on Election Day at the Boathouse located in Park 571, March 17, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

High early voting in Chicago helps bolster slower day at polls

March 17, 2026 at 9:08 p.m.

A historically high number of early ballots cast in Chicago helped offset the relatively low number of votes recorded at the polls on an unseasonable cold and windy Tuesday.

DeKalb County reported its first Measles case, third in state this year

March 14, 2026 at 4:42 p.m.

DeKalb County reported its first Measles case of the year this week, as the disease — once eradicated in the U.S. — continues to spread in several states.

Pedestrians struggle to walk across Wacker Drive Wacker Drive at Jackson Boulevard during Chicago's strong winds on March 13, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Gusty winds cause power outages, semi rollovers and blowing debris across Chicago and Northwest Indiana

March 13, 2026 at 5:24 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning in effect until 4 p.m. Friday for north central and northeast Illinois, as well as northwest Indiana.

Children play in the dirt at Welles Park in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood on March 12, 2026. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Grubs back in Lincoln Square neighborhood parks, upending spring sports season

March 13, 2026 at 3:21 p.m.

Another grub infestation in Winnemac and Welles parks is disrupting the spring sports season.

Two men retrieve items, March 11, 2026, for Bob Wehrle, whose house was destroyed the previous night along South Sandbar Road in Aroma Park. The men said they had to dig Wehrle out of the basement after he became trapped. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago weather: Tornado, large hail sweep through Kankakee Tuesday amid severe thunderstorm warnings

March 11, 2026 at 9:02 a.m.

A “very large” tornado was confirmed in Kankakee County and into northwest Indiana.

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