WGN NEWS

If you're looking to buy a home in Illinois, chances are you'll pay quite a bit more than you would have five years ago. More: https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/how-much-have-home-prices-increased-in-illinois-over-5-years-2/ 

Are Chicago-style dirty tricks on display in the Alaska Senate race? WGN's Ben Bradley recalls similarly cynical moves used by the godfather of Illinois election chicanery, Michael J. Madigan. 1MQ: https://tinyurl.com/2mzukzb 

Open enrollment for Medicare plans is underway, with changes including new negotiated drug prices, lower prices for weight-loss drugs, and higher deductibles and out-of-pocket caps. #Medicare #openenrollment #healthcarecoverage

Brainstacking is the latest wellness trend sweeping TikTok, with users sharing a new habit to try to reverse brain rot and stop doomscroolling. Details: https://wgntv.com/news/trending/brainstacking-can-the-latest-tiktok-trend-actually-reverse-brain-rot/ 

Researchers found that a prematurely aging placenta could contribute to preeclampsia. Medical Watch: https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/researchers-uncover-what-may-lead-to-preeclampsia-and-more-health-headlines/

Authorities believe alcohol and/or drugs are contributing factors in the wrong-way collision. More: https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/2-drivers-critically-injured-in-wrong-way-crash-on-i-65-near-hobart/ 

Chicago police have launched an internal investigation into the potential misuse of license plate readers. Local input is also sought on how CPD can make better use of the technology. More: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/chicago-police-launch-investigation-into-license-plate-reader-misuse/ 

Surgeons on Oct. 13 removed a lobe where the nodule, later diagnosed as malignant, was located, in the first major health event of Pope Leo's 17-month pontificate. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. More: https://tinyurl.com/3xkwfaw4 

The family of a Chicago mother who was shot in the head in a suspected road rage incident is speaking out as she remains in a medically induced coma. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/family-speaks-after-chicago-mother-was-shot-during-road-rage-incident/ 

Actor Alan Dysert, best known for his role on television’s “All My Children,” has died at 75, according to his family. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/the-weekender/alan-dysert-of-all-my-children-fame-dies/ 

A shooting involving federal agents is under investigation Monday evening on Chicago’s Lower West Side, according to Chicago police. More details: https://wgntv.com/news/shooting-involving-federal-agents-on-chicagos-lower-west-side/ 

A Cook County judge released a suburban man from custody Monday after he was accused of keeping 76 dogs in “deplorable conditions" at his Lemont home. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/southwest-suburbs/lemont-man-facing-animal-cruelty-charges-released/

#BREAKING: Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged again by the Justice Department (DOJ) for allegedly disclosing sensitive national defense information in 2016, according to newly unsealed court documents. More: https://wgntv.com/hill-politics/doj-charges-comey-for-third-time/ 

A 37-year-old Quincy man is charged with sending threatening letters to members of Congress containing a white powder, including one with a note reading “HAH enjoy the gift,” according to federal court records. More: https://tinyurl.com/2umwx24v 

Elgin-based Imperial Distribution has recalled nearly 950 pounds of its Imperial Jerky products, including Fuego, Original, and Limon flavors. #recall #beefjerky #USDA #foodrecall #Midwest #Illinois

An 18-year-old male faces felony charges in connection with the August death of a 10-year-old boy, Chicago police announced on Monday. More: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/male-18-charged-in-death-of-10-year-old-boy-in-woodlawn/ 

New USDA data shows that Illinois is once again the nation’s top pumpkin producer. More: https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/illinois-ranks-no-1-for-producing-pumpkins/ 

A United Airlines flight returned to Las Vegas shortly after takeoff on Saturday night due to a "potential security concern," the Chicago-based airline has confirmed. Details: https://wgntv.com/news/national/concerning-hijack-text-prompts-united-flight-to-turn-back-cockpit-audio-indicates/ 

Chicago has only had two days this month with below average temperatures. Our warmest day was the record-high temp on Oct. 12 of 88 degrees. Read more: https://wgntv.com/weather/more-treat-than-trick-for-chicagos-last-days-of-october/

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum invited families to its annual BOO-seum Bash Sunday, with animal encounters, hands-on activities and plenty of Halloween fun. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/features/families-celebrate-halloween-at-nature-museum/ 

If you commute through downtown Chicago, expect two more days of train service disruptions. More details: https://wgntv.com/news/traffic/construction-delay-extends-green-pink-line-disruptions/ 

Proceeds support research and care at Northwestern Medicine, as well as services for those impacted by ALS and their families. More details: https://wgntv.com/news/features/record-crowd-raises-more-than-1m-at-chicago-als-walk-for-life/ 

The annual Imani Dream Angel Harvest Fest honors Alexandria Imani Burgos, who was killed by a stray bullet in 2014. The event also supports local families and promotes gun safety. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/features/chicago-family-honors-teen-killed-by-stray-bullet-with-annual-harvest-fest/

If you're looking to buy a home in Illinois, chances are you'll pay quite a bit more than you would have five years ago. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/how-much-have-home-prices-increased-in-illinois-over-5-years/ 

A Chicago woman pleaded guilty Wednesday after she used a glass bottle to attack multiple people at random at a downtown CTA stop and a nearby Macy’s store in December 2025. Full story: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/chicago-woman-pleads-guilty-to-attacks-at-cta-stop-macys/ 

Three people were shot, one critically, Saturday afternoon on Chicago’s West Side. Read more: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/cpd-3-shot-1-critically-on-chicagos-west-side/ 

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Due to our CW Sports commitments, there will be no WGN Evening News at 5 this evening. Also, tonight's WGN News at 9 and 10 can only be seen on the free WGN+ app, available on smart TVs everywhere, or on any device at wgntv.com/live

Nearly everyone who meets the Pope brings a present. Many of the items end up in the Vatican archives, sitting in storage, or donated to charity. But when Chicago attorney Michael Airdo planned to visit his old friend, he wanted to bring something special.

