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Chicago Police Department vehicle is parked on Clark Street near Daley Plaza on June 15, 2026. (Victor Hilitski / WTTW News)
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More Chicagoans believe violent crime has increased in the city, according to a new poll, even as the numbers of shootings and homicides throughout 2026 are essentially the same as last year, which ended with the fewest recorded killings in 60 years.
Forty-four percent of Chicago residents think violent crime has increased throughout the city, compared with 38% who feel the levels have stayed about the same and 18% who believe violent crime has decreased, according to new polling data from the nonpartisan research organization NORC at the University of Chicago. The polling was conducted as part of the regular Chicago Speaks initiative.
Those findings come as city data shows the number of homicides (234) recorded thus far in 2026 is actually down around 1% compared to the same time last year, while the number of shootings (974) is identical to last year’s pace.
Chicago closed out 2025 with its fewest homicides since 1965.
Despite that, crime levels in Chicago have been a repeated talking point for President Donald Trump, who has called the city a “war zone” and a “hell hole” as his administration unsuccessfully sought to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to fight crime in the city last year.
The new polling was conducted between June 15-23 and included responses from 1,194 city residents, with a 4.1% margin of error.
What the study found:
According to the findings, perceptions of city crime levels appear “closely tied” to social media exposure, with those who reported having more frequent encounters with crime-related content online being more likely to believe crime is increasing, according to NORC.
About two-thirds of those who said they see “violent crime content” at least once per day said they believe violent crime has gone up, compared to 18% of those who said they see such content less than once per week.
The polling also found views on violent crime citywide differ by age and political affiliation. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans and 57% of Independents said crime has gone up, compared to just 34% of Democrats.
Half of adults over the age of 45 also said crime is increasing, compared to 39% of adults under 45, according to the poll.
Black and Hispanic residents (57% and 53%, respectively) were also far more likely to say crime has increased compared to White residents (30%).
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Sponsor Message
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Bring the family and enjoy the fun!
July 25 & 26, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago
Railroad Days is Chicago's premier railroad celebration! This year, we mark 100 years of electric rail. Join us for:
- Tour historic 1926 Pullman-built electric commuter cars
- Free STEAM Fair: From Rails to Rocketships
- WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer presents in historic Greenstone Church
- Walking tours, great food, mini steam train rides, face painting, live music, and more!
Grab a friend, and we’ll see you there! Kids 12 & under free. Tickets & info: friendsofpullman.com/special-events
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Homes in Pilsen are pictured in a file photo. (EJ_Rodriquez / iStock)
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A push by Mayor Brandon Johnson to convince the Chicago City Council to back his rewrite of a 40-year-old law to add new protections for renters and scale back the power of landlords has seized the spotlight at City Hall, just as the battle lines are beginning to be drawn in the 2027 election.
Johnson’s proposal is designed to shift the balance of power toward renters from landlords, who have profited from the sky-high demand for apartments in Chicago, allowing them to impose new fees and steep rent increases.
But that effort — likely Johnson’s last chance to champion new legislation demanded by the progressive organizations that fueled his come-from-behind win in the 2023 mayoral election — drew swift and vehement opposition from landlords and business groups, with whom he has long been at loggerheads.
“For far too long, renters have been left on their own while being forced to navigate rising costs, predatory practices, and corporate consolidation in a housing market that too often puts profit before people,” Johnson said in a statement.
More context:
The average rent in Chicago jumped to $1,956 a month at the end of 2025, rising 9.5% since 2023, the biggest increase of any major city in the country, according to real estate data provider CoStar.
Approximately 622,000 Chicagoans lease their homes, and 40% spend more than a third of their take-home pay on rent, according to city officials.
Johnson wants to ban move-in and move-out fees imposed by landlords, create a new “Tenants Bill of Rights” and ensure that tenants facing eviction would have the help of an attorney and the support of a new city agency dubbed the Bureau of Rental Housing Services.
The mayor’s proposal would also require landlords to disclose the owners of the buildings they lease on a citywide rental registry designed to prevent them from using shell corporations from hiding their identity and records.
Fees of approximately $20 per unit, with big landlords paying more than smaller landlords, would fund those efforts, which are estimated to cost $20 million per year, according to the mayor’s proposal.
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A rescued beluga whale arriving at Shedd Aquarium, July 21, 2026. (Heidi Zeiger / Shedd Aquarium)
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The first phase of a complicated, high-stakes rescue of 30 beluga whales from a defunct Canadian water park is complete with four female belugas now adjusting to their new home at Shedd Aquarium, officials announced Tuesday.
The whales’ future has been in limbo since at least 2024 when their home at Marineland — a longtime tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario — closed to the public. When Canadian authorities blocked Marineland’s plan to send the belugas to China, the park threatened to euthanize the whales.
Shedd is one of several partners that stepped in to offer an alternative, which Canadian authorities accepted. Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego in the U.S., and Oceanogràfic de València in Spain are also taking part in the rescue.
Shedd has a long history of caring for belugas, which make their home in the aquarium’s 3-million-gallon Abbott Oceanarium.
