Stories by Associated Press
Judge Dismisses Sexual Assault Suit Brought by Chicago Police Officer Against Former Supt. Eddie Johnson
| Associated Press
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Chicago police officer that alleged sexual assault by former police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who was out drinking with her the night he was found asleep behind the wheel of his SUV.
EPA Issues New Auto Rules Aimed at Boosting Electric Vehicles and Hybrids, Cutting Carbon Emissions
| Associated Press
The new standards will avoid more than 7 billion tons of planet-warming carbon emissions over the next three decades and provide nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits, the EPA said.
Biden and Trump Notch Primary Wins in Illinois, Other States as Races Offer Hints on National Politics
| Associated Press
Joe Biden and Donald Trump won their party's primaries in Illinois on Tuesday, notching more delegates as they continue their march to a rematch in this November's presidential election.
Outside Illinois, Tuesday’s Primaries Include a Key Senate Race in Ohio and Clues for the Biden-Trump Rematch
| Associated Press
Trump is expected to easily win GOP primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio. Biden is expected to do the same in all those states except Florida, where Democrats canceled their primary and opted to award all 224 of their delegates to Biden. That’s not an unusual move for a party with an incumbent in the White House seeking reelection.
Singer R. Kelly Seeks Appeals Court Relief From 30-Year Prison Term
| Associated Press
Attorney Jennifer Bonjean, seeking to reverse his 2021 convictions or to win him a new trial, tried to persuade three judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan that prosecutors improperly used a racketeering statute written to shut down organized crime to go after the singer.
Donald Trump’s Lawyers Say It’s Impossible for Him to Post Bond Covering $454 Million Civil Fraud Judgment
| Associated Press
With interest, Trump owes $456.8 million. In all, he and co-defendants, including his company, sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. and other executives, owe $467.3 million. To obtain a bond, they would be required to post collateral worth $557 million, Trump’s lawyers said.
United Airlines CEO Tries to Reassure Customers That the Airline is Safe Despite Recent Incidents
| Associated Press
CEO Scott Kirby said the airline was already planning an extra day of training for pilots starting in May and changes in training curriculum for newly hired mechanics. In a memo to customers on Monday, Kirby tried to reassure travelers that safety is the airline's top priority.
From 4-Leaf Clovers to Unexpected History, All You Need to Know About St. Patrick’s Day
| Associated Press
The day honoring the patron saint of Ireland is a global celebration of Irish heritage. And nowhere is that more so than in the United States, where parades take place in cities around the country and all kinds of foods and drinks are given an emerald hue.
Bost, Bailey Race to Win the Hearts and Minds of Trump Conservatives in Southern Illinois Congressional Primary
| Associated Press
As it winds down, the race could be seen as a measure of Donald Trump’s clout. Mike Bost is a popular incumbent, but he’s running in a time and place where disdain for government is white-hot. Establishment Republicans are angry their man has to face an intraparty challenge, which is the attitude Darren Bailey argues needs to be dislodged.
Wide Receiver Keenan Allen Being Traded From Chargers to Chicago Bears for a Fourth-Round Pick
| Associated Press
The Bears went 7-10 in their third straight losing season and haven’t finished above .500 since going 12-4 to capture the NFC North championship in 2018. But they sent a strong signal that they’re ready to start winning with their second trade for a star receiver in as many years.
NHL and NHLPA Reach a Settlement on Chicago Blackhawks Terminating Corey Perry’s Contract, AP Sources Say
| Associated Press
Chicago cut ties with Perry in late November, saying he violated his standard player contract and team policies “intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”
EPA Tightens Limits on Chemical at the Center of Sterigenics Lawsuits, Citing Cancer Risk
| Associated Press
A rule finalized Thursday will reduce ethylene oxide emissions by about 90% by targeting nearly 90 commercial sterilization facilities across the country, the EPA said.
Biden and Trump Clinch Nominations, Setting the Stage for a Grueling General Election Rematch
| Associated Press
There is no longer any doubt that the fall election will feature a rematch between two flawed and unpopular presidents. At 81, Biden is already the oldest president in U.S. history, while the 77-year-old Trump is facing decades in prison as a defendant in four criminal cases.
