FAA Clears Boeing 737 Max to Fly Again

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In this Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, file photo, a Boeing 737 Max jet, piloted by Federal Aviation Administration Chief Steve Dickson, prepares to land at Boeing Field following a test flight in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced the move early Wednesday, saying it was done after a “comprehensive and methodical” 20-month review process.

Columnist Heidi Stevens Talks About Her COVID-19 Diagnosis

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Heidi Stevens appears on “Chicago Tonight” via Zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (WTTW News)

Heidi Stevens is a writer at the Chicago Tribune who taps into many of her own experiences for her “Balancing Act" column. But writing about her COVID-19 diagnosis — and an underlying heart condition — gave her pause.

Chicago Artist Explores Blackness as Both a Color and Identity in New Exhibit

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Chicago-based artist and architect Amanda Williams. (WTTW News)

We explore the latest exhibition from Amanda Williams which responds to the social media trend Blackout Tuesday, in which Instagram users posted black squares to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Aldermen Advance Measure to Cap Fees Charged by Delivery Companies at 15%

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(Photo by logan jeffrey on Unsplash)

Aldermen on Tuesday unanimously advanced a proposal backed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to cap fees charged by delivery services such as Postmates, Grubhub and UberEats at 15% in an effort to help struggling restaurants.

White House Chief of Staff: A Closer Look at This Critical Role

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(David Mark / Pixabay)

President-elect Joe Biden recently announced longtime confidant Ron Klain as his White House chief of staff. As the president’s gatekeeper and top assistant, Klain will play a crucial role in managing who has access to Biden.

Shedd Aquarium Closing Through End of 2020 as Coronavirus Surges

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(Shedd Aquarium / Facebook)

With the city and Cook County under stay-at-home advisories due to COVID 19, the Shedd Aquarium has decided to close its doors through the remainder of the year, targeting Jan. 2 for reopening, the aquarium announced.

Feds Pump Brakes on General Iron Permit Pending Fair Housing Investigation

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General Iron’s metal-shredding operation in Lincoln Park. (WTTW News)

General Iron’s parent company has applied for its final permit to operate its metal-shredding operation on the Southeast Side, but federal officials have asked the city to hold off on making a decision.

Aldermen Resist Lightfoot’s Plan to Hike Property Taxes, Imperiling Spending Plan

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(WTTW News)

Aldermen from across the political spectrum pressured Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s budget team on Tuesday to come up with a proposal to head off a $93.9 million property tax hike.

Campaign Launches to Flip Black Friday to ‘Black Shop Friday’ This Holiday Season

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Momentum Coffee and Coworking is among the first businesses announced for Black Shop Friday. (Momentum Coffee and Coworking / Facebook)

“Black Friday has been around for a long time, but what has been missing is the Blackness,” said the creators of the program, which encourages people to support Black-owned businesses in Chicago this holiday season.

November 17, 2020 - Full Show

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Watch the Nov. 17, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Theo Epstein Steps Down After 9 Seasons Leading Cubs

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In this Nov. 13, 2019, file photo, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein speaks at a media availability during the Major League Baseball general managers annual meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo / Matt York, File)

Theo Epstein, who transformed the long-suffering Chicago Cubs and helped bring home a drought-busting championship in 2016, is stepping down after nine seasons as the club’s president of baseball operations.

COVID-19 and the Courts: 5 Cook County Judges Test Positive This Month

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(Matt Masterson / Chicago Tonight)

Five Cook County Circuit Court judges and 37 more employees working under the office of Chief Judge Timothy Evans have tested positive for COVID-19 thus far this month.

For Some Restaurants, It’s Cheaper to Close Than to Remain Open

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Andersonville bar and restaurant Hopleaf (WTTW News)

It’s been a solid eight months since government leaders in Chicago and Illinois began asking residents to limit their activities due to the coronavirus. A new round of that took effect in the city on Monday.

What Joe Biden’s Transportation Agenda Could Mean For Chicago

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(WTTW News)

On the campaign trail, Joe Biden said he’d expand federal investment in America’s infrastructure and transportation systems, at a time when they desperately need it. But will Biden’s rhetoric turn into concrete action? 

Joe Walsh: ‘We Can’t Normalize’ President Trump’s Behavior

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President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. (WTTW News via CNN)

President Donald Trump has aggressively promoted misinformation and disinformation questioning the results of the election, which he lost. Former Illinois U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, a fierce Trump critic, weighs in.

Why COVID-19 Is Prompting a Mass Exodus of Women in the Workforce

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(Photo by Iris Wang on Unsplash)

Since February, nearly 2.2 million women have left the workforce, according to the National Women’s Law Center. What’s behind what some have dubbed the “she-cession” — and what are the long-term implications of the exodus?

