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President Biden to End COVID-19 Emergencies on May 11
| Associated Press
The move to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations would formally restructure the federal coronavirus response to treat the virus as an endemic threat to public health that can be managed through agencies’ normal authorities.
Chicago City Council Gets First Look at 15-Year Deal with ComEd Brokered by Lightfoot
| Heather Cherone
The Chicago City Council could vote on the deal as soon as March 1 – one day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Council members ask voters for new four-year terms in office.
Cook County Not Pursuing Sex Crime Charges Against R. Kelly Following Federal Convictions
| Matt Masterson
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on Monday announced her office will be dropping its case against Kelly — nearly four years after he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and abuse.
Key City Panel Endorses Effort to Crack Down on Those Who Attack Cops, Firefighters
| Heather Cherone
The measure, backed by 18 members of the City Council, won the unanimous endorsement of the City Council’s Public Safety committee and heads to the full City Council on Wednesday for a final vote.
WTTW News Explains: Why Are Chicago Elections Nonpartisan?
| Heather Cherone
When Chicagoans go to the polls to vote for mayor, there’s a crucial piece of information missing from their ballots: the candidates’ political parties. WTTW News Explains tells you the reasons why.
2 Men Killed in Separate Shootings Early Monday: Police
| Matt Masterson
According to Chicago Police Department data, 13 people were wounded by gunfire over the weekend between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Those victims survived their wounds, but two men were killed in shootings just after 6 a.m. Monday.
Chicago Rolls Out Administrative Debt Relief Program
| Erica Gunderson
Chicago’s latest phase in debt relief sets its sights on administrative debt, the sort of debt incurred by tickets for noise violations or littering. People can pay the original fine, and the city will waive any accrued penalties or fees.
Proposed Ordinance Offers Course Correction for False Claims Against Gig Workers
| Erica Gunderson
Activists said "bad actors" lie about rideshare and delivery drivers to avoid paying. The Chicago ordinance would allow app drivers accused of misconduct to share their story and recoup income if they were found to be unfairly deactivated.
Addressing Childhood Obesity in the Latino Community
| Erica Gunderson
Latino CPS students are more likely to be overweight or obese than other demographics, data shows. Latino CPS kindergartners in 2020 had an average overweight or obesity rate of nearly 39%; by ninth grade, the average rate climbed to almost 49%.
Little Village Honors Memory of Shooting Victim Melissa Ortega
| Erica Gunderson
It's been one year since 8-year-old Melissa Ortega was shot to death in Little Village. The community is honoring her memory with a mural and peace tree.
What’s the Human Role in ShotSpotter Gunfire Detection System? CEO Explains
| Acacia Hernandez
ShotSpotter alerts law enforcement to potential gunfire with the goal of reducing gun violence in Chicago. Critics say it's ineffective and contributes to overpolicing in Black and Latino communities.
Illinois Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala Reflects On Pandemic, Addressing Inequities In Education
| Eunice Alpasan
Carmen Ayala is retiring after a career in education spanning nearly 40 years. She's both the first woman and person of color to hold the position as the state's top education official.
Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, Jan. 28, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Keeping kids heathy amid high obesity rates. The state's outgoing schools superintendent on lessons learned from the pandemic. And a Waukegan gym hoping to uplift women.
New Citizen Board for Chicago Police Oversight Gets Ready for Election
| Erica Gunderson
Voters will elect three-member councils for each of the city's 22 police districts. Those councils will be charged with holding regular meetings and bringing concerns and recommendations from community members to the city and police leadership.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Jan. 28, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
One-on-one with the CEO of the city’s controversial ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology company. New to this year’s mayoral ballot: civilians who will oