Rob Hughes

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Rob Hughes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A beloved church that's stood at the heart of Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood for more than six decades held its final Mass on Sunday morning. St. Thomas More Church was built in the late 1950s. Now, because of what the Archdiocese of Chicago has deemed declining membership, the church is closing its doors to parishioners. St. Thomas More served families in Ashburn as a foundation of faith and community for more than 65 years.

2 weeks ago | abc7chicago.com | Rob Hughes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The GOP mega-bill could have a big impact on the work of local food pantries. The "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" includes $300 billion in cuts to SNAP benefits over the next decade. That could create a higher demand for help at area food banks that are already struggling. Food pantries say the need for their services is as great as ever. Just last year, a pantry in West Garfield Park handed out nearly 2 million pounds of food, and they anticipate clearing that number in 2025.

2 weeks ago | abc7chicago.com | Rob Hughes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A group of Chicago-based students showed off their most recent achievement in the world of STEM Racing. Organizers said it's the world's largest school-based engineering competition. On Saturday, McLaren Chicago hosted a celebration for the high schoolers who were just crowned the 2025 National Champions. The model Formula 1 cars were developed and engineered by students from University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Their designs compete against teams all over the world.

4 weeks ago | abc7chicago.com | Rob Hughes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Southwest Side priest is sharing fond memories of his time with Cardinal Robert Prevost at seminary school. Father William Lego of St. Turibius said he met Cardinal Robert Prevost in 1966. They spent the next two decades going to school pursing the path to priesthood. Father Lego said when his old classmate was proclaimed the next pope, he wasn't surprised. "I thought it would happen because we've been classmates for a long time, and he is very capable," Lego said.

1 month ago | abc7chicago.com | Rob Hughes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The 134th annual Polish Constitution Day Parade rolled down Columbus Drive in Chicago on Saturday. The festivities this year marked the 1,000th anniversary of the Kingdom of Poland, and with more than 1.5 million Polish-Americans living in the Chicago area, huge crowds came out to celebrate. "There's a lot of us," parade attendee Anna Muilca said. "It's beautiful."The streets of downtown Chicago were packed with Polish Pride this weekend.