The state’s two main fiscal forecasting agencies agree: Illinois’ finances will see a strong close in the final 3 ½ months of the fiscal year before things tighten a bit next year.
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With Recession Fears Subsiding, New State Economic Forecast Expects ‘Firm but Steady Growth’
Mar 13, 2024 | Jerry Nowicki — Capitol News Illinois
Biden and Trump Clinch Nominations, Setting the Stage for a Grueling General Election Rematch
Mar 13, 2024 | Associated Press
There is no longer any doubt that the fall election will feature a rematch between two flawed and unpopular presidents. At 81, Biden is already the oldest president in U.S. history, while the 77-year-old Trump is facing decades in prison as a defendant in four criminal cases.
House GOP Launches New Probe of Jan. 6, Tries Shifting Blame for Capitol Attack Away From Trump
Mar 13, 2024 | Associated Press
The panel’s work comes as former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are galloping toward a 2020 rematch this fall. Republicans, some once skeptical of Trump’s return to the White House, have quickly been falling in line to support him.
Chicago Architect John Ronan Selected to Design First National Memorial in D.C. Dedicated to Fallen Journalists
Mar 13, 2024 | Eunice Alpasan
"The role of the journalist has never been more important, and the ideals of a free press never more consequential than it is today," architect John Ronan said.
15-Year-Old Girl Among 5 People Killed Overnight in Shootings Across Chicago: Police
Mar 13, 2024 | Matt Masterson
The homicides all occurred within a matter of hours between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Chicago Police Department.
March 12, 2024 - Full Show
Mar 12, 2024 | WTTW News
Chicago’s whopping overtime bill. Are chronic pain sufferers the latest victims of the opioid crisis? And the race for Cook County state’s attorney heats up.
Chronic Pain Patients Suffer From Opioid Epidemic Overcorrection
Mar 12, 2024 | DePaul’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence
According to the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program, both the number of opioid prescriptions written and the number of patients served dropped by almost half since 2015.
Chicago Spent $524M on Overtime in 2023, Including $293M for Police, Setting New Records
Mar 12, 2024 | Heather Cherone
The Chicago Police Department spent $293 million on overtime last year, 40% more than in 2022 and nearly three times the $100 million earmarked for police overtime set by the Chicago City Council as part of the city’s 2023 budget, according to data obtained by WTTW News.
Many Illinois Companies Will Soon Be Required to List Pay Scales, Benefits in Job Postings
Mar 12, 2024 | Amanda Vinicky
Illinois has laws to protect against gender discrimination in pay, but it can be difficult for workers to know whether there’s a pay discrepancy. That may be easier to figure out starting next year.
Illinois DCFS, Other State Agencies to Hold Job Fair Thursday at UIC
Mar 12, 2024 | Eunice Alpasan
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and several other state agencies are holding a job fair Thursday at the UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work.
The Cicadas Are Coming, Do Your Trees Need Protecting? Experts Weigh In
Mar 12, 2024 | Patty Wetli
Young trees could be vulnerable to damage from the emergence of millions of periodical cicadas in Illinois this spring. Here are tips on how to protect your trees.
With 3 More Cases of Measles Confirmed in Pilsen Shelter, Total Rises to 7 as CDC Team Arrives in Chicago
Mar 12, 2024 | Heather Cherone
City health officials did not immediately identify whether the latest people to contract measles are children or adults, nor did they disclose their condition, as they have with all other cases of measles.
Friends of the Parks to the Chicago Bears: Play Ball With Stakeholders on New Stadium Plans
Mar 12, 2024 | Patty Wetli
The parks advocacy group said it isn’t chasing the Bears out of Chicago, but wants an “open, clear and free discourse driven by the public instead of private interests.”
Howard Brown Health Hit With Complaint From National Labor Board
Mar 12, 2024 | Blair Paddock
The move comes seven months after the NLRB found merit or partial merit in the Howard Brown Health Works United’s allegations. This complaint reiterates those allegations, including declaring an impasse and refusing to bargain over layoffs.
