After allegations of sexual and financial misconduct, the Chicago Board of Education voted to revoke Urban Prep’s charter. The state school board denied an appeal, and a CPS takeover looks imminent.
Stories by Paul Caine
Week in Review: Johnson’s First City Council Meeting; State Budget Deal
Officials try to clamp down on holiday weekend crime. Mayor Brandon Johnson passes first City Council test. State lawmakers have a budget — we think. And a damning report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Argonne National Laboratory’s Particle Accelerator Is a Crucial Tool for Researchers. It’s Getting an $815 Million Upgrade
Argonne National Laboratory has been at the cutting edge of molecular scale research for almost three decades. At the heart of that research is the Advanced Photon Source, a huge particle accelerator.
Preckwinkle Slams Texas Governor Over Continued Busing of Migrants: ‘If There’s a Hell, He’ll Go to It’
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was unsparing in her criticism of Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for continuing to bus thousands of migrants to Democratic cities such as Chicago and New York.
Former Interim Top Cop Charlie Beck: CPD Needs to Embrace Consent Decree, Brown’s Leadership Came Up Short
Charlie Beck previously served as Los Angeles’ police chief and Chicago’s interim police superintendent. He said Chicago’s next top cop will need to make some big changes.
US Rep. Jonathan Jackson Says Solution to Debt Ceiling Standoff in Speaker McCarthy’s Hands
Freshman U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, who succeeded longtime U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in Illinois’ 1st Congressional District, said the debt ceiling debate has already gone on too long and threatens the standing of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
Human Composting Could Soon Be Coming to Illinois
Most people are either buried or cremated when they die, but there is another practice that’s gaining steam. It’s called natural organic reduction or “human composting.” Illinois is poised to become the seventh state to approve the practice.
Bears Pass on Carter, Take Tennessee Offensive Tackle Wright in NFL Draft First Round
James “Big Cat” Williams, who played offensive tackle for the Bears from 1991 to 2002 and is co-host of the No Name Football podcast, give “Chicago Tonight” his assessment of the Bears’ draft moves.
Hundreds of Thousands of Medicaid Recipients in Illinois at Risk of Losing Coverage
Emergency measures designed to ensure people didn’t lose their health care during the COVID-19 pandemic are now being phased out. People must once again prove their eligibility for the government=-backed insurance program.
New Bill Aims to Jump-Start Bears Stadium Negotiations
One of the key elements of the bill is a $3 per person admission tax on all entertainment and sporting events within what the bill calls the Arlington Megaproject to help pay down debt related to the renovation of Soldier Field.
Outgoing Alderpeople Discuss Lightfoot Legacy, Challenges Ahead for Johnson
The last Chicago City Council meeting of this term is in the books, and for a dozen Chicago alderpeople, it was their last council meeting ever.
More Than 50 Employees at Cook County Court Clerk’s Office Leave Amid COVID-19 Fraud Probes
The employees were found to have defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program designed to help businesses stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Week in Review: Chicago to Host 2024 Democratic Convention; Ex-ComEd CEO Takes the Stand
Chicago nabs the 2024 DNC golden goose. Former ComEd CEO takes the stand in her own bribery trial. Cook County defendants wait years to get their cases heard. And the Blackhawks wave goodbye to Jonathan Toews.
Spotlight Politics: CEO to Testify as ‘ComEd Four’ Defense Begins; Johnson Names Transition Team
The prosecution rests its case in the corruption trial of the “ComEd Four.” The challenges facing Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson. And Chicago is named to host the DNC in 2024.
The OI Gets Rebranded, Drops ‘Oriental’ From Name
“The new name is the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia and North Africa,” said Theo van den Hout, the museum’s interim director.
Latino Voters Overlooked by Campaigns Could Swing Mayoral Election
Latino voters could be the crucial swing vote that decides who will be Chicago’s next mayor, but according to a recent poll, many Latinos said they haven’t heard from either of the candidates ahead of Tuesday’s runoff election.
Public Safety a Top Issue for Chicago Business Leaders in Mayor’s Race
The Chicago business community has been battered a bit over the past few years — from COVID-19 closures to fleeing corporate headquarters. For many business leaders, public safety weighs heavily in the conversation about Chicago’s business future.
Latest Poll Shows Chicago Mayor’s Race Too Close to Call
The race for Chicago mayor enters its final stretch. Political speechwriter, debate strategist and senior lecturer at Northwestern University Jason DeSanto breaks down the latest developments in a tightening race.
Chicago Paleontologist Neil Shubin Prepares for Return to the Arctic
The long-delayed trip is a return to the Canadian Arctic and an area where University of Chicago paleontologist Neil Shubin made a career-defining discovery back in 2004.
Week in Review: Mayoral Runoff Race Heats Up, Bears Make Moves
The tension rises between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson in the race for Chicago mayor. Madigan recordings revealed in week one of the “ComEd Four” trial. Northwestern moves on in the NCAA tournament. And the Bears start their revamp.
Spotlight Politics: Fresh Endorsements in Mayor’s Race, ‘ComEd Four’ Trial Begins
Fresh endorsements in the race for Chicago mayor. The trial of the so-called "ComEd Four" is underway. And police Superintendent David Brown prepares to step down. Our politics team weighs in on those stories and more.
Lab-Leak Theory Resurfaces as House Republicans Investigate COVID-19 Origins
The U.S. Department of Energy and the FBI both assess that COVID-19 may have leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China. Yet the Energy Department has “low confidence” in its assessment, while FBI director Christopher Wray said the agency has “moderate confidence” in its.
From Skyscrapers to Worship Houses, New Special Explores ‘Most Beautiful’ Places in Chicago
In a new WTTW special, Geoffrey Baer takes viewers on a tour of some of Chicago’s most beautiful places. Some may be familiar, but others less so.
New Police District Councils Aim to Build Better Relationship Between Officers and Community
Starting in May, each of Chicago’s 22 police districts will be overseen by a three-person council. The goal is to help build trust in a beleaguered department that is under a court-ordered consent decree aimed at forcing reform.
Mayoral Candidates Hone Messages Ahead of Tuesday’s Election
While polling on the Chicago mayoral race has been somewhat inconsistent, what appears clear from multiple polls is that incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot and challengers Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson and U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García have pulled clear from the pack.
University of Chicago Develops Tool to Protect Artists from AI Threat
Powerful AI models that can realistically simulate the style of virtually any artist have many in the art world worried. In fact, some artists believe the technology has for them become an existential threat.
