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Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company returned to the Auditorium Theatre Feb. 5, 2022, for a dynamic and thunderous performance. (Courtesy of Chelsea Hoy)

Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company in High-Stepping Form at Auditorium Theatre

Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company returned to the stage of the Auditorium Theatre for the first time since the pandemic drove it away two years ago for a thunderous performance.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Man Charged in String of Burglaries at Shops, Stores and High-End Retailer

Tacarre Harper, 27, has been charged with nine separate counts of burglary from incidents stemming between November 2021 and January 2022.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Standing with McConnell is Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., left, and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., right. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)

McConnell Rebukes RNC, Calls Jan. 6 ‘Violent Insurrection’

“It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next,” McConnell said Tuesday. 

People wearing masks line up for a food drive in Brighton Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side on April 23, 2020. (WTTW News)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker Says He Will Announce Update on Mask Mandate ‘Very Soon’

“I’m the first person who wants to make sure we’re removing mitigations when we can keep people safe and healthy,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at an unrelated press event Tuesday afternoon. 

President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Washington. The Biden administration is kicking off an outreach campaign to get millions of families to file their taxes — so that they can receive the second half of payments from the expanded child tax credit. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)

White House: File Your Taxes to Get Full Child Tax Credit

White House officials are hosting a virtual event Tuesday to encourage people to send their tax forms to the IRS, including those whose incomes are so low that they might not have traditionally filed.

Chicago banker Stephen Calk, left, leaves federal court in New York, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo / Richard Drew, File)

Chicago Banker Gets 1-Year Sentence in Manafort Loan Scheme

Stephen Calk was sentenced on Monday to a year in prison for his conviction in a scheme to make $16 million in loans to Paul Manafort to gain influence in the Trump administration.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 at a press conference. (WTTW News)

J.B. Pritzker: Order Halting School Mask Mandate ‘Cultivates Chaos’

“Judge Raylene Grischow’s ruling is out of step with the vast majority of legal analysis in Illinois and across the nation,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday at an unrelated press event in Chicago.

(WTTW News)

February 7, 2022 - Full Show

Confusion at local schools following a recent court ruling on the statewide mask mandate. Plus, a political scion goes on trial, U. of C. is set to build a giant new cancer center, and the NFL faces explosive charges of discrimination.

(WTTW News)

University of Chicago Medicine Plans $633 Million Cancer Center

University of Chicago Medicine has proposed building a $633 million cancer center in hopes of addressing health inequities on the South Side, while also easing some of the medical center’s capacity constraints.

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores discusses his recent lawsuit against the team and the NFL. (CNN)

NFL Facing Explosive Allegations of Racial Discrimination, Corruption

The NFL is facing explosive allegations of racial discrimination and corruption made in a class action lawsuit filed by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores — who was recently fired by the team.

Midway Airport (WTTW News)

Crain’s Headlines: What Low-Fare Airline Merger Means for Chicago’s Airports

Low-fare airlines Spirit and Frontier announce a multi-billion-dollar merger; the controversy over the Miami Dolphins may have an impact on the race for Chicago's casino; and three multi-million-dollar homes are now off the market for those searching for local luxury homes.

(WTTW News)

Keeping Health Care Workers Safe Amid Spike in Threats, Violence

The American Medical Association notes as many as 38% of health care workers face violence during their careers and that those in the field were 50% more likely to be harassed, threatened, or hurt during the COVID pandemic.

A file photo shows Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11th Ward) at a Chicago City Council hearing on April 12, 2016. (WTTW News)

Jury Picked to Decide Whether Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson Failed to Pay Taxes, Lied to Feds

Eight men and four women were selected Monday to serve on the federal jury that will decide whether 11th Ward Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson lied to federal bank regulators and filed false tax returns.

In this photo March 22, 2013, photo, the exterior of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh, File)

IRS to End Use of Facial Recognition to Identify Taxpayers

The agency said it would no longer use a third-party service, called ID.me, for facial recognition. Critics of the software said the database could become a target for cyberthreats. 

