Stories by Amanda Vinicky

Arne Duncan, former Chicago Public Schools CEO and the founder of the gun violence prevention nonprofit Chicago CRED, speaks at a news conference Feb. 1, 2024. (WTTW News)

New Anti-Violence Initiative Aims to Reduce Chicago Shootings by 50% in 5 Years

The Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago initiative aims to link local community groups. The goal is to coordinate care and spending between the city, county and state governments, community organizations and the business community.

Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana, File)

Effort to Remove Donald Trump From the Illinois Primary Ballot Continues in State Court

Donald Trump is “not qualified for the presidency and cannot be placed on the ballot because he is ineligible under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, for having engaged in insurrection having previously sworn an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution,” Illinois residents argue in a petition asking the Cook County Circuit Court to take the case. 

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. (John Locher / AP Photo)

Illinois Election Board Votes to Keep Trump, Biden on March Primary Ballot

The Illinois State Board of Elections on Tuesday voted to reject attempts to knock former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden off the ballot. The bipartisan board was unanimous in each of the rulings.

Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana, File)

Hearing Officer Says Donald Trump Should Be Removed From Illinois Ballot, but It’s a Decision for the Courts

Election officials should vote Tuesday to allow President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to run in Illinois’ presidential primary contest, hearing officers and the state election board’s top lawyer recommend.

The Illinois State Board of Elections building is pictured in Springfield. (Peter Hancock / Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois Election Officials to Decide Whether Trump, Biden Can Be Excluded From Primary Ballot

State election officials are set to decide Tuesday whether President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be on Illinois’ presidential primary ballot, following Friday hearings at which objectors to both men allege they don’t qualify because of the 14th Amendment.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks at the Economic Club of Chicago on Jan. 25, 2024. (Treasury Department / X)

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Touts Biden’s Economic Initiatives, Meets With Pritzker During Chicago Visit

“The Biden administration has put in place the most extensive set of policies and investments to benefit the middle class and grow the economy that our country has seen in my lifetime,” Yellen said in a speech before the Economic Club of Chicago.

State Sen. Celina Villanueva speaks at a news conference about “Karina’s Bill” on Jan. 24, 2024. (Amanda Vinicky / WTTW News)

Advocates Urge Illinois Lawmakers to Pass ‘Karina’s Bill’ to Take Away Guns From Accused Abusers

“Without this law, Illinois is putting targets on the backs of domestic violence survivors,” said Yolanda Androzzo, the director of the gun control advocacy group One Aim Illinois.

(Caio / Pexels)

Illinois Officials Look to ‘Knock the Dominoes Down’ and Ban Some Additives, Dye Used in Ultra-Processed Foods

A group of Illinois lawmakers have a proposal that would ban a handful of common additives in food made and sold in Illinois starting in 2027. California last year became the first state to ban the substances that are common in mass-produced and ultra-processed cereals, candies, salad dressings and sodas.

A migrant shelter located at 2241 S. Halsted Street. (WTTW News)

Tensions Between City and State Officials Continue as Pritzker Pushes Back on Johnson’s Migrant Shelter Expansion Pause

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday he’s “deeply concerned” that Chicago is not going to add bed space, as the flow of nearly 35,000 asylum seekers who’ve come to the city since August 2022 shows no signs of abating. 

The Illinois Supreme Court building is pictured in Springfield. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Law Consolidating Police, Firefighter Pension Funds

The 2019 law consolidated some 650 retirement funds for municipal public safety workers into two funds — one for firefighters and another for police officers. Chicago is not included.

(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Organizers Share What to Expect Ahead of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago

Thousands of delegates, journalists and likely protestors will descend on Chicago for the DNC from Aug. 19-22 — tying up traffic and hotel rooms while also giving the city and its bars, restaurants and shops an opportunity to show off.

(WTTW News)

Metra Passengers Who Threaten, Harm Someone Can Be Banned Under New Policy

The new code of conduct prohibits pushing, waving a gun at someone, harassment and “acts of public indecency.”

State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, is pictured at the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules hearing Jan. 16, 2023, in Springfield. (Peter Hancock / Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois Lawmakers Inch Closer to Finalizing Rules Around Assault Weapon Registration

The law, named the Protecting Illinois Communities Act (PICA), has banned the sale of hundreds of specific guns and types of guns since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it in early 2023.

