Stories by Associated Press
Overdraft Fees Could Drop to $3 Under New Biden Proposal
| Associated Press
The proposed change by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would potentially eliminate billions of dollars in fee revenue for the nation’s biggest banks, which were gearing up for a battle even before Wednesday’s announcement.
Illinois Lawmakers Inch Closer to Finalizing Rules Around Assault Weapon Registration
| Amanda Vinicky
The law, named the Protecting Illinois Communities Act (PICA), has banned the sale of hundreds of specific guns and types of guns since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed it in early 2023.
Jan. 16, 2024 - Full Show
| WTTW News
A WTTW News exclusive: What did the mayor know about migrant shelter conditions where several have fallen ill? Why Chicago says it’ll take 15 years to make crosswalks accessible for blind pedestrians. And how winter storms are contributing to a nationwide blood shortage.
Spotlight Politics: Amid Freezing Temperatures, Chicago Suspends Migrant Eviction Policy
| Paul Caine
Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield with migrants top of mind. Bad weather prompts Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to suspend his policy evicting migrants from city shelters after 60 days. And a plea from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Red Cross Declares Nationwide Emergency Blood Shortage
| Andrea Guthmann
The number of people donating blood has dropped by 40% over the last two decades, according to the American Red Cross.
Despite Decades of Cries for Help, Chicago Failed to Aid Blind Pedestrians. Now, City Wants Lengthy Timeline to Fix Problem
| Nick Blumberg
Fewer than 2% of Chicago’s signalized intersections have an accessible pedestrian signal that provides auditory and tactile guidance to blind, low-vision and deafblind pedestrians — despite more than two decades of requests and years of internal acknowledgement from city staffers about the need for such accommodations.
Emails Show Johnson, City Officials Notified About Sewage, Roaches and Illnesses at Pilsen Migrant Shelter Almost 2 Months Before Boy’s Death Highlighted Problems
| Paris Schutz
Emails from late October exclusively obtained by WTTW News shine new light on the timeline of when Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration were made aware of conditions at a migrant shelter in Pilsen and what exactly those conditions were.
‘Sundogs’ Are a Bright Spot During Cold Snaps, Look for These Halos in the Chicago Sky
| Patty Wetli
Sundogs form when waves of sunlight pass through ice crystals suspended in clouds. They resemble rainbows or halos, or can even resemble a second sun.
Watchdog: Treasurer Conyears-Ervin Fired Employees After They Warned She Was Violating Ethics Ordinance by Using City Resources to Host Prayer Service
| Heather Cherone
The Chicago Board of Ethics ratified the inspector general’s findings on Nov. 13, and Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin now has an opportunity to contest the results of the probe at a future meeting of the board. Each violation of the law could trigger a fine of $20,000.
Chicago Red Stars Signs Forward Mallory Swanson in Historic Contract, Making Her Highest-Paid Player in NWSL
| Eunice Alpasan
The Colorado native has signed with the Chicago Red Stars through 2028. The contract is worth $2 million on a four-year deal with a fifth-year option, according to reports.
CPS Classes Will Resume Wednesday After Bitter Cold Led to Tuesday Cancellation
| Matt Masterson
CPS announced classes will be in session for all students Wednesday as the frigid temperatures the city has seen this week have begun to dissipate.
City Promoted Employees Who Were Reprimanded for Citing School That Fed Protesters Trapped Downtown During George Floyd Protests: Watchdog
| Heather Cherone
The two employees, a manager and a supervisor, “incompetently performed the duties of their positions” on May 30, 2020, when they cited the leaders of the Chicago Freedom School, according to a report released Friday by the city’s watchdog.
Here’s How Donald Trump Won in Iowa — and Why the Caucus Was Practically Over Before It Began
| Associated Press
About 7 in 10 Iowans who caucused for Donald Trump on Monday night said they have known all along that they would support a man who has remade the Republican Party through his “Make America Great Again” political movement.
Ground Collision of 2 Boeing Planes Sunday Night at O’Hare Sparks FAA Investigation
| Associated Press
No injuries were reported, both planes were of Boeing design, and the FAA says it will investigate the incident.
Chicago Remains in Grip of Dangerous Wind Chills, Mid-Week ‘Warm Up’ Won’t Last
| Patty Wetli
The Chicago region remains under a wind chill warning Tuesday morning as bitterly cold temperatures persist.
6 People Killed by Gunfire Over the Holiday Weekend Across Chicago: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to the Chicago Police Department, 18 people were shot in 16 separate shooting incidents between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Jan. 15, 2024 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Using the arts to repair homes and combat neighborhood disinvestment. And on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day we take a nuanced look at the revered civil rights leader.
Project Aims to Repair Englewood Homes, Combat Disinvestment Through the Arts
| Emily Soto
Artist Tonika Lewis Johnson is highlighting historical injustices while working to revitalize vacant lots in Englewood. It’s part of her latest project, “unBlocked Englewood.”
CPS Cancels Tuesday Classes Amid Dangerous Cold
| Matt Masterson
“We have been carefully monitoring the forecast over the past 24 hours, and have determined that given frigid temperatures predicted for tomorrow, and a Wind Chill Warning from the National Weather Service that wind chills that could reach -30 degrees, it will be unsafe for staff and students to travel to school,” the school district said in a statement.
How Clashing Interpretations of Martin Luther King’s Legacy Fuels the Fight Over DEI and Affirmative Action
| CNN
Decades later, warring interpretations of one of King’s most famous quotes have fueled a culture war over the merits of affirmative action and diversity and inclusion efforts.
In 1978, Coretta Scott King Spoke With WTTW About Her Husband’s Life and Legacy
| WTTW News
Coretta Scott King discusses her husband's legacy during a 1978 interview on WTTW.
As a New Generation Rises, Tension Between Free Speech and Inclusivity on College Campuses Simmers
| Associated Press
Generations of Americans have held firm to a version of free speech that makes room for even the vilest of views. Today, that idea faces competition more forceful and vehement than it has seen for a century.
It’s Dry January. Here Are Some Chicago Efforts to Normalize Sober Spaces and Living Alcohol Free — Without the FOMO
| Eunice Alpasan
In recent years, more bars and restaurants in Chicago have begun offering nonalcoholic beers, wines and cocktails. Alcohol-free bars and bottle shops in the city are other options for those who choose not to drink alcohol.
Week in Review: Johnson Suspends Migrant Eviction Policy; Trump Sounds Off in Courtroom
| Paul Caine
Chicago bears down for an icy winter storm. And assessing the GOP Iowa caucus on the weekend before voters there go to the polls.
Chicago Suspends 60-Day Limit on Shelter Stays for Migrants; Pritzker Appeals to Texas Gov.’s ‘Humanity’ to Stop the Buses Amid Extreme Weather
| Heather Cherone
“The next few days are a threat to the families and children you are sending here” because of the bitterly cold weather, Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
E-Learning or a Snow Day? Here’s How Illinois School Districts Decide
| Amanda Vinicky
State law allows districts to switch to e-learning if an emergency like weather prevents students from being in school physically. But if districts want the option, they must have an electronic learning program established in advance.
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Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss Confronts Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino as Immigration Enforcement Continues
City Council Votes 30-18 to Approve Final Part of 2026 Budget. Will Mayor Veto It?
City Council Votes 29-19 to Approve Rival Spending Plan, Rebuking Mayor Johnson
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