The new regulations ban new dollar stores — defined as stores offering an assortment of goods, most advertised at less than $5 — from opening within one mile of another dollar store owned by the same company.
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City Council Votes 42-7 to Crack Down on New Dollar Stores in Chicago
Feb 21, 2024 | Heather Cherone
Brandon Johnson Proposes Borrowing $1.25B to Fund Economic Development, Affordable Housing Projects
Feb 21, 2024 | Heather Cherone
The proposal, now in the hands of the Chicago City Council, would phase out the city’s decades-long reliance on tax-increment financing districts and reshape the way Chicago uses its financial resources to spur redevelopment and eradicate blight.
Joe Biden Says Too Many Americans Are Saddled With School Debt as He Cancels Federal Loans for 153,000
Feb 21, 2024 | Associated Press
Joe Biden, who is in the midst of a three-day campaign swing through California, made the announcement as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster path to forgiveness, putting the spotlight on his debt cancellation efforts in his reelection campaign.
Chicago Bears Add Jennifer King as Their 1st Ever Female Assistant Coach
Feb 21, 2024 | Associated Press
Jennifer King became the first Black female in NFL history to serve as a primary position coach in 2021 with Washington.
2 Teens Facing Murder Charges in Shooting That Killed 1 Senn High School Student, Wounded 2 Others
Feb 21, 2024 | Matt Masterson
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Kashawn Perdue, 17, and a 14-year-old juvenile boy have both been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder following the Jan. 31 killing of Daveon Gibson.
Joe Biden and Democrats Build Cash Edge Over Donald Trump and GOP, and Other Campaign Finance Takeaways
Feb 21, 2024 | CNN
Biden’s campaign entered February with nearly $56 million cash reserves in his main campaign committee compared to a little more than $30 million in the coffers of Trump’s equivalent account.
Man Charged With Killing 7 People, Wounding Dozens More During Highland Park Parade Set to Stand Trial in February 2025
Feb 21, 2024 | Matt Masterson
Robert Crimo III had briefly been set to go to trial this week after he temporarily demanded to represent himself. But after he changed his mind, Judge Victoria Rossetti on Wednesday reset the initial Feb. 24, 2025 trial date.
Election Officials in the US Face Daunting Challenges in 2024. And Congress Isn’t Coming to Help
Feb 21, 2024 | Associated Press
Election officials face a long list of challenges this year, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs attacking computer systems and the persistence of election misinformation that has led to harassment of election officials and undermined public confidence.
Chicago Suing Oil, Gas Companies Over ‘Climate Deception’
Feb 21, 2024 | Matt Masterson
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court, against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell and their largest trade association, the American Petroleum Institute.
Feb. 20, 2024 - Full Show
Feb 20, 2024 | WTTW News
Two alderpeople weigh in on canceling the ShotSpotter contract. A preview of Pritzker’s budget address and what it means for Chicago. And sitting down with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.
City Council Members Weigh in on ShotSpotter Contract Extension, CPD Discipline System
Feb 20, 2024 | Andrea Guthmann
Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to push forward with the progressive policing strategies he promised during his campaign to prioritize. He announced the city will be phasing out its contract with ShotSpotter, the controversial gunshot detection technology.
White Sox Owner Meets With State Lawmakers as Team Seeks Public Funds for New Stadium
Feb 20, 2024 | Amanda Vinicky
The White Sox have played in Bridgeport for more than a century, but owner Jerry Reinsdorf and developer Related Midwest proposed building a new stadium in the South Loop as an anchor to a 62-acre site dubbed The 78.
With Federal Progress Slow, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Takes On Police Reform Case by Case
Feb 20, 2024 | Brandis Friedman
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is responsible for making household names out of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others.
Bald Eagles Confirmed Nesting in Will County. Eaglet Watch Is On
Feb 20, 2024 | Patty Wetli
All signs are pointing to another successful year of bald eagle mating in Will County.
She’s Not Quitting. Takeaways From Nikki Haley’s Push to Stay in the GOP Contest Against Donald Trump
Feb 20, 2024 | Associated Press
Ahead of a major speech on Tuesday, Haley told The Associated Press that she’s staying in the race no matter what at least until after another 20 states vote through Super Tuesday on March 5. That’s even as Donald Trump’s MAGA movement is furious that she’s refusing to drop out. After all, she’s the last major candidate standing in his path to the nomination.
UChicago Nurses Hold Strike Authorization Vote, Raise Concerns Over Understaffing and Patient Safety Issues
Feb 20, 2024 | Eunice Alpasan
National Nurses United represents 2,800 nurses at UChicago Medicine. A strike authorization vote is part of standard procedure, where represented nurses give the union the authority to call a strike.
Does It Sail or Sink? Exhibition on the Titanic Launches at Skokie Mall: Review
Feb 20, 2024 | Marc Vitali
The most famous ship in history is being remembered at the most famous shopping mall in Skokie. “Titanic: The Exhibition” just opened at Westfield Old Orchard.
Chicago Public Schools Set to Stop Using Resource Officers by Start of Next School Year, Resolution States
Feb 20, 2024 | Matt Masterson
A new resolution from the city’s Board of Education directs Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to enact a new whole school safety policy, which “must make explicit that the use of SROs within District schools will end by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.”
Migrant Spending, Education Funding and a Projected Shortfall Among Issues Facing Gov. J.B. Pritzker Ahead of Budget Address
Feb 20, 2024 | Amanda Vinicky
If Illinois continues spending next fiscal year as it has been this year, the state will face an $891 million deficit. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to spell out exactly how he plans to address that on Wednesday, when he delivers an annual combined state of the state and budget address.
3 People Killed by Gunfire, 2 Young Boys Wounded in Holiday Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police
Feb 20, 2024 | Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 19 people were injured or killed in 16 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Feb. 19, 2024 - Full Show
Feb 19, 2024 | WTTW News
FIRSTHAND: Homeless — a WTTW News special. Voters weigh a plan to hike taxes on sales of million-dollar homes to help fight homelessness. And efforts to help people who shelter on the CTA.
With Ballot Decision Looming, Chicago Homeless Advocates Push for Support and Funding
Feb 19, 2024 | Andrea Guthmann
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimates more than 68,000 people in Chicago are experiencing homelessness. That higher number includes people who are doubled up, or temporarily living in someone else’s home.
Cook County Funds Purchase of Two Hotels in Effort to Provide Stable Housing, Necessary Supports
Feb 19, 2024 | Medill School of Journalism
The hotels were originally used as temporary solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing advocates said the hotels are turning out to be significantly more effective than a traditional shelter approach.
Joffrey Ballet Soars in Bravura Study of the Human Condition: Review
Feb 19, 2024 | Hedy Weiss
The Joffrey Ballet demonstrated both the technical brilliance and emotional boldness of its dancers as the company opened its 2024 season on the Lyric Opera House stage with “Studies in Blue,” a fascinating program of three modern ballets.
Southern Illinois Home of Paul Powell, the ‘Shoebox Scandal’ Politician, Could Soon Be Sold
Feb 19, 2024 | Associated Press
For more than half a century, a Powell-established $250,000 trust sustained his legacy, for better or worse. But the account that maintained his birthplace as a museum will soon run dry. The fate of the home in Vienna, a town of 1,300 about 140 miles southeast of St. Louis, is uncertain.
Early Voting Downtown to Resume Wednesday After Judicial Candidate Removed From Ballot
Feb 19, 2024 | Eunice Alpasan
The Chicago Board of Elections offices on the sixth floor of 69 W. Washington St. and its Loop Supersite at 191 N. Clark St. will reopen for early voting on Wednesday at 9 a.m.