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City Cites General Iron Owner for Vacant Building Collapse on Southeast Side
| Heather Cherone
The parent company of General Iron, which wants to operate a metal shredding and recycling operation on Chicago’s Southeast Side, failed to notify city officials that a vacant building collapsed on the site of the proposed facility, officials said Thursday.
Chicago Slaps 2 Firms with $935K in Fines, Back Pay for Denying Employees Sick Leave
| Heather Cherone
Chicago hit two firms — including global snack food giant Mondelez International — with $935,000 in back pay and fines for running afoul of the city’s sick leave law, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed Thursday to step up efforts to protect workers.
Lollapalooza Organizers Donating $2.2M to Expand Arts Education in CPS
| Matt Masterson
As the massive four-day music festival gets underway in Grant Park, event organizers announced the launch of a fund that will support arts education over the next five years for more than 100,000 students within Chicago Public Schools.
2 of Monty and Rose’s Chicks to be Named at Ceremony Friday
| Kristen Thometz
The big reveal will take place at a beachside ceremony with representatives from the Chicago Piping Plovers Team and members of its name-selection committee. Find out how you can tune in virtually.
Pritzker Signs Bills Expanding Affordable Housing Funding, Incentives
| Kristen Thometz
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Thursday that creates new resources and incentives to finance affordable housing across the state and helps low-income residents access assistance for heat and other utilities.
Biden to Allow Eviction Moratorium to Expire Saturday
| Associated Press
The Biden administration announced Thursday it will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled the moratorium would only be extended until the end of the month.
Sunisa Lee Takes Gold in Women’s Gymnastics Final
| Associated Press
An American finished atop the podium in the women’s Olympic gymnastics all-around, just like always. Sunisa Lee became the fifth straight American woman to claim the Olympic title on Thursday while defending champion Simone Biles watched from the stands.
July 28, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Are you eligible for a lead water line replacement? COVID-19 rates tread risky territory. New laws boost Illinois’ LGBTQ rights. Frida Kahlo’s untold stories in a new exhibit, and more.
New Illinois Laws on Marriage Certificates More Inclusive of LGBTQ Residents
| Blair Paddock
For transgender and gender non-conforming people, the process of changing your name and getting documents to reflect those changes can be a burden. How two new laws in Illinois aim to ease that process.
Chris Ware Explores the Place ‘Where Comics Came to Life’ in New Exhibit
| Marc Vitali
We check out a new show at the Chicago Cultural Center that makes the case that the comic strip was born and raised in Chicago. Our tour guides? Artist Chris Ware and cultural historian Tim Samuelson.
City Expands Eligibility for Lead Service Line Program Amid Slow Start
| Heather Cherone
Lead service lines connect approximately 400,000 Chicago homes with water mains buried under city streets, and can leach a brain-damaging chemical into drinking water.
Will Mask Mandates Return to Chicago as COVID-19 Cases Surge?
| Quinn Myers
Consider wearing a mask indoors, even if you’re fully vaccinated. That’s the newest recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and some experts say they expect mask mandates, not just recommendations, to return in Chicago and elsewhere.
‘OK Not to Be OK’: Mental Health Takes Top Role at Olympics
| Associated Press
By pulling on her white sweatsuit in the middle of Tuesday night’s Olympic gymnastics meet, and by doing it with a gold medal hanging in the balance, Simone Biles might very well have redefined the mental health discussion that’s been coursing through sports for the past year.
Five Takeaways From Gripping Officer Testimony at the First January 6 Hearing
| CNN
The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol held its first hearing on Tuesday with harrowing testimony from four officers who shared their stories of being attacked by the rioters.
Interim CPS CEO Wants to Engage With 100K Students at Risk of Not Re-Enrolling This Fall
| Matt Masterson
Speaking Wednesday at his first Board of Education meeting since he was appointed as interim Chicago Public Schools CEO, Jose Torres said the district’s “true north” goal before reopening schools must be to make sure at-risk students are prepared to return to CPS.
Illinois Records More than 2,000 COVID-19 Cases for 1st Time Since May
| Kristen Thometz
The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing over the past few weeks and on Wednesday surpassed 2,000 for the first time in a single day since early May, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.
Severe Storms in Midwest Could Produce Hurricane-Force Winds, Bringing Widespread Damage and Power Outages
| CNN
The Midwest, including most of Wisconsin, will be at risk from possible tornadoes, strong storms and hurricane-force winds Wednesday as the region is under a level 4 out of 5 threat of severe weather.
10 Things to Do this Weekend: July 29-Aug. 1
| Kristen Thometz
A massive music festival, Italian eats, a circus under the stars and sports memorabilia usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Racism of Rioters Takes Center Stage in Jan. 6 Hearing
| Associated Press
It had only been hinted at in previous public examinations of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection: Scores of rioters attacked police officers not just with makeshift weapons, stun guns and fists, but with racist slurs and accusations of treason.
Should Vaccinated People Mask Up with COVID-19 Cases Rising?
| Associated Press
In places where the virus is surging, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that vaccinated people return to wearing masks in public indoor places.
Special Prosecutor Chosen to Investigate Cook County State’s Attorney Handling of Jackie Wilson Case
| Matt Masterson
A Cook County judge has appointed Lawrence Oliver to serve as special prosecutor in the case of Jackie Wilson, who wrongfully spent decades behind bars for a double murder he didn’t commit.
Illinois Health Officials Recommend Masks Indoors, Even for Fully Vaccinated
| Kristen Thometz
Echoing a masking announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois health officials are recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in school settings and in areas where COVID-19 is spreading.
Pritzker Repeals HIV Criminalization Law, Expands Infertility Coverage for Same-Sex Couples
| CNN
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed into law a legislation package that aims to advance the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals by, among other provisions, expanding infertility health care coverage for same-sex couples and repealing an HIV criminalization law.
Olympic Champ Simone Biles Withdraws from All-Around Competition
| Associated Press
Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title. The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being.
Local Street Markets Adjust to Pandemic Restrictions
| Acacia Hernandez
After a challenging year, Chicago’s street markets are adapting to new health and safety standards, and showing signs of recovery.
UChicago-Led Team Discovers Way to Dramatically Boost Crop Production
| Paul Caine
In a potentially world-changing discovery, scientists led by a team from the University of Chicago have discovered a way to manipulate RNA to dramatically boost crop production.
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Northwestern President Michael Schill, Who Led University Amid Hazing Scandal and Funding Freeze, Announces Resignation
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Pritzker Says He’ll File Suit to Stop ‘Nefarious’ Plan to Send National Guard, Military to Chicago
Under Threat of ICE Strikes, El Grito Canceled and Communities Prepare for Mexican Independence Day Celebrations
CPS Rebuffs Remote Learning Calls, Says School Remains ‘Best and Safest’ Place for Students Amid ICE and National Guard Fears
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