Cook County Board Set to Approve $17M Settlement With Jackie Wilson, Who Spent Decades Behind Bars Following Wrongful Murder Conviction
Mar 12, 2024 | Matt Masterson
The Cook County Board of Commissioners will vote on the proposed settlement with Jackie Wilson, who was convicted of the 1982 killings of Chicago police Officers William Fahey and Richard O’Brien, based largely on a false confession he said he gave after he was repeatedly beaten and electroshocked.
Airport Nasal Swabbing Expanding to Chicago and Miami
Mar 12, 2024 | Associated Press
The CDC program asks arriving international passengers to volunteer to have their noses swabbed and answer questions about their travel. The program began in 2021 and has been credited with detecting coronavirus variants faster than other systems.
CTA Continues to Rely on Bus and Train Operator Overtime — But Fails to Provide Detailed Information Within Required Time Frame
Mar 12, 2024 | Nick Blumberg
Illegally delayed responses are a chronic problem with the CTA’s FOIA office. Other news organizations and advocacy groups have also dinged the agency for its FOIA transparency failures. Despite not sending information on operator working hours as required, available information indicates the CTA continues to rely on overtime.
Families of Homicide Victims in Chicago Await Closure Amid Low Clearance Rates
Mar 12, 2024 | Joanna Hernandez
As homicide cases in Chicago remain open, the families of victims are left to cope with the trauma.
Chicago Community Groups Look to Build Support Systems as Part of Violence Reduction Efforts
Mar 11, 2024 | Emily Soto
Local organizations are focusing on those areas in an effort to work directly with those most impacted in an effort to stop cycles of violence
March 11, 2024 - Full Show
Mar 11, 2024 | WTTW News
A WTTW News Safer City special: Why Chicago sees more homicides than other major cities. And the local organizations working to prevent that crime in their communities.
As Homicides Drop Nationwide, Chicago Lags Behind Other Major Cities. Why?
Mar 11, 2024 | Andrea Guthmann
Crime overall is falling nationwide. But when it comes to homicides, Chicago’s numbers are not declining as quickly as the two largest cities in the nation — New York and Los Angeles.
2 More Cases of Measles Confirmed in Pilsen Shelter, Bringing Total to 4: Chicago Health Officials
Mar 11, 2024 | Heather Cherone
Since the first confirmed case of measles was diagnosed in a shelter resident on Friday, approximately 900 residents have been vaccinated, officials said.
Real Estate Groups Ask Illinois Supreme Court to Invalidate Ballot Measure That Would Hike Taxes on Sales of Million-Dollar Properties
Mar 11, 2024 | Heather Cherone
A coalition of the real estate and development groups asked the Illinois Supreme Court to reverse an appellate court ruling that overturned a decision by Cook County Judge Kathleen Burke that blocked the Chicago Board of Elections from counting votes for and against the proposal, known as Bring Chicago Home.
3 Children and 2 Adults Die After School Bus Collides With Semi in Western Illinois, Authorities Say
Mar 11, 2024 | Associated Press
Five people, including three children, were killed in western Illinois when a school bus and semitruck collided on a highway Monday, authorities said.
With 2 Vacant Seats, Ethics Board Cancels Meeting, Leaving Case Against Conyears-Ervin in Limbo Before Election
Mar 11, 2024 | Heather Cherone
The cancelation of the meeting leaves the pending probe against City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin up in the air, four months after the Ethics Board ratified the determination that she fired two city employees after they warned her she was violating the city’s government ethics ordinance by using city resources to host a prayer service.
The Solar Eclipse Is a Month Away, But the Time to Get Your Viewing Glasses — and Smartphone Filters — Is NOW
Mar 11, 2024 | Patty Wetli
If you've been sleeping on the North American total solar eclipse of 2024, it's time to start paying attention. The big event — on April 8 — is fast approaching and folks who haven't prepared could find themselves left out in the dark.