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Members of the New York police crime scene unit pick up cups marking the spots where bullets lie as they investigate the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Crime & Law

UnitedHealthcare CEO's Shooting Opens a Door for Many to Vent Frustrations Over Insurance

This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has... Read More

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Politics

Mayor Brandon Johnson Calls for $68.5M Property Tax Hike, $165.5M Increase in Other Taxes to Close Budget Gap as Deadline Looms

The new plan comes after the Chicago City Council rejected Johnson’s first... Read More

European Christmas characters

Coming up

Rick Steves European Christmas

From manger scenes and mistletoe to wintry wonderlands, Rick celebrates the Christmas season throughout the European continent. In the special, he visits friends and families in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy to reveal their customs and practices of the holiday season. The show offers a colorful, musical celebration of Christmas across Europe where viewers will learn about customs from 'the old countries,' hear local choirs, and discover holiday family traditions.

WTTW Food

Christmas at Caputo’s

For an Italian American, a trip to the family-owned, decades-old Caputo’s grocery store during the holidays is a sensory and nostalgic experience.

Olives and artichokes.

black voices

Joakim Noah, Cobe Williams Team Up to Teach Young Men Life Skills Through Basketball League

One City Basketball League encourages young men and boys to build inter-community relationships.

One City Basketball League

playlist

What to Watch in December

A Celebration of Hanukkah with Geoffrey Baer joins various holiday specials both musical and dramatic, while Lucy Worsley digs into Sherlock Holmes.

Lucy Worsley

For parents

16 Books to Get the Whole Family Giggling

Kids love funny books. There’s something cathartic about a good belly laugh.

Mustache Baby book cover
Máximo the titanosaur gets into the holiday spirit at the Field Museum. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Arts & Entertainment

Look Who’s Reporting for Santa Duty. Field Museum Takes a Dino-mite New Approach to the Holidays

In a first for the Field Museum, the exhibits staff has outfitted four of its dinosaur replicas (OK, three dinosaurs and one pterosaur) in Santa hats to celebrate the festive season.

Beef short ribs on polenta in a bowl with brown sauce over them

Recipe

Barolo-Braised Short Ribs from Milk Street

Try something a little bit different for the holidays with this rich, slow-cooked northern Italian dish that's similar to boeuf bourguignon.

Geoffrey Baer behind a counter with sufganiyot and latkes holds up a latke dipped in sour cream

Highlights

What to Watch in December

A Celebration of Hanukkah with Geoffrey Baer joins various holiday specials both musical and dramatic, while Lucy Worsley digs into Sherlock Holmes.

Two tents among trees at Humboldt Park

Politics

Advocates Urge City Not to Clear Out Humboldt Park Homeless Encampment

Last month, Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) announced the proposal to remove all tents from the area before the holidays as part of the Humboldt Park Encampment Housing Initiative. The city plans to start removal Friday morning, but advocates want officials to reconsider and explore other options.

Mother and child making faces for the camera

For parents

7 Fun Photo Ideas to Try With Your Family

How would you capture the spirit of your family in a single photograph? Try these fun photography ideas and encourage your child to speak up about what they’d like to photograph. As your family works together, affirm their creativity and role in your family by saying, “Your unique point of view is important to our family.” 

Rick Steves

Membership

Rick Steves Wine Tasting

Join Rick Steves for a virtual wine tasting! Six mini-bottles - each enough for 2 people - will be shipped directly to your home for this fun and informative event. You can even pick up the new WTTW wine tumblers. Best of all, your donation supports more of the programming you love. 

Thanks to our sponsors.

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