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Vivian Maier, was a North Shore nanny who quietly pursued another endeavor – in her spare time she took extraordinary photographs. (Courtesy The Vivian Maier Estate and the Maloof Collection)

New Book Reveals Secrets of the Chicago Nanny Who Was a World-Class Photographer

There has always been an air of mystery surrounding the life of Vivian Maier. Maier, was a North Shore nanny who quietly pursued another endeavor – in her spare time she took extraordinary photographs. Author Ann Marks joins us.

Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced Tuesday that his office — which covers the courts and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center — will impose COVID vaccine mandates.  (WTTW News)

Cook County Chief Judge Will Now Impose Vaccine Mandate for Employees

Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced Tuesday that his office — which covers the courts and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center — will impose COVID vaccine mandates. This after the Chief Judge was criticized for previously not mandating the vaccine for all employees.

Kim DiPofi, daughter of the owner of Pompei, a family owned Italian restaurant located on the city’s Near West Side says she is concerned about staff as well as customers coming into the restaurant. (WTTW News)

Chicago Restaurant Owners Ask for More Time Before Requiring Proof of Vaccines

Some Chicago restaurant owners are asking for more time before the city’s proof of vaccine requirement takes effect at local restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues Jan. 3. A coalition of about 30 restaurants is saying there hasn’t been enough time to adjust operations amid the holidays.

The New York Stock Exchange operates during normal business hours in the Financial District, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo / John Minchillo, File)

Stocks End Mixed, Breaking 4-Day Winning Streak for S&P 500

Stock indexes are mixed on Wall Street in afternoon trading Tuesday, placing the market within striking distance of another record high as investors close out their positions for 2021.

Frame Chicago shows us how they’re pushing the envelope in how collectors preserve their art.  (WTTW News)

Local Business Highlights Chicago Art Scene Through Custom Framing

For the last 40 years, a family business has been committed to preserving Chicago’s art scene, whether it be through engraving pieces or framing them. Now they’ve taken a turn in how they’re enhancing artwork through a custom framing process.

Students at Chicago Public Schools walk along a hallway in this file photo. (WTTW News)

CPS ‘Strongly’ Encouraging Students, Staff to Get COVID Test Before Coming Back to Class Next Week

“By getting tested before returning from break, we can have a successful and healthy start to the new year,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said in a statement.

People wait in a long line to get tested for COVID-19 in Times Square, New York, Dec. 20, 2021. (AP Photo / Seth Wenig, file)

US Move to Shorten COVID-19 Isolation Stirs Confusion, Doubt

The guidance has raised questions about how it was crafted and why it was changed now, in the middle of another wintertime spike in cases, this one driven largely by the highly contagious omicron variant.

(Pexels / Madison Inouye)

Chicago Sets New Mark For Latest First Snowfall of Season

The National Weather Service on Tuesday said that as of 12:10 p.m., one-tenth of an inch of snow had been recorded at O’Hare Airport — Chicago’s official weather site — making the first measurable snowfall in 287 days.

People attend the Women's March ATX rally, Saturday, Oct., 2, 2021, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman, File)

State Legislatures in US Poised to Act on Abortion Rights

State legislatures across the country will be responding to the possibility of seismic change to the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion across the U.S.

A local woman sees a new image of her father through his long-lost street photography. (Courtesy Joan Tortorici Ruppert)

Local Woman Reconnects With Departed Father Through Rediscovered Photos

Local television producer and writer Joan Tortorici Ruppert lost her father as a young child. But through a collection of rediscovered photo negatives, she’s getting to know who he was before he was her father and getting a glimpse into Chicago history too. 

(WTTW News)

December 27, 2021 - Full Show

Spiking omicron cases and major headaches with air travel. The region approaches a record snow drought. A halt on student debt payments. And remembering the late Lincoln Park Zoo chief Lester Fisher.

Students walk on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pa., Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Pause on Student Loan Payments is Extended Through May 1

President Joe Biden said financial recovery from the pandemic will take longer than job recovery, especially for those with student loans.

(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Wintry Forecast Puts Quest for Snow-Free Record in Jeopardy

The National Weather Service is forecasting a "burst of wet snow" on Tuesday and a chance of light snow on Wednesday, which could bring Chicago's snow-free streak to an end.

