Stories by Nicole Cardos
Longtime WFMT Host Carl Grapentine Signs Off
| Nicole Cardos
A very familiar voice on our classical music sister station is retiring. A look at the on- and off-air musical life of WFMT’s Carl Grapentine.
Viewer Feedback: ‘Thank You for Covering This!’
| WTTW News
Our story about a planned protest outside McDonald’s new West Loop headquarters drew a lot of comments.
Major Transformation Coming to Chicago’s 75th Street Train Corridor
| Eddie Arruza
Chicago is the crossroads of rail traffic in the U.S., but the area’s railroad infrastructure has failed to keep up with increasing traffic. How a new project will address one of the biggest problems in Chicago’s antiquated rail system.
Parties Near Agreement on Chicago Police Consent Decree
| Paris Schutz
An agreement to bring federal court oversight to the Chicago Police Department is nearly finished – with one major hang-up.
Ald. Ricardo Munoz to Retire from City Council, ‘Make Some Real Money’
| Evan Garcia
He has represented Chicago’s 22nd Ward since 1993 but announced Monday he will not run for re-election. Ald. Ricardo Munoz joins us to discuss his major career move.
Cook County Officials Report Measles Exposure in City, Suburbs
| Kristen Thometz
Health officials are reporting a confirmed case of measles in a Cook County resident who visited a restaurant and grocery store in the city and suburbs earlier this month.
Chicago Theater Recommendations from Hedy Weiss
| Marc Vitali
Theater critic Hedy Weiss gives us her take on a Tennessee Williams classic, an Elvis musical full of glitz and hits and more on Chicago-area stages.
‘Historic’ Deal Creates Chicago’s Only Public Law School
| Alexandra Silets
The University of Illinois at Chicago is merging with the John Marshall Law School, creating the first and only public law school in Chicago.
Family Made Tortillas and Pitas Round Out Chicago’s Food Culture
| Erica Gunderson
They’re round, flat and hold some of your favorite fillings. We visit the Chicago-area factories where tortillas and pitas are made.
Study: Resting in Green Space Sharpens Focus – If You Stay Offline
| Kristen Thometz
Next time you step outside to mentally recharge, leave your phone at your desk. A new study finds using electronics outdoors counteracts nature’s restorative properties.
CPS to Revise Student Suspension, Bullying Guidelines
| Matt Masterson
The Board of Education this week will vote on updates to its student code of conduct policy in an effort to promote equitable discipline practices throughout the school district.
In ‘Pamplona,’ Stacy Keach Runs with Hemingway and the Matadors
| Hedy Weiss
A little more than a year after he suffered “a mild heart attack” midway through his opening night performance in “Pamplona,” Stacy Keach is in top form.
Illinois Sues EPA Over Pruitt’s Loophole for ‘Super Polluting’ Trucks
| Alex Ruppenthal
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has joined her counterparts in 14 states in suing the EPA over its suspension of a rule that limits the number of highly polluting trucks on the nation's roads.
The Week in Review: Public Outcry Over Police-Involved Shooting
| Evan Garcia
The fatal shooting of a South Shore barber sparks outrage and protests. Could the Trump-Putin summit reshape the local political landscape? And Chance the Rapper is now an emerging media mogul.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: NFL Policy and Miami Dolphins
| Evan Garcia
Eddie Arruza and guests discuss the latest developments in the NFL’s national anthem policy.
Chicago Advocates Call Out McDonald’s for Treatment of Chickens
| Alex Ruppenthal
Animal welfare advocates will gather next week at McDonald's new West Loop headquarters to present a petition with more than 200,000 signatures calling on the company to improve conditions for chickens in its supply chain.
Northwestern Rocket Launches Sunday to Explore ‘Star Stuff’
| Alex Ruppenthal
Scientists are preparing to launch a rocket in New Mexico that’s equipped with a new high-powered device that will capture unprecedented images of astronomical objects.
243 Cases of Foodborne Illness Reported in Illinois
| Kristen Thometz
A new outbreak this week of an intestinal illness has prompted an expanded investigation of possible sources of contamination.
Viewer Feedback: ‘It’s Not Exactly Niagara Falls, Is It?’
| WTTW News
Chicago’s last waterfall is about to be demolished. Viewers weigh in on that story.
Community Pushback to $5 Billion Lincoln Yards Proposal
| Paris Schutz
Community reaction comes in for the new Lincoln Yards proposal slated to be a city-within-a-city.
Black Sailors in Chicago Chart a New Course
| Jay Shefsky
Sailing is a mostly white, male sport. On the eve of the Race to Mackinac, we visit one crew that bucks both of those trends.
As Deadline Approaches, Attorneys Offer Insight on Immigrant Family Reunification
| Nick Blumberg
The Trump administration can’t say whether it will meet a July 26 deadline to reunite 2,500 migrant children with their parents.
Ald. Pawar Drives Initiative to Test Universal Basic Income in Chicago
| Nicole Cardos
A new resolution to bring universal basic income to Chicago may soon be making its way to City Council for a vote.
Chicago Tribune Food Critic Phil Vettel Comes Out of the Shadows
| Alexandra Silets
After 29 years of trying to stay anonymous, the Chicago Tribune’s restaurant critic has decided to reveal his face.
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