Anti-Racist Health Care: Correcting Structural Racism in Medicine

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(Photo by CDC on Unsplash)

What health care institutions and practitioners can do to unwind the systemic racism that continues to affect health care outcomes in Black and Latino communities.

Ethics Board Finds Probable Cause Ald. Brookins Violated Ethics Ordinance

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In this file photo, Ald. Howard Brookins (22nd Ward) speaks at a Chicago City Council meeting. (WTTW News)

The board voted unanimously to find that there is probable cause to believe the 22nd Ward alderman violated the city’s ethics ordinance by defending clients in criminal cases involving the Chicago Police Department.

2nd Virus Vaccine Shows Overwhelming Success in US Tests

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In this July 27, 2020, file photo, nurse Kathe Olmstead prepares a shot that is part of a possible COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., in Binghamton, N.Y. (AP Photo / Hans Pennink, File)

A second experimental COVID-19 vaccine — this one from Moderna Inc. — yielded extraordinarily strong early results Monday, another badly needed dose of hope as the pandemic enters a terrible new phase.

Cap Fees Charged by Delivery Companies at 15%: Lightfoot

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(tommy pixel / Pixabay)

A proposal from Mayor Lori Lightfoot would cap fees charged by delivery services such as Postmates, Grubhub and UberEats at 15%. Fees can now reach 30% of an order, officials said.

Pritzker: Wear Masks, Stay Home to Help Health Care Workers Fight COVID-19

COVID-19 in Illinois: 11,632 New Cases, 37 Additional Deaths

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 during his daily COVID-19 briefing. (WTTW News)

With coronavirus infections and hospitalizations on the rise, officials are again urging residents to do their part in fighting the virus as health care workers face a COVID-19 crisis.

Progressive Budget Amendments Blocked as Budget Proposal Draws Criticism

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a virtual Chicago City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. (WTTW News via City of Chicago)

A trio of budget ordinances backed by progressive aldermen failed to advance Monday, as a fiscal watchdog warned that Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to borrow $15 million to avoid layoffs and refinance an additional $1.7 billion was potentially perilous.

Hate Crimes in US Reach Highest Level in More Than a Decade

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In this Oct. 10, 2019 file photo, El Paso Walmart shooting suspect Patrick Crusius pleads not guilty during his arraignment in El Paso, Texas. (Briana Sanchez / El Paso Times via AP, Pool, File)

Hate crimes in the U.S. rose to the highest level in more than a decade as federal officials also recorded the highest number of hate-motivated killings since the FBI began collecting that data in the early 1990s.

Crain’s Headlines: United Trial Could Create Travel Corridor

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(Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons)

United Airlines will conduct free, rapid COVID-19 tests on passengers and crew members on select flights between London and New York. Crain’s Chicago Business Editor Ann Dwyer has details.

More Than 2 Dozen Charged in Connection to Alleged West Side Drug Hotline, Operation

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(Thomas Hawk / Flickr)

The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois said federal law enforcement officers made two dozen undercover drug purchases from the defendants’ operation over a three-month span this summer.

November 16, 2020 - Full Show

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Watch the Nov. 16, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Take Home a Plant From Lincoln Park’s Canceled Holiday Flower Show

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(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

Hundreds of poinsettia plants were grown for the annual holiday flower show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, and they need homes now that the event has been canceled.

Obama Touts Presidential Center, Plans to ‘Beautify’ Jackson Park During ‘60 Minutes’ Interview

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Former President Barack Obama sat for a recent interview with “60 Minutes.” (60 Minutes / Facebook)

On the promotional trail for his new memoir “A Promised Land,” the former president sat down with “60 Minutes” for an interview that aired Sunday.

In-Person Visits Once Again Suspended at Cook County Jail

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Cook County Jail (WTTW News)

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office announced that beginning Monday, it will temporarily halt visits at the jail as Chicago and Cook County continue dealing with a second surge of COVID-19.

New Business Owners ‘Make it Work’ During Pandemic

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Bethany Barbouti, left, and Jackie MacCartie opened Eco & the Flamingo this year in Lincoln Square. (Courtesy of Barbouti)

Starting a business during a pandemic sounds like a gamble, but it’s one that some intrepid entrepreneurs are willing to take. How they have adjusted their plans — and are moving forward.

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Nov. 15, 2020 - Full Show

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What a new presidential administration could mean for communities of color. Making Black and Brown communities the focus of COVID-19 recovery. Extending the Red Line. A new life for Emmett Till’s home.

Poverty and the Pandemic: Helping Marginalized Communities Weather the Storm

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President-elect Joe Biden (WTTW News via CNN)

We speak with Audra Wilson, the head of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, on what the new Biden administration could mean for communities of color.