The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Biden administration regulation on the nearly impossible-to-trace weapons called ghost guns, clearing the way for continued serial numbers, background checks and age verification requirements to buy them in kits online. The 7-2 opinion found that existing gun law allows regulation of the kits increasingly linked to crime. Sales…

As March Madness takes over this week, how many people are filling out NCAA brackets — and why? A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows what share of Americans typically take a shot at bracket predictions and their motivation for joining in the madness. The University of Illinois men’s…

— Egg prices again reached a record high in February, as the bird flu continues to run rampant and Easter and Passover approach. The latest monthly Consumer Price Index showed a dozen Grade A eggs cost an average of $5.90 in U.S. cities in February, up 10.4% from a year ago. That eclipsed January’s record-high…

Wall Street’s sell-off kicked back into gear on Thursday, and a U.S. stock market rattled by the whiplash created by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and uncertainty about the economy fell sharply. The S&P 500 tumbled 1.8% to resume its slide after a mini-recovery from the prior day clawed back some of its sharp drop over…

The man accused of opening fire on a suburban Chicago Independence Day parade, killing seven people, is about to stand trial, nearly three years after the attack. Jury selection started Monday after several delays. Part of the reason is the erratic behavior of the defendant, Robert Crimo III, which has raised questions about what to…

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is aiming to improve student achievement, social interaction and the mental health of public school students by proposing a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms, an idea that is rapidly gaining traction nationally regardless of political persuasion. The Democrat’s top education aide, Martin Torres, said Pritzker is expected to endorse “screen-free…

A Chicago Democrat who once set much of Illinois’ political agenda as the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history was convicted of some charges Wednesday in a mixed verdict in his high-profile corruption trial. Jurors convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan 10 counts and acquitted him of seven, but could not reach a decision…

President Donald Trump on Monday will pardon Democratic former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a person familiar with his plans. Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence for political corruption charges during his first term. The Republican president planned to sign the pardon on Monday, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the…

Virginia McCaskey, who inherited the Chicago Bears from her father, George Halas, but avoided the spotlight during four-plus decades as principal owner, has died. She was 102. McCaskey’s family announced through the team that she died Thursday. She had owned the Bears since her father’s death on Oct. 31, 1983. “While we are sad, we…

A Senate panel divided starkly along partisan lines voted on Tuesday to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial environmental lawyer turned public health critic, sending his bid to oversee the $1.7 trillion U.S. Health and Human Services agency to the Senate floor. Fourteen Republicans voted together to advance Kennedy’s nomination, with…

A two-sentence memo from the Office of Management Budget canceled a previous memo issued two days before that had directed federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” The move comes amid opposition from Democrats and advocates and lawsuits that have already been filed to oppose…

Over 500 restaurants are taking part as restaurant week celebrates its 18th year beginning Friday. The restaurants are located in 35 Chicago neighborhoods along with 56 suburban restaurants. One hundred three establishments are making their restaurant week debut and 158 are women or minority owned. The three course menus run 30 dollars for lunch and…