Stories by Tonia Hill
Chicago Organizations Commemorate 100th Anniversary of Race Riots
| Tonia Hill
Saturday marks the 100th anniversary of the Chicago race riots. How some local organizations are planning to remember that violent week in 1919.
Spotlight Politics: Has Madigan’s Political Luck Run Out?
| Amanda Vinicky
Why are allies of House Speaker Michael Madigan writing checks to an ousted campaign operative? Our politics team weighs in on that and more in our weekly roundtable.
Chalk Artist Nate Baranowski is Transforming Chicago Sidewalks
| Angel Idowu
We hit the streets to check out some 3D art that might catch you by surprise if you don’t watch where you’re going.
Illinois Faces Challenges in Reaching Renewable Energy Goals
| Quinn Myers
By 2025, at least 25% of the Illinois’ energy must come from renewable sources, like wind or solar. But projections by the Illinois Power Agency find that without changes to current policy, the state could fall short.
Lightfoot’s Ethics, Workplace Initiatives Unanimously Pass City Council
| Paris Schutz
Two key initiatives of Mayor Lori Lightfoot were put to the test Wednesday, and the unanimous passage of each shows that Chicago’s new mayor has command over City Council.
Mueller Dismisses Trump’s Claims of Russia Probe Exoneration
| Associated Press
Robert Mueller on Wednesday bluntly dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims of total exoneration in the federal probe of Russia’s 2016 election interference, telling Congress he explicitly did not clear the president of obstructing his investigation.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: July 25-28
| Kristen Thometz
An Afro-futuristic convention, cardboard creations, a poetry block party and neighborhood festivals usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in Chicago.
Ex-Judge: Smollett’s Lawyers Not Allowed to Practice Law in Illinois
| Matt Masterson
Sheila O’Brien, the retired appellate judge who successfully petitioned for a special prosecutor to review the Jussie Smollett case, says four motions filed last week by the actor’s California-based attorneys should be ignored.
Boeing CEO Raises Possibility of Pausing 737 Max Production
| Associated Press
Boeing’s CEO says the company will consider temporarily shutting down production of the 737 Max if the plane’s return is significantly delayed beyond the company’s October forecast.
Chicago Animal Welfare Group Sponsors ‘Anti-Horse Carriage’ Pedicab
| Alex Ruppenthal
Save a horse, ride a bike. That’s the message some Chicago animal welfare advocates are looking to send by sponsoring one of the pedicabs that shuttles riders along Michigan Avenue.
In ‘Ghost Quartet,’ a Maze of Stories Brought to Life With Haunting Music
| Hedy Weiss
Dave Malloy’s time-warping web of a song cycle deals with competing sisters, strange parents, a photographer’s guilt, a subway murder, an astronomer, spirits (of the alcoholic variety), and the quest for love, revenge, stardom and truth over many centuries.
Police: Thieves Steal 3 Mannequins Wearing Designer Clothes
| Associated Press
Chicago police say three thieves smashed a display window of a high-end department store and stole three mannequins dressed from head to feet in designer clothes.
FTC Fines Facebook $5B, Adds Limited Oversight on Privacy
| Associated Press
The fine is the largest the Federal Trade Commission has levied on a tech company, though it won’t make much of a dent for a company that had nearly $56 billion in revenue last year.
Lifetime to Follow Up on ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Docu-Series
| Associated Press
The network announced Tuesday that it has ordered “Surviving R. Kelly: The Aftermath,” a four-part series that includes interviews with new survivors and experts on the case.
50 Years After Moon Landing, Billionaires Back Grandiose Visions for Space
| Paul Caine
Could Jeff Bezos’ vision of giant rotating habitats one day support millions of people in space? We speak with two experts about humankind’s future in space.
Aldermen Weigh in on Chicago Casino Locations, City Labor Law
| WTTW News
Alds. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward), Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) and Jason Ervin (28th Ward) discuss casino locations and other pressing City Council news.
Chicago Mayor, Clerk Move to Lighten ‘Crushing’ Vehicle Fines
| Amanda Vinicky
Getting a parking ticket is an annoying part of city life for most Chicago residents and visitors. But for some people, it can be life-altering.
What Will Chicago Look Like in 2050? A Look at CMAP’s Long-Range Plan
| Alexandra Silets
Erin Aleman doesn’t have a crystal ball, but she has a pretty good idea of what Chicago and the surrounding area will look like 30 years from now.
Festival inspired by Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Returns to Chicago
| Tonia Hill
Comic book lovers, pop culture fanatics and art and tech enthusiasts are flocking to McCormick Place this weekend for the Afro-futuristic celebration Wakandacon. We get a preview of this year’s fest.
Study Finds High Levels of Fecal Bacterial at Chicago-Area Beaches
| Alex Ruppenthal
A new report raises some red flags about the potential health risks associated with swimming at local beaches.
The ‘Adaptable House’ Aimed at Easing Chicago’s Affordable Housing Crunch
| Nick Blumberg
A recently completed design competition is now working with a developer to take its winning entry from concept to construction in two vacant, city-owned lots.
Advocacy Group Develops Plan for Child Health Equity in Illinois
| Kristen Thometz
A statewide coalition says it will focus its efforts on health care policies that increase children’s access to care and mental health services and address underlying social factors that impact health.
Judge to Unseal Plea Deal in Case of Former NU, Oxford Employees Charged With Murder
| Matt Masterson
A judge has agreed to make public the details of a plea agreement reached this week between Cook County prosecutors and a former Oxford University staffer who says he’ll testify against an ex-Northwestern University professor at his upcoming murder trial.
NCAA Punishes DePaul for Basketball Recruiting Violation
| Associated Press
The NCAA suspended DePaul men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao for the first three games of the regular season Tuesday, saying he should have done more to prevent recruiting violations by his staff.
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