Chicago native Arionne Nettles pens a love letter to Chicago in her newest book titled, “We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything.”
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Man Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder in a Series of Stabbings in Rockford
Mar 28, 2024 | Associated Press
Christian Soto, 22, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in a frenzied stabbing rampage that killed four people in a matter of minutes in Rockford.
What Efforts to Expand Access to Sickle Cell Treatment Could Mean for Illinois Patients
Mar 28, 2024 | Emily Soto
Sickle cell disease affects about 5,000 people across Illinois — and it’s mostly impacting Black communities. While gene therapies have emerged to treat the disease, high costs can limit access.
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Beloved Gorilla Matriarch, Bana, Has Died
Mar 28, 2024 | Patty Wetli
The 29-year-old gorilla was diagnosed with congestive cardiac failure in early March and after an “abrupt decline” in her condition, “the difficult decision was made to euthanize her,” zoo officials said.
Key City Panel Advances Measure to Require Officials to Track Evictions From Chicago Migrant Shelters
Mar 28, 2024 | Heather Cherone
The measure set for a final vote by the full City Council on April 17 would require officials to detail how many people are evicted from city shelters every week. In addition, officials must report on the type and number of complaints filed by shelter residents twice per month, according to the proposal.
Cook County Courts Have Seen ‘Mostly Smooth’ Transition After Elimination of Cash Bail, New Report Finds
Mar 28, 2024 | Matt Masterson
According to findings from the Civic Federation and the League of Women Voters of Cook County, the Pretrial Fairness Act has worked as intended during the first six months of its implementation.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, March 27, 2024 - Full Show
Mar 27, 2024 | WTTW News
Gentrification concerns in South Shore as Obama Presidential Center construction continues. Efforts to increase access to sickle cell disease treatment. And a new book celebrates Black Chicago’s influence.
South Shore Voters Endorse Calls to Expand Protection From Gentrification Sparked by Obama Presidential Center
Mar 27, 2024 | Heather Cherone
Nearly 80% of voters in two precincts of the 7th Ward endorsed a referendum asking whether Ald. Greg Mitchell and Mayor Brandon Johnson should support “a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) ordinance to prevent the displacement of renters, condo & home owners in South Shore in light of the impact of the Obama Center and growing development in the area.”
Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Lead Widens Slightly Wednesday to 1,637 Votes in Cook County State’s Attorney Contest
Mar 27, 2024 | Heather Cherone
For the first time since Election Day, Eileen O’Neill Burke widened her lead slightly over Clayton Harris III as election officials in Chicago and suburban Cook County counted ballots. The gap between the two candidates has been essentially unchanged for the past 24 hours.
Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP Pick in 2000, Dead at 82
Mar 27, 2024 | Associated Press
Lieberman died in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, the statement said. He was 82.
Chicagoans Should Vote on Using Taxpayer Money for Bears and White Sox Stadiums, Ex-Gov. Quinn Says
Mar 27, 2024 | Amanda Vinicky
Should the former governor succeed, a nonbinding referendum would ask Chicago voters on Nov. 5: “Shall the people of Chicago provide any taxpayer subsidies to the Chicago Bears or the White Sox in order to build a stadium or a real estate development?”
Shedd’s Rescued Otter Pup Has a Newly Announced Name and It’s a Nod to His Small-Town Roots
Mar 27, 2024 | Patty Wetli
The rescued otter pup, now nearly 6 months old, was named in honor of his Alaskan roots.
Chicago Police Publish Video of Groups Believed to Be Responsible for Waves of Armed Robberies
Mar 27, 2024 | Matt Masterson
Chicago police are searching for at least three groups of men they believe are responsible for more than two dozen armed robberies that occurred over a five-day span earlier this month.
Advocates Cry Foul Over Forthcoming Policy to Make Chicago’s Buildings Safe for Birds, Call Lack of Mandatory Requirements ‘Enraging’
Mar 27, 2024 | Patty Wetli
In mid-April, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development is set to release an update to the city’s sustainable development policy. No section of the policy will make bird-friendly design mandatory.
Should College Essays Touch on Race? Some Feel the Affirmative Action Ruling Leaves Them No Choice
Mar 27, 2024 | Associated Press
When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. For many students of color, instantly more was riding on the already high-stakes writing assignment.
Illinois Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Jussie Smollett’s Appeal
Mar 27, 2024 | Matt Masterson
Illinois’ high court has agreed to hear an appeal from Jussie Smollett, more than two years after the former “Empire” star was convicted of orchestrating an elaborate hate crime hoax.
Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Lead Shrinks Slightly Tuesday in Race to Replace Kim Foxx as Cook County’s Top Prosecutor
Mar 26, 2024 | Heather Cherone
A full week after the March 19 election, the contest remains a long way from being settled, with 53,712 outstanding mail-in ballots from Chicago and approximately 35,000 outstanding ballots from suburban Cook County that will be counted as long as they were postmarked or dropped off on Election Day and arrive by April 2.
Supreme Court Seems Likely to Preserve Access to the Abortion Medication Mifepristone
Mar 26, 2024 | Associated Press
In nearly 90 minutes of arguments, a consensus appeared to emerge that the abortion opponents who challenged the FDA’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and subsequent actions to ease access to it, lack the legal right or standing to sue.
March 26, 2024 - Full Show
Mar 26, 2024 | WTTW News
Abortion access is once again before the U.S. Supreme Court. Still no winner in the Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney. And Illinois voters consider ranked choice voting.
Illinois Teacher Shortage Persists, Survey Finds
Mar 26, 2024 | Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois
This year’s survey found more than 90% of schools responding reported having a “serious” or “very serious” teacher shortage problem.
Chicago Park District Workers Vote to Authorize Strike as Their Union Calls on Johnson to Intervene in Negotiations
Mar 26, 2024 | Eunice Alpasan
More than 2,200 Chicago Park District workers, represented by the union SEIU Local 73, have been in contract negotiations for nine months, the union said.
Morton Arboretum Names New Director of Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Mar 26, 2024 | Patty Wetli
CRTI connects organizations — public and private — across the seven-county Chicago area to promote the importance of trees and improve the quality of the region's tree canopy.
Candidates Can Start Circulating Petitions as Chicago Public Schools Begins Transition to Elected School Board
Mar 26, 2024 | Amanda Vinicky
Tuesday marks the first day board of education candidates can begin to gather the minimum 1,000 signatures they need from neighbors in order to make it on the ballot.
Measles Outbreak Worsens at Pilsen Migrant Shelter, Prompting Officials to Tighten Vaccination Policy
Mar 26, 2024 | Heather Cherone
In all, 31 Chicagoans have been diagnosed with measles since March 4.
Battery Storage, Disposal Would Be Further Regulated Under Bills in Illinois Senate
Mar 26, 2024 | Cole Longcor — Capitol News Illinois
One bill would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency by 2026. The state’s Pollution Control Board would set the regulations for the proper storage of EV batteries.
Highest-Ranking Woman in State Police History Reflects on Experience as Force Looks to Diversify
Mar 26, 2024 | Alex Abbeduto — Capitol News Illinois
The Illinois State Police do have a higher-than-average presence of women in law enforcement leadership, however. Women make up 14% of ISP’s leadership, according to an agency spokesperson. A new initiative aims to increase that number.