Stories by Associated Press
US Says Drone Kills IS Bombers Targeting Kabul Airport
| Associated Press
A U.S. drone strike blew up a vehicle carrying “multiple suicide bombers” from Afghanistan’s Islamic State affiliate on Sunday before they could attack the ongoing military evacuation at Kabul’s international airport, American officials said.
CPS Parents Hope for the Best as Students Return to Classrooms
| Erica Gunderson
It’s been more than a year since Chicago Public Schools students have sat inside their classrooms full time. Now, with mask mandates, vaccine requirements for staff and other COVID-19 safety protocols in place, CPS children are about to embark on a year unlike any other.
Rental Assistance is Slow to Arrive as Eviction Threat Looms
| Blair Paddock
Renters across the country may soon face eviction now that the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Biden administration’s extension of the eviction moratorium. We discuss resources available to local renters.
Chicago Westside Sports Aims to Build Community, Life Skills
| Joanna Hernandez
A group of police officers and community leaders are using their time off to give back to underserved communities by getting young kids to play sports. We head to Columbus Park on the West Side to learn more.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, August 29, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
We talk with Chicago Public Schools parents ahead of the return to in-person learning. How renters are faring as financial assistance has been slow to arrive. And getting in the game at Columbus Park.
The Last Word: Dion Dawson
| Kristen Thometz
The founder and executive director of Dion’s Chicago Dream talks about the importance of providing fresh, quality produce to fight food insecurity — and the lessons nonprofits should be learning from the pandemic.
Dealing With Mental Health Crisis One Zoom Call at a Time
| Associated Press
Law enforcement agencies are struggling nationwide with increasing violent crime as calls mount for changing how police interact with citizens, especially those with mental health issues.
La Última Palabra: Ignacio Lopez
| Erica Gunderson
A business school dean gives us the last word on supporting Latino entrepreneurs — and how that can benefit all Americans.
Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, August 28, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Chicago Public School students return to in-person learning — some parents share their thoughts. We discuss controversial gunshot detection technology. And the last word on Latino entrepreneurs.
Report Raises Questions About ShotSpotter Technology
| Erica Gunderson
According to a new report from the city’s inspector general, alerts by the gunshot detection system ShotSpotter used by the Chicago Police Department “rarely” lead to evidence of a gun crime.
Chicago Public Schools Parents on Return to In-Person Learning
| Acacia Hernandez
Chicago Public Schools students are scheduled to return for in-person classes Monday. But what will that return look like amid an ongoing pandemic? CPS parents join “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” for a panel discussion.
Biden Promises More Strikes on Afghanistan Extremist Group
| Associated Press
President Joe Biden vowed Saturday to keep up airstrikes against the Islamic extremist group whose suicide bombing at the Kabul airport killed scores of Afghans and 13 American service members. Another terror attack, he said, is “highly likely” this weekend as the U.S. winds down its evacuation.
Scenes From Week 2 of the R. Kelly Sex-Trafficking Trial
| Associated Press
The second week of the R. Kelly sex-trafficking trial proved to be an exercise by prosecutors to paint the R&B star as a man-child control freak and a compulsive sex offender who exploited vulnerable victims way less than half his age while ordering them to call him “Daddy.”
Explainer: What Happens When an ICU Reaches Capacity?
| Associated Press
The latest surge in coronavirus cases is overwhelming many intensive care units, causing hospitals and states to run out of ICU beds in some locations. A maxed-out ICU can become a staffing and logistical nightmare.
American Forces Keep Up Airlift Under High Threat Warnings
| Associated Press
American forces working under heightened security and threats of another attack pressed ahead in the closing days of the U.S.-led evacuation from Afghanistan after a devastating suicide bombing.
The Week in Review: Vaccine Mandates Widen
| Nick Blumberg
A statewide indoor mask mandate. A city worker vaccine mandate and police union pushback. Two Republican congressmen in jeopardy as remapping begins. And the country reels from an Afghanistan terror attack.
Eviction Ban’s End Will Allow Pandemic Lockouts to Resume
| Associated Press
Tenant advocates and court officials were gearing up Friday for what some fear will be a wave of evictions and others predict will be just a growing trickle after a U.S. Supreme Court action allowing lockouts to resume.
Teen Charged in Fatal Shooting of 70-Year-Old Woman Outside Her Work
| Matt Masterson
Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan announced that a juvenile has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Yvonne Ruzich, who was killed as she sat in her car outside her work in the early morning hours of Aug. 16.
Daily Illinois COVID-19 Cases Near 5,000 Amid Surge
| Kristen Thometz
The 4,942 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus reported Friday mark the highest single-day total since Jan. 23, when the state reported 5,152 cases.
House Panel Seeks Records From Tech Companies in Riot Probe
| Associated Press
The requests were issued to technology giants, including Google, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, and also to Reddit, Parler, Telegram, 4chan, 8kun and other platforms.
Rose Spotted in Florida, Phew! Both of Chicago’s Beloved Piping Plover Parents Now Accounted For
| Patty Wetli
Monty arrived in Texas a week ago, and now members of Audubon Florida have confirmed that Rose has been spotted at her winter home.
Chicago Officials Sue DoorDash, Grubhub, Allege Firms Hurt Restaurants During COVID-19 Pandemic
| Heather Cherone
The lawsuit accuses both DoorDash and Grubhub of advertising delivery services from restaurants without their consent, damaging the restaurants’ reputations and forcing them to scramble to resolve complaints.
Kanye West Takes Chicagoans to Church in ‘Donda’ Listening Party
| Angel Idowu
The Chicago rapper performed beneath a replica of his South Shore home to thousands Thursday night at Soldier Field.
August 26, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The governor issues a statewide indoor mask mandate. Why COVID-19 breakthrough cases are being undercounted. Live from Garfield Ridge. And new research on what brain functions improve with age.
The CDC Is Only Tracking Some Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases. Is That a Problem?
| Nick Blumberg
As the delta variant continues to drive a spike in COVID-19 cases, two recent reports outline the challenges of tracking so-called breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated people. We discuss the importance — and limitations — of disease surveillance.
Palos Preserves Celebrates Its Dark Side, a Rare Opportunity to Escape Big City’s Bright Lights
| Patty Wetli
Palos Preserves has been named an Urban Night Sky Place by the International Dark-Sky Association. The site emits nearly 1,000 times less light than downtown Chicago, with four times as many stars visible in the night sky than can be seen in the city.
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