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Jan. 6 Panel Subpoenas Six Who Helped Plan Trump Rallies
| Associated Press
The rallies before and during the Jan. 6 riot are a major focus of the committee’s investigation. Committee members have said they want to know who financed the events and whether organizers were in close touch with the White House and members of Congress as they planned the events.
Court Won’t Stop Texas Abortion Ban, But Lets Clinics Sue
| Associated Press
The court acted more than a month after hearing arguments over the law, which makes no exceptions for rape or incest.
Cook County Hosting Mass Vaccination Sites Sunday for COVID-19 Boosters
| Kristen Thometz
No appointment necessary. All three approved vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – will be available for adults who can mix-and-match their booster. Only the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Bob Dole: ‘Genuine Hero’ Paid War’s Price, Triumphed in Senate
| Associated Press
Displaying a bipartisanship rare in modern government, politicians in office and out came together to pay homage to Bob Dole’s hard-scrabble rise from wounded war veteran to Senate stalwart to three-time, unsuccessful presidential candidate.
It’s Time for the Christmas Bird Count
What It Is. Why It Matters. How To Take Part.
| Patty Wetli
One of the country’s longest-running community science projects is about to get underway. We’ve got all the details on Audubon Society’s 122nd annual Christmas Bird Count, including how to join the effort.
After Jussie Smollett Verdict, More Court Cases Await
| Associated Press
A jury’s guilty verdict that Jussie Smollett faked a racist and homophobic attack isn’t the end of legal proceedings for the former “Empire” actor or others.
EXPLAINER: Why US Inflation Is So High, And When It May Ease
| Associated Press
Economists are now voicing a more discouraging message: Higher prices will likely last well into next year, if not beyond.
CPD Canceling Officer Days Off to Prevent Disturbances Downtown
| Matt Masterson
“Everyone is always welcome downtown, everyone is welcome to enjoy all our city has to offer,” Police Superintendent David Brown said. “Chicago belongs to all of us, but if you come downtown or anywhere else, you engage in disorderly conduct or other crimes, you will be arrested.”
Tornadoes Possible as ‘Out-of-Season’ Weather System Bears Down on Chicago Region
| Patty Wetli
A strong storm system is moving into the Chicago region, bringing an “out-of-season” threat of thunderstorms and even tornadoes, with the worst expected to hit after 9 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said.
Jussie Smollett Guilty Verdict Latest in Polarizing Case
| Associated Press
The jury convicted the 39-year-old on five counts of disorderly conduct — for each separate time he was charged with lying to police in the days after the alleged attack. He was acquitted on a sixth count.
WFMT Celebrates 70 Years On Air Monday with a Full Day of Live Performances
| Acacia Hernandez
WFMT, our sister station, is celebrating 70 years on air. Chicago's classical music and fine arts radio station first hit the airwaves in December 1951. On Monday, the station will be live from Northeastern Illinois University’s Jewel Box Recital Hall for a day full of live performances.
Bears Hoping to Prevent More Rodgers’ Boasts in Prime-Time Sunday Matchup
| Paul Caine
The NFL’s most storied rivalry hasn’t been much of a rivalry in recent years. But the Bears will take another crack at team shareholder Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in prime time at Lambeau Field with rookie quarterback Justin Fields coming back from a rib’s injury.
‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Concerns in South Shore
| Nick Blumberg
The Obama Presidential Center announced Thursday that a number of its spaces will be named for historic human and civil rights figures. But as that center marches closer toward its opening date, one neighboring community has concerns about the center’s impact on longtime residents.
Cashmere for a Cause, Chicago Mom Builds Business on Compassion
| Angel Idowu
A Chicago mother is tapping into her artistic roots with a brand that is inspired by her children, but also pays homage to her mother.
White House COVID Advisor Says Community, At-Home Tests, Vaccinations Key
| Amanda Vinicky
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are surging. Doctors believe that’s still due to the delta variant though it’s expected Illinois will soon see more cases of the omicron variant as well. A key White House advisor tells us how the nation’s ready to tackle it with an eye toward equity.
Supporters of Push to OK Sports Betting at Stadiums Double Down as Questions Swirl About Casino Impact
| Heather Cherone
A furious round of lobbying is happening behind the scenes at City Hall over the proposal to allow the Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks and Sky to operate sportsbook operations on their home turf.
Chicago May Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccine in ‘High-Risk Settings’: Top Doc
| Heather Cherone
Dr. Allison Arwady said “preliminary conversations” were taking place with representatives of business groups about requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test for diners or revelers, but no decision had been made.
Calling All Gen X-ers: Illinois State Museum Wants Your Walkmans and Trapper Keepers
| Patty Wetli
The Illinois State Museum is planning a “Growing Up Gen X” exhibit and has put out a call for contributions of photos, memories and objects that define the youth of this often-overlooked cohort of Americans.
US Expands Pfizer COVID Boosters, Opens Extra Dose to Age 16
| Associated Press
The U.S. and many other nations already were urging adults to get booster shots to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination, calls that intensified with the discovery of the worrisome new omicron variant.
Outdoor Dining Set to be Extended in Chicago as COVID-19 Pandemic Rages Once Again
| Heather Cherone
Restaurants and cafes could continue to serve customers outdoors through 2022 under a proposal set to be considered at Wednesday's City Council meeting.
No Bail for Man Charged in Brazen ‘Execution’ of Woom Sing Tse in Chinatown
| Matt Masterson
Alphonso Joyner, 23, was ordered held without bail during a court hearing Thursday following his arrest on charges including first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon stemming from the brazen killing of 71-year-old Woom Sing Tse.
Aldermen Set to Consider Settling Lawsuit Filed by Anjanette Young Over Botched Raid
| Heather Cherone
The agenda for the meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee set for 10 a.m. Monday does not identify the amount the city would pay Anjanette Young and her attorneys to resolve the case, an indication that a final agreement is close, but is not yet final, sources told WTTW News.
Tyson the Bison Is on the Lam in Lake County, How Long Will She Roam?
| Patty Wetli
Bison once roamed Illinois’ tallgrass prairies in some of the largest herds east of the Mississippi, but they’re so rare in these parts today, a single escapee from a Lake County farm is creating a social media stir.
December 9, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Live from South Shore. In-stadium sports betting debate. A top Biden administration official on the latest with COVID. Justin Fields returns to take on the Packers. And WFMT celebrates a milestone.
Illinois Gambling Revenue Tops $1 Billion
| Amanda Vinicky
All bets are in. The state’s gaming commission chose which developers will be allowed to build new suburban casinos — and where. This comes nearly two-and-a-half years after the state’s gambling expansion law passed.
US Surgeon General Warns Parents of National Youth Mental Health Crisis
| Leslie Hurtado
A public health advisory from the U.S. surgeon general’s office details how the pandemic has disrupted the lives of children, teens and young adults, causing them anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
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