Stories by Paul Caine
Pritzker to Unveil State Budget Proposal, Facing $3B Deficit
| Paul Caine
Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveils his first annual budget proposal amid an estimated $3.2 billion deficit and billions more in unpaid bills. Watch the address and get complete coverage throughout the day.
Kim Foxx Recuses Herself from Jussie Smollett Case
| Associated Press
Chicago's top prosecutor recused herself from the investigation into the attack reported by “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett shortly after police requested another interview with the actor.
Mayoral Candidates Play Nice in Final WTTW Forum
| Paris Schutz
If the mayoral candidate forum Monday was punctuated by testy exchanges between Susana Mendoza and Bill Daley, Tuesday’s crew of five candidates – moderated by Carol Marin – kept it mostly civil.
Mayoral Candidate Forum: Chico, Enyia, Ford, Lightfoot, McCarthy
| Nick Blumberg
Join us Tuesday at 7 p.m. for our third and final mayoral candidate forum, moderated by Carol Marin. Watch on WTTW11 or live on Facebook and YouTube.
Controversial Lincoln Yards TIF Moves Forward
| Paris Schutz
An obscure city commission voted Tuesday to approve a $900 million tax increment financing district that will help fund infrastructure upgrades for the proposed $6 billion Lincoln Yards development.
At Lyric, a ‘La Traviata’ of Great Intimacy Amid the Social Whirl of Paris
| Hedy Weiss
The beauty of this production goes beyond the absolute glory of Giuseppe Verdi’s impassioned, vocally demanding score. And while the voices are uniformly superb, so is the almost conversational style of acting.
T. Rex Check: Sue’s Arm, Leg Bones Examined in Attempt to Diagnose Past Injuries
| Alex Ruppenthal
What can CT scans tell us about the diseases or injuries Sue the T. Rex might have had? Scientists are hoping to determine just that, but needed to remove several bones Tuesday for testing.
Judge OKs Suit Aimed at Halting Obama Library in Chicago
| Associated Press
A judge gives the green light to a lawsuit filed by a parks-advocacy group that aims to stop for good the delayed construction of former President Barack Obama’s $500 million presidential center in Jackson Park.
Van Dyke’s Attorneys Claim Sentence Challenge Would Open ‘Pandora’s Box’
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke believe the 81-month sentence he received last month for the fatal shooting of black teen Laquan McDonald conforms with Illinois law and should not reviewed by the state Supreme Court.
Illinois Minimum Wage to Rise to $15 by 2025
| Amanda Vinicky
Just a little over a month after becoming Illinois’ governor, J.B. Pritzker signed a law that stands to change the state’s economy by raising the minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 by 2025.
Tom Ricketts Apologizes for Distraction of Father’s Emails
| Associated Press
“The emails that were in there were unacceptable and had no place. My father has no direct role or economic interest in the team. That doesn’t represent what this organization is,” Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said.
Aurora Warehouse Where 5 Killed Won’t Reopen Until Next Week
| Associated Press
The Henry Pratt Co. facility will be open to any employees who want to spend time with colleagues and counselors will be available, spokeswoman Yolanda Kokayi said.
Mayoral Candidates Turn Up Heat in 2nd WTTW Forum
| Paris Schutz
With a little more than one week left until the election for Chicago mayor, five of the perceived front-runners amped up their rhetoric in WTTW’s second of three candidate forums.
Mayoral Candidate Forum: Daley, Mendoza, Preckwinkle, Vallas, Wilson
| Alexandra Silets
Join us Monday at 7 p.m. for the second of three mayoral candidate forums, moderated by Phil Ponce. Watch on WTTW11 or live on our website, Facebook and YouTube.
Obama Presidential Center Faces Court Ruling Tuesday
| Paris Schutz
A federal judge could decide this week whether or not to toss a lawsuit challenging the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.
Turtle With Rare Genetic Condition Adopted by Suburban Ecologist
| Alex Ruppenthal
A rare yellow-hued Blanding’s turtle who called Chicago home has moved out to the suburbs, where she’s helping to spread the word about the plight of her endangered species throughout Illinois.
GoFundMe Campaign Created to Support Aurora Shooting Victims’ Families
| Kristen Thometz
A fundraiser started by City of Aurora officials has raised more than $72,000 in just two days to support the families of those who lost their lives in a shooting at a local manufacturing plant.
Chicago Charter Teachers Announce Tentative Agreement Ending Strike
| Matt Masterson
Classes will resume Tuesday at four Chicago International Charter Schools following a two-week long strike that ended early Monday morning.
Aurora Shooter’s Permit Was Revoked But Gun Wasn’t Seized
| Associated Press
An initial background check failed to detect a felony conviction that should have barred the man who killed five co-workers and wounded six other people at a suburban Chicago manufacturing plant from buying the gun.
Chicago Police Seek Follow-Up Interview with Jussie Smollett
| Associated Press
Chicago police said Sunday they’re still seeking a follow-up interview with Jussie Smollett after receiving new information that “shifted” their investigation of a reported attack on the “Empire” actor.
Officials: 5 Dead, 5 Police Wounded in Aurora Shooting
| Associated Press
Police have identified the gunman who killed five people at a suburban Chicago business and shot and wounded five police officers.
Illinois EPA Shuts Down Suburban Sterigenics Plant
| Amanda Vinicky
A medical supply sterilization company in suburban Willowbrook was shut down Friday by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency due to elevated cancer risks.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: New R. Kelly Videotape
| Evan Garcia
Eddie Arruza and guests discuss a newly discovered videotape purportedly showing R&B singer R. Kelly engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl.
The Week in Review: Election Day Fast Approaching
| Evan Garcia
Mayoral candidates square off on “Chicago Tonight.” Jason Van Dyke is attacked in prison. Is R. Kelly about to be indicted? And the controversial alliance between the Cubs and a conservative media outlet.
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