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.

Santo Nieves, center, picks items to fill a client’s order at the Pilsen Food Pantry, 2124 S. Ashland Avenue in Chicago, April 1, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

More than 16,000 immigrants in Illinois may lose food assistance in the coming months

April 11, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Immigrants — including refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking — are no longer eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.

Venezuelans cross illegally into Colombia near the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, April 14, 2019, which is partially closed by Venezuelan authorities, seen from La Parada near Cucuta, Colombia. (Fernando Vergara/AP)

No passport. No flights. No easy way home for Venezuelans who want to leave Chicago.

April 10, 2026 at 4:20 p.m.

Countless Venezuelans want to return to their home country, but have been unable to because of broken diplomatic ties and bureaucratic hurdles between the two countries.

Former Lesac Corp. employees Maria Dolores Garcia, 49, and Reynalda Torres, 65, in Chicago, April 7, 2026, allege they were unfairly terminated from the company, which later settled with Arise Chicago, a workers rights group, for allegations of unfair labor practices.(Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois filter companies settle allegations of unfair labor practices for about $158,000

April 8, 2026 at 5:24 p.m.

Lesac Corp. and Filter Technology Inc. have settled allegations of unfair labor practices with Arise Chicago, the workers rights group, which is supporting the former workers.

Children run into the auditorium for the Easter egg hunt during an Easter extravaganza at New Life Covenant Church Southeast in Chicago’s Grand Crossing neighborhood on Saturday, April 4, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Hundreds of children attend Easter egg hunt at a South Side church

April 4, 2026 at 6:43 p.m.

About 1,200 parents registered for the Easter event Saturday at the New Life Covenant Church on the South Side.

Children dressed as disciples of Jesus and an angel walk on 18th Street during the annual Good Friday Via Crucis procession in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on April 3, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Annual Way of the Cross draws crowds on Good Friday in Pilsen

April 3, 2026 at 3:13 p.m.

Hundreds of people attended the Via Crucis in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Good Friday, straining their necks to catch a glimpse of the actor portraying Jesus in his final moments.

Demonstrators march in the Loop during the No Kings rally March 28, 2026, in Chicago. The rally was one of several nationwide demonstrations opposing President Donald Trump’s administration. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Veterans, activists and septuagenarians gather in Grant Park for ‘No Kings’ rally to protest President Trump

March 28, 2026 at 6:28 p.m.

In a city that served last fall as ground zero for the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign, Chicago’s rally highlighted “attacks on immigrants and our democracy.”

People walk past a mural of United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta on Cafe Tola in Lakeview, March, 27, 2026. Earlier in the week, the mural of César Chavez was replaced by Huerta. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Farmworkers Day could replace Cesar Chavez Day in Illinois

March 27, 2026 at 6:45 p.m.

The Illinois Senate passed resolutions this week to replace Cesar Chavez Day with Farmworkers Day on March 31 and declare Dolores Huerta Day on April 10 throughout the state.

Firefighters arrive for the visitation service for fallen Chicago firefighter Michael Altman, at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, on March, 26, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

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

March 26, 2026 at 6:59 p.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.

Storm clouds move past a residential development on Hillcrest Circle, March 26, 2026, in Orland Park. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Expect severe thunderstorms in Chicago on Thursday

March 26, 2026 at 5:23 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.

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