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Former State Sen. Sandoval Pleads Guilty to Bribery, Tax Fraud
| Amanda Vinicky
Instead of spending Tuesday in Springfield for the start of Illinois’ 2020 legislative session, former state Sen. Martin Sandoval spent it in federal court in Chicago, where he admitted to taking a quarter of a million dollars in bribes.
Trump’s Legal Team Concludes Oral Arguments in Impeachment Trial
| Andrea Guthmann
The president’s legal team has wrapped up its impeachment defense. What’s next? And what to make of the trial so far? We ask law professor and former Supreme Court clerk Carolyn Shapiro and journalist Chris Bury.
Gamblers Still Waiting for Sports Betting in Illinois
| Paul Caine
It’s the biggest sports betting event of the year, but if you want to bet on the Super Bowl legally in Illinois this weekend, you’re out of luck.
History Museum Acquires 5 Million Photos from Chicago Sun-Times
| WTTW News
Journalism, we often hear, is a “first draft of history.” That makes old newspaper photos an excellent window into the past. We get a peek.
A Look Inside Bridgeport’s Ramova Theatre Ahead of Proposed Renovation
| Quinn Myers
For decades, the Ramova Theatre has languished in neglect. But after years of neighborhood activism and a new redevelopment proposal, the old movie house could soon be transformed into an updated version of its former self.
Crain’s Headlines: Blue Cross Parent Company Cuts 400 Workers
| WTTW News
Health Care Service Corporation is shedding about 400 workers as it positions itself for growth in a rapidly changing industry.
60 Babies, 1 ‘Sunsuit’: A Tradition of Family Unity and Love
| Jay Shefsky
A baby outfit made by a nun in the Philippines in 1945 has now been shared by three generations and 60 newborns. We meet the latest member of the family to wear it.
Get Ready for Big Red Line Changes, CTA and City Warn
| Nick Blumberg
Red Line riders have several years of North Side station closures, construction work and delays ahead of them as the CTA and contractor Walsh-Fluor work to rebuild a miles-long section of the century-old “L.”
How to Avoid the High-Calorie Punch from Super Bowl Foods This Sunday
| Kristen Thometz
Super Bowl Sunday is a massive day for sports fans – and high-calorie foods. Get tips for trimming the fat off some game-day favorites without punting on flavor.
Jussie Smollett Case Still Top of Mind One Year After Incident
| Matt Masterson
Wednesday marks one year since Jussie Smollett reported to police he’d been the victim of a bigoted attack near his Streeterville home. The case continues to make regular headlines, particularly as Cook County’s state’s attorney seeks re-election. We review the case.
Timeline: The Jussie Smollett Incident
| Matt Masterson
On Jan. 29, 2019, Jussie Smollett reported to Chicago police that he’d been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. We review the turning points in the case.
Revisiting the Power and Pain of ‘Top Girls’ in Bristling Remy Bumppo Production
| Hedy Weiss
The all-female cast of Caryl Churchill’s play made a statement from the very start, and now, the eight bravura actresses in the current cast turn in a collection of blistering performances that suggest the intentional irony of using the word “girls” (rather than “women”) in the title.
Recycling Do-Over? Lightfoot Asks Streets & San to Study Other Cities’ Best Practices
| Patty Wetli
Is it time to hit the reset button on Chicago’s beleaguered Blue Cart recycling program? The city is preparing to conduct a study of the nation’s waste management best practices as it looks for ways to improve.
US Beefs Up Screening of Travelers for New Virus from China
| Associated Press
U.S. health officials are expanding their checks of international travelers for signs of a worrisome new virus from China, even as they say the risk to Americans so far is very low.
Chicago White Sox GM Wants Team That Can Win ‘On an Annual Basis’
| Jay Smith
It’s been a busy winter for Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn, but after a flurry of moves, it may be time for him to rest a bit. “I think for the most part, the heavy lifting for the offseason is done,” Hahn said.
Ex-Illinois Lawmaker Charged With Red-Light Camera Bribery
| Associated Press
Federal prosecutors filed bribery and tax charges on Monday against former Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval, alleging he accepted payments in exchange for supporting costly red-light camera programs across the state.
Election Security Check: Chicago’s New Voting Machines
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois voters can begin casting ballots for the March 17 primary as soon as next week. Will new voting machines in Chicago and suburban Cook County provide better security?
The Fight Against the Coronavirus – And What You Need to Know
| Blair Paddock
There’s now one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Illinois. Health officials say the risk to the general public in the U.S. is low. But what’s being done to fight the virus?
Trump’s Lawyers Resume Defense After Bolton Bombshell
| Paul Caine
The president’s lawyers on Monday resumed their impeachment defense that began on Saturday – but there was an elephant in the room.
Crain’s Headlines: Amazon Considers Pullman for New Distribution Center
| WTTW News
The e-commerce giant keeps adding more warehouses across the country to store and distribute products, and it looks like Pullman is one of its next targets.
Report: Chicago Police Prioritize Arrests of Sex Sellers Over Buyers, Traffickers
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation found that while overall prostitution-related arrests in Chicago fell by half between 2013 and 2017, the arrest of sellers of sex made up an increasingly large percentage of that total.
Now for Some News to Brighten Your Day: Sun to Set at 5 P.M. Tuesday
| Patty Wetli
Winter is about to turn a major psychological corner: For the first time in nearly three months, 9-to-5-ers will see the sun when they leave work.
Warm Winter Doesn’t Halt Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition
| Evan Garcia
Every year, artists meet about 80 miles northwest of Chicago to sculpt works of art from an unusual material. We take a look at their frozen creations at the 34th annual competition in Rockford.
Swept Away by a Hurricane of Love and Betrayal in ‘Once on This Island’
| Hedy Weiss
The show is full of exuberant dancing and performances by strong actor-singers, but the crucial intimacy of its storytelling too often gets lost in the carnival atmosphere that has been generated to give this 90-minute gem a Broadway gloss.
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