WLS-TV (Chicago, IL)

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Leah Hope

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A celebration got underway at Madison and Central on Thursday. It was the official opening of the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, a central place in Austin where several agencies will offer job training, financial coaching and small business development. It is meant to help people on the West Side find and maintain good-paying jobs to better support their families and communities. The building itself was a Chicago Public Schools school. But in 2013, Emmet Elementary closed.

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Leah Hope

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Artwork meant to be a symbol of peace has been vandalized in Pilsen. A group of community leaders said there needs to be action taken to address what they allege are hate crimes. A mural to symbolize solidarity between the Mexican and Palestinian communities was installed in May in Pilsen, but the artwork has been damaged. Two people said they have witnessed the same person vandalizing the mural, and when confronting the woman, they said she became physical.

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Jasmine Minor

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The law bars gender transition surgery, puberty blockers and hormone therapy for people under 18. Local leaders in the LGBTQ community are raising concerns about the impact of the decision. The ruling marks the first time the Supreme Court justices have weighed in on an anti-transgender state law. And those against the ruling say the law will impact those beyond the transgender community.

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Rob Hughes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- For the second straight day, Illinois U.S. House representatives attempted to enter a federally-operated facility, but said they were denied access. Their unannounced visit to what they're calling a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Broadview came on the same day Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the Chicago ICE Field Office downtown.

1 week ago | abc7chicago.com | Stephanie Wade

NORTHLAKE, Ill. (WLS) -- Law enforcement officials have learned that the last suspect wanted in the violent murder of a 17-year-old boy in 2009 has been killed in Mexico, Northlake police said in a press conference Wednesday morning. Eric Navarro was lured to what he thought was a party on July 7, 2009, police said. But he was beaten to death, officials said. His body was taken to Chicago, where it was dumped in a trash can and set on fire, according to officials.