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All Eyes on Illinois Commerce Commission as Pipeline Expansion Finally Gets a Hearing
| Patty Wetli
Lawyers began presenting evidence Thursday as the Illinois Commerce Commission weighs a petition to double the throughput of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline, which runs through the state.
R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty; Feds Say New Charges Planned
| Associated Press
R&B singer R. Kelly on Thursday pleaded not guilty to an updated federal indictment that includes child pornography charges and allegations involving a new accuser, while prosecutors said more charges alleging yet another victim are upcoming.
Will Illinois Have an All-White Supreme Court Bench? That’s up to Voters
| Amanda Vinicky
The only Illinois Supreme Court seat held by a person of color is up for grabs, and Cook County voters will decide who wins the 10-year term.
How SARS Research is Helping Scientists Explore Treatment for Coronavirus
| Alexandra Silets
A team of doctors and researchers based in Chicago has discovered that a protein in the coronavirus could be treated with drugs that had been in development for SARS. We get an update on their work.
10 Things to Know about El Greco (Including His Brazen Offer to Repaint the Sistine Chapel)
| Marc Vitali
We preview the exhibition “El Greco: Ambition and Defiance” at the Art Institute of Chicago, which partnered with the Louvre and the Grand Palais for the show, and learn about the man behind the masterworks.
Dance is the Name of the Game on Chicago Stages as Alvin Ailey Company Leads the Way
| Hedy Weiss
Chicago’s dance card is full to bursting. And one of the city’s most beloved “visitors” – the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – is now drawing its usual huge crowds to the Auditorium Theatre.
Crain’s Headlines: Furniture Retailer Art Van Shuts Down Operations
| WTTW News
Art Van, one of the largest furniture retailers in the Midwest, announced Thursday it will shut down all of its 180 stores, including the two dozen it currently operates in Illinois.
Chicago’s One Earth Film Fest Features Flick About City’s Beloved Pair of Piping Plovers
| Patty Wetli
Remember those endangered piping plovers that captured Chicagoans’ hearts? They’re back — as the stars of the documentary “Monty and Rose,” screening this month during the One Earth Film Festival.
TUTA Heightens the Shock Value in ‘Hedda Gabler’ With Blasts of Music
| Hedy Weiss
When it comes to revivals of Henrik Ibsen’s plays in this era of neo-feminism, “A Doll’s House” attracts the most attention. But it is the title character in “Hedda Gabler” who takes the cake. And in this new production, she has never been more compelling and convincing.
5th Person Tests Positive for Coronavirus in Cook County
| Kristen Thometz
A man in his 20s has tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling to Italy, marking the fifth case of the virus in Illinois. The patient is hospitalized in isolation at Rush University Medical Center, where he’s reported to be in stable condition.
Handwashing is the First Defense Against Coronavirus. Are You Doing it Right?
| Patty Wetli
Handwashing. It’s something we’ve all be doing since we were toddlers and, as it turns out, we’ve probably been doing it wrong. The World Health Organization shows us how it’s really done.
Chicago Cops in Station Shooting Stripped of Police Powers
| Associated Press
Chicago’s interim police superintendent stripped two officers of their police powers pending the outcome of the investigation into their roles in the non-fatal shooting of an unarmed suspect inside a Red Line L station last week.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: March 5-8
| Kristen Thometz
Prehistoric creatures, a costumed shopping cart race, thousands of flowers, and an environmental film festival usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Louisiana Abortion Law
| Paul Caine
Abortion rights activists rally downtown as the Supreme Court considers a restrictive abortion law in Louisiana.
Chicago by ‘L’: New WTTW Special Tours Chicago’s Neighborhoods
| Quinn Myers
Chicagoans may never agree about sports teams or local politics, but if there’s one thing that unites the city, it’s our elevated train lines — known, of course, as the “L.” Geoffrey Baer has this preview of the highly anticipated show.
Crain’s Headlines: Coronavirus Outbreak Disrupts Travel Demand
| WTTW News
United Airlines aims to trim flights, freeze hiring and halt merit pay raises as it grapples with a swift drop in travel demand because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Field Museum Exhibit Honors First African American Taxidermist
| Quinn Myers
Taxidermy – the process of preserving animals – isn’t usually classified as fine art. But the Field Museum is challenging that idea by shining a light on the artist behind many of the museum’s own examples.
66 Divvy Stations, 10 Miles of Bike Lanes Coming to South Side, City Says
| Nick Blumberg
The long-awaited expansion of Chicago’s Divvy bike-share program on the Far South and Southwest sides is set to kick off this spring — and some new bike lanes and pedal-assist bikes are on the way too, according to city officials.
Chicago Health Officials: Coronavirus Risk Remains Low
| Kristen Thometz
There have been four confirmed cases of coronavirus in Illinois, but health officials expect that number to rise as the state expands its capacity to test for the virus. Still, the immediate risk to the general public remains low, they say.
Supreme Court Divided in 1st Big Abortion Case of Trump Era
| Associated Press
A seemingly divided Supreme Court struggled Wednesday with its first major abortion case of the Trump era, leaving Chief Justice John Roberts as the likely deciding vote.
Food Stamp Change Fuels Anxiety as States Try to Curb Impact
| Associated Press
New Trump administration rules taking effect April 1 put hundreds of thousands of people at risk of losing their food stamp benefits. They hit particularly hard in places like Illinois, where roughly 90,000 will be affected statewide.
Patient at UChicago Medicine Tests Negative for Coronavirus
| Kristen Thometz
A person suspected of having the novel coronavirus who was admitted to the University of Chicago Medical Center earlier this week has tested negative for the illness.
Takeaways From Super Tuesday: Joe Biden’s Big Bounce
| Associated Press
Super Tuesday is the biggest day on the primary calendar, and the results seem very likely to reshape the Democratic presidential race in ways few people could have predicted a couple of weeks ago. Here are some takeaways from the results.
Happy Birthday, Chicago! And Tiffany’s! And Worcestershire Sauce! And the Van Buren Presidency!
| Patty Wetli
Chicago was incorporated as a city March 4, 1837, the same day Martin Van Buren was inaugurated president. What else happened in 1837? Turns out, a lot.
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