Kim Foxx Sees Elimination of Cash Bail as Step Toward Equal Justice
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has pushed for the elimination of cash bail, calling it “a monumental milestone toward achieving equal justice.”
City Council Rejects Lawyers’ Recommendation to Pay $2M to Family of Man Killed by Chicago Police Officer After 2014 Foot Chase
The 22-26 vote represented a rare, if not unprecedented, decision by the City Council to reject a proposed settlement after it was endorsed by the Finance Committee and the mayor.
‘You’re Overpowered’: Former Northwestern Players Allege Culture of Hazing, Abuse in Football Program and Beyond
A group of 15 ex-Northwestern athletes represented by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump and Chicago-based colleagues say they plan to file suit against the university in the near future.
Chicago City Council Set to Consider Minimum Wage Hike for Tipped Workers, Expanded Paid Leave
Taken together, the two proposals are likely to form the foundation of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s agenda when it comes to labor. A former organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, Johnson enjoyed the unanimous support of Chicago’s progressive labor organizations.
July 18, 2023 - Full Show
The Illinois Supreme Court says eliminating cash bail is constitutional. The new leader at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition replacing the Rev. Jesse Jackson. And the team charged with finding Chicago’s next police superintendent.
New Leader of Rainbow PUSH Coalition Aims to Stand on the Shoulders of Rev. Jesse Jackson
The new president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition says he’s learned so much from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. that he’s basically a graduate of University of Jesse Jackson Sr. The Rev. Frederick Haynes III is only sort of kidding.
How a Group of Community Leaders Worked to Choose 3 Finalists for Chicago’s Next Police Superintendent
The three finalists for the city’s top cop were selected from a total of 54 applicants by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) after unprecedented community and police input. Here’s how they did it.
Illinois Supreme Court Upholds SAFE-T Act Provision Eliminating Cash Bail
In a 5-2 ruling, with Republican justices dissenting, the state's highest court found that the elimination of cash bail is constitutional and will take effect statewide beginning Sept. 18, overturning a lower court ruling that had put that implementation on hold and handing Gov. J.B. Pritzker a major victory.
Teen Summer Jobs a Public Safety Priority, Johnson Administration Says
Research shows a correlation between youth unemployment and crime. Mayor Brandon Johnson has made teen employment a public safety priority. He’s pledged to double the number of jobs in the city’s youth employment program.
These Young People Are Taking the Lead on Anti-Violence Efforts in Chicago
Gun deaths among U.S. youth rose 50% in just two years. Black children and teens were roughly five times as likely as their White counterparts to die from gunfire in 2021, according to the Pew Research Center.
July 17, 2023 - Full Show
The latest in our series WTTW News: A Safer City takes a look at simple ways to make public spaces safer. How some youth are leading anti-violence efforts. And teenagers and young adults on the importance of summer jobs.
‘Light in the Night’ Events Aim to Reclaim Safe Public Space for Chicagoans
Public safety isn’t just about addressing the root causes of crime or stopping people from picking up a gun. Sometimes, making a neighborhood safer is as simple as a water balloon or a bounce house.
Week in Review: Chicago Top Cop Finalists; Ethics Issues at City Hall
Northwestern athletics program reeling after firing of football and now baseball coach. The search for a new top cop is down to three finalists. And multiple tornadoes rock the area with more severe weather in the forecast.
Renault Robinson, Co-Founder of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League, Dies at 80
Renault Robinson, co-founder of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League who served in various roles under Mayor Jane Byrne and Mayor Harold Washington, died on July 8 at age 80.
July 13, 2023 - Full Show
The region cleans up after a night of multiple reported tornadoes. Chicago’s one step closer to having a new police chief. And the FDA approves the country’s first-ever over-the-counter birth control pill.