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Johnson Walks Political Tightrope in 1st 100 Days as Allies Press Him to Deliver and Critics Seize on Missteps

Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former middle school teacher, told WTTW News on Thursday’s “Chicago Tonight” that he would give his administration an A-minus “at least for style,” with much more work to be done.

Michael Madigan’s Ex-Chief of Staff Tim Mapes Guilty in Perjury Trial

The verdicts came following a nearly three week trial and five hours of jury deliberations at the Dirksen Federal Building downtown.

Chicago Files Lawsuit Against Kia and Hyundai, Which Account for More Than Half of City’s 2023 Car Thefts

Kia and Hyundai vehicles made up 41% of all Chicago car thefts in 2022 — despite the fact Kias and Hyundais account for just 7% of vehicles in the city, according to the lawsuit.

Chicago Officially Hit 100 Degrees for First Time in More Than a Decade, And It Felt Even Hotter

On Thursday, Chicago notched its first official 100-degree day since 2012 and tied a daily high set nearly 80 years ago, according to the National Weather Service.

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chalk Howard Street, Taste of Greektown

A cannabis festival, Greek food and nature preserves usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

Schiller Park Man Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection; Prosecutors Say He Attempted to Grab an Officer’s Baton

Robin Lee Reierson, 68, of Schiller Park, is charged with civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, both felony crimes, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

‘Catastrophic Loss’: Huge Colonies of Emperor Penguins in Antarctica Saw No Chicks Survive Last Year as Sea Ice Disappears

Four out of five emperor penguin colonies analyzed in the Bellingshausen Sea, west of the Antarctic Peninsula, saw no chicks survive last year as the area experienced an enormous loss of sea ice, according to a new study.

As Research Grows Around How to Stop Gun Violence, One City in Tennessee Looks to Science for Help

In recent years, research reviews have begun to conclude there’s enough evidence to say which public health interventions prevent shootings, which do not, and which need more study. 

The Key Moments From the First Republican Presidential Debate

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have dominated the Republican presidential nomination fight for much of the year. Neither dominated the debate stage Wednesday night.

Aug. 23, 2023 - Full Show

Record-breaking heat across the region. How to stay safe and cool. Police staffing levels were predicted to fall under Mayor Johnson — did they? And Spotlight Politics on Johnson’s first 100 days.

‘Protect the Boss, Protect the Boss’: Closing Arguments Underway in Perjury Trial of Ex-Madigan Chief of Staff Tim Mapes

“Our system of justice depends on the integrity of this process,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz told jurors Wednesday. “What (Mapes) didn’t do, ladies and gentlemen, was tell the truth.”

Chicago Police Department Staffing Steady During Johnson’s First 100 Days: Data

The size of the Chicago Police Department is essentially unchanged since Mayor Brandon Johnson took office 100 days ago. There are 12,363 employees, including 11,722 sworn officers.

Dangerous Heat That Could Feel Like 115 Degrees Hits Chicago, Here’s How To Keep Your Cool

Cooling centers and splash pads are open to help people cope with oppressive heat that will feel like 115 degrees.

Suburban Cook County Resident is First Person in Illinois to Die From West Nile Virus This Year

Of the 12 total cases of West Nile virus the state health department has seen so far this year, seven of those cases were reported in Cook County, including two in Chicago.

Illinois’ Nature Preserve System Is Turning 60. Celebrate By Visiting the State’s Rarest Landscapes

This weekend, you’re invited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the creation of Illinois’ state nature preserves by touring some of state’s rarest and most endangered landscapes. 

Pared Down to the Singers and Orchestra, ‘Sunday in the Park With Lyric’ Soared

Lyric Opera’s free outdoor concert in Millennium Park served as an ideal introduction to the six operas to be performed during the 2023-24 season. The absence of scenery and costumes only put the focus entirely on the singers, but also made the characters come fully to life.

Chicago White Sox Fire Executive Vice President Ken Williams, GM Rick Hahn

The Chicago White Sox have fired executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn, according to a statement released by team Tuesday evening.

Aug. 22, 2023 - Full Show

What the city is paying out in repeated police misconduct settlements. A tutoring shortage hits Chicago. And the head of the Chicago Teachers Union on how schools will cope with the coming heat wave.

Artist William Estrada Talks Capturing Communities in First Solo Show at Hyde Park Art Center

A local screen printer is sharing his life’s work in an exhibit at the Hyde Park Art Center. “Multiples and Multitudes” showcases artist William Estrada’s multidisciplinary work spanning the last nearly two decades.

CTU President Stacy Davis Gates on Reaching Migrant Students, Planning for Extreme Weather

Chicago Public Schools’ first day of school saw a wave of new Spanish-speaking students who arrived in Chicago after seeking asylum in the United States. Those migrant students are dealing with both trauma and language barriers.

With Pandemic-Era Learning Losses Driving Demand, Tutoring Nonprofit Looking for Volunteers

Chicago students are still struggling to make up for COVID-era learning losses, and a local tutoring organization is trying to help students close that gap.

Repeated Police Misconduct by 116 Officers Cost Chicago Taxpayers $91.3M Over 3 Years: Analysis

Chicago spent $197.7 million to resolve lawsuits alleging more than 1,000 Chicago police officers committed a wide range of misconduct in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Of that total, $91.3 million came from settlements involving 116 officers whose conduct led to multiple payouts.

5 Chicago-Area Chefs to Host Fundraiser for Restaurant, Hospitality Workers Impacted by Maui Wildfires

All of the funds raised during the event will go directly to the Hawai’i Community Foundation—Chef Hui Fund, which supports Maui restaurants, hospitality workers and their families who were displaced due to the fires.

Illinois Looks to Curb Vehicle Theft With Grants to Police Task Forces

Six interagency law enforcement task forces received grant funding this spring to combat car thefts through an initiative of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office.

Cities Are Hotter Than Ever. Here’s 5 Things They Can Do to Help Address the Heat

Despite knowing about the perils of global warming for decades, many cities are proving to be woefully unprepared. Many solutions are based on time-tested design principles. Here are five things cities are doing right now to combat rising temperatures. 

Biden Names Chicago’s Former Top Lawyer as New White House Counsel Amid Congressional Probes

Under the Obama administration, Ed Siskel oversaw the White House legal response to congressional oversight and the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. Siskel, a Chicago native and the nephew of movie critic Gene Siskel, served for two years as the top lawyer in Chicago.
 

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