Rapper Juice WRLD, who launched his career on SoundCloud before becoming a streaming juggernaut and rose to the top of the charts with the Sting-sampled hit “Lucid Dreams,” died early Sunday after a “medical emergency” at Chicago’s Midway International Airport.
Chicago Chief’s Firing Again Rattles Confidence in Force
The unceremonious firing of Chicago’s police chief just weeks before his retirement has rattled a department that, under his leadership, was seeking to restore public confidence.
Sesame Street Puppeteer Caroll Spinney Dies at Age 85
Dec 9, 2019 |
Caroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died Sunday at the age of 85 at his home in Connecticut, according to the Sesame Workshop.
Judiciary Hearing Sets Stage for Trump Impeachment Charges
Dec 9, 2019 |
Pushing ahead with articles of impeachment, the House Judiciary Committee convenes Monday to formally receive the investigative findings against President Donald Trump. Watch live.
For Banks, Data on Your Spending Habits Could be a Gold Mine
Dec 7, 2019 |
There’s a powerful new player watching what you buy so it can tailor product offerings for you: the bank behind your credit or debit card.
Patriotism Is the Theme of Christmas at the White House
Dec 7, 2019 |
“It is with great joy that our family welcomes you to the White House this holiday season as we celebrate the Spirit of America,” President Donald Trump, the first lady and their son, Barron, say in the signed introduction to a souvenir book visitors will receive as a holiday keepsake.
The Week in Review: Eddie Johnson Out
Dec 6, 2019 |
Mayor Lori Lightfoot fires top cop Eddie Johnson weeks before his retirement. Are the feds eyeing House Speaker Michael Madigan? Legal pot hits a roadblock. And Mitchell Trubisky shines in a Bears win over Dallas.
Andrew Bird Takes Flight in 2001 – A Deep Dive into the WTTW Archives
Dec 6, 2019 |
On Sept. 5, 2001, indie rock songwriter Andrew Bird invited WTTW into his Wicker Park home for a raw rehearsal with his band Bowl of Fire. As Bird prepares for a run of sold-out shows in Chicago, we revisit this archival footage.
Report Reveals Stark Racial Disparities in Maternal Deaths in Chicago
Dec 6, 2019 |
Each year, an average of 19 women in Chicago die within 12 months of pregnancy, according to a new report that identifies racial and socioeconomic disparities in mortality rates. “This is wake-up call to all of us and a call to action,” said a local health official.
Officials List Pot Vape Brands Reported in US Outbreak
Dec 6, 2019 |
Health officials investigating a nationwide outbreak of vaping illnesses have listed, for the first time, the vape brands most commonly linked to hospitalizations.
US Flu Season Arrives Early, Driven by an Unexpected Virus
Dec 6, 2019 |
The U.S. winter flu season is off to its earliest start in more than 15 years, and there’s a decent chance it could peak much earlier than normal, health officials say.
Uber Reports More Than 3,000 Sexual Assaults on 2018 Rides
Dec 6, 2019 |
As part of a long anticipated safety report, the ride-hailing company revealed that more than 3,000 sexual assaults were reported during its U.S. rides in 2018.
Brendt Christensen Moved to Kentucky Prison to Serve Out Life Sentence
Dec 6, 2019 |
In June, Brendt Christensen was convicted of kidnapping and killing University of Illinois Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang. This week, he was sent to McCreary United States Penitentiary, a high-security federal prison that houses some 1,500 convicts in southern Kentucky.
R. Kelly Charged with Paying Bribe Before Marrying Aaliyah
Dec 6, 2019 |
Federal prosecutors are accusing singer R. Kelly of scheming with others to pay for a fake ID for an unnamed female a day before he married R&B singer Aaliyah, then 15 years old, in a secret ceremony in 1994.
Mitchell Trubisky Helps Bears Beat Cowboys 31-24
Dec 6, 2019 |
In a matchup between disappointing teams that made the playoffs last season, the Bears (7-6) came away with their fourth win in five games after dropping four in a row. The Cowboys (6-7) have lost seven of 10 since a 3-0 start.
Inside Odd Obsession: Chicago’s Volunteer-Run Video Library
Dec 5, 2019 |
Remember the days when watching a movie at home required a trip to the video rental store? Blockbuster is long gone, but there are still a few places to rent movies in Chicago, including this well-stocked shop in Bucktown.