(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)

E-Learning or a Snow Day? Here’s How Illinois School Districts Decide

State law allows districts to switch to e-learning if an emergency like weather prevents students from being in school physically. But if districts want the option, they must have an electronic learning program established in advance.

(WTTW News)

Illinois Secretary of State Says Updates Will Make Booking Previously Hard-to-Get License, Driving Test Appointments Easier

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says another round of updates should make it easier to book in-person appointments and reduce the number of people who actually need to make those appointments.

A migrant shelter opened Jan. 10, 2024, at a former CVS in Little Village. (WTTW News)

Little Village Shelter to House 220 Migrants as Asylum Seekers Continue to Arrive in Chicago Area

Illinois officials said they don’t know when or where migrants will arrive, nor how many — making it difficult to coordinate care, particularly given that many asylum seekers don’t have coats and clothing appropriate for Chicago’s winter weather.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Public Schools Receives $20M to Buy 50 Electric School Buses

Chicago Public Schools was among 67 winners of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s first Clean School Bus Program.

A gun store display is pictured in a file photo. (WTTW News)

US Supreme Court Takes a Pass on Latest Challenge to Illinois Assault Weapons Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied to take up a petition filed by state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, that sought to overturn a ruling on a related case he’d brought before the Illinois Supreme Court.

Heidi Mueller, the current head of Illinois’ Juvenile Justice Department, has been picked to lead DCFS. (Credit: State of Illinois)

Pritzker Picks Illinois’ Juvenile Justice Head to Lead Troubled DCFS

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced that he’ll appoint Heidi Mueller, the current head of Illinois’ Juvenile Justice Department, to head the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) starting in February.

(Lindsay Fox / Pixabay)

The New Illinois Laws You Need to Know in 2024: Indoor Vape Ban, Paid Time Off, Doxing and More

Hundreds – actually 320 – of new laws took effect in Illinois when the disco ball dropped on 2023. WTTW News has rounded up some of the laws most likely to impact your day-to-day life.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and other Democrats celebrate on April 12, 2023, after Chicago was chosen to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention on April 12, 2023. (WTTW News)

From the Democratic National Convention to Chicago’s Ongoing Migrant Crisis, a Look at What’s Ahead in 2024

The last year was filled with plenty of big news. As a new year begins, here’s a look at the stories that will continue into 2024.

Mayor Brandon Johnson holds a joint online news conference on Dec. 27, 2023, with the mayors of New York City and Denver on the migrant crisis. (Credit: Chicago Mayor’s Office)

Brandon Johnson Joins Mayors of New York and Denver in Calling for Federal Support for Migrants While Pushing Back Against ‘Reckless Approach’ in Texas

The comments came during a joint online press conference Wednesday afternoon with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson,  New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.

(WTTW News)

Illinois Manufacturers Say Rail Pause in Texas Caused Harm During Busy Holiday Season: ‘It Rippled Down’

U.S. Customs and Border Protection this week suspended international rail traffic at two Texas crossings “in order to redirect personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody” as the agency strains to keep up with a surge of migrants at the United States’ southwestern border.

The 2023 Starved Rock ornament from the Illinois Conservation Foundation. (Provided)

Want to Support State Parks This Holiday Season? Starved Rock Ornament First in Fundraising Series

Illinois nature lovers can bring the state’s most famous outdoor treasures indoors, with a new series of holiday ornaments featuring state parks.

(WTTW News)

Planned Parenthood Opens Carbondale Clinic Amid Influx of Out-of-State Patients Seeking Abortions

“We looked at the map and we knew that it was the best possible town in southern Illinois to serve the whole southern Illinois community, and it also is a great location for the surrounding states — none of which have access to abortion,” said Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Jennifer Welch.

(agilemktg1 / Flickr)

Illinois Leads the Nation in Medicaid Renewals Amid Federal Enrollment Update

Approximately 695,600 Illinois residents have proactively renewed their Medicaid coverage – making Illinois the top ranked state for renewals amid a federal cleanse of the government-backed health insurance rolls.