House GOP Launches New Probe of Jan. 6, Tries Shifting Blame for Capitol Attack Away From Trump
| Associated Press
The panel’s work comes as former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are galloping toward a 2020 rematch this fall. Republicans, some once skeptical of Trump’s return to the White House, have quickly been falling in line to support him.
Airport Nasal Swabbing Expanding to Chicago and Miami
| Associated Press
The CDC program asks arriving international passengers to volunteer to have their noses swabbed and answer questions about their travel. The program began in 2021 and has been credited with detecting coronavirus variants faster than other systems.
3 Children and 2 Adults Die After School Bus Collides With Semi in Western Illinois, Authorities Say
| Associated Press
Five people, including three children, were killed in western Illinois when a school bus and semitruck collided on a highway Monday, authorities said.
US Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder and Rape in Attack on 2 Recent U. of I. Graduates in Germany
| Associated Press
An American man was convicted of murder and other charges on Monday for brutally attacking two American women near Germany’s famed Neuschwanstein castle last summer and pushing them into a ravine, fatally injuring one of them. He was sentenced to life in prison.
‘Oppenheimer’ Crowned Best Picture at an Academy Awards Shadowed by War
| Associated Press
After passing over arguably Hollywood’s foremost big-screen auteur for years, the Oscars made up for lost time by heaping seven awards on Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic, including best actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. and best director for Nolan.
Illinois Man Accused of Firing Gun From Scaffolding During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Arrested
| Associated Press
John Banuelos, 39, of Summit, Illinois, was captured on camera footage scaling the scaffolding that had been put up for the inaugural stage and waving the crowd toward him. He pulled what appeared to be a gun from his waistband and fired two shots into the air, prosecutors said.
Bill That Could Make TikTok Unavailable in the US Advances Quickly in the House
| Associated Press
Some lawmakers and critics of TikTok have argued the Chinese government could force the company to share data on American users. TikTok says it has never done that and wouldn’t do so if asked. The U.S. government also hasn’t provided evidence of that happening.
Biden Uses Feisty State of the Union to Contrast With Trump, Sell Voters on a Second Term
| Associated Press
President Joe Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his State of the Union speech Thursday night, lacing into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution" and for jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad.
Fewer Fish and More Algae? Scientists Seek to Understand Impacts of Historic Lack of Great Lakes Ice
| Associated Press
As climate change accelerates, scientists are scrambling to understand how iceless winters could affect the world's largest freshwater system.
Study Raises Questions About Plastic Pollution’s Effect on Heart Health
| Associated Press
We breathe, eat and drink tiny particles of plastic. But are these minuscule specks in the body harmless, dangerous or somewhere in between?
Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips Ends Democratic Primary Challenge, Endorses President Joe Biden
| Associated Press
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a 55-year-old multimillionaire who is among the richest members of Congress, built his White House bid around calls for a new generation of Democratic leadership while spending freely from his personal fortune.
Nikki Haley Suspends Her Campaign and Leaves Donald Trump as the Last Major Republican Candidate
| Associated Press
Haley didn’t endorse the former president in a speech in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, she challenged him to win the support of the moderate Republicans and independent voters who supported her.
A Month After Cyberattack, Lurie Children’s Hospital Says Some Systems Are Back Online
| Associated Press
Officials had previously blamed the attack on a “known criminal threat actor” and said the hospital shut down its own systems for phone, email and medical records once the breach was discovered on Jan. 31.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
Obamas Celebrate Chicago Roots, Power of Community During Presidential Center’s Opening
Hear From the Architects Behind the Obama Presidential Center
What to Know About the History of Juneteenth and How It Became a Federal Holiday
EF-2 Tornado Near Midway Among 20 Tallied So Far From Last Week’s Storms, Weather Service Says
South Side Residents Voice Gentrification Concerns Ahead of Obama Presidential Center Opening
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter