Stories by WTTW News
Crain’s Headlines: Blue Cross Parent Company Cuts Dozens of Jobs
| WTTW News
Crain’s has learned that Health Care Service Corporation, the parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, is cutting dozens of employees from its staff.
CTA Bus Driver Fired After Striking Cyclist Racked Up Overtime Pay
| Nick Blumberg
A Chicago bus driver who was fired after running over a cyclist in River North in June racked up more than 532 hours of overtime in 2019 – including on the day of that nonfatal crash, according to records obtained by WTTW News.
20 New Illinois Laws to Know in 2020
| Kristen Thometz
From legal pot to a ban on animal-tested cosmetics, more than 250 new laws take effect in Illinois on Jan. 1. Here are 20 you should know.
AP Explains: What a Trump Impeachment Trial Might Look Like
| Associated Press
With the House of Representatives racing toward an impeachment vote, President Donald Trump will likely become the third president to face a Senate trial. A look at what’s known about that process.
New Collection of ‘Climate Fiction’ Explores the World in 2040
| Quinn Myers
What will the world look like in 20 years if climate change goes unchecked? That’s the premise of “2040 A.D.,” a new collection of short stories that fall under an emerging literary genre known as climate fiction.
Inside Uber’s Dramatic Rise – and Its CEO’s Fall
| Nick Blumberg
When Uber burst onto the scene a decade ago, it dramatically reshaped how we get around. But the story inside the company was just as dramatic. Mike Isaac, author of the new book “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber,” explains.
December 17, 2019 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Dec. 17, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Challenge in Ex-Chicago Bear Girlfriend’s Death to Proceed
| Associated Press
A suburban Chicago judge ruled Tuesday that a woman convicted of murder in the 2007 shooting death of ex-Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle’s pregnant girlfriend can proceed with her effort for a new trial or evidentiary hearing.
Giuliani: Trump ‘Relied on’ His Claims About US Diplomat
| Associated Press
In an interview with The New York Times, Giuliani portrayed himself as directly involved in the effort to oust Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, and he provided details indicating Trump’s knowledge of that effort.
Illinois Driver Imprisoned for 26th Revoked License Charge
| Associated Press
A suburban Chicago man who has spent decades getting arrested and convicted of driving on a revoked license was sentenced Monday to six years in prison after his 26th charge for the crime.
A $50 Gift for Every Illinois Baby, Courtesy of Taxpayers
| Amanda Vinicky
Among the new laws taking effect in 2020 is a program that seeks to give Illinois children a leg up, before they’re even able to crawl.
Fight Over President Trump’s Finances Lands at Supreme Court
| Alexandra Silets
Can President Donald Trump block Congress from seeing his financial records? The Supreme Court has agreed to hear three cases to determine whether he can keep them private.
Crain’s Headlines: Boeing to Temporarily Halt 737 Max Production
| WTTW News
Bloomberg reports that Boeing will temporarily halt production of its grounded 737 Max jetliner next month, according to a person familiar with the matter.
City Attorneys Ask Federal Judge to Toss Jussie Smollett Countersuit
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys from Chicago’s Law Department argue in a new filing Monday that the former “Empire” star’s countersuit should be thrown out, in part, because that criminal case could be reopened.
Deeply Rooted Dancers Set the Stage on Fire
| Hedy Weiss
Two questions invariably come to mind when I see Deeply Rooted Dance Theater: Why is this company not more famous? And why isn’t it championed as Chicago’s counterpart of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater?
Lawsuit: ‘Deliberate Indifference’ of Board of Education Allowed Sexual Assault
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Board of Education and a West Side charter school are being sued by a female student who claims the school’s ex-basketball coach sexually assaulted her multiple times last year.
December 16, 2019 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Dec. 16, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Gumball Machine Pays Tribute to Art-O-Mat With a Poetic Twist
| Angel Idowu
If you spent any time as a child at the Chicago Cultural Center, you might remember the Art-o-mat machine that dispensed a piece of art in exchange for two tokens. That same machine has inspired a new concept for storytelling through poetry.
‘The Light in the Piazza’ Dimmed By a Grand-Scale Venue
| Hedy Weiss
Created for Broadway, “The Light in the Piazza” is a profoundly intimate work and belongs in a space that can fully embrace that intimacy. The Lyric Opera House, where it is now being presented, is not such a place.
House Vote, And on to the Senate: What’s Next in Impeachment
| Associated Press
The House will vote on the impeachment of President Donald Trump this week after spending the past three months investigating the president’s dealings in Ukraine and deciding whether his behavior was grave enough to qualify as high crimes and misdemeanors.
Packers Playoff Bound, Beat Bears in Rivals’ 200th Game
| Associated Press
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers’ wait to see if a long-time foe would help them clinch a playoff spot was a whole lot easier than the lateral-filled final play they had to survive to beat the Chicago Bears in the rivals’ 200th game.
‘Shop Early’: US Christmas Trees Supplies Tight, Prices Up
| Associated Press
Christmas tree supplies are tight again this year across the U.S., depending upon location and seller. The industry is still bouncing back from the Great Recession and trying to win people back from a shift toward artificial trees when times were especially tough.
Holiday Money-Saving Strategies That Can Backfire
| Associated Press
Holiday marketers have your number, and they know how to entice you to spend. However, you can position yourself to recognize – and overcome – overspending triggers.
The Week in Review: Trump Lashes Out After House Panel Vote
| Nick Blumberg
The House moves forward on Trump impeachment. Interim top cop Charlie Beck makes a big change. Is Chicago equipped to weather a recession? And the Bears head to Lambeau for a rematch with the Packers.
Durbin, Krishnamoorthi Propose Vaping Fee to Fund Prevention Program
| Kristen Thometz
As part of an effort to steer youth away from vaping, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi are proposing a new fee on e-cigarette manufacturers and importers to fund prevention programs.
Report: Patients Misdiagnosed in Catholic Hospitals to Get Contraception
| Kristen Thometz
Medical providers at Catholic hospitals face multiple barriers to providing contraceptive care to women, and such restrictions have prompted workarounds that can be harmful to patients, a new report from the University of Chicago finds.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
2026 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
MWRD Announces Projects to Remedy Stench of Thornton Reservoir
Logan Prison Is Moving 140 Miles North. Here’s What Employees, Incarcerated Women Have to Say
Chicago Taxpayers Spent $259M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits in 2025: City Analysis
Illinois Confirms 194 Probable Cases of Cyclosporiasis as Parasitic Inspection Spreads
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter