|
Today’s Daily Chicagoan is brought to you, in part, by: |
 |
|
|
|
Every Saturday morning, Daily Chicagoan gives you a quick rundown of the WTTW News coverage you need to know. This week, we look back on some of our favorite WTTW News Explains stories from 2025.
|
|
|
 |
|
A graphic that says “Chicago's Famous Foods.” (WTTW News) |
|
Chicago is home to a plateful of iconic foods. The Italian beef sandwich was born here in the early 20th century. Gyros were introduced to America in Chicago during the mid ‘60s. As for dessert, the brownie is said to have been invented at the Palmer House Hotel in 1893. But more than anything else, Chicago is known for its hot dogs and its pizza. Watch the video at the link above to learn how in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when Chicago was butcher to the world, European immigrants were responsible for the ingredients topping a Chicago-style hot dog. We’ll also explain what the deal is with deep-dish and tavern-style pizzas. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsor Message |
|
Winter WonderFest is back December 5-January 4 at Navy Pier! Explore the ultimate indoor holiday experience with thrilling rides, giant slides, dazzling décor, and ice skating that the whole family can enjoy. Plus, every ticket includes a ride on the iconic Centennial Wheel for unforgettable views of the Pier's holiday light displays. Whether you’re planning a family outing, hosting visitors, or creating new holiday memories, WinterWonderFest has something for everyone. Don’t miss the magic. Get your tickets today at navypier.org! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A graphic that says “Chicago's Alcohol Laws.” (WTTW News) |
|
Chicago may have become virtually synonymous with speakeasies during prohibition, but that doesn’t mean the Windy City is lawless when it comes to drinking. In fact, we’ve got a lot of rules on the books governing when and where we can enjoy an adult beverage. Ever wonder why bars can’t sell liquor after 2 a.m. most nights or 3 a.m. early Sunday morning unless they have a coveted 4 a.m. liquor license? We also get into why, thanks to a recent move from the City Council, restaurants and bars that serve food can start selling alcohol at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. You used to have to wait until after 11 a.m. And if you want to whip up those brunch mimosas at home, the liquor stores can’t ring you up until 11 a.m. on Sundays, but supermarkets can sell you a bottle of bubbly starting at 8 a.m. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
WTTW News explains why Chicago is sinking. (WTTW News) |
|
Attention Chicagoans, brace yourselves because Chicago is sinking. Yes, you heard right, sinking! The more scientific name is land subsidence. But whatever you call it, the city is descending by more than 2 millimeters each year. That’s about 1/16 of an inch. To get to the bottom of the matter, you need to rewind 20,000 years, when a glacier covered the entire city. The weight of that ice caused downward motion, and when it was gone, a rebound deformed the Earth’s crust and helped create our clay-based soil. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A graphic that says "The Piping Plovers of Montrose Beach." (WTTW News) |
|
Chicago’s lakefront is famously open and free. So why is a prime section of Montrose Beach roped off every summer?
Because it’s for the birds. Literally. The piping plovers. Piping plovers are tiny shorebirds, about the size of a smartphone but a fraction of the weight. There used to be a few thousand of them, spread across the entire Great Lakes, but then people took away a lot of the beaches where they lived — building houses, hotels, marinas and resorts. By 1986, there were only about a dozen piping plover pairs left in the Great Lakes, all of them nesting in Michigan. The future looked so bleak for our feathered friends that they were officially added to the Endangered Species list. Fast forward to 2019. Two of these rare creatures — a male and a female — turned up on Montrose Beach. Watch the video above to find out what happened next. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
WTTW News explains Chicago’s consent decree. (WTTW News) |
|
The dash-cam video of the murder of Laquan McDonald captured one of the darkest moments in the 190-year history of the Chicago Police Department. In response, Mayor Rahm Emanuel promised there would be “no U-turns on the road to reform.” But since city officials inked the 2019 police consent decree agreement, the effort has hit pothole after pothole. The consent decree is a binding court order granting a federal judge oversight of the police department. It was designed to correct the problems outlined by an investigation by the Justice Department — chiefly, that Chicago police were found to have routinely violated Black and Latino residents’ constitutional rights. While a consent decree can be a powerful tool to reform police departments, it is complicated. Watch the video above to find out how it is supposed to work. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What part of Chicago would you like to explore in the new year? |
|
Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
|
|
|
|
Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
|
Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
|
|
|
|
