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Spotlight Politics: Alvarez Shooting Video Released

Another video showing the police shooting death, this time of Anthony Alvarez, is released. It shows Officer Evan Solano making a split-second decision to fire his weapon at the 22-year-old during a foot chase. Our politics team takes on that story and more in this week’s roundtable.

City Releases Video of Police Shooting, But Questions Remain

There are still many unknowns about the fatal police shooting of Anthony Alvarez on March 31, including why he was stopped by law enforcement in the first place.

Art and Science Share Spotlight at Museum in Pilsen

Scientists are exploring centuries-old paintings from colonial-era Mexico, searching for clues to find out more about the artwork. We visit the National Museum of Mexican Art for a meet-up of art and science.

EXPLAINER: Is It Legal to Shoot Suspects in the Back?

Seconds after Anthony Alvarez was shot from behind by a Chicago police officer, the fatally wounded 22-year-old looked over at the officer and asked: “Why you shooting me?” The officer answered, “You had a gun.” 

Anthony Alvarez, Adam Toledo and the Use of Graphic Video by News Outlets

Chicago is again facing the stark reality of a fatal police shooting of a young person. Every news organization must decide how to best handle such sensitive material as it reports a story. Here’s how we’ve handled in on “Chicago Tonight” and online.

UIC Prof Teaming Up With NASA to Discover Lost Wetlands in the Midwest

Huge swaths of the Midwest were drained to make way for agriculture. UIC’s Kimberly Van Meter is harnessing NASA imagery to hunt for the region’s lost wetlands, the first step toward strategic restoration.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for College Students ‘Under Discussion’: Pritzker

A trio of Chicago colleges have already announced they will require students be vaccinated for COVID-19 ahead of the fall semester. On Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said such a requirement for all college-bound students is “under discussion.”

A Staircase. A Parking Garage. Chicago Opera Shines on Unconventional Stages

With most traditional theater spaces off-limits and Zoom an increasingly annoying way to have to watch anything, two Chicago opera companies have demonstrated in radically different ways that “all the world is a stage” — or can be turned into one.

Boeing Posts 1Q Loss, Takes a Hit on Air Force One Work

Boeing Co. reported a wider than expected first-quarter loss on Wednesday and took another charge on its program to build two new Air Force One presidential planes after firing a contractor it hired to help perform the work.

Chicago Hit a Record High Tuesday, and Then Things Took a Wild Turn

Chicago went from tank-top to sweatshirt weather in a matter of minutes on Tuesday in one of the wildest temperature swings the city has ever seen.

Democrats Committed to Remap in May, But Uncommitted on Data to Draw From

With roughly a month before they plan to complete the weighty task of drawing new maps that will determine the lines of political power for the next decade, Illinois Democrats say they have not determined what data they’ll use. We speak with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle about that and more.

City Officials Launch $60M Arts Recovery Plan

Arts 77, a new citywide arts recovery and reopening plan named with a nod to Chicago’s 77 community areas, will work to support local artists and organizations, a sector “decimated by the global pandemic,” according to an official.

How to Stay Informed and Avoid Burnout from 24-7 Media

Over the past year, news coverage about traumatic topics like the pandemic and fatal police shootings have caused many to feel burnt out. Is there a balance between staying informed and not feeling overwhelmed by distressing stories?

Philanthropic Groups Step Up in Last-Minute Tribune Talks

The clock is nearing midnight for the Chicago Tribune and efforts to prevent a takeover from controversial hedge fund Alden Global Capital. WTTW News has learned there are still active talks behind the scenes to come up with a bid that could derail Alden’s plan.

State Lawmakers Advance Bill to Replace Toxic Lead Service Lines

Chicago has more lead service pipes than any other U.S. city. Last year the city announced a plan to slowly replace those lines, an effort which has yet to get underway. Now, state lawmakers want to tackle the toxic problem—and they want Congress to foot the bill.