Stories by WTTW News

July 21, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the July 21, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Officials Say No ‘Backroom’ Deal for General Iron, But a ‘Clear Path’ to Reopen

Opponents of the Lincoln Park metal shredder want General Iron closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but if the facility checks all the right boxes, it could eventually restart operations, officials said. 

How Does This Infectious Disease Expert Unwind? By Making Soap

Dr. Emily Landon is one of the city’s preeminent experts on the coronavirus, which has dominated her life for the past six months. To unwind, Landon makes her own soap – a hobby she started years ago.

Trump Not Planning ‘Portland-Style’ Deployment of Federal Agents in Chicago: Lightfoot

Mayor Lori Lightfoot sought to calm fears Tuesday that the president plans to send 150 unidentified, secret federal agents to Chicago, saying she has been told it will not be a “Portland-style” deployment. “We do not welcome dictatorship,” she said. 

Lightfoot Orders Visitors to Chicago from Kansas to Quarantine for 2 Weeks

For the second week in a row, Mayor Lori Lightfoot expanded the city’s quarantine order. Starting Friday, visitors from Kansas will be required to quarantine for two weeks in effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

Spotlight Politics: ComEd Bribery Scheme Ensnares Madigan

The agreement ComEd reached to plead guilty to one count of bribery on Friday sent shock waves through the political world when “Public Official A” was described as the speaker of the Illinois House. 

How Students in Waukegan Juggle High School with Corporate Jobs

The pandemic has upended how we work and how our children attend school. For one school network, Cristo Rey schools, the students attend school and work. Here’s a look at their model — and how it’s changing.

‘Party is Over’ for Downtown Landlords as Leasing Dips, Vacancies Rise

The gleaming skyline that makes Chicago an architectural wonder is primarily made up of office towers. But those glassy marvels have been largely empty since March. A look at the prospects for downtown commercial real estate.

Chicago’s Cultural Institutions Reopen With New Restrictions

Chicago’s cultural institutions are beginning to reopen after shutting their doors in mid-March as the coronavirus spread. What you can expect on your next trip.

Lightfoot to Trump: If You Want to Help Chicago, Don’t Send Agents, Develop ‘Moral Courage’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says President Donald Trump’s plan to send 150 federal agents to Chicago would do much more harm than good, warning the president in a letter Monday that agents would “foment a wave massive wave of opposition.”

Chicago Voters to Weigh in on Citywide Plan, Broadband Internet, Assault Weapons on Nov. 3

Chicago voters will get a chance to weigh in on three issues of citywide concern during the Nov. 3 election — but they will not get a chance to have their say on the hot-button issues of police accountability or the sale of e-cigarettes.

Aldermen Greenlight Plan to Pay $4.95M to Settle Lawsuit Over CPD Impound Program

Aldermen agreed on Monday to settle a class-action lawsuit that claimed the city’s impound program was unconstitutional, and made it impossible for Chicagoans to get their cars back after they were towed away.

CDC Study Finds Measures Taken by Cook County Sheriff Mitigated COVID-19 Spread in Jail

Through the use of aggressive strategies and widespread testing, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office was able to successfully mitigate the spread of COVID-19 inside the Cook County Jail, according to a new study.

Aldermen Agree to Pay $500K to Settle Case That Sought 48 Years’ Worth of Misconduct Files

Aldermen on Monday advanced an agreement to settle a lawsuit that sought to force the Chicago Police Department to turn over nearly five decades’ worth of secret files detailing allegations of misconduct by officers.

Teenage Mariachi Band Shares Culture, Connects to Roots Through Music

A talented band of Chicago teens recorded a new album during the pandemic. We met members of Mariachi Herencia de Mexico on a sunny day in Pilsen where they shared their musical heritage.

Chicago Violence Sparks War of Words Between Trump, Mayor

The war of words between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and President Donald Trump escalated Monday, with the mayor rejecting any suggestion that federal troops should be dispatched as they were in Portland, Oregon, and Trump all but promising to send them.

Gov. Pritzker: Wear a Face Mask Every Time You Leave Home

As Chicago reimposes restrictions to stop a recent uptick in coronavirus cases, Gov. J.B. Pritzker implored residents to wear face coverings to “protect the gains we’ve made” against the virus.

Lightfoot Orders Bars to Stop Indoor Service Amid Coronavirus Increase

Chicago bars will no longer be able to serve customers indoors starting Friday as part of a rollback ordered by Mayor Lori Lightfoot following an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

July 20, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the July 20, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Police, Lightfoot Call Friday Protest ‘Ambush,’ ‘Anarchy’ as Protesters Decry Police Brutality

Police Superintendent David Brown said officers faced organized mob action “designed to provoke violent responses” during a protest that started peacefully but turned violent, leaving several officers and protesters injured.

Thousands to Walk Off Job to Protest Racial Inequality

Organizers of a national workers strike say tens of thousands are set to walk off the job Monday in more than two dozen U.S. cities to protest systemic racism and economic inequality that has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.

Protesters Gather Near Mayor’s Home Following Clash With Police in Grant Park

Hundreds of protesters gathered near Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Logan Square home late Saturday, continuing calls to defund the police, end police presence in Chicago Public Schools and implement remote learning in the fall amid the pandemic.

For 105 Days, Kenwood Couple Made Their Front Porch a Stage

Married musicians and educators Yakini Ajanaku and Jean-Paul Coffy kicked off the daily concert series in March as a way to help their block stay connected through the long days of quarantine due to COVID-19. 

Trump Not Ready to Commit to Election Results if He Loses

President Donald Trump is refusing to publicly commit to accepting the results of the upcoming White House election, recalling a similar threat he made weeks before the 2016 vote.

Petition Urges Trader Joe’s to Change Ethnic Food Labels

Responding to calls for Trader Joe’s to stop labeling its international food products with ethnic-sounding names, the grocery store chain said it has been in a yearslong process of repackaging those products.

Police Contracts Can Stand in The Way of Accountability

Collective bargaining agreements for officers provide protections that stand in the way of accountability, even when the federal government is overseeing an agency through a consent decree, experts said. 
 

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