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Should College Essays Touch on Race? Some Feel the Affirmative Action Ruling Leaves Them No Choice

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Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo)

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. For many students of color, instantly more was riding on the already high-stakes writing assignment.

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Hillary Amofa listens to others member of the Lincoln Park High School step team after school Friday, March 8, 2024, in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo)

Illinois Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Jussie Smollett’s Appeal

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Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty at Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Pool / Chicago Tribune)

Illinois’ high court has agreed to hear an appeal from Jussie Smollett, more than two years after the former “Empire” star was convicted of orchestrating an elaborate hate crime hoax.

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Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty at Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, March 14, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Pool / Chicago Tribune)

Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Lead Shrinks Slightly Tuesday in Race to Replace Kim Foxx as Cook County’s Top Prosecutor

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Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III are running for the Democratic nomination in the race for Cook County state’s attorney. (Photos provided)

A full week after the March 19 election, the contest remains a long way from being settled, with 53,712 outstanding mail-in ballots from Chicago and approximately 35,000 outstanding ballots from suburban Cook County that will be counted as long as they were postmarked or dropped off on Election Day and arrive by April 2.

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Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III are running for the Democratic nomination in the race for Cook County state’s attorney. (Photos provided)

Supreme Court Seems Likely to Preserve Access to the Abortion Medication Mifepristone

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Abortion-rights activists rally outside of the Supreme Court, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Washington. (Jose Luis Magana / AP Photo)

In nearly 90 minutes of arguments, a consensus appeared to emerge that the abortion opponents who challenged the FDA’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and subsequent actions to ease access to it, lack the legal right or standing to sue.

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Abortion-rights activists rally outside of the Supreme Court, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Washington. (Jose Luis Magana / AP Photo)

March 26, 2024 - Full Show

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Abortion access is once again before the U.S. Supreme Court. Still no winner in the Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney. And Illinois voters consider ranked choice voting.

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Illinois Teacher Shortage Persists, Survey Finds

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(WTTW News)

This year’s survey found more than 90% of schools responding reported having a “serious” or “very serious” teacher shortage problem.

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/2024/03/26/illinois-teacher-shortage-persists-survey-finds
(WTTW News)

Chicago Park District Workers Vote to Authorize Strike as Their Union Calls on Johnson to Intervene in Negotiations

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Chicago Park District workers and union leaders gather in front of City Hall on March 26, 2024. The union SEIU Local 73 represents over 2,200 Chicago Park District workers. (WTTW News)

More than 2,200 Chicago Park District workers, represented by the union SEIU Local 73, have been in contract negotiations for nine months, the union said.

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Chicago Park District workers and union leaders gather in front of City Hall on March 26, 2024. The union SEIU Local 73 represents over 2,200 Chicago Park District workers. (WTTW News)

Morton Arboretum Names New Director of Chicago Region Trees Initiative

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Zach Wirtz. (Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum)

CRTI connects organizations — public and private — across the seven-county Chicago area to promote the importance of trees and improve the quality of the region's tree canopy.

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Zach Wirtz. (Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum)

Candidates Can Start Circulating Petitions as Chicago Public Schools Begins Transition to Elected School Board

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Chicago Public Schools headquarters. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Tuesday marks the first day board of education candidates can begin to gather the minimum 1,000 signatures they need from neighbors in order to make it on the ballot.

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Chicago Public Schools headquarters. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Measles Outbreak Worsens at Pilsen Migrant Shelter, Prompting Officials to Tighten Vaccination Policy

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The former industrial building at 2241 S. Halsted St. that has been converted into the city's largest shelter. (WTTW News)

In all, 31 Chicagoans have been diagnosed with measles since March 4.

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/2024/03/26/measles-outbreak-worsens-pilsen-migrant-shelter-prompting-officials-tighten-vaccination
The former industrial building at 2241 S. Halsted St. that has been converted into the city's largest shelter. (WTTW News)

Battery Storage, Disposal Would Be Further Regulated Under Bills in Illinois Senate

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State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, is pictured on the floor of the Illinois Senate in 2023. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

One bill would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency by 2026. The state’s Pollution Control Board would set the regulations for the proper storage of EV batteries.

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State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, is pictured on the floor of the Illinois Senate in 2023. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Highest-Ranking Woman in State Police History Reflects on Experience as Force Looks to Diversify

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Illinois State Police Cadet Class 145 participates in classroom training. Only one of the nine cadets in the class is a woman. (Andrew Campbell / Capitol News Illinois)

The Illinois State Police do have a higher-than-average presence of women in law enforcement leadership, however. Women make up 14% of ISP’s leadership, according to an agency spokesperson. A new initiative aims to increase that number. 

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Illinois State Police Cadet Class 145 participates in classroom training. Only one of the nine cadets in the class is a woman. (Andrew Campbell / Capitol News Illinois)

March 25, 2024 - Full Show

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Amanda Vinicky (WTTW News)

After the killing of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins, a conversation about domestic violence. And controversy over demolishing aging Illinois prisons. 

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Amanda Vinicky (WTTW News)

Proposal Would Demolish and Rebuild 2 Illinois Prisons a Review Found Not Suitable for Use

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Prison file photo. (WTTW News)

Housing at Stateville Correctional Center is “not suitable for any 21st century correctional center.” Logan Correctional Center is “inefficient, ineffective, and unsuitable for any population.”

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Prison file photo. (WTTW News)

Advocates Say Domestic Violence is a Community Safety Issue After Killing of 11-Year-Old Jayden Perkins

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Jayden Perkins (Courtesy of Jayden Perkins Family Support Fund)

“We see a lot with our clients, this cycle of domestic violence, and unfortunately, a cycle of systems failing victims,” said Ashley Olson, associate director of Ascend Justice. 

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Jayden Perkins (Courtesy of Jayden Perkins Family Support Fund)

‘A Safer City’ Community Conversation: Violence Intervention

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(WTTW News)

“Chicago Tonight” Co-anchor Paris Schutz was joined by Vaughn Bryant, executive director of Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, and Kenoya Ali, the housing coordinator for Chicago CRED, to talk about violence reduction efforts.

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(WTTW News)

Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Lead Narrows Again Monday Evening in Race to Replace Kim Foxx as Cook County’s Top Prosecutor

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Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III are running for the Democratic nomination in the race for Cook County state’s attorney. (Photos provided)

Six days after the March 19 election, the contest remains a long way from being settled, with an unknown number of outstanding mail-in ballots that will be counted as long as they were postmarked or dropped off on Election Day and arrive by April 2.

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/2024/03/25/eileen-o-neill-burke-s-lead-narrows-again-monday-evening-race-replace-kim-foxx-cook
Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III are running for the Democratic nomination in the race for Cook County state’s attorney. (Photos provided)