Stories by WTTW News
Viewer Feedback: ‘The Pods Aren’t the Problem’
| WTTW News
We got lots of reaction to our story about Tide Pods. The brightly colored laundry packs might look like candy to children, but have become part of a dangerous social media trend.
Watchdog: Senator’s Behavior ‘Unbecoming’ But Not Sexual Harassment
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois’ legislative watchdog says state Sen. Ira Silverstein did not sexually harass a victim rights advocate, but that he did violate the state ethics law.
Chicago Restaurant Week Highlights 370 Spots to Dine
| Marc Vitali
The 11th annual event kicks off Friday and features a record 370 restaurants this year, including 100 new additions. We get a preview of what’s on the menu.
Oscar Nod for ‘Frontline’ Documentary Made by Chicago Team
| Nick Blumberg
Oscar nominations came out earlier this week, and the “Frontline” documentary “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” garnered a nod in the best documentary feature category. It was made by the Chicago team at Kartemquin Films.
NYC Considers Pay-to-Drive Plan. Could Chicago Be Next?
| Evan Garcia
New York City motorists may soon need to pay a fee to drive in the city’s busiest areas during the week. Is congestion pricing a viable option for Chicago?
Commercial Property Tax Assessments Spark City Council Fight
| Paul Caine
Powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke is under fire once again for an alleged conflict-of-interest violation involving two downtown buildings.
On the Ice With Bradie Tennell, Team USA Figure Skater
| Brandis Friedman
The Winter Olympics begin in just two weeks, and at least one athlete from the Chicago area will be there. Meet a figure skater from suburban Carpentersville who’s been preparing for the games for 17 years.
Illinois Positioned to Withstand Trump’s Solar Tariff, Experts Say
| Alex Ruppenthal
President Donald Trump’s new tariff on imported solar panels will slow – but not stop – the growth of Illinois’ solar industry, experts say, thanks in large part to the state’s recently passed clean energy law.
Steve Bannon Accepts Invite to Speak at U of C, Students Protest
| Kristen Thometz
Students at the University of Chicago protested early Thursday in response to news that former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon had accepted an invitation to speak at the school.
Documentary Showcases Renowned Chicago Canoe-Builder Ralph Frese
| Alex Ruppenthal
The new film “Mr. Canoe” chronicles the life of Ralph Frese, a world-famous canoe-builder and conservationist who ran Chicago’s last working blacksmith shop.
‘Duerson Act’ Would Ban Tackle Football for Illinois Kids Under Age 12
| Matt Masterson
Nearly seven years after former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson took his own life, a bill bearing his name will aim to prevent the disease that is believed to have led to his suicide.
Meet John Lausch, Northern Illinois’ New U.S. Attorney
| Amanda Vinicky
He is the top federal prosecutor in Northern Illinois. On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney John Lausch gave his first interviews since taking the job, sharing his plans to fight crime and corruption.
American Birder Noah Strycker Goes on Epic Quest for His ‘Big Year’
| Paul Caine
Meet the man who literally went to the ends of the Earth to see as many bird species as possible.
Pregnant at 40, 50 and Beyond: A Look at Childbirth Later in Life
| Evan Garcia
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is pregnant – at age 49. Are so-called “geriatric pregnancies” the new norm? And what are the risks of having children later in life? A doctor weighs in on later-in-life childbirth.
Ask Geoffrey: Where Are Those 1950s Giant Stuffed Bears?
| Erica Gunderson
A viewer remembers a tall and terrifying bear in the former Marshall Field’s building. Was this just a figment of a child’s imagination?
Rare Mummy Portraits Offer Peek into the Past at Block Museum
| Marc Vitali
Portraits of mummies greet visitors at a new exhibition where art, science and history intersect.
Tide Pod Dare Linked to 6 Illinois Poison Center Calls So Far in 2018
| Kristen Thometz
In the first 22 days of 2018, the Illinois Poison Center says it has received 31 calls related to people ingesting Tide Pods, with six of them associated with a dangerous social media trend.
Chicago Sues U.S. Steel Over Lake Michigan Pollution
| Alex Ruppenthal
The city’s lawsuit comes a week after attorneys at the University of Chicago filed their own lawsuit against the steel corporation. “This Great Lake is our most precious natural resource and we must preserve and protect it,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement.
CPS Board Approves Janice Jackson As New CEO
| Matt Masterson
Janice Jackson was officially appointed Wednesday as the new CEO of Chicago Public Schools. But one of her first decisions is already drawing ethics concerns.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Jan. 25-28
| Kristen Thometz
Monster trucks, prix-fixe menus and an overnight bookstore bash usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Democratic Candidates for Governor Square Off in First Televised Debate
| Alexandra Silets
The gloves came off Tuesday as Democratic candidates for governor faced off on TV. Carol Marin and guests discuss the latest on that race, and the crowded Democratic field for attorney general.
Balancing Health Care Workers Rights with Reproductive Rights
| Brandis Friedman
A debate over reproductive health care and a $5 million TIF grant the city recently awarded to a Catholic hospital raises questions about where medical responsibility ends and religious freedom begins.
Aziz Ansari Allegations Stir Questions About Sexual Conduct, Consent
| Evan Garcia
A controversial article about a sexual encounter: some say it was just a bad date. Others describe it as sexual assault. In the era of #MeToo, is there a gray area relating to sexual conduct and consent?
Access to Pharmacies Increasingly Difficult on South, West Sides
| Paul Caine
A lack of drug stores in poor communities on the South and West Sides is creating so-called “pharmacy deserts.” What this means for some Chicago residents, and how researchers are looking for solutions.
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