Researchers from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center looked at the brains of 11 people who died between the ages of 80 and 91. Medical Watch: https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/pollution-may-play-role-in-harming-aging-brains-and-more-health-headlines/ 

A man has been arrested nearly nine years after a woman walking to work in California was allegedly attacked by a group of masked men armed with a knife, authorities announced Friday. More: https://wgntv.com/news/woman-attacked-by-men-in-scream-masks-in-california-arrest-made-9-years-later/ 

Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench says she can no longer do theater or film because of a worsening eye condition. More: https://wgntv.com/news/the-weekender/oscar-winning-actress-judi-dench-says-she-cant-do-movies-plays-due-to-vision-loss/ 

Actor Mark Ruffalo on Sunday blasted President Trump’s attempts to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterms, saying he was ready to “Hulk out” to stop it. More: https://wgntv.com/politics-3/mark-ruffalo-says-hell-hulk-out-over-voting-rights/ 

In her first season with Atlanta, Reese has already become the team's emotional leader and is now two wins away from winning her first WNBA championship. More: https://wgntv.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-angel-reese-fuels-atlanta-dreams-wnba-finals-surge-and-is-now-2-wins-from-her-first-title/ 

Chicago is set to launch a new gun-detection technology pilot program across six police districts, but few details are available about what it will be. More: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/shotspotter-replacement-technology-is-set-to-begin-testing-on-chicagos-west-south-sides/ 

It’s nearly a billion dollars over budget and more than two years late, but a new stretch of the Illinois Tollway is opening. It’s expected to change travel and lessen congestion to and from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. More: https://tinyurl.com/stjbppsx 

The FDA has designated the recall as Class II, meaning exposure to the products could cause reversible or temporary health consequences and poses little risk of serious consequences from use, according to the FDA website. More: https://tinyurl.com/yc2et4uz 

A chilling investigation is underway in Chicago’s East Chatham neighborhood, as police say they are looking into one death and at least one sexual assault, and they believe there's only one suspect. Details: https://tinyurl.com/497mayzj 

The South Side Community Art Center held a beam-raising celebration Friday — shifting the Chicago landmark one step closer to its multi-million-dollar restoration goals. More: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/things-are-looking-up-south-side-community-art-center-holds-beam-raising-celebration/ 

As the video game industry prepares for Grand Theft Auto VI's release next month, the highly anticipated launch could have a significant economic impact, with many Americans saying they plan to call out sick to play it. More: https://tinyurl.com/ms9akz8k 

Decorations are up, Boo Buckets are back, and Halloween is just days away. But depending on where you live, this Halloween could be spookier than in other states. But is Illinois among the "scariest?" Study: https://wgntv.com/news/trending/these-are-the-scariest-states-analysis-finds-2/ 

Beginning next month, Airbnb hosts will face limits on the tasks they can ask guests to complete before checkout. Details: https://wgntv.com/news/your-next-airbnb-stay-may-come-with-fewer-chores-heres-why/ 

The sister of the late country music icon Dolly Parton took to social media, claiming that a Tennessee voting machine switched her vote to the Republican candidate. Details: https://wgntv.com/news/national/dolly-partons-sister-claims-tennessee-voting-machine-changed-her-vote-to-republican/ 

A man will spend decades in prison after being found guilty in the 2024 killing of a 14-year-old boy in Northwest Indiana. More: https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/man-gets-70-years-in-prison-for-2024-shooting-death-of-northwest-indiana-teen/ 

As Chicago continues to honor the late, great Mike Ditka, we dug through our archives and found a gem of an interview with the charismatic Super Bowl-winning coach. Watch here: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/from-the-wgn-archives-mike-ditka-talks-kicking-and-screaming/ 

Thursday's 100% sunny skies made it the sixth consecutive day the city has logged more than 90% of possible sunshine. wgntv.com/weather/chic... #ILwx

NIPSCO is finally answering questions — weeks after a powerful derecho left thousands of Northwest Indiana residents in the dark. More: https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/nipsco-coo-addresses-criticisms-over-storm-restoration-response/ 

Christa Pike, 50, was hospitalized after surviving two doses of pentobarbital as the state tried to execute her on Sept. 30 for the 1995 stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. More:https://tinyurl.com/v5zxz6ax 

The two major-party candidates for Indiana’s Secretary of State position traded blows during a Thursday night debate, attacking each other over their respective ads and transparency on multiple issues. Recap here: https://wgntv.com/news/politics/watch-live-indiana-secretary-of-state-debate/ 

WATCH LIVE: WGN's Dina Bair hosts 'Stories of Hope: Facing Breast Cancer.' Watch on WGN-TV and WGN+ More: https://wgntv.com/stories-of-hope-2026/ 

Triumph over disease takes many research approaches. It involves collaboration, AI, and sometimes looking to other diseases to figure out what works. That’s the thinking behind how COVID-19 vaccine research may help develop a cancer cure. Medical Watch: https://tinyurl.com/27khu2ba