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Chicago Woman Who Killed Mom in Bali Indicted on US Murder Charge
| Associated Press
FBI agents took Heather Mack, 26, into custody on her arrival at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday morning.
Former State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud Charge
| Heather Cherone
The former member of the Illinois House told a federal judge Wednesday that he offered a member of the Illinois Senate monthly payments of $2,500 to support a bill supported by a sweepstakes firm that he worked for as a lobbyist.
Prairies Are Making Headlines. But What Exactly Are They? Here’s an Explainer
| Patty Wetli
So little prairie still exists in Illinois, most residents of the state have never encountered this rare landscape. Here, then, is an introduction.
CPS Plans to Spend $10M to Hire More School Staffers
| Matt Masterson
“Our schools have been incredibly resilient throughout this pandemic, and CPS is committed to supporting our dedicated principals and staff as we navigate the unique challenges of the past and current school years,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said in a statement.
DOJ Charges 13 Alleged Members of Violent Chicago Gang in Federal Indictment
| CNN
The Department of Justice has charged 13 members of a Chicago street gang faction with racketeering conspiracy as part of a federal indictment related to dozens of murders, attempted murders and acts of violence spanning more than 20 years.
Deere Employees Reject Contract Offer, Will Stay on Strike
| Associated Press
The union said 55% of its members at the 12 main plants voted against this latest contract offer Tuesday.
Illinois Online Sales Tax Law Hits as Online Shopping Surges
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois tax revenues plummeted when COVID-19 hit, but according to the Illinois Department of Revenue, they’re rising again.
Balding Mice Study Points Way to Hair Loss Treatments
| Paul Caine
The cause of balding – in mice. The probe of a distant exoplanet. Tuskless elephants. University of Chicago paleontologist Neil Shubin returns to help us understand some of the latest science stories making headlines.
Steppenwolf Theatre Returns After 20-Month Intermission, Dedicates New Wing
| Marc Vitali
The Steppenwolf Theatre reopens after a 20-month shutdown due to the pandemic. The 46-year-old theater celebrated its return with a ribbon cutting Tuesday for a new wing that includes a state-of-the-art stage.
US Gives Final Clearance to COVID-19 Shots for Kids 5 to 11
| Associated Press
U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign.
Democrats Reach Drug Price Deal, Biden Upbeat on Manchin
| Associated Press
Democrats reached an agreement Tuesday on a plan to lower prescription drug costs for older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin, salvaging a campaign promise as part of President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion domestic policy proposal.
Starkly Different Portrayals of Rittenhouse in Kenosha Trial
| Associated Press
Jurors heard starkly different portrayals of Kyle Rittenhouse — instigator or victim — in opening statements at his trial Tuesday on charges of shooting three people on the streets of Kenosha during a turbulent protest against racial injustice.
Blackhawks Hold Settlement Talks with Former Player’s Lawyer
| Associated Press
The Chicago Blackhawks held settlement talks Tuesday with an attorney for a former player who is suing the team after he accused an assistant coach of sexual assault in 2010 and the team largely ignored the allegations.
4 Lifeguards Abused, Assaulted, Harassed Teens at Chicago’s Pools, Beaches: Parks Investigation
| Heather Cherone
Three of the four lifeguards accused of wrongdoing resigned as a result of the investigation, while Chicago Park District Interim Inspector General Alison Perona recommended the fourth be terminated in connection with the allegations.
Few Snags for Election Day Voting Amid Scrutiny on Process
| Associated Press
There were few reports of voting or equipment problems, other than the sporadic power outage or polling place opening late that is not unusual for Election Day. It was too soon to gauge the effects of new voting restrictions in place in a few states.
West Side Grocery Store Closure Highlights Food Inequities in Chicago
| Marissa Nelson
The recent closure of an Aldi in West Garfield Park leaves residents with one less grocery store and points to a larger issue of food insecurity across the city, particularly in low-income and Black and brown communities that have faced decades of disinvestment, according to advocates.
COVID-19 Vaccines May Protect Against Other Coronaviruses: Study
| Nick Blumberg
A new study shows that vaccination against a coronavirus or a previous infection can provide protection against other viruses in that same family – and it shows that generic vaccines could be developed to protect against future viruses.
November 2, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
One-on-one with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. More fallout from the Chicago Park District sexual abuse scandal. Can COVID-19 vaccines protect you against the common cold? Inside Steppenwolf Theatre's new building.
California, Mississippi Added Back to Chicago’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory
| Heather Cherone
The advisory continues to cover 41 states as well as Guam, announced Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Indonesia Deporting Chicago Woman Who Helped Kill Mother
| Associated Press
Heather Mack was released from prison on Friday after serving seven years and two months of a 10-year sentence. Her then-boyfriend, who was also convicted in the killing, was sentenced to 18 years and remains in prison.
Jury Seated for Homicide Trial of Kyle Rittenhouse
| Associated Press
A jury was selected in a single day Monday for the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the young, aspiring police officer who shot three people while they were out on the streets of Kenosha during a protest against racial injustice last year.
Mark Kelly Exits Role as Chicago’s Cultural Affairs Commissioner
| Acacia Hernandez
Mark Kelly served as commissioner of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special events for more than five years. Now that he’s no longer in office, “I get to be another citizen enjoying the glories of our city that have been put together by so many people,” he said.
As World Leaders Meet on Climate, Local Institutions Moving to Divest from Fossil Fuels
| Paul Caine
Scientists are warning of a looming climate catastrophe if countries continue to burn fossil fuels. The effort to invest in a sustainable future.
3 Firms Bid to Build a Casino-Resort in Chicago: Officials
| Heather Cherone
Three firms want to build a casino and resort in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office announced Friday. All five proposals are of a “high-caliber,” Lightfoot said in a statement released by the mayor’s office.
Crain’s Headlines: CNA Hack Impacts 75,000 Individual’s Personal Info
| WTTW News
Quarterly filings reveal a CNA hack exposed personal information of 75,000. Crain’s Chicago Business editor Ann Dwyer has details on that story and more.
ProPublica Report Finds Immigration Center Staff Ill-Equipped to Care for Afghan Youth
| Leslie Hurtado
Some Afghan youth at a local immigration center are traumatized after fleeing their country, according to a recent report by ProPublica. We hear from the reporter who broke the story.
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