Hundreds of Thousands Could Lose Food Stamps Under Federal Rule Change
Dec 5, 2019 |
A Trump administration rule change could leave almost 700,000 people without food stamp benefits by mid-2020. How those changes could impact Illinois residents.
Democrats Move Toward Impeaching Trump, With Scant Grumbling
Dec 5, 2019 |
House Democrats are charging toward impeaching President Donald Trump but not without pockets of division, as lawmakers who began the summer divided largely rallied Thursday behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s cry that his actions leave them “no choice but to act.”
CDOT: ‘Please Don’t Stop Reporting Bike Lane Issues to 311’
Dec 5, 2019 |
The Chicago Department of Transportation on Thursday acknowledged the frustrations cyclists have faced when submitting bicycle-related issues to 311, but said the system has been improving and called on everyone to keep those service requests coming.
Survey: Half of US High School Students Report Having Tried a Tobacco Product
Dec 5, 2019 |
More than 50% of high school students and nearly 25% of middle school students in the U.S. have tried a tobacco product in their lifetimes, according to the latest National Youth Tobacco Survey. “It’s really disappointing,” a local pediatrician said.
‘Memory Unearthed’ Shines Light on a Dark Chapter of WWII
Dec 5, 2019 |
The recovered photographs of Henryk Ross reveal complex stories of life in the Lodz ghetto. We visit an exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie.
Crain’s Headlines: United CEO Oscar Munoz Stepping Down
Dec 5, 2019 |
United Airlines President Scott Kirby will take the reins in May, capping a turnaround effort at an airline that had become an industry laggard after a rocky merger with Continental Airlines as well as a national PR nightmare.
Chicago Police Board to Hear Public Comment in Search for New Top Cop
Dec 5, 2019 |
Three public listening sessions will be held next week as the board seeks a permanent replacement for Eddie Johnson, who was fired as police superintendent earlier this week.
House Will Draft Trump Impeachment Articles, Pelosi Says
Dec 5, 2019 |
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that the House is moving forward to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Police Chief Firing Puts Spotlight on Cops Who Let Him Go
Dec 4, 2019 |
When fellow officers discovered former top cop Eddie Johnson asleep behind the wheel of his car, they did not conduct any sobriety tests and let their boss drive home – a decision that has thrown a spotlight on what happens when one officer confronts another on patrol.
African American Aldermen Try to Halt Sale of Legal Pot in Chicago
Dec 4, 2019 |
Sales of recreational marijuana will begin in Chicago – and across the state – on Jan. 1. Or will they? A group of aldermen on Wednesday explained why they want to put the brakes on pot in Chicago.
Constitutional Questions Debated in Testy New Phase of Impeachment
Dec 4, 2019 |
The House Judiciary Committee holds its first hearing as it weighs articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Local law professors Tom Ginsburg and David Franklin discuss the testimony and what lies ahead.
Crain’s Headlines: Whistleblower Suit Claims Navistar ‘Wildly’ Inflated Prices
Dec 4, 2019 |
Illinois-based truck and engine maker Navistar is accused of bilking the Pentagon out of almost $1.5 billion.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit in John Dillinger Exhumation Case
Dec 4, 2019 |
A nephew of 1930s gangster John Dillinger needs a cemetery’s permission to exhume the notorious criminal’s Indianapolis gravesite to prove whether he’s actually buried there, a judge ruled Wednesday in dismissing the nephew’s lawsuit against the cemetery.
Bears vs. Cowboys Preview: Chicago Hopes to Gain Ground in Playoff Picture
Dec 4, 2019 |
Can the Bears actually make a playoff push? Former Bears offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams joins us to preview their matchup with the Cowboys.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Dec. 5-8
Dec 4, 2019 |
A festive CTA train, winter markets, irreverent attorneys and holiday hounds usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Man Convicted of Shooting ATF Agent Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Prison
Dec 4, 2019 |
Ernesto Godinez, 29, the reputed gang member convicted of shooting a federal agent in the head last year on the Southwest Side, has been sentenced to more 200 months in federal prison.
Climate Simulations Are Mostly Accurate, Study Finds
Dec 4, 2019 |
The computer models used to simulate what heat-trapping gases will do to global temperatures have been pretty spot-on in their predictions, a new study found.
