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Federal Judge Won’t Block Chicago’s Vaccine Mandate
| Heather Cherone
Approximately 130 employees — most of whom are members of the Chicago Fire Department and the Department of Water Management — were not likely to succeed on any of their claims, the judge ruled.
Bell Bowl Advocates Say Work Is Just Beginning: ‘This Is a Lot Bigger Than Rockford Airport’
| Patty Wetli
Members of the coalition that sprung up to save Bell Bowl Prairie from demolition by the Rockford Airport are allowing themselves a brief victory lap to celebrate a temporary suspension of construction.
City Council Rejects Push to Roll Back Vaccine Mandate
| Heather Cherone
The Chicago City Council voted 13-30 Friday to reject a push to reverse Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s order that all city employees disclose whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 — and get fully vaccinated by Dec. 31.
FDA Paves Way for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccinations in Young Kids
| Associated Press
The FDA cleared kid-size doses — just a third of the amount given to teens and adults — for emergency use, and up to 28 million more American children could be eligible for vaccinations as early as next week.
Don’t Let Jack-O’-Lanterns Go to Waste, Compost Them at Chicago-Wide Pumpkin Smash Event
| Patty Wetli
The annual Pumpkin Smash event encourages people to compost their gourds instead of trashing them. Dozens of sites across the Chicago region will be collecting jack-o’-lanterns and gourds on Nov. 6.
GOP Trump Critic Rep. Adam Kinzinger Won’t Seek Reelection
| Associated Press
The military veteran, who won a long-shot suburban congressional district a decade ago, became one of a handful of Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Blackhawks Ask Hall of Fame to Cover Assistant’s Name on Cup
| Associated Press
In a letter addressed to Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald, dated Thursday, Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz writes that Brad Aldrich’s conduct disqualifies him being included on the Cup, and the team made a mistake by submitting his name.
Student Enrollment Down Across Illinois, Education Officials Say
| Matt Masterson
The Illinois State Board of Education on Friday released enrollment and other data for the 2021-22 school year in its annual report card, which shows statewide enrollment fell from 1,957,018 students last year down to 1,887,316 students.
Amid Scandal, Quenneville Resigns as Florida Panthers Coach
| Associated Press
The announcement was made shortly after Joel Quenneville met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in New York to discuss his role in the Blackhawks’ response to claims from Kyle Beach that he was sexually assaulted by then-Blackhawks assistant Brad Aldrich.
Illinois Lawmakers Approve New Congressional Map
| Amanda Vinicky
Their final product, which still needs Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signoff, is designed to send 14 Democrats and three Republicans to Congress from Illinois. If the strategy works, Democrats will gain a seat from Illinois while the GOP will lose two.
‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Resurrection in Pilsen
| Acacia Hernandez
Despite COVID-19 concerns, celebrations are coming together in Pilsen, a community just southwest of Chicago’s Loop with a substantial Mexican population.
June Beetle ID’d as Grub That Ate Welles Park, And It’s Likely to Raise a Stink on Its Way Out
| Patty Wetli
June beetle larvae are responsible for devastating a pair of North Side parks. The Chicago Park District is set to begin treating the infestation, but things could get worse before they get better.
Bell Bowl Proponents Sue To Stop Rockford Airport’s Bulldozers, Say ‘Prairies Are Illinois’ Redwoods’
| Patty Wetli
The Natural Land Institute filed suit Wednesday in U.S. District Court to stop the Greater Rockford Airport Authority from tearing up the 8,000-year-old Bell Bowl Prairie as part of an airport expansion project.
‘Animalism’: Blackhawks Scandal Raises Culture Questions
| Associated Press
According to the report, Donald Fehr, the leader of the NHL players’ association, was contacted twice about allegations connected to the assistant coach, including by a Kyle Beach confidant.
October 28, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The fate of an abortion bill and more from Springfield. Live from Pilsen ahead of Day of the Dead. The mystery grubs in Welles Park unmasked. And the Bears try to make things right against the 49ers.
Bears Looking for Redemption Against 49ers After Humiliating Loss to Bucs
| Paul Caine
After last week’s thrashing by the defending Super Bowl champs — the Bears are leading the league in one statistical category — the number of players on the COVID list. What does this mean for the upcoming matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field?
Bridging the Gap Between Emerging Artists and Emerging Collectors
| Angel Idowu
Everyone deserves to have art in their lives, whether they’re making it or buying it. That’s Allan Bergart’s philosophy. He’s working to make art more available, and we have a preview of his latest art show, “The Fall Review.”
Bell Bowl Prairie Reprieve, Rockford Airport Temporarily Pauses Construction
| Patty Wetli
In a dramatic 11th-hour turnaround, Chicago Rockford International Airport officials announced Thursday a change in plans affecting the 8,000-year-old Bell Bowl Prairie remnant. Construction slated to resume Monday has been suspended until further consultations with federal agencies are completed.
Ex-Chicago Park District Supervisor Charged With Sexual Assault of Teen Employee
| Matt Masterson
Mauricio Ramirez, 32, was ordered held on $500,000 bail Thursday after he was charged with criminal sexual assault to a victim between the ages of 13-17 and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 18.
Is It OK to Go Trick-or-Treating During the Pandemic?
| Associated Press
It depends on the situation and your comfort level, but there are ways to minimize the risk of infection this Halloween.
Legislators Approve Repeal of Illinois’ Parental Notification Act
| Amanda Vinicky
Late Wednesday, the Illinois House of Representatives approved a measure that would repeal a law requiring parents and guardians be notified before their minor child can have an abortion. The measure now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Alderpeople Call Special City Council Meeting to Try to Roll Back Vaccine Mandate
| Heather Cherone
Thirteen alderpeople invoked state law to call a special meeting of the Chicago City Council for 11 a.m. Friday in an attempt to force a vote on a measure that would reverse Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s order that all city employees disclose their vaccination status.
October 27, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
City Council signs off on a $16 billion budget. The latest from Springfield. One-on-one with the new CPS CEO. A critical public bathroom shortage. And Spotlight Politics tackles vaccine mandates.
CPS Student Enrollment Drops by 10,000 Students
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday announced that its 20th-day enrollment stands at 330,411 students. That’s a 3% decline from the 340,658 students who were enrolled in the district last year.
City Council Approves Lightfoot’s $16.7 Billion Budget with Support from Progressives
| Heather Cherone
The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $16.7 billion budget on Wednesday with the backing of progressive members who celebrated the spending plan’s focus on affordable housing, mental health, violence prevention, youth job programs and help for unhoused Chicagoans.
Chicago Tribune Looks Into City’s Lack of Public Bathrooms
| Blair Paddock
A recent investigation by the Chicago Tribune found the city has failed to provide the public with easy, consistent access to free toilets, with scant information available about those that do exist. As the story found, it’s not only a public health issue but a public safety one as well.
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