The U.S. firearm homicide rate in 2020 was the highest recorded since 1994, according to data published Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2019 and 2020, the overall firearm homicide rate increased by about 35%, according to the new data in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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The 4 Most Interesting Kinds of House Primaries in 2022
Some primaries are more interesting than others; either because they offer a test of the direction of a party or they help determine how competitive a district will be in the fall or simply because of a high-profile candidate.
Inside Chicago O’Hare Airport’s $8.5 Billion Revamp
The big-ticket items are an entire new “global” terminal, two new satellite concourses for Terminal 1, and a complete makeover of the existing Terminal 5 – but the plan includes almost 100 separate projects, many of which are smaller but functional improvements.
Gun Buybacks Take Weapons Out of Circulation, But Experts Say There’s No Evidence the Programs Reduce Violence
Chicago officials annually take in hundreds of guns through buyback programs. But decades of research shows such programs don’t reduce gun violence, in large part because they don’t result in guns being taken from people who aren’t supposed to have them.
Over 200 Birds Are Suspected to Have Died From the Avian Flu at a Chicago-area Forest Preserve
The deaths occurred at the Baker’ s Lake forest preserve, the Forest Preserves of Cook County said in a statement on Thursday.
This US Airport Has Reclaimed Its Title as the World’s Busiest
Move over, Guangzhou. Georgia’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is once again the world’s busiest airport.
Tax Day Is Coming Soon. Here’s What You Need to Know About Filing Your 2021 Taxes
Soaring inflation. The war in Ukraine. Yet another rise in COVID cases. With so much going on this year it’s hard to focus on things like filing your taxes. Nevertheless, the IRS still expects you to file your 2021 return and pay whatever you still owe by the filing deadline, which is April 18 for most taxpayers.
Goldman Sachs’ CEO Will Perform at Lollapalooza
A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs confirmed that Solomon, who regularly DJs at clubs in Miami and New York under the alias “D-sol” will hit the stage at Lollapalooza, which hosted about 400,000 attendees in 2019.
Fascinating Stories Behind the World’s Oldest Logos
While rudimentary logos – such as those appearing on ancient Greek pottery – had already existed for thousands of years, modern logo design began as recently as the mid-19th century, said Jens Müller, author of “Logo Beginnings,” a new book that chronicles the early history of logos.
Russian TV Journalist Who Protested Ukraine War On-Air Turns Up in Court
Dmitry Zakhvatov, a lawyer who had formerly been representing Marina Ovsyannikova, told CNN that the administrative charge was based solely on a video statement that she recorded prior to appearing with an anti-war poster on Channel One.
Why Are US Gas Prices Soaring When America Barely Uses Russian Oil?
Although the United States barely uses Russian oil, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is still a big factor in the gas-price spike — among other reasons.
Florida Legislature Passes Bill Prohibiting Some Classroom Instruction About Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Conservatives have argued that the bill is needed in order to give parents greater oversight over what students learn and discuss at school, stressing that LGBTQ-related topics should be left for families to discuss at home. Opponents, however, have dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, arguing the ban it creates would negatively impact an already marginalized community.
New Study Links Even Mild COVID-19 to Brain Changes
The study, published Monday in the journal “Nature,” is believed to be the largest of its kind. It found that the brains of those who had COVID-19 had a greater loss of grey matter and abnormalities in the brain tissue compared with those who didn’t have COVID-19.
Biden Signs Bill Overhauling Workplace Sexual Misconduct Into Law
Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox anchor who has worked to ban arbitration clauses since she sued Roger Ailes, then the network’s CEO, for sexual harassment, attended Thursday’s signing ceremony.
US Says It Has Credible Information About Russian ‘Kill List’ in Potential Ukraine Invasion
The U.S. has written to the top United Nations human rights official that it has “credible information” that Russian forces are identifying Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps” if it further invades Ukraine and occupies it.
What Are the New COVID-19 Rules for Kids? An Expert Weighs In
What should parents know about COVID-19 safety for their kids? Are activities such as playdates, dance classes and moviegoing OK to resume? If masks become optional at school, does that mean your children should take them off?
Biden Says He’s Now Convinced Putin Has Decided to Invade Ukraine
Russian misinformation is building up to a false justification for Putin to move against Ukraine, Biden said, accusing Russia of ceasefire violations in the “rapidly escalating crisis.”
Statewide Mask Mandates Are Disappearing, But Should You Continue to Wear One Anyway?
At this point in the coronavirus pandemic, local mask mandates are disappearing quickly while at the national level, the guidance to wear masks is staying put, at least for now. So, should you mask up or not? Infectious disease experts have some advice for wherever you live.
White House Officials Mull Over Life After COVID-19 Pandemic, But There’s Still No Clear Plan
The White House has told CNN that federal officials are “thinking about” what comes next, after the United States transitions out of the current COVID-19 emergency and into a greater state of normalcy – but officials still have not released a plan for that transition.
US Pharmacies, Health Centers Begin Rollout of Free N95 Masks
The first free N95 masks have started to arrive at U.S. pharmacies, with more on the way in the coming days, as the Biden administration seeks to ramp up access to high-quality masks amid the spread of the highly-transmissible omicron variant.
Mysterious Ice Formations Showed Up in Chicago This Week
You’ve heard of blizzards and maybe even the polar vortex, but have you heard of ice pancakes? What about ice bites or ice jams? These unique names sound fascinating but require specific weather conditions.
FDA Considers Limiting Authorization of Certain Monoclonal Antibody Treatments for COVID-19
The US Food and Drug Administration could decide in the coming days to take steps to curb the use of antibody treatments produced by Eli Lilly and Regeneron, the source said, pointing to the growing body of evidence that shows their monoclonal therapies don't effectively neutralize the virus’ omicron variant.
When It Comes to COVID-19 and Mental Health, ‘Kids Very Rarely Do Better Than Their Parents’
New research published Tuesday in JAMA Pediatrics that looked at children and adolescents from 11 countries found kids experienced both mental and physical health problems — anxiety, depression, lower physical activity, food insecurity and school disengagement — linked to school closures and social lockdowns.
Omicron Surge Hasn’t Peaked, and ‘Next Few Weeks Will Be Tough,’ US Surgeon General Says
An average of more than 750,000 new COVID-19 infections were reported every day over the past week, according to Johns Hopkins University data. That means Americans at work, school and elsewhere face a heightened risk of exposure that is unparalleled during the pandemic.
As Schools Battle Omicron, Billions of Federal Relief Dollars Remain Unspent
Much of the $190 billion that Congress authorized for schools earlier in the pandemic has yet to be used. In a majority of states, less than 20% of the federal money had been spent by the end of November, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Chicago Principals Say They Were Blindsided by Announcement Some Schools Might Offer In-Person Learning Friday
The Chicago Principals and Administrators Association said it was “blindsided” by the announcement. “Principals don’t determine the resources and conditions that leave some schools ready to open and others unable to,” it said.
