Stories by Amanda Vinicky
Sen. Durbin on Trump: ‘This Isn’t Going to End’
| Amanda Vinicky
When he cast his vote finding President Donald Trump guilty on two articles of impeachment, Sen. Dick Durbin called it a “sad and angry moment.” Now that the trial is over, Durbin fears Trump won’t change his behavior.
Tribune Buyouts: Mixed Emotions for Longtime Journalists Leaving Company
| Nick Blumberg
Two veteran journalists who agreed to leave the Chicago Tribune after a recent round of buyouts talk about their hopes for the company’s future.
Primary Politics: Should Illinois Come First in 2024?
| Alexandra Silets
On the heels of the Iowa caucuses debacle, Illinois leaders are trying to rally support for the state to hold the first presidential primary in 2024. But is that a good idea?
New Bill Could Give Illinois Students Time Off to Address Mental Health Issues
| Matt Masterson
State Sen. Rob Martwick says the bill would grant students up to five excused absences from class to let them “take care of their mental health, just like they would be with a broken bone or the flu.”
WTTW, WFMT Trustee Marvin Goldsmith Dies at 84
| WTTW News
Marvin Goldsmith, who served for decades on the board of WWCI, the parent organization of WTTW and WFMT, died Thursday. He was 84 years old.
NASA Sending Spacecraft on a Polarizing Mission to the Sun
| Patty Wetli
It may not seem like it lately, but the sun does indeed still exist. And NASA is sending a spacecraft to our friendly neighborhood star to get some answers.
Crain’s Headlines: Traffic at Midway Drops to 20-Year Lows
| WTTW News
Traffic at Midway Airport dropped last year to its lowest level in two decades—and the decline is likely to continue as long as the Boeing 737 Max is grounded.
Long-Awaited CTA Red Line Extension Moves Forward With New $38M Contract
| Nick Blumberg
The CTA’s proposal for a 5-mile extension of the Red Line south to 130th Street is one step closer to reality.
Chicago Police Union President Faces 4 Challengers in March Election
| Matt Masterson
Officers in Chicago’s largest police union will have a choice in their leadership next month as the organization enters its third straight year without a contract, a department overhaul and an impending decision on a new superintendent.
North Channel Restoration Project Will Benefit Wildlife, But Some Neighbors Don’t Like Their New View
| Patty Wetli
The east bank of the North Shore Channel has been stripped of foliage between Foster and Bryn Mawr avenues, to be replaced with native species. Neighbors say the project has laid bare “eyesores” on the opposite bank.
February 10, 2020 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Feb. 10, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Joe Walsh: ‘I Would Support Any Democrat’ Over Trump
| Paul Caine
Declaring President Donald Trump unbeatable in a Republican Party that has become a “cult,” former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh says he will do everything he can to help a Democrat – any Democrat – defeat Trump in November.
Police: 9 Homicides in Chicago’s Deadliest Weekend of Year
| Associated Press
Chicago recorded nine homicides between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Sunday, a weekend police said was the deadliest of the year for a city that had seen a recent decline in the number of fatal shootings.
Chicago’s Matthew Cherry Wins Oscar for ‘Hair Love’
| Patty Wetli
The Loyola Academy graduate and former NFL wide receiver picked up an Academy Award on Sunday for best animated short film.
China Virus Cases Rise Again, 65 More on Ship in Japan
| Associated Press
China reported a rise in new virus cases Monday, denting optimism that disease control measures including isolating major cities might be working, while the operator of a cruise ship in Japan reported dozens of new cases.
Making Oscar History, ‘Parasite’ Wins Best Picture
| Associated Press
In a milestone win that instantly expanded the Oscars’ horizons, Bong Joon Ho’s class satire “Parasite” became the first non-English language film to win best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards.
China’s Virus Death Toll Surpasses SARS But New Cases Fall
| Associated Press
China’s virus death toll rose by 89 on Sunday to 811, passing the number of fatalities in the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, but fewer new cases were reported in a possible sign its spread may be slowing.
The Week in Review: Chaotic Week for Chicago Public Schools
| Alexandra Silets
Turmoil at Lincoln Park High School. Bribery scandals take down multiple politicians – will they also quash red light cameras? And President Donald Trump takes a victory lap.
The Music Speaks for Itself in the CSO’s Riveting Concert Version of ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’
| Hedy Weiss
The true magnificence of Mascagni’s 1890 opera – now focused entirely on the beauty of the music and the truthfulness of the singers, and stripped of the distractions of scenery, melodramatic acting and all the rest – was a great revelation.
Federal Funds to Protect Great Lakes Have Been Withheld for 2 Years; ‘Unacceptable,’ Says Durbin
| Patty Wetli
Sen. Dick Durbin and Mayor Lori Lightfoot held a joint news conference Friday to call for federal funding to manage and protect the region’s vulnerable shoreline.
Lightfoot Declares Lakefront a ‘Local Disaster,’ State, Federal Action — and Dollars — Could Follow
| Patty Wetli
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to issue a state proclamation that would free up additional funds and resources for recovery from January’s severe storms.
Chicago Film Critics Weigh in on Oscars 2020, CFCA Awards
| Dan Andries
Brad Pitt is expecting to grab his first Oscar ever this Sunday night. Two local film critics share their predictions for this year’s awards.
State Offers Guidance on Medical Pot
| Amanda Vinicky
A little more than a month after Illinois legalized marijuana, questions remain about whether the program is as equitable as promised. The popularity of pot is also affecting medical users.
Historic Near North Houses Headed for Landmark Status
| Nick Blumberg
A proposed new landmark district aims to protect historic Chicago homes from demolition, but some owners worry it will tie their hands.
Advocates Push for Protections Amid Fears of Obama Center Displacement
| Andrea Guthmann
The proposed 20-acre Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park is raising new concerns about property values and lower-income residents getting pushed out of the area.
In Chicago, Legal Pot Could be Just the Beginning. Are Mushrooms Next?
| Paul Caine
Chicago could become the largest city in the nation to decriminalize natural psychedelics like mushrooms and peyote.
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