Stories by Evan Garcia
33rd Ward Candidate Forum: Rodriguez Sanchez vs. Incumbent Ald. Mell
| Evan Garcia
A community activist and the incumbent daughter of a City Council dynasty face off ahead of the April 2 runoff election.
Why Aldermen Who Need Extra Help Call Ed Burke
A WTTW News Exclusive
| Paris Schutz
For years, Ald. Ed Burke ran what amounts to an employee loan-out program from his perch as head of City Council’s powerful Finance Committee. “It’s a way of exercising control,” said one City Hall staffer.
Better Business Bureau Warns of Spring Flooding Scams
| Alex Ruppenthal
With conditions perfect for flooding, the Better Business Bureau’s Chicago division is urging area residents to take precautions when hiring contractors to address flooding-related damages.
Jussie Smollett Pleads Not Guilty to New Felony Charges
| Matt Masterson
The “Empire” actor entered the plea after his case was assigned to a new judge. He faces more than a dozen charges stemming from a staged attack he allegedly planned against himself.
R. Kelly Appears in Chicago Court in Child Support Case
| Associated Press
R. Kelly’s publicist says the R&B singer wants his child support payments lowered, but it doesn’t appear that they were reduced during the most recent hearing in the case.
US Grounding of Boeing Jet Shows Limits of Company’s Clout
| Associated Press
Bowing to international pressure, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft in the U.S. were being grounded following the Ethiopian Airlines disaster.
City Council OKs Lincoln Yards, Police Academy
| Paris Schutz
Two major projects – both of them controversial – got the full City Council vote Wednesday in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s second-to-last meeting.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: March 14-17
| Kristen Thometz
A green river, St. Patrick’s Day parades, nature photos and Indian dances usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Chicago Girls Learn the Ropes of Double Dutch
| Erica Gunderson
Memories of jumping rope as a child lures a Chicago woman back to the sport as an adult – and inspires her to start teaching double Dutch to a new generation through her organization Black Girls Jump.
5th Ward Candidate Forum: Incumbent Ald. Hairston vs. Calloway
| Nicole Cardos
As Chicago voters prepare to head back to the polls, our series of forums continues with 5th Ward candidates Ald. Leslie Hairston and William Calloway.
Northwestern Project Enlists ‘Earthquake Detectives’ to Study Seismograms
| Alex Ruppenthal
With the help of volunteers who classify sounds from recordings of seismic events, scientists could learn more about the conditions under which earthquakes occur.
Irishmen Bring Music, Meditation to Chicago Stages in ‘Choir of Man,’ ‘Two Pints’
| Hedy Weiss
Lift a glass and make a toast to the musical and verbal talents of some Emerald Islanders who have arrived on the shores of Lake Michigan for brief stays.
Pilots Have Reported Issues in US with New Boeing Jet
| Associated Press
Airline pilots on at least two U.S. flights have reported that an automated system seemed to cause their Boeing 737 Max planes to tilt down suddenly.
CPS Watchdog: Pre-K Billing Mismanagement Cost District $2 Million
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools missed out on as much as $2 million in pre-K payments over the past four school years due to a combination of errors, uncollected tuition and employee fraud, according to the district’s internal watchdog.
Mayoral Candidates Preckwinkle, Lightfoot Square off on Aldermanic Prerogative
| Amanda Vinicky
With corruption scandals roiling Chicago politics, both of the candidates for mayor say cleaning up City Hall is near the top of their agendas. But it’s also where they differ, particularly when it comes to aldermanic prerogative.
Striking CSO Musicians Get Superstar Support
| Eddie Arruza
Instead of being in rehearsal Tuesday morning with their superstar conductor Riccardo Muti, most of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 106 musicians joined forces with him on the sidewalk outside the concert hall.
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi Pushes for More Reform
| Evan Garcia
He’s promised big ethics changes and is now pushing to streamline the assessment system and change the rules for some property owners. We sit down with Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi.
Artists, Architects Reimagine the Possibilities of Design in ‘Dimensions of Citizenship’
| Marc Vitali
Seven teams of designers, artists and architects created new visions of space in the world. We visit the forward-thinking show that recently arrived from Venice, Italy.
Health Officials Warning Residents About Unproven Stem Cell Therapies
| Kristen Thometz
The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning patients and health care providers about the risks of stem cell therapies that are not approved by the FDA following a national investigation into their use.
Theo Ubique Unleashes the Italian Opera Soul in ‘Bridges of Madison County’
| Hedy Weiss
This is one of those productions that makes you wish the show’s composer and writer would make a quick trip to Chicago to see their work in what might just be its ideal incarnation.
Federal Bill Seeks Comprehensive Health Study on Petcoke
| Alex Ruppenthal
Proposed legislation would require the federal government to examine potential health risks from exposure to petroleum coke, a solid byproduct of the oil refining process that had for years been stored in uncontained piles on the Southeast Side.
Study Finds Black Americans More Likely to Live in ‘Trauma Deserts’
| Kristen Thometz
A new South Side facility has increased access to trauma care in Chicago, where in 2015, 73 percent of majority black communities were located at least 5 miles from a trauma center, according to a new study.
35 Charged in Connection to Chicago-Based Heroin Trafficking Ring
| Matt Masterson
“Operation Road Rage,” as the investigation was known, led to the seizure of 1 kilogram of heroin, as well as approximately $100,000 in cash, five firearms and four vehicles.
A Britney Spears Musical Stage Comedy is Set for Chicago
| Associated Press
She is the latest pop star to throw her fedora onto the stage. The show “Once Upon a One More Time” will have its world premiere this fall in Chicago, with previews beginning in October.
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