The Canadian Press was on site at Marineland as the removal process began. The whales were individually lifted out of a pool by sling, operated by a crane. Each was then placed in a water-filled container and then driven to the airport.
“This moment marks the next chapter for these rescued belugas,” Dr. Karisa Tang, lead veterinarian and vice president of animal health at Shedd Aquarium, said in a statement.
The four rescued females were moved together in a sub-pod because of their preexisting bonds with one another, according to Shedd Aquarium. The whales, with estimated ages, include:
Acadia (uh-KAY-dee-uh), 27 years old.
Osiris (oh-SY-riss), 26 years old.
Sierra (see-AIR-uh), 26 years old.
Lillooet (lih-LOO-et), 21 years old.
While the whales have arrived safely, Shedd’s experts expect to learn more about the animals’ health and condition in the coming days.
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Back in the Day: July 22, 1986 - Cubs Fire Ballgirl For Posing in ‘Playboy’
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When Marla Collins became the Cubs ballgirl in 1982, she quickly became a fan favorite. During games, especially when the North Siders weren't playing well, broadcaster Harry Caray would say on TV, "Let’s look over and see what Marla’s doing." She turned her stadium fame into gigs as a cocktail waitress at Park West and a coat check at an Italian restaurant. But in 1986, when her contract with the Cubs ballgirl was approaching its endpoint, she was asked to pose for Playboy magazine and agreed without getting the team's permission. While the issue of the magazine was supposed to be published in September, the Chicago-based publication delivered it to newsstands by July in the
middle of the season. As soon as the issue went on sale, the Cubs fired Collins and said in a statement that the team did “not authorize nor does it condone or approve of [her] appearing in Playboy.” Her departure kicked off a firestorm of controversy, especially because the team allegedly used her sex appeal to promote the team with tight outfits and on-air comments about her appearance. Columnist Mike Royko chimed in, saying of the team, “Of course [their decision to fire Collins is] hypocritical. But hypocrisy is the very backbone of our sexual moral standards.”
Collins, for her part, took everything in stride. She turned down press requests and lived her life. In 2023, she said, “The Cubs did what they felt they had to do, no hard feelings.”
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for July 22-28
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, July 22:
Jeff Rosenstock, Beach Bunny at Metro. Tickets.
This punk mainstay is playing nine shows in Lakeview. This is Night 6.
Pavement, Nap Eyes at Salt Shed. Tickets.
The iconic indie rock outfit brings a like-minded Canadian opener for an outdoor show.
Rush at United Center. Tickets.
Speaking of Canadian bands, you can’t go wrong with this legendary power trio.
Gooseberry, Lucky Square, Brad Goodall at Subterranean Downstairs. Tickets.
Get there early for the excellent piano-based songwriting of the West Virginia opener.
Thursday, July 23:
Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, Chris Coleslaw at Subterranean. Tickets.
The Louisville folk-rocker and Wicker Park Fest headliner puts on one of the best live shows you’ll see this year.
Jack White, Miniskirt at Radius. Tickets.
The Detroit rock maestro kicks off two shows in the city. The first is in Pilsen.
Friday, July 24:
Jeff Rosenstock, Sidney Gish, Pictoria Vark at Metro. Tickets
This punk mainstay is playing nine shows in Lakeview. This is Night 8.
Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, Reilly Downes, Devon Gilfillian, more at Wicker Park Fest. Free.
Stay late to see Ryan Davis at one of the best booked local street festivals this summer.
Jack White, Plum at Salt Shed. Sold out.
The Detroit rock maestro closes out two shows in the city. The last is outside on the riverbank.
Metric, Broken Social Scene, Stars at Aragon Ballroom. Tickets.
Three Canadian indie rock stalwarts team up in Uptown.
The Hoyle Brothers at Empty Bottle. Free.
Want a matinee show? This honky tonk residency is always on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and always free.
Saturday, July 25:
Jeff Rosenstock, Dan Andriano at Metro. Tickets.
This punk mainstay is playing nine shows in Lakeview. This is the final night.
Ovlov, Liquid Mike, Moving Mountains, more at Wicker Park Fest. Free.
Be sure to catch Michigan’s Liquid Mike at one of the best booked local street festivals this summer.
Sunday, July 26:
Emmylou Harris & Graham Nash at Ravinia. Tickets.
Two songwriting greats share the stage on the North Shore.
The Frights, Shannon Shaw, Georgia Maq, Mexican Slum Rats, Pinksqueeze, more at Wicker Park Fest. Free.
One of the best-booked local street fests closes out a three-night run.
Monday, July 27:
Aterciopelados, La Rosa Noir at Millennium Park. Free.
A perfect way to start a week is to be outside for a free concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Billie Marten at Old Town School of Folk Music. Tickets.
One of the most tasteful and talented British singer-songwriters plays Lincoln Square.
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What's your favorite local festival to attend during a Chicago summer?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Mayra Macías, the former executive director of the Latino Victory Project, talk about the 4th Congressional District race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García and why an elections board kicked them off the ballot.
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Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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