Stories by Associated Press
US Traffic Deaths Fell 3.6% in 2023, the 2nd Straight Yearly Drop. But Nearly 41,000 People Died
| Associated Press
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was the second year in a row that fatalities decreased. The agency also released final numbers for 2022 on Monday, saying that 42,514 people died in crashes.
At Least 7 People Killed by Gunfire Across Chicago Over Easter Holiday Weekend: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to the Chicago Police Department, at least 32 people were shot between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. That total included two separate mass shootings that involved nine total victims.
CTA Data Shows Reliance on Overtime, Chronic FOIA Delays and Years of Mischaracterized Records
| Nick Blumberg
The CTA issued a correction to years worth of data on worker overtime provided to WTTW News, after the transit agency discovered the records did not accurately reflect actual hours worked. The issue also highlights the agency’s slow response on public records requests.
State Spends $73M to Protect Illinois’ Only Undeveloped Lake Michigan Shoreline
| Cole Longcor — Capitol News Illinois
Illinois Beach State Park in Zion on the state’s northern border contains about 10% of Illinois’ Lake Michigan shoreline, with 6.5 miles. But the undeveloped shoreline can erode up to 100 feet per year.
The Baltimore Collapse Focused Attention on Vital Bridges. Thousands Are in Poor Shape Across the US
| Associated Press
Iowa has the most poor bridges, followed by Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri, according to an Associated Press analysis.
Week in Review: O’Neill Burke Declares Victory in State’s Attorney Race; City Council Committee Wants Transparency on Migrant Evictions
| Paul Caine
Eileen O’Neill Burke declares victory in the tight Cook County state’s attorney race. Chicago City Council wants migrant evictions oversight. And Johnson supports public money to develop a lakefront stadium.
Eileen O’Neill Burke Wins Democratic Cook County State’s Attorney Race: AP
| Heather Cherone
Eileen O’Neill Burke declared victory Friday afternoon after the latest vote count showed her leading by 1,566 votes in a race where more than 527,000 votes were cast. O’Neill Burke said she had a “mathematically insurmountable lead.”
Gambling Meets Magic: Australian Magician Offers Insider’s View on Card Cheating and Casino Security
| Marc Vitali
A magician who once worked in casino security is doubling down on revealing the secrets behind card tricks. And there’s a catch: Everyone must sign a confidentiality contract before the show.
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black Man to Win Supporting Actor Oscar, Dies at 87
| Associated Press
Louis Gossett Jr. broke through on the small screen as Fiddler in the groundbreaking 1977 miniseries “Roots.” He won an Oscar for his performance in “An Officer and a Gentleman” opposite Richard Gere and Debra Winger.
Examining Donald Trump’s Support Among Latinos in Light of a New Poll
| Sean Keenehan
According to a poll by The New York Times and Siena College, Hispanic voters could be favoring former President Donald J. Trump over President Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election, but sample size limits exact conclusions about the support.
A Potent Planet-Warming Gas is Seeping Out of US Landfills at Rates Higher Than Previously Thought, Scientists Say
| CNN
Landfills tend to be a less well-known methane source, but they also have a huge impact, estimated at around 20% of global human-caused methane emissions.
13 People Hospitalized After CTA Bus Crash in Chatham Friday Morning
| Matt Masterson
More than a dozen people were injured, including at least three seriously, after a crash between a CTA bus and a van in Chatham Friday morning.
Appeals Court Skeptical of Mike Bost’s Case to Stop Ballot Counts After Election Day
| Hannah Meisel — Capitol News Illinois
A panel of federal judges seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law.
It’s Increasingly Difficult for Bilingual Parents to Raise Bilingual Children, Research on Chicago Spanish Speakers Finds
| Emily Soto
Research shows it’s becoming harder for bilingual speakers to raise bilingual children — but also points to factors that can improve opportunities for Spanish development.
Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, March 28, 2024 - Full Show
| WTTW News
An effort to require the mayor’s office to publicly track how many migrants are evicted from Chicago shelters. A new poll shows Donald Trump’s support is growing among Latino voters. And exploring the role the Spanish language plays in Latino culture.
‘This is a Beautiful Way to Meditate’: Little Village Pastor Reflects on Stations of the Cross
| Joanna Hernandez
On Friday, many Catholics will gather for the annual Stations of the Cross ceremony to mark Good Friday ahead of Sunday’s Easter holiday.
Key City Panel Advances Measure to Require Officials to Track Evictions From Chicago Migrant Shelters
| Heather Cherone
The measure set for a final vote by the full City Council on April 17 would require officials to detail how many people are evicted from city shelters every week. In addition, officials must report on the type and number of complaints filed by shelter residents twice per month, according to the proposal.
Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Lead Narrows Again Thursday to 1,623 Votes in Cook County State’s Attorney Contest
| Heather Cherone
The gap between the two candidates has been essentially unchanged for the past 48 hours.
New Book Celebrates Chicago’s Black Culture and Influence
| Angel Idowu
Chicago native Arionne Nettles pens a love letter to Chicago in her newest book titled, “We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything.”
Man Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder in a Series of Stabbings in Rockford
| Associated Press
Christian Soto, 22, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in a frenzied stabbing rampage that killed four people in a matter of minutes in Rockford.
What Efforts to Expand Access to Sickle Cell Treatment Could Mean for Illinois Patients
| Emily Soto
Sickle cell disease affects about 5,000 people across Illinois — and it’s mostly impacting Black communities. While gene therapies have emerged to treat the disease, high costs can limit access.
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Beloved Gorilla Matriarch, Bana, Has Died
| Patty Wetli
The 29-year-old gorilla was diagnosed with congestive cardiac failure in early March and after an “abrupt decline” in her condition, “the difficult decision was made to euthanize her,” zoo officials said.
Cook County Courts Have Seen ‘Mostly Smooth’ Transition After Elimination of Cash Bail, New Report Finds
| Matt Masterson
According to findings from the Civic Federation and the League of Women Voters of Cook County, the Pretrial Fairness Act has worked as intended during the first six months of its implementation.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, March 27, 2024 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Gentrification concerns in South Shore as Obama Presidential Center construction continues. Efforts to increase access to sickle cell disease treatment. And a new book celebrates Black Chicago’s influence.
South Shore Voters Endorse Calls to Expand Protection From Gentrification Sparked by Obama Presidential Center
| Heather Cherone
Nearly 80% of voters in two precincts of the 7th Ward endorsed a referendum asking whether Ald. Greg Mitchell and Mayor Brandon Johnson should support “a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) ordinance to prevent the displacement of renters, condo & home owners in South Shore in light of the impact of the Obama Center and growing development in the area.”
Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Lead Widens Slightly Wednesday to 1,637 Votes in Cook County State’s Attorney Contest
| Heather Cherone
For the first time since Election Day, Eileen O’Neill Burke widened her lead slightly over Clayton Harris III as election officials in Chicago and suburban Cook County counted ballots. The gap between the two candidates has been essentially unchanged for the past 24 hours.
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