Stories by Hedy Weiss
‘Hello, Dolly!’ Still Leads the Parade of Musicals in the Key of Joyful Escapism
| Hedy Weiss
The enduring 1964 hit with an impossibly catchy score fervently champions the quest for love, adventure, mischief and the all-important joy (and necessity) of seizing the day.
Alpana Singh: ‘It’s Absolutely Wonderful’ to Return to ‘Check, Please!’
| Erica Gunderson
After a five-year hiatus, Alpana Singh returns to the weekly restaurant review show. She tells us about the upcoming season that debuts Friday on WTTW.
Walmart to Install Solar Panels at 21 Sites in Illinois
| Alex Ruppenthal
The mega-retailer says plans to install solar panels at nearly two dozen sites across Illinois will represent a 25-percent increase in the state’s current solar capacity.
Rush Receives $5 Million for Cancer Immunotherapy Research
| Kristen Thometz
The donation from Chicago philanthropists Robert and Emily King will increase clinical trials at the hospital and create a fund for nursing education.
Durbin Calls for Increased Monitoring of Illinois Pork-Processing Plant
| Alex Ruppenthal
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for federal action following a report that identified an Illinois meat-processing plant as the worst-polluting plant of its type in the country.
The Trial of Jason Van Dyke is Over, But His Appeal Has Not Yet Begun
| Matt Masterson
Legal experts weigh in on Jason Van Dyke’s impending appeal as the Chicago police officer returns to court next week for the first time since his second-degree murder conviction.
At Public Hearing, Nearly 50 Speakers Weigh in on Police Reform
| Eddie Arruza
A ceremonial courtroom at the Dirksen Federal Building was filled to capacity Wednesday as the first of two public hearings got underway on the proposed Chicago police reform consent decree.
How Technology is Changing the Face of Retail
| Nick Blumberg
This week, retail giant Amazon announced plans to open a fourth Amazon Go location in Chicago next year. Will this high-tech model be the future of retail?
14th Congressional District Forum: Lauren Underwood
| Nicole Cardos
Her campaign ads focus on health care, but what are her plans for other issues? We hear from 14th Congressional District candidate Lauren Underwood.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Oct. 25-28
| Kristen Thometz
Circus acts, Halloween candy, craft coffee and roller skaters usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
‘Functional Explosive’ Devices Sent to Homes of Obama, Clinton
Chicago police say there are no known local threats
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police say there are no known threats to the city and they are in “real-time communication” with the Secret Service after explosive devices were reportedly sent to former President Barack Obama and other high-profile politicians.
Kanye West Makes Cameo Showing for Chicago Mayoral Hopeful
| Associated Press
Fresh off his bizarre Oval Office visit with President Donald Trump, hip-hop megastar Kanye West drew a crowd when he joined a Democratic mayoral hopeful and Chance the Rapper in a sidewalk appearance on Chicago's South Side.
Biographer Traces Ronald Reagan’s ‘American Journey’
| Nick Blumberg
Few American presidents occupy as prominent – and complicated – a place in the collective American psyche as Ronald Reagan. Biographer Bob Spitz tells us about his new book.
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?
Judge Found Not Guilty of Bringing Gun to Chicago Courthouse
| Associated Press
A judge who was caught on video apparently dropping a handgun in a Chicago courthouse has been acquitted of carrying a concealed weapon in a prohibited area.
In ‘Private Peaceful,’ Most Brutal Enemy Turns Out to Be One’s Own Country
| Hedy Weiss
A beautifully realized, profoundly moving one-man show now on stage at the Greenhouse Theater Center features a performance of great heart by Shane O’Regan.
Public Weighs in on Proposed Police Consent Decree. What’s In It?
| Evan Garcia
Chicagoans can weigh in on the proposed police consent decree over the next two days. We unpack the legal document.
Police Board Differs with Superintendent on Firing Cops
| Paris Schutz
Why the majority of Chicago police officers recommended by the police superintendent to be fired this year have instead kept their jobs.
A Look at President Trump’s Rally Strategy Ahead of Illinois Visit
| Nicole Cardos
President Donald Trump is visiting southern Illinois this weekend. What our colleges at the “PBS NewsHour” say we can expect from that visit.
Capturing Icons of the 1960s, ‘70s: Behind the Lens of Steve Schapiro
| Marc Vitali
A pair of new photography exhibitions offer a side of celebrity but focus on one man’s view of the struggle for civil rights.
Chicago Company Ballot Ready Gets Voters Primed for Polls
| Alexandra Silets
The Illinois governor’s race has gotten a lot of attention, but do you know who else you’re voting for? How a Chicago company is helping inform voters about their candidates and referendums.
‘Money Diaries’ Aims to Help Women Take Control of Their Finances
| Nick Blumberg
A new book offers a peek at how other people spend their money, and shows how that can you help you control your own finances.
Chicago Group Gets $1M to Plant Trees, Combat Climate Change
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago-based environmental group Openlands has received a $1 million grant to address climate change by planting new trees and recruiting residents to protect them.
Study: Gene Linked to Dyslexia May Shield Athletes from Concussions
| Kristen Thometz
A gene associated with the learning disorder dyslexia may make some athletes less susceptible to concussions, according to a new study by Northwestern Medicine and Penn State University.
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