Daywatch: Chicago-based cable news network marks 5 years

Good morning, Chicago.

Nexstar Media, the Dallas-based TV station owner at the center of the high-profile controversy over the preemption of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night ABC show, may finally be realizing the potential of NewsNation, its five-year-old cable news network.

NewsNation’s coverage of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s memorial service Sunday topped both CNN and MSNBC, reaching millions of viewers and putting the Chicago-based network squarely in the cable news mix.

While it still has detractors and skeptics, the former home of “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Bozo’s Circus” and Cubs games, has certainly come a long way.

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Robert Channick.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw says he attended Charlie Kirk’s memorial, how long the lines were for free hot dog day at The Wieners Circle and a new dinosaur discovered.

Tylenol drugs are on display at a drugstore chain in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Sept. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Trump’s Tylenol and vaccine warnings leave some pregnant women concerned, others angry

During a White House news conference on Monday, President Donald Trump repeatedly warned pregnant women not to take Tylenol because of the risk of autism in their children. He also fueled debunked claims that ingredients in vaccines or timing shots close together could contribute to rising rates of autism. Trump’s comments left some pregnant women angry and others with questions.

Gov. JB Pritzker answers questions at Harold Washington College in Chicago’s Loop on Sept. 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. JB Pritzker asks state agencies to reserve 4% of funds while blasting Trump economic policies

Codifying his lack of confidence in President Donald Trump’s economic policies, Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday ordered state agencies to find 4% in cuts to their budgets that would go into reserves to mitigate the effects of federal budget uncertainty.

Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill on Sept. 25, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Corrections’ employees on paid leave still took overtime pay, state audit finds

Illinois Department of Corrections employees were allowed to work overtime on the same days they were on paid leave, raising concerns by the state’s chief auditor that prison employees were abusing overtime, according to an audit released yesterday.

Franklin Park police body camera footage captures the aftermath of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shooting that killed Silverio Villegas-González on Sept. 12, 2025. (Village of Franklin Park)

Video shows aftermath of controversial ICE shooting, including agent originally described as critically injured

Though it only shows the aftermath, the body camera footage from Franklin Park police offers one of the only glimpses into what happened, given that the ICE agents involved in the shooting were not wearing body cameras. And while it seemingly contradicts at least in part ICE’s original account, the shooting itself was not captured.

The body camera footage, released to the Tribune following a Freedom of Information Act request, also recorded confusion among Franklin Park officials about which agency would investigate the shooting — a question that’s still open almost two weeks later.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, left, arrives with a group on Divvy bikes using the protected lanes on North Milwaukee Avenue on Sept. 23, 2025, for an event in the West Town neighborhood to mark progress on building bikeways across the city. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Mayor Brandon Johnson calls more Chicago protected bike lanes ‘ultimate goal,’ touts milestone

When Mayor Brandon Johnson’s sky blue Divvy bike rolled along Milwaukee Avenue yesterday morning, it passed over a milestone.

The River West infrastructure project that the mayor pedaled on marks the 100th mile of bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure built by his administration, he announced.

Chicago White Sox’s Miguel Vargas celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sept. 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

‘Very impactful’ Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas looks to close out 2025 on a strong note

With the season nearing an end, Miguel Vargas reflected on some of his growth from 2024 to 2025.

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Chicago Cubs third base Matt Shaw (6) runs on the field during the first inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field, Sept. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Cubs’ Matt Shaw explains decision to attend Charlie Kirk memorial: ‘That was really important to my faith’

Two days after leaving the team to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona, Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw stood in front of his locker at Wrigley Field and explained his decision to miss Sunday’s game in Cincinnati.

Shaw said he has known Kirk, a conservative podcaster, founder of Turning Point USA and close ally of President Donald Trump, since the offseason while living in the same apartment complex in Arizona. Kirk’s wife, Erika, reached out to Shaw asking if he would come to the memorial, which he attended with his wife, Danielle.

This image released by Disney shows Jimmy Kimmel hosting his late night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2025. (Randy Holmes/Disney via AP)

Emotional Jimmy Kimmel says in late-night return he never intended to make light of Charlie Kirk’s killing

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television yesterday after a nearly weeklong suspension and, in an emotional monologue where he appeared close to tears, said that he wasn’t trying to joke about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

Val Capone tips the staff at The Wieners Circle as the restaurant fulfills its promise to give out free hot dogs on Sept. 23, 2025, after the Bears’ Caleb Williams threw four touchdown passes in Sunday’s game. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The Wieners Circle hands out free hot dogs — and insults — for Caleb Williams’ 4 TD passes

Minutes after 11 a.m. yesterday, staff at The Wieners Circle were already knee-deep charring hot dogs and hurling swears at the long, chatty line of customers who had been waiting in the rain for free “glizzies.”

The popular hot dog stand on North Clark Street had promised free hot dogs if Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw four touchdown passes Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys — which he did, completing 19 of 28 passes for 298 yards and touchdowns to four players: Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, DJ Moore and Cole Kmet.

Now it was showtime behind the counter.

This image shows an artist’s illustration of the newly discovered dinosaur Joaquinraptor casali with an ancient crocodile relative’s front leg in its mouth. (Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History via AP)

Scientists discover a new dinosaur from Argentina with a crocodile bone in its mouth

Scientists have discovered a new dinosaur from Argentina with powerful claws, feasting on an ancient crocodile bone.

The new find was possibly 23 feet long and hailed from a mysterious group of dinosaurs called megaraptorans. They prowled across what’s now South America, Australia and parts of Asia, splitting off into different species over millions of years.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/24/daywatch-chicago-based-cable-news-network-marks-5-years/