Stories by Eddie Arruza
Remembering Harold Washington, Chicago’s 1st African-American Mayor
| Eddie Arruza
As we approach the 30th anniversary of his death, a discussion about the legacy of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington with local filmmaker Joe Winston and former news anchor Robin Robinson.
BGA: Illinois Nuclear Plants Leak, Spill Radioactive Water
| Nick Blumberg
Radioactive water leaking from Illinois nuclear power plants, despite promised safeguards—an investigative reporter on what’s been done.
Words and Wisdom About ‘Aging Thoughtfully’ in New Book
| Andrea Guthmann
In a culture obsessed with youth and beauty, aging can be an ugly topic. The co-authors of a new book discuss retirement, romance, wrinkles and more.
$300M for Great Lakes Program Passes Hurdle in Senate
| Alex Ruppenthal
A key federal program responsible for protecting the Great Lakes is one step closer to being fully funded after it was targeted for massive cuts earlier this year in President Donald Trump’s proposed budget.
State Creates Program to Find Missing People with Alzheimer’s Disease
| Kristen Thometz
The new Silver Search program provides education and resources to help locate people who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia when they go missing.
Cook County Jail Population Down 15 Percent After Bond Reforms
| Amanda Vinicky
Reforms to Cook County’s bond system have led to a 15-percent decrease in the county’s jail population. “Our judges are in fact not setting bonds higher than people can afford,” said Chief Judge Tim Evans.
Indiana Agency Hasn’t Turned Over Records on Toxic Spill, Chicago Says
| Alex Ruppenthal
Records related to an April spill of a toxic metal into a Lake Michigan tributary have not been given to Chicago. The city is now threatening to sue U.S. Steel.
Todd Stroger to Challenge Toni Preckwinkle
| Brandis Friedman
The field to take on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is growing. Todd Stroger, who formerly held the post, is announcing plans to run for his old office next year.
Environmentalist Ma Jun: Millions Exposed to Pollution in China
| Alexandra Silets
China’s most prominent environmental activist talks about the country’s pollution crisis.
New UChicago Course Examines Legacy of Nuclear Age
| Alex Ruppenthal
The days when Americans fretted over an imminent U.S.-Soviet nuclear showdown might be over, but the consequences of a new nuclear age are still reverberating today.
Exploring the Technology Behind IIT’s Microgrid
| Paul Caine
A new mini power grid supplied by wind and solar helps the Illinois Institute of Technology meet its 21st century power needs.
Roskam on GOP Tax Bill: ‘Best Way to Grow Economy’
| Paris Schutz
Illinois Republican Congressman Peter Roskam says that criticisms of the recently passed House GOP tax cut bill are “hyperbole.”
‘Hamilton’ Star Begins ‘My Shot at Epilepsy’ to Raise Awareness, Funds
| Kristen Thometz
Inspired by the song “My Shot,” from the blockbuster musical, actor Miguel Cervantes is challenging the public to take their “shot” and help raise awareness and funds to find a cure for epilepsy.
Chuy Garcia Sole Cook County Commissioner Iffy on Budget
| Amanda Vinicky
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle can expect easy passage of a revised spending plan, though Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia said he hasn’t made up his mind about how he’ll vote.
Nearly $1M in Grants Awarded to Improve Chicago-Calumet Waterways
| Alex Ruppenthal
A new $960,000 grant will improve 2.5 miles of streams for nearly 20 species of fish and create 10 acres of neighborhood green space in the Chicago-Calumet region.
The Week in Review: Record Wave of Exonerations Tied to Rogue Cop
| WTTW News
A mass exoneration in Cook County clears 15 men. Proposed layoffs in the wake of the failed soda tax. And controversy over playmaking decisions by Bears coach John Fox.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease
| Kristen Thometz
The civil rights advocate announced Friday that he was diagnosed with the progressive degenerative disorder in 2015.
House Democrats Move to Impeach Trump. What Are Their Chances?
| Evan Garcia
Illinois U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez on Wednesday was one of six House Democrats who formally moved to impeach President Donald Trump by filing articles of impeachment.
Family Secret Inspires Graphic Novel ‘The Hunting Accident’
| Jay Shefsky
Imagine learning your father was prison pals with notorious murderer Nathan Leopold. That’s the true story told in a new graphic novel.
Brookfield Zoo Wolf Released into Wild Found Healthy in New Mexico
| Alex Ruppenthal
A Mexican wolf pup born this spring at Brookfield Zoo and released into the wild as part of a species recovery program was tracked down in New Mexico and is healthy, the zoo announced this week.
WTTW’s ‘Nutcracker’ Documentary Goes Backstage at Joffrey Ballet
| Erica Gunderson
The new documentary “Making a New American Nutcracker” premieres on WTTW. We speak with the Joffrey Ballet’s artistic director and the film’s producer.
Police, Community Must Have ‘Mutual Respect,’ Says Author
| Erica Gunderson
How can citizens avoid trouble when getting pulled over by the police? We speak with Dwayne Bryant, the author of a manual that explains how to safely handle a traffic stop.
Letter: Extend Federal Funds for Children’s Health Insurance Program
| Kristen Thometz
More than 50 organizations are urging the Illinois congressional delegation to reauthorize funding for programs that provide health insurance to children and support for low-income and at-risk families, before it becomes a crisis in the state.
15 Men Cleared in First-Ever Mass Exoneration in Cook County
| Matt Masterson
“It’s a brand new beginning for me,” said Leonard Gipson, one of 15 men who had drug convictions vacated by a judge Thursday. The convictions stemmed from arrests made more than a decade ago by disgraced former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts.
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