Marisol Vega

Marisol Vega

Marisol writes about how city decisions affect everyday people. From housing and schools to city programs, she breaks down the news so it’s easy to understand. Her focus is helping readers know what’s changing and how it matters to them.

324 Charged in $14.6 Billion Healthcare Fraud Bust, Feds Say

324 Charged in $14.6 Billion Healthcare Fraud Bust, Feds Say

CHICAGO — In one of the largest healthcare fraud takedowns in U.S. history, federal authorities have charged 324 individuals in connection with schemes that ...

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New Illinois Laws Take Effect Minimum Wage Increase, Tobacco Tax Spike, Hotel Plastic Ban

New Illinois Laws Take Effect: Minimum Wage Increase, Tobacco Tax Spike, Hotel Plastic Ban

CHICAGO — A new series of state and city regulations has taken effect across Illinois this July, impacting everything from worker pay and tobacco ...

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Over 140K Pounds of Mislabeled Lunch Meat Recalled Nationwide — What Illinois Shoppers Need To Know

Over 140K Pounds of Mislabeled Lunch Meat Recalled Nationwide — What Illinois Shoppers Need To Know

ILLINOIS — More than 140,000 pounds of lunch meat products are being recalled nationwide, and Illinois consumers are being urged to check their refrigerators. ...

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Businesses in Illinois Struggle With Lawsuits, Tax Hikes, and New Legal Hurdles

Businesses in Illinois Struggle With Lawsuits, Tax Hikes, and New Legal Hurdles

ILLINOIS — Business owners across the state are sounding the alarm over what they say is an increasingly hostile environment for companies operating in ...

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14 Chicagoland Beaches Remain Closed Ahead of July 4th Weekend

14 Chicagoland Beaches Remain Closed Ahead of July 4th Weekend

CHICAGO — As Illinois residents gear up for Fourth of July celebrations, 14 beaches across the Chicagoland area have been closed, while two others ...

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Historic LGBTQ+ Art Exhibit Finds Home in Chicago After Global Rejection

Historic LGBTQ+ Art Exhibit Finds Home in Chicago After Global Rejection

CHICAGO — In a quiet residential stretch of Lincoln Park, the gallery at Wrightwood 659 is now home to a groundbreaking exhibition that was ...

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Chicago’s Pension Debt Drops $1.3 Billion in 2024, But Long-Term Pressures Remain

Chicago’s Pension Debt Drops $1.3 Billion in 2024, But Long-Term Pressures Remain

CHICAGO — For the first time in five years, Chicago’s staggering pension debt has taken a notable dip — falling by $1.3 billion in ...

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Chicago Ends 2024 With $161M Budget Deficit After Police Overspending, Unpaid Pension Bill

Chicago Ends 2024 With $161M Budget Deficit After Police Overspending, Unpaid Pension Bill

CHICAGO — City officials confirmed Monday that Chicago closed 2024 with a $161 million budget deficit, largely due to police department overspending, an unpaid ...

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Illinois Lawmakers Fail To Pass School Cellphone Ban, But Debate Isn’t Over

Illinois Lawmakers Fail To Pass School Cellphone Ban, But Debate Isn’t Over

CHICAGO — A proposed statewide cellphone ban in Illinois classrooms has stalled in the legislature, despite broad support in the Senate and a public ...

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South Shore Neighbors Step Up to Shape Future of 71st Street

This South Shore Initiative Aims To Get Neighbors Invested In Projects Along 71st Street

CHICAGO — A new initiative is aiming to reshape the 71st Street corridor in South Shore by putting development power directly into the hands ...

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