Travelers queue up at the Southwest Airlines curbside check-in area at Denver International Airport Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Denver. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights Sunday, citing staffing problems tied to COVID-19 to extend the nation's travel problems beyond Christmas. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Flight Cancellations Continue Due to Bad Weather, Sick Crews

Flight cancellations that disrupted holiday travel stretched into Monday, with major U.S. airlines each canceling dozens of flights.

A face mask hangs from a decorated Christmas tree. (Skitterphoto / Pixabay)

‘Delta and Omicron Are Coming to Your Party’: Officials Plead With Illinoisans To Get Vaccinated, Mask Up

With cases of COVID-19 skyrocketing and hospitalizations surging in Illinois, officials are pleading with unvaccinated residents to change their minds about receiving shots.

 Jake Siswick, the show’s 13-year-old star - and an actor-dancer of impressive skill and a remarkably natural stage presence - was able to grab the audience’s heart from start to finish. (Credit: Brett Beiner)

While Plagued by Sound Problems, Dance Became the Most Audible Element in Music Theater Works’ ‘Billy Elliot’

From almost the very first note it was apparent that something was very wrong with the sound system and miking, and much of the dialogue and singing, all along the way, was either inaudible or garbled. In fact, the only clear sound came from the orchestra, seated in the pit and led by Michael McBride.

(Heiko Stein / Pixabay)

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Will Be Chicago’s Largest Ever. Is That a Good Idea?

Chicago will ring in 2022 with a 1.5-mile-long fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, the largest in the city’s history, officials announced.

(WTTW News)

3 Killed, 19 Shot Over Christmas Weekend in Chicago: Police

According to the Chicago Police Department, there were 16 shootings across the city between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Travelers walk through Terminal A at Orlando International Airport on Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Hundreds More Flights Canceled Because of Staff Shortages

More than 700 flights entering, leaving or flying within the U.S. were called off, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. That figure was down from nearly 1,000 on Saturday. More than 50 flights were already canceled for Monday.

This image provided by Pfizer in October 2021 shows the company’s COVID-19 Paxlovid pills. Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home. But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear. (Pfizer via AP)

EXPLAINER: New Easy-to-Use COVID-19 Pills Come With a Catch

U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir last week. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chances of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer’s was much more effective.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu addresses new University of Oklahoma graduates, at a ceremony at the university after he received a honorary degree, Tuesday April 25, 2000 in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo / J. Pat Carter, File)

Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Winner, Dies at 90

The buoyant, blunt-spoken clergyman used his pulpit as the first Black bishop of Johannesburg and later the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town as well as frequent public demonstrations to galvanize public opinion against racial inequity, both at home and globally.

Wanda Olson poses for a photo, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, in Villa Rica, Ga. When Olson’s son-in-law died in March after contracting COVID-19, she and her daughter had to grapple with more than just their sudden grief. They had to come up with money for a cremation. Even without a funeral, the bill came to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson initially covered. (AP Photo / Mike Stewart)

Federal Program Offers Cash to Cover COVID-19 Funeral Costs

As of Dec. 6, about 226,000 people had shared in the nearly $1.5 billion that FEMA has spent on COVID-19 related funeral costs. With the nation’s coronavirus death toll topping 800,000, it’s clear that many families who are eligible for reimbursement have yet to take advantage of the funeral benefit.

(Freestocks / Unsplash)

Here’s What You Can and Can’t Recycle When It Comes to Holiday Waste

Did you know wrapping paper isn’t recyclable in Chicago? Read on for more tips on how to deal with post-holiday waste.

Spreading goodwill doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money -- or any at all. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)

No Money? No Problem. Here Are 4 Ways to Give Back Without Opening Your Wallet

It’s the season of giving! Even if you are low on funds, you can still make an impact. Here are four ways you can spread goodwill during the holidays without spending a dime.

American poet Amanda Gorman reads her commissioned poem “The Hill We Climb” during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky, Pool, File)

2021 in Books: ‘Everything Feels Magnified’

Books and authors mattered in 2021, sometimes more than the industry wanted.

People attend Easter Sunday mass while adhering to social distancing guidelines at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on April 4. (Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images)

How Safe Is It to Attend Holiday Religious Services as the Omicron Variant Spreads? Experts Weigh in

For many places of worship, it’s business as usual. But some churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship have been offering virtual or outdoor services, and will be doing so for holiday events.