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(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. 

Holiday-proof your fitness with these 10 expert tips: Fitness expert Dana Santas is seen here demonstrating a mountain climber, a high-intensity activity that will get your heart pumping. (Courtesy Dana Santas)

Holiday-Proof Your Fitness With These 10 Expert Tips

With the right mindset, you can enjoy the season without sabotaging your well-being.

(AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin)

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for Children?

More than 5 million children ages 5 to 11 have gotten a first dose since early November, and government safety monitoring has not uncovered any surprise problems. 

Stress from endless lists and holiday events can negatively impact your children, but open communication can help. (Adobe Stock)

1 in 5 Parents Admit Their Stress Level Ruins the Holidays for Their Children, According to a New Poll

The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful.

(Arseny Togulev / Unsplash)

Reindeer Once Roamed Illinois. 10 Fun Facts About the Holidays’ Hoofed Heroes

For an animal immortalized in literature, song and film, the reindeer has done a remarkable job of, pardon the pun, flying under the radar.

(WTTW News graphic)

Bears, Officially Out of Playoff Contention, Prepare to Face Seahawks

Chicago fell to the Minnesota Vikings 17-9 on Monday Night Football, the team’s third straight loss.

A health worker administers a dose of a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at the Norristown Public Health Center in Norristown, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke, File)

US Sets Shorter COVID-19 Isolation Rules for Health Workers

Worried that a new COVID-19 wave could overwhelm understaffed U.S. hospitals, federal officials on Thursday loosened rules that call on health care workers to stay out of work for 10 days if they test positive.

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally protesting the electoral college certification of Joe Biden as President in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci, File)

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Block Release of Jan. 6 Records

Former President Donald Trump turned to the Supreme Court on Thursday in a last-ditch effort to keep documents away from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol led by his supporters.

The James Webb Space Telescope. (Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

NASA’ s James Webb Space Telescope Rolls Out for Christmas Launch

The highly anticipated launch of the James Webb Space Telescope has been delayed multiple times.

(WTTW News)

Illinois Sets New Single-Day Record of COVID-19 Cases

On the eve of Christmas Eve, state health officials reported nearly 19,000 new and probable cases of COVID-19 in a 24-hour period, breaking the record for highest single-day case count set just Wednesday.

This undated photo provided by Merck & Co. shows their new antiviral medication molnupiravir. U.S. regulators have authorized a second pill against COVID-19, an antiviral drug from Merck that may help blunt the wave of infections driven by the omicron variant. (Merck & Co. via AP, File)

US Adds Merck Pill as 2nd Easy-to-Use Drug Against COVID-19

The Food and Drug Administration announcement on Merck’s molnupiravir comes one day after the agency cleared a competing drug from Pfizer. 

December 23, 2021 - Full Show

The holidays can be tough to handle. Advice from mental health professionals. Previewing the Bears Seahawks matchup. And a Mexican Catholic tradition celebrated in Buena Park.

(WTTW News)

How to Deal With Grief, Stress During The Holidays

Holiday music, decorations and commercials say it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year. But not everyone experiences the holidays as merry and bright.

Light from the morning sun illuminates the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite, File)

High Court to Hold Special Session on Vaccine Requirements

The Supreme Court says it will hold a special session in just over two weeks to weigh challenges to two Biden administration policies covering vaccine requirements for millions of workers, policies that affect large employers and health care workers.

Individuals are issued a COVID-19 vaccination card when they’re vaccinated. (Kristen Thometz / WTTW News)

Suburban Cook County to Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

Citing rising COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, suburban Cook County officials announced Thursday patrons age 5 and up entering restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters, among other venues, will need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 starting Jan. 3.

Health officials warn that more people are expected to get infected with the omicron and delta coronavirus variants and they need to stay home and isolate themselves so they don't spread the virus to others. (David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

How Long Should You Isolate If You’re Fully Vaccinated But Have COVID-19? There is Some Debate

This debate comes as COVID-19 cases rise across the United States. As of Tuesday, the nation is averaging 139,764 new cases each day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University – up 16% from a week ago.

A bartender mixes a drink at the Chicago restaurant 14 Parish. (WTTW News)

Spotlight Politics: Chicago Issues Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Amid Surge

A look at the political and economic ramifications of the COVID-19 surge. Our politics team and guest reporters weigh in on that and more.

(WTTW News)

Local Business Owners React to Proof of Vaccination Requirement

While some business owners say requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination will limit spread of COVID-19, others worry about how it will impact their business – and how patrons will react.