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July 18, 2023 - Full Show

The Illinois Supreme Court says eliminating cash bail is constitutional. The new leader at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition replacing the Rev. Jesse Jackson. And the team charged with finding Chicago’s next police superintendent.

New Leader of Rainbow PUSH Coalition Aims to Stand on the Shoulders of Rev. Jesse Jackson

The new president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition says he’s learned so much from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. that he’s basically a graduate of University of Jesse Jackson Sr. The Rev. Frederick Haynes III is only sort of kidding.

How a Group of Community Leaders Worked to Choose 3 Finalists for Chicago’s Next Police Superintendent

The three finalists for the city’s top cop were selected from a total of 54 applicants by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) after unprecedented community and police input. Here’s how they did it.

Trump Is Notified He’s a Target of the US Criminal Probe into Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election

New federal charges, on top of existing state and federal counts in New York and Florida and a separate election-interference investigation nearing conclusion in Georgia, would add to the list of legal problems for Trump as he pursues the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

1st Lawsuit Filed Against Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern Leaders Stemming From a Hazing Scandal

The player, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Tuesday in the Cook County Court in Chicago that Fitzgerald, Northwestern University President Michael Schill, the board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg enabled and concealed sexual misconduct and racial discrimination.

Investigators Have Yet to Identify Victims During Probe of Sexual Misconduct by Chicago Police Officers at West Side Police Station Home to Migrants

The probe by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability remains ongoing. Hours after the sexual misconduct allegations became public, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration moved all of the migrants out of the Ogden (10th) Police District headquarters, which patrols Lawndale and Little Village, where the officers under investigation are assigned to work.

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds SAFE-T Act Provision Eliminating Cash Bail

In a 5-2 ruling, with Republican justices dissenting, the state's highest court found that the elimination of cash bail is constitutional and will take effect statewide beginning Sept. 18, overturning a lower court ruling that had put that implementation on hold and handing Gov. J.B. Pritzker a major victory.

Teen Summer Jobs a Public Safety Priority, Johnson Administration Says

Research shows a correlation between youth unemployment and crime. Mayor Brandon Johnson has made teen employment a public safety priority. He’s pledged to double the number of jobs in the city’s youth employment program.

These Young People Are Taking the Lead on Anti-Violence Efforts in Chicago

Gun deaths among U.S. youth rose 50% in just two years. Black children and teens were roughly five times as likely as their White counterparts to die from gunfire in 2021, according to the Pew Research Center.

July 17, 2023 - Full Show

The latest in our series WTTW News: A Safer City takes a look at simple ways to make public spaces safer. How some youth are leading anti-violence efforts. And teenagers and young adults on the importance of summer jobs.

Heather Headley Works Magic With a Wide-Ranging Songbook Winningly Backed by the CSO and Others

Whether she is performing songs from a Broadway musical, a familiar hymn or a gospel classic, Heather Headley possesses a voice and personality that can easily mesmerize an audience. And so she did with a grand-scale performance at Ravinia Pavilion.

Pay $2M to Family of Man Shot and Killed After 2014 Foot Chase, Chicago Alderpeople Agree

The City Council’s Finance Committee voted 10-9 to endorse the settlement, which now heads to a final vote at the full City Council meeting. In all, the City Council will consider paying $8.5 million to resolve four lawsuits that allege a wide range of police misconduct.

Johnson Again Vows to Move Migrants Out of Police Stations as Sexual Misconduct Probe Continues

Despite what city officials called an “all hands on deck” approach, the number of migrants still being forced to sleep on floors at police stations and O’Hare International Airport has grown more than 45% in the past three weeks.

‘Light in the Night’ Events Aim to Reclaim Safe Public Space for Chicagoans

Public safety isn’t just about addressing the root causes of crime or stopping people from picking up a gun. Sometimes, making a neighborhood safer is as simple as a water balloon or a bounce house.

Doug Scott, an Architect of Illinois’ Climate Policy, Takes Gavel of State’s Utility Regulatory Commission

Doug Scott is the new chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission. The commission is currently considering six proposed rate increases by gas and electricity utilities serving residents in Chicago and throughout most of suburban and downstate Illinois.

Unhealthy Air Quality Lingers Across Parts of US From Drifting Canadian Wildfire Smoke

Extensive swaths of the northern United States awoke to unhealthy air quality Monday morning or were experiencing it by midafternoon.

Kim Foxx Releases ‘Do Not Call’ List of Officers Who Won’t Be Used as Witnesses at Trial

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on Monday released her office’s “Do Not Call List” — which she said includes a collection of “disreputable” law enforcement officers who have “propelled Cook County’s reputation as the wrongful conviction capital of the country.”

Federal Judge Dismisses Bribery Charge Against ComEd

A federal judge in Chicago has dismissed a bribery charge levied against Commonwealth Edison, months after four former ComEd officials were convicted of attempting to corruptly influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

41-Year-Old Woman Among 3 People Killed by Gunfire Over Weekend in Chicago: Police

According to Chicago Police Department figures, 40 people were shot in 32 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. That included Ashley Griggs, 41, who was killed in West Garfield Park.

Illinois Regulators Work to Avoid Federal Clean Air Act Sanctions by Tightening Industrial Air Pollution Rules

At issue is a policy Illinois has had since the 1970s that allows factories, power plants, and other industries with air pollution emission permits to exceed their emission limits during startups, shutdowns, or malfunctions.

Musician Uses Social Media to Highlight Latino Music, Chicago Sights

Peruvian musician Daniel Flores is on a mission to showcase Chicago’s beauty with help from a musical friend: his trumpet.

How This Chicago Program is Helping Girls With PTSD, Anxiety and Depression

Teen girls are in crisis. Research found nearly 40% of girls studied in Chicago high schools are experiencing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as well as anxiety and depression from exposure to violence.

Rogers Park Taco Crawl Showcases Savory and Sweet Eats from 14 Local Restaurants

Tacos are the perfect food to take on a walk — or in this case, a crawl. Fourteen businesses will offer their signature tacos, with a tequila cocktail at the end.

Explore the Legacy of 1930s Artist Jesús Torres at Hull-House and Graceland Cemetery

Throughout his career as an artist, Mexican-born Jesús Torres turned his hand to multiple mediums — but before he moved to Chicago in 1924, his hands were employed as a road construction worker.

Examining Johnson’s Transition Plan for Chicago’s Latino Communities

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration recently released a transition report, “A Blueprint for Creating a More Just and Vibrant City for All,” the work of his 400-member transition committee.

Chicago Cop, Nonprofit Leader Gives ‘The Last Word’ on Showing Up for the City’s Youth

Kenneth Griffin said as a young man growing up in Englewood, he didn’t have many positive interactions with the police. That’s part of the reason the trained chef became a Chicago police officer — to create connections between young people and police in his community.
 

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