Will Johnson

People take photos of the Chicago skyline from the Shedd Aquarium at the Museum Campus, Aug. 1, 2023.

Michelle Larson and Will Johnson: Chicago’s Museum Campus is the key to revitalizing the Loop

November 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Chicago, like other big U.S. metros, is still grasping at how to repopulate a central business district that's been deserted for close to four years. Unlike most of the others,...

Mayor Brandon Johnson congratulates Chicago Police Department leadership receiving promotions during a graduation and promotion ceremony at Navy Pier on Aug. 28, 2023.

Will Johnson: The mayor has Chicagoans’ buy-in on law enforcement. Here’s what he can do for more consensus.

November 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

When Brandon Johnson was running for mayor, he uplifted and upset Chicagoans with his progressive platform. Now, as he nears his sixth month as the city's chief executive, he has...

A man walks by a vacant storefront on Michigan Avenue along Chicago's Magnificent Mile in 2022.

Will Johnson: How Cook County residents feel about the Magnificent Mile

October 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

The bleak reality facing the crown jewel of downtown Chicago is this: Crime is up, and business occupancy is down. For decades, the stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago...

Fans show disapproval of the White Sox in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 27, 2023.

Will Johnson: Should we pay to keep the White Sox local? Here’s what polling data says.

September 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

When the owners of the Chicago Bears announced earlier this year that they had purchased 326 acres in Arlington Heights for a new stadium and entertainment district, they did us...

Fans cheer along Columbus Drive during the NASCAR Cup Series in Chicago on July 2, 2023.

Will Johnson: How do people really feel about NASCAR in Chicago? Chicagoans and Cook County residents are split.

June 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

When then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot was pitching a downtown stock car race to a skeptical City Council last summer, she predicted it would be a huge hit with the public. "The...

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, center, talks with people at MacArthur's Restaurant in the Austin neighborhood on April 23, 2023.

Will Johnson: Is Brandon Johnson up to the task? Even many of his supporters have doubts.

May 10, 2023 at 12:57 p.m.

When Brandon Johnson is sworn in next week as Chicago's 57th mayor, he will report to a public that is thoroughly aligned on the issues that most urgently need his...

A Chicago police officer at the scene where two people were shot inside a vehicle, one fatally, in the 2500 block of West Estes Avenue on Oct. 18, 2022, in West Ridge.

Will Johnson: Chicago’s No. 1 challenge is the reality of crime, not just its perception, a new poll shows

October 26, 2022 at 8:32 p.m.

Chicago business leaders aren't the only ones worried and even angry about the city's level of crime and lawlessness. So are most of their employees and customers in the city....

Will Johnson: Love Chicago? You are likely to give a thumbs-up to the plan for the city’s casino.

August 26, 2022 at 10:03 p.m.

When Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she had selected the only North Side option for the city's first casino, she riled many aldermen, especially those who had hoped for a...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks June 22, 2022, after a City Council meeting at Chicago City Hall.

Will Johnson: What do Chicago voters want in a mayor? Competence, integrity and accomplishment.

July 27, 2022 at 10:25 p.m.

Chicago voters think their city is worse off than other cities on vital issues, according to a recent poll, and nearly 4 in 5 think their leaders need to be...

People at Navy Pier after it reopened in 2021.

Will Johnson: Could this be Chicago’s comeback summer?

May 23, 2022 at 4:21 p.m.

This summer is shaping to be the first legitimate tourist season since the onset of the pandemic. With vaccines prevalent and restrictions falling, almost 40 million people are expected to...

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