Stories by Angel Idowu
‘The Founders’ Art Project Connects Communities Along CTA Green Line
| Angel Idowu
An interpretation of Chicago’s founders has been floating across the city in an effort to connect communities from Austin to Englewood. We explore the Floating Museum’s Cultural Transit Assembly.
CPS CEO Janice Jackson on a Possible Teachers Strike and the School Year Ahead
| Nick Blumberg
The Chicago Teachers Union on Wednesday set a date for a strike authorization vote. It’s the latest turn in what’s been a contentious round of contract negotiations. CPS CEO Janice Jackson discusses that and more.
Naperville City Council Says ‘No’ to Legal Sale of Marijuana – For Now
| Tonia Hill
Marijuana sales for recreational use will be legal in Illinois come January, but not all cities in the state are on board. Two Naperville City Council members join us to discuss how that city is handling the change.
What Congestion Pricing Could Look Like in Chicago
| Quinn Myers
In her “State of the City” speech last week, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she wants to reduce traffic congestion in the city – and make money in the process. Could congestion pricing come to Chicago?
UChicago Podcast Strives to Bridge the Civil-Military Divide
| Nicole Cardos
How much do service members and civilians interact? Some say not enough. But a new podcast out of the University of Chicago aims to change that.
Restoring Artwork and Treasures at a Chicago Conservation Lab
| Marc Vitali
We visit The Conservation Center, the country’s largest private conservation lab, for a look at how they are rejuvenating an artful piece of Chinese history.
Parents Sound Alarm on Vaping After Daughter’s Near-Death Experience
| Kristen Thometz
“We hope that our daughter’s life-threatening ordeal can serve as a warning to parents and teens alike. Vaping is dangerous and can kill you,” said Ruby Johnson, whose daughter, Piper, was hospitalized for a week after vaping.
Bus Driver Fired, CTA Sued After Cyclist Struck by Bus in River North
| Nick Blumberg
A Chicago Transit Authority bus driver who racked up more than a dozen traffic tickets before working at the agency is out of a job and facing a lawsuit, along with his former employer, following a nonfatal June crash that sent a Chicago cyclist to the hospital.
September 5, 2019 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Sept. 5, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Could Illinois Be the Next State to Ban Balloon Releases?
| Alex Ruppenthal
Five U.S. states have passed laws regulating the intentional release of balloons amid growing concerns over the risk they pose to wildlife. Illinois could be one of the next states to take action.
Cook County Maps Story of Opioid Epidemic with New Website
| Kristen Thometz
A newly launched website seeks to convey the seriousness of the opioid epidemic locally while providing resources and honoring those who have died, says Dr. Kiran Joshi of the Cook County Department of Public Health.
Aldermen, Advocates Want City Tax to Support Homeless Students, Families
| Matt Masterson
More than 16,000 CPS students dealt with some form of homelessness last school year. Now, Chicago aldermen and a local nonprofit are calling on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to support what they believe could be an “immediate solution.”
Hurricane Dorian Rakes Carolinas as It Moves Up the Coast
| Associated Press
Hurricane Dorian raked the Carolina coast with howling, window-rattling winds and sideways rain Thursday, spinning off tornadoes and knocking out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses.
Early Learning Providers Concerned About New City Funding Contract
| Brandis Friedman
The city is making changes to the way neighborhood early learning centers receive funding, and some providers say the changes are destabilizing to families and communities.
Spotlight Politics: Lightfoot Leans on Springfield as Chicago Teachers Ready to Strike
| Amanda Vinicky
Chicago students returned to their classrooms this week, but there are early signs they could be back on break come early October. Our politics team takes on that story and more in our weekly roundtable.
Make Salsa and Pico de Gallo with Fresh, Homegrown Ingredients
| Paul Caine
Organic gardener Jeanne Nolan and chef Nicole Putzel show us what’s possible (and delicious) for local gardeners – even if you don’t have much space.
New Illinois Law Boosts Funding for Clean Water Infrastructure, Jobs
| Alex Ruppenthal
The new Clean Water Workforce Pipeline program will train workers for water-related jobs, such as those required for treating wastewater and replacing lead pipes.
Ask Geoffrey: An Airline Taxi Service in Chicago
| Quinn Myers
What if instead of hailing a cab or a private car to get to O’Hare or Midway from downtown Chicago, you could hail an airplane? Geoffrey Baer is here with the story of a company that once offered that very service.
The Legal Battle Over Lincoln Yards $1.3B TIF District
| Alexandra Silets
The battle over the massive $6 billion Lincoln Yards development is far from over. We discuss the controversial project with Aneel Chablani, chief counsel of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, and 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Sept. 5-8
| Kristen Thometz
Street festivals, retro tunes, cultural celebrations, opera under the stars and a jump in the river usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Bears, Packers Kick Off NFL’s 100th Season Thursday Night
| Crystin Immel
Are the Bears’ kicking woes a thing of the past? Former Bears offensive lineman and WTTW News football analyst James “Big Cat” Williams kicks off the season with a preview of the Bears-Packers showdown.
Illinois Tech Becomes 1st University in Midwest to Offer Degree in Artificial Intelligence
| Paul Caine
This fall, students at the Illinois Institute of Technology will be among the first in the country to have the option of pursuing an undergraduate degree in AI. Aron Culotta, director of the new program, tells us more.
September 4, 2019 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Sept. 4, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Jussie Smollett’s Attorneys Detail Why Civil Suit Should Be Tossed
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for the former “Empire” actor claim that simply filing a police report doesn’t typically result in an investigation as extensive as the one Chicago police undertook earlier this year, which cost $130,000.
‘We Need Help’: Rescuers in Bahamas Face a Ruined Landscape
| Associated Press
A day after the most powerful hurricane on record ever to hit the country finished mauling the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, emergency workers had yet to reach some stricken areas.
April 2020 Trial Date Set in R. Kelly’s Federal Case in Chicago
| Associated Press
A judge has set an April 27, 2020 trial date in R. Kelly’s federal case in Chicago that accuses the R&B star of child pornography and obstruction of justice.
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