Stories by CNN
Chicago Remembers Fallen Officer: ‘A Small Part of Every One of Us Died When We Lost Ella’
| CNN
A crowd of Chicago residents gathered Wednesday evening to remember of Ella French, a Chicago police officer fatally shot during a traffic stop.
Another Setback for City’s Trees After Water Department Announces Failure of Pipe Replacement Alternative
| Patty Wetli
The city has been testing alternatives to open-trench digging and tree removal during pipe replacement and repair projects. Failure of one new technique spelled the end of the line for a slew of trees in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood.
Fatal Shooting of Officer Widens Breach Between Lightfoot, Police
| Heather Cherone
Tension between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Police Department exposed by the fatal shooting of Officer Ella French widened Wednesday, as the mayor defended the decision by a high-ranking officer to cut short a ritual meant to honor the fallen officer.
Chicago Park District Offers New Summer Camp Program for Teens
| Joanna Hernandez
From starting a fire to pitching a tent, some Chicago teens are learning what it takes to camp in the great outdoors. We visit the Lincoln Park neighborhood to learn more about the program.
Infrastructure Bill Poised to Fund Chicago’s Push to Remove Lead Pipes
| Heather Cherone
The $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that advanced Tuesday in the Senate includes $15 billion to replace the lead service lines responsible for contaminating the tap water in approximately 10 million homes across the country.
August 11, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The mayor unveils the city’s projected budget deficit for 2022. Alderpeople talk policing in Chicago. What’s in the federal infrastructure bill for Illinois? Chicago teens learn about outdoor camping.
Alderpeople Address Budget Shortfall, Police Tensions
| Evan Garcia
Chicago’s revenue remains stunted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, City Council disclosed millions in investments using federal stimulus funds. And tension heightens between the community and police in the wake of Officer Ella French’s killing. Three alderpeople weigh in on these topics and more.
Chicago Faces $733M Budget Shortfall in 2022: Lightfoot
| Heather Cherone
Promising that Chicago is “turning the corner” on the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday the city faces a projected $733 million budget shortfall in the 2022 fiscal year.
Remittance Flow From Chicago Increases, Pandemic Heightens Need
| Acacia Hernandez
For families around the world and especially in Latin America, receiving money transfers from relatives working in the U.S. provides a critical line of support. With a large immigrant population, Chicago has been a significant source of these money transfers.
Alleged Straw Purchaser of Gun Used to Kill Officer Ella French to Be Released from Jail
| Matt Masterson
Jamel Danzy will be released from jail following his arrest on a federal charge earlier this week. The 29-year-old Indiana man allegedly acted as a straw purchaser to buy the firearm used to kill Chicago police Officer Ella French.
Even After Big Reveal, State Fair’s Butter Cow Shrouded in Mystery
| Patty Wetli
The sculpture was unveiled to great fanfare Wednesday, but the 800-pound bovine was barely visible to observers thanks to steamed-up glass.
Jury of 7 Men, 5 Women to Hear R. Kelly Sex Trafficking Case
| Associated Press
R&B star R. Kelly will face an anonymous jury made up of seven men and five women when his New York City sex trafficking trial goes forward next week with opening statements.
CDC Urges COVID Vaccines During Pregnancy as Delta Surges
| Associated Press
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged all pregnant women Wednesday to get the COVID-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus.
Illinois Now Has a COVID-19 Vaccine Verification System
| Kristen Thometz
Illinois residents ages 18 and older no longer need to worry about carrying their COVID-19 vaccine cards with them to provide proof of inoculation against the virus.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 12-15
| Kristen Thometz
A back-to-school parade, street festivals, horse races and a scavenger hunt usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
How Public Health Experts are Reimagining 911 Calls
| Blair Paddock
Through meetings and research, the University of Chicago’s Health Lab is working with community members to see how the nation’s emergency response system can be transformed to better serve people in crisis.
Chicago Area Deals with Tornadoes, Heat Warnings During Week of Extreme Weather
| Nick Blumberg
Half a dozen or more tornadoes touched down in the Chicago suburbs Monday, with more severe storms possible in the next few days. Those come as hot and humid conditions have prompted extreme heat warnings — and on the heels of a stark new report on climate change.
Chicago Record Label Revitalizes Forgotten Artists of the Past
| Evan Garcia
Older artists are getting a second chance at stardom through the efforts of a local record label tucked away in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. We explore the musical world of Numero Group.
Are Vaccine Mandates the Answer to Lagging Rates Among Nursing Home Staff?
| Paul Caine
While 84% of nursing home residents in Illinois have received the COVID-19 vaccine, just 62% of the workers who care for them are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How Straw Purchasers Contribute to the Flow of Illegal Guns
| Alexandra Silets
Many guns involved in Chicago crimes are bought by straw purchasers. Just who are they — and can the flow of illegal guns be stopped?
Suspect in Killing of Chicago Police Officer Ella French Held Without Bail
| Matt Masterson
The 21-year-old Chicago man who allegedly shot and killed Officer Ella French during a traffic stop Saturday has been ordered held without bail and remains hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the chest. His brother, who has also been charged, was held without bail during a separate hearing.
Lawsuit Seeks to Strike School Mask Mandate
| Amanda Vinicky
Masks must be worn in Illinois schools when students and staff return to the classroom in the coming weeks. But a just-filed lawsuit could void that statewide executive order. We talk with the attorney who filed it — and a local pediatrician.
August 10, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The latest on the two men charged with killing a Chicago police officer this weekend. Arguments over the state’s mask mandate for students. And vaccine mandates for some health care workers.
It’s Peak Viewing for the Perseid Meteor Shower: Where and When to Watch the Show
| Patty Wetli
The annual Perseid meteor shower will hit its peak in the coming days, and may even put on its best display in years thanks to diminished competition from a waxing crescent moon. Here’s what you need to know.
Hospitals Run Low on Nurses as They Get Swamped With COVID
| Associated Press
The rapidly escalating surge in COVID-19 infections across the U.S. has caused a shortage of nurses and other front-line staff in virus hot spots that can no longer keep up with the flood of unvaccinated patients and are losing workers to burnout and lucrative out-of-state temporary gigs.
Explainer: Will We Need Vaccine Passports to Do Fun Things?
| Associated Press
Ready to go out on the town before summer ends? In parts of the U.S., you might have to carry your COVID-19 vaccine card or a digital copy to get into restaurants, bars, nightclubs and outdoor music festivals.
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