Stories by paris schutz

African American Aldermen Try to Halt Sale of Legal Pot in Chicago

Sales of recreational marijuana will begin in Chicago – and across the state – on Jan. 1. Or will they? A group of aldermen on Wednesday explained why they want to put the brakes on pot in Chicago.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on “Chicago Tonight” during separate appearances in 2019. (WTTW News)

Eddie Johnson: ‘I Did Not Intentionally Mislead Mayor’

Former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is making his first public comments a day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot abruptly terminated him amid claims that he “repeatedly lied” to both the mayor and the public.

(WTTW News)

Federal Monitor: CPD Lagging Behind in Consent Decree Compliance

Federal monitor Maggie Hickey on Friday released the first semiannual report for the Chicago Police Department’s consent decree, saying that the department is not in compliance with a majority of the reforms.

“They offered up black ministers $54 million – a one-time deal – if they would convince the mayor to do away with any other kind of regulation,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. (WTTW News)

Lightfoot Claims Uber Paid Off African American Ministers

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday alleged that ride-hailing giant Uber offered to pay off black ministers to the tune of $54 million if they would join a campaign to publicly oppose a $40 million ride-hailing tax proposal – a claim the company denies.

Spotlight Politics: Johnson’s Retirement Will Set Off Political Fight for Next Superintendent

A big change could be coming to the Chicago Police Department. Our politics team digs into that story and more in our weekly roundtable.

(WTTW News)

State Elections Board: ‘We’re Under Constant Threat’ from Foreign Interference

The 2020 election is just under a year away, and both federal and state election authorities say the threat of foreign interference is ramping up.

Spotlight Politics: Assessing Political Fallout of Teachers Strike

Who will be the political winners and losers of the Chicago teachers strike? Our politics team digs into that story and more in our weekly roundtable.

Former FBI Director James Comey speaks at the University of Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. (WTTW News)

In Chicago Speech, Former FBI Director Comey Dishes on President Trump

Former FBI Director James Comey spoke Tuesday in Chicago, a day after the person who fired him, President Donald Trump, visited the city to speak at a conference of police chiefs.

The Week in Review: End in Sight for Chicago Teachers Strike?

The Chicago teachers strike heads into its second weekend. Will classes resume Monday? Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants help from Springfield to close a budget gap. And the Cubs go back to the future with their new manager.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivers her first budget address to City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. (WTTW News)

Lightfoot: No Property Tax Hike If Springfield Chips In

Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered her first budget address Wednesday at City Hall amid a swirl of protests from striking Chicago Public Schools teachers and support staff outside. How she plans to close the budget gap.

CTU President Jesse Sharkey speaks during a rally Wednesday.

Chicago Public Schools Teachers to Strike Thursday

It's official: Chicago Public Schools teachers are going on strike after CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union failed to reach a contract agreement. Teachers and support staff planned to hit the picket lines at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. 

The scene of the Laquan McDonald shooting taken on the night of the fatal incident is shown on a screen to jurors during the trial of Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. (Chicago Police Department)

City Releases Inspector General’s Laquan McDonald Investigation

There is new insight into the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald and whether or not there was a large-scale cover-up of the initial incident to protect the Chicago police officer who shot him.

A sign for the Canal Shores golf club, left, and a file photo of Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. (WTTW News)

Land Deal Tied to Illinois Senate President Cullerton Under Scrutiny

A North Shore land deal involving Illinois Senate President John Cullerton raises questions about a powerful public official influencing a vote that could enrich him and his son.

The Impeachment Process: How It Works

Now that an official impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump has been launched, how exactly does impeachment work, and what are the next steps?

Illinois Considers Banning Flavored E-Cigarettes

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been critical of the vaping industry, and now Illinois lawmakers are considering statewide action.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks to the media following a City Council meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (WTTW News)

City Council Looks to Restrict Vaping, Expand Marijuana

Chicago’s mayor and aldermen are vowing to take strict action on vaping while welcoming the sale of cannabis. Those two vices dominated the discussion during Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

General Iron Industries is a scrap metal recycling company that has operated along the north branch of the Chicago River near Cortland Street and Clybourn Avenue. (WTTW News)

General Iron Deal Spurs Debate About Land Use, Air Quality

A longtime scrap metal recycler reaches a deal with the city to close up shop at its location next to the Lincoln Yards site and move operations to the Southeast Side. But not everyone is happy about it.

Gen. Jim Mattis speaks at a Chicago Council on Global Affairs event at the Hilton Chicago on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019. (WTTW News)

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Opens Up in Chicago Speech

The four-star general who served as the country’s 26th defense secretary spoke Wednesday in Chicago to promote his new book, “Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead.”

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: ‘We’re Leaning Into Chicago’

The CEO of Uber is in town for a major expansion of its Chicago offices. We go one-on-one with him on that and explore issues facing the industry.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivers her first “State of the City” address on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (WTTW News)

Lightfoot Outlines $838M Budget Deficit in ‘State of the City’ Address

The number that had been kept under wraps for weeks is finally out in the open. “If it sounds like a large number, that’s because it is,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday during her first “State of the City” address.

Spotlight Politics: Joe Walsh Wages Primary Challenge Against Trump

A long shot presidential candidate from Illinois. Our politics team takes on the 2020 presidential election and more in our weekly roundtable.

(Ken Teegardin / Flickr)

Alderman: Budget Gap Could Be As High As $1.3 Billion

Just how big is the city’s budget deficit? And will Mayor Lori Lightfoot propose new taxes to close it? Lightfoot will likely spell out some of that in a much-anticipated “State of the City” address Thursday evening. Here’s a preview.

President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Greenville, N.C. on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

Federal Election Chair Sounds Alarm on 2020 Election

Federal authorities have repeatedly warned about foreign influence in U.S. elections, but a core federal agency that keeps watch on elections is suddenly without any enforcement ability. We speak with Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub.

Labor activists join some public officials downtown for a rally in support of raising the minimum wage in August 2019. (WTTW News)

Mayor, Labor Groups Push for $15 Minimum Wage by 2021

Chicago has seen its minimum wage steadily rise in the last several years, from a hourly rate of $8.25 in 2014 to $13 today. But labor activists and some public officials say it’s not nearly enough.

“The culture of sexual harassment exists in Springfield on both sides of the aisle,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, a day after a report on workplace culture in the Illinois House was released. (WTTW News)

Pritzker Upset With Harassment Report Findings, But Not With Madigan

More fallout from a report detailing a culture of harassment and abuse in the state capitol on Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s watch. But is the speaker getting a pass?

In this July 26, 2017 file photo, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan speaks at a news conference at the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois. (Justin Fowler / The State Journal-Register via AP, File)

Report Outlines Culture of Fear, Harassment on Speaker Madigan’s Watch

A long-awaited report on sexual harassment in the Illinois House outlines a culture of fear, intimidation and bullying under House Speaker Michael Madigan’s former chief of staff Tim Mapes.