(WTTW News)

Mayor Lightfoot Suggests Correlation Between Remote Learning And Rise in Chicago Carjackings

“Having talked to state’s attorneys who were dealing with these cases in juvenile court, and others, a lot of parents went to work during the day thinking their teenagers were logged on for remote learning, only to find something else,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

Supplies are shown on a desk at Safer Inside, a realistic model of a safe injection site in San Francisco, Aug. 29, 2018. (AP Photo / Eric Risberg, File)

Justice Department Signals it May Allow Safe Injection Sites

A year after winning a major court battle against the opening of so-called safe injection sites — safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics with protections against fatal overdoses — the Justice Department is signaling it might be open to allowing them.

(WTTW News)

White House Officials Mull Over Life After COVID-19 Pandemic, But There’s Still No Clear Plan

The White House has told CNN that federal officials are “thinking about” what comes next, after the United States transitions out of the current COVID-19 emergency and into a greater state of normalcy – but officials still have not released a plan for that transition.

(Valelopardo / Pixabay)

Study of CBD’s Effectiveness in Preventing COVID-19 Has Researchers Calling for Clinical Trial

A new study has found cannabidiol or CBD can block COVID-19 infection in human cells and mice, but don’t rush out and buy products from your local dispensary. Here’s what you need to know about the study and where things stand with COVID-19 treatments.  

This undated file photo provided by the Illinois Department of Corrections shows former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson. (Illinois Department of Corrections via AP, File)

Hearing Delayed on Ex-Cop’s Bid to Toss Murder Conviction

A judge on Monday delayed for three months a hearing on former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson’s request to toss out his murder conviction in the killing of his third wife after his attorney said he needed more time. 

(WTTW News)

Former State Rep. Luis Arroyo Deserves More Than 4 Years in Prison for ‘Blatant Cash Grab,’ Feds Tell Judge

Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo’s conduct was a “blatant cash grab,” Assistant U.S. Attorney James Durkin told U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger, asking that Arroyo spend between 46 to 57 months behind bars.

“Women of Soul” runs through March 6 at Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport. (Courtesy of Brett Beiner)

A Rip-Roaring Homage to “Women of Soul” at Mercury Theater Chicago

“Women of Soul,” which runs through March 6 at Mercury Theater Chicago, is a powerhouse revue featuring a long list of decades-spanning singers. 

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan gives an update about the ongoing talks with Russia at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)

Top Biden Aide Says Ukraine Invasion Could Come ‘Any Day’

The senior adviser to President Joe Biden offered another stark warning the day after U.S. officials confirmed that Russia has assembled at least 70% of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a rally in support of home care workers in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (AP Photo / Seth Wenig, File)

Donald Trump’s Tirade on ‘Racist’ District Attorneys Echoes Other Racist Tropes

The diatribe left the clear impression that Donald Trump, who rode the politics of white grievance into the White House, thinks he can’t possibly be treated fairly by Black officials. The comments carry the echoes of racist messages that have proliferated in recent years

(WTTW News)

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Feb 5, 2022 - Full Show

State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on vacating convictions and her relationship with the mayor’s office. Remembering the barrier-breaking 1963 Loyola men’s basketball team. And kicking off Black History Month.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joins “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices”  via Zoom Feb. 4, 2022. (WTTW News)

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx Talks Crime Stats, Jason Van Dyke and Wrongful Convictions in One-on-One Interview

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joined “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” to talk about everything from how to tackle crime in Chicago, the controversial release of former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke and her push to address wrongful convictions.

(Courtesy O'Malley Creadon Productions)

New Film Tells Story of 1963 Loyola Men’s Basketball Team

Chicago went wild when the Loyola Ramblers played in the final four of the NCAA tournament in 2018. It was the first time the men’s basketball team made it that far since 1963 when the Ramblers won the school’s only championship title and broke racial barriers while doing so.  But the '63 season was groundbreaking for many reasons, as shown in the new documentary "The Loyola Project."