Biden Boosted by Senate Rules as GOP Bucks Infrastructure
With an appeal to think big, President Joe Biden is promoting his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan directly to Americans, summoning public support to push past the Republicans lining up against the massive effort they sum up as big taxes, big spending and big government.
Waste Management Out of Blue Cart Recycling Program, City Awards New Contract to Lakeshore Recycling
The Department of Streets and Sanitation is turning a page on its beleaguered Blue Cart recycling program, issuing the first new collection contract in nearly a decade. Recycling advocates are cautiously optimistic about the change.
Team Overhauling Former Michael Reese Site Aims for Community Connections
The Chicago Plan Commission approved a $3.8 billion effort earlier this year to overhaul the former Michael Reese Hospital site in Bronzeville, just west of the lakefront on 31st Street. The team behind the development is thinking big and working toward community buy-in.
As Vaccine Eligibility Expands In Illinois, Equity Hurdles Remain
In recent months, the percentage of Black and Latino Chicagoans who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine has increased significantly, in part through the city’s priority zip code program. But hurdles remain in getting shots to every community, especially as COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise.
Federal Funds Seen as Key to Reviving Public Transit
The coronavirus pandemic and mitigation measures to control it have led to a huge drop in ridership on public transit. As more and more people get vaccinated and the economy reopens, are riders going to come back?
Chicago Agency to Release Video of Teen’s Shooting by Police
The agency that investigates Chicago police shootings will release body camera video of an officer fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy, first to the boy’s family and then to the public, an official said Friday.
With the Swipe of a Pen, Pritzker Deals Another Blow to Lightfoot
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law that gives a subset of Chicago firefighters the same retirement package as their peers, saying it will “result in a deeper financial burden to the taxpayers of Chicago.” Days earlier, he signed another law Lightfoot had pressured him to reject.
Immersive Show ‘Into the Mist’ Transports Audiences to 1920s
Tired of livestreams that lacked variety, Evanston artist Steve Rashid wanted to offer a more immersive experience. With the help of his sons and their network of artists from around the country, he created “Into the Mist.” We get a peek at the virtual show that’s unlike any other.
Equity, Privacy Concerns Among Considerations for Vaccine Passports
As COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expands, a growing number of companies say they will require proof of vaccination before opening their doors. We weigh the legal and ethical concerns surrounding vaccine passports as the country looks to reopen.
New COVID-19 Wave Could Threaten Tourism Comeback
The CDC says fully vaccinated people can now travel safely, but what does a new COVID-19 surge mean for the summer vacation season?
Bill Awaiting Pritzker’s Signature Declares Violence a Public Health Crisis
It’s been a violent start to 2021 in Chicago, which has recorded 131 homicides in the first three months of the year. Now, a measure sitting on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk declares violence a public health crisis and takes aim at racial inequities in the state’s health care system.
Crain’s Headlines: United Airlines Lands in Georgia Voting Law Debate
Chicago-based United Airlines takes a stand against the Georgia voting law. Crain’s Chicago Business editor Ann Dwyer takes us behind the headline of that story and more.
April 5, 2021 - Full Show
The governor signs bills impacting Chicago teachers and firefighters. The latest on the police shooting of a 13-year-old boy. The debate over vaccine passports. New travel guidelines from the CDC.
Loyola Ramblers’ 1963 NCAA Win Also a Story of Racial Justice
Loyola University Chicago’s NCAA run has put the Ramblers in the national spotlight once again. We remember the 1963 championship team.
New Burns and Novick Documentary Explores the Life of Ernest Hemingway
The life of the Oak Park native is the subject of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s newest PBS documentary. The six-hour, three-part series explores the writer’s complex life behind the carefully cultivated public image as well as his influence on generations of writers who followed him.