CITY NEWS Archives · Reel Chicago News

CITY NEWS

Blockbuster 2026 lineup of Chicago festivals and events

By Reel Chicago Jan 27, 2026

Here's a reminder of warm days ahead and fun in the sun because nobody does summer better than Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special...

CITY NEWS

Latin School of Chicago investigating second Nazi music incident

By Reel Chicago Jan 3, 2026

The Latin School of Chicago is investigating a second incident involving a Nazi-associated marching song, after middle school students were reportedly practicing Erika, a Germa...

CITY NEWS

Police investigating Tara Reid “drugging” at Rosemont hotel bar

By BANG Showbiz Nov 26, 2025

Police in Rosemont say they are “committed to investigating” Tara Reid’s allegation that she was drugged at a hotel bar near Chicago over the weekend. The 50-year-old act...

CITY NEWS

Did Operation Midway Blitz make Chicago safer?

By Barbara Roche Nov 14, 2025

As violent crime continues to drop across Chicago, the federal immigration enforcement surge launched earlier this year, known as Operation Midway Blitz, is drawing new questio...

CITY NEWS

Laugh Factory Chicago manager arrested by ICE

By Reel Chicago Oct 26, 2025

Laugh Factory Chicago night manager Nathan Griffin was arrested Friday morning outside the iconic comedy club by federal agents, sparking outrage and confusion across the local...

CITY NEWS

Chicago’s No Kings March packs the Loop – zero arrests

By Reel Chicago Oct 19, 2025

Downtown Chicago turned into a sea of hand-lettered signs, drums, and inflatable costumes on Saturday as many as 250,000 people flooded the Loop for the second nationwide “No...

CITY NEWS

Don Lemon zeroes in on ICE arrests, and Chicago’s pushback

By Reel Chicago Oct 13, 2025

Don Lemon has turned his lens on Chicago as federal immigration enforcement intensifies across pockets of the city, and residents mobilize in response. Just last Friday, Reel C...

CITY NEWS

WGN producer forcibly detained in Lincoln Square ICE operation

By Reel Chicago Oct 10, 2025

A WGN-TV Emmy Award-winning producer, Debbie Brockman, was violently detained by masked agents believed to be from ICE on Chicago’s North Side Friday morning during an immigr...

CITY NEWS

Who’s the Best Big City in the USA? WE ARE!

By Reel Chicago Oct 11, 2024

For more reasons than we can count, Chicago has once again been named the Best Big City in the U.S. in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. This year, more than...

CITY NEWS

Advertising gathering spot, Catch 35 to close

By Reel Chicago Sep 27, 2024

Catch 35, a seafood restaurant cornerstone for Chicago’s advertising professionals and downtown diners, will close its doors on October 19, 2024. Located on the ground floor ...

CITY NEWS

Illinois’ largest Independence Day fireworks show is synchronized to music

By Reel Chicago Jul 2, 2024

No fireworks scheduled at Navy Pier this 4th of July but Itasca, IL has picked up the torch as the headquarters for family fun on Independence Day! It is Illinois' largest ...

CITY NEWS

No Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy Pier this year

By Reel Chicago Jun 6, 2024

For the third consecutive year, Chicago's Navy Pier will not host its renowned Fourth of July fireworks display. This decision follows a pattern from previous years, where the ...

CITY NEWS

Powering Chicago presents 110th tree lighting

By Reel Chicago Nov 16, 2023

Powering Chicago, the labor-management partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors' Association of C...

CITY NEWS

NBC 5 Chicago to cover the 45th Bank of America Chicago Marathon

By Reel Chicago Oct 4, 2023

NBCUniversal Local Chicago’s trio of properties -- NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago, and NBC Sports Chicago -- will deliver the most comprehensive, multiplatform coverage to...

CITY NEWS

Chicago celebrates win as “Best Big City in the U.S.”

By Reel Chicago Oct 3, 2023

Lynn Osmond, President, and CEO of Choose Chicago, proudly announced that Chicago has once again been named the "Best Big City in the U.S." This remarkable recognition marks t...

CITY NEWS

Eli’s is handing out cheesecake all over town this weekend

By Reel Chicago Jul 28, 2023

Right on the list with Chicago's most famous foods -- deep dish pizza and hot dogs, is Eli's Cheesecake -- the original Chicago-style cheesecake, created by restaurateur Eli...

CITY NEWS

The Bear teams with FX, Hulu, ABC and Disney to fight summer hunger

By Reel Chicago Jul 12, 2023

The "food focused" hit Chicago series The Bear, with 13 Emmy nominations this season, has found a wonderful way to give back to Chicago. The Bear producers are teaming up...

CITY NEWS

10 ways to welcome the Summer Solstice in Chicago

By Adam Irving Jun 21, 2023

It is going to be a beautiful long, sunny day today as the Summer Solstice arrives to usher in Chicago’s favorite season. After eagerly anticipating the official arrival o...

CITY NEWS

Chicago Riverwalk 2023 Summer Season announced

By Reel Chicago Jun 17, 2023

Summer is here, and now is the time to enjoy the full slate of engaging summer arts and recreational programming taking place on the Chicago Riverwalk, a magnificent urban spac...

CITY NEWS

Pritzker announces CPRU “Crisis Prevention & Response Unit”

By Reel Chicago May 23, 2023

Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services are launching CPRU the citywide "Crisis Prevention & Response Unit", a hig...