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Race Between Vallas and Johnson Comes Down to the Wire, as Trump Seizes Spotlight

Both Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas will spend the final days of what is expected to be the closest election in Chicago history scrambling for any possible advantage – and trying to make sure their supporters cast a ballot.

LaHood, Quigley on Bipartisan Classified Documents Legislation and Donald Trump’s Indictment

U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) recently introduced legislation that would implement stronger enforcement to protect classified documents and impose civil penalties for officials who mishandle those documents.

CTU Members Take Legal Action Against Union for Political Spending

A group of teachers has filed legal action against the CTU, alleging union leaders are wrongly spending dues money on political organizations supporting Brandon Johnson for mayor. They said it’s not about politics, but about their contention that their own union has deceived them.

Week in Review: Vallas, Johnson Race Toward the Finish Line

Trump indictment sets the national political world on fire. Vallas and Johnson race toward the finish line. “ComEd Four” trial peels the curtain back on the Madigan machine. And Cubs and Sox are undefeated.

This Week in Nature: Sure It’s Cooler by the Lake, But the Air’s Also More Polluted, New Study Shows

Researchers at Northwestern University found that people who live directly next to Lake Michigan or along one of the major interstate highways running through Chicago are regularly exposed to more air pollution than residents in the rest of the city.

Bell and Trifonov on Fire at Orchestra Hall

Violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Daniil Trifonov dazzled an Orchestra Hall audience Wednesday night, writes WTTW News theater critic Hedy Weiss. The musicians, in top form, even treated the enthusiastic crowd to two encores.

Appellate Court Grants Man Convicted of Killing Hadiya Pendleton New Trial

The First District Appellate Court issued a 38-page ruling Friday, ordering that Micheail Ward will be given a new trial after statements he made to investigators after he invoked his right to remain silent were used in court.

Lindblom Math & Science Principal Removed Following Investigation

Chicago Public Schools on Friday informed parents and students at Lindblom Math & Science Academy that it had removed Abdul Muhammad from his principal duties, citing “an investigation that substantiated findings” against him.

Are Floating Wetlands Making a Difference in Urban Rivers? Chicago Researchers Say the Ecosystem Life Rafts Are Working

Researchers from Shedd Aquarium and Chicago-based Urban Rivers teamed with counterparts in Boston and Baltimore and confirmed that floating wetlands can improve water quality and provide vital habitat.

Biden Marks International Transgender Day of Visibility, Blasts Republicans Targeting Trans Youth

In a presidential proclamation on Thursday and a subsequent statement on Friday, Biden acknowledged “a wave of discriminatory state laws” aimed at trans Americans, squarely blaming “MAGA extremists” for “advancing hundreds of hateful and extreme state laws that target transgender kids and their families.”

Many Electric Vehicles to Lose Big Federal Tax Credit With New Rules

The new rules take effect April 18 and are aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on China and other countries for battery supply chains for electric vehicles.

Key Inflation Gauge Tracked by the Fed Slowed in February

Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices rose 0.3% from January to February, down from a 0.6% increase from December to January. 

Donald Trump to be Arraigned Tuesday in New York in Hush Money Case

While Trump and his lawyers prepared for his defense, the prosecutor in his hush money case defended the grand jury investigation that propelled him toward trial, while congressional Republicans painted it as politically motivated.

Tornado Watch Issued: Severe Storms, 75 MPH Winds Expected To Hit Chicago Region Friday

The National Weather Service said starting around 2 p.m. Friday, the Chicago area is expected to see destructive winds and the possibility of tornadoes that could cause extensive damage.

March 30, 2023 - Full Show

For the first time in history, a former president of the United States is indicted. Redevelopment in the Back of the Yards. A major shift in City Council. And dangerous weather on the way.

$58M Development to Bring Retail, Affordable Housing to Back of the Yards

Chicago’s Invest South/West project is underway in the Back of the Yards. A $58 million mixed-use development, known as United Yards, will include retail, a health clinic, brew pub and affordable housing.

With ‘Mia,’ Playwright Brings Attention to Missing, Abducted Girls

Where have all the young girls gone? That’s the theme of a new production at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Playwright Mary Bonnett wrote her production, “Mia,” in response to her experiences working with the Ojibwe tribe in Wisconsin.

Chicago City Council Declares Its Independence — For Now — After Raucous Debate

Led by former allies of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the successful push to rewrite the rules for the City Council — which served as a rubber stamp for decades under Mayors Richard J. Daley, Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel — is the result of years of effort to transform it into a legislative body determined to set policy for the entire city.

Donald Trump Indicted; 1st Ex-President Charged With Crime

It becomes the first ever criminal case against a former U.S. president and a jolt to Trump’s bid to retake the White House in 2024.

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chicago Architecture Cruises, C2E2 Comic and Entertainment Expo

River cruises, egg hunts and a beer festival usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

Cubs’ Marcus Stroman Commits MLB’s 1st Pitch-Clock Violation

Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman committed Major League Baseball’s first pitch-clock violation in the third inning of Thursday’s opening day game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

‘ComEd Four’ Attorneys Grill Government’s Star Witness on Lobbying Tactics, Madigan’s Influence

Fidel Marquez, the government’s witness, continued testifying for the fourth day, now under cross examination from defense attorneys seeking to show how their clients’ actions were above board when they tried to garner Madigan’s support on legislation in Springfield.

March 29, 2023 - Full Show

Handicapping the mayor’s race six days away from the election. Priorities of the business community for the next mayor. What the FDA’s over-the-counter approval of Narcan means. And Chicago’s transit system as … art.

Vallas, Johnson Begin Closing Arguments in Race for Chicago Mayor as Focus Turns to Mail Voting

Polls show Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner, and Paul Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, running neck and neck with a large portion of voters undecided.

Beyond Noise: Audio-Visual Artist Finds Inspiration in Chicago’s Transit

Artist Rachel Steele mixes sounds she recorded live on public transit and out in neighborhoods with musical instruments reflective of the city’s different cultures. Her show, "Soundpost: Remixing Transit," is on display at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this Thursday.

Public Safety a Top Issue for Chicago Business Leaders in Mayor’s Race

The Chicago business community has been battered a bit over the past few years — from COVID-19 closures to fleeing corporate headquarters. For many business leaders, public safety weighs heavily in the conversation about Chicago’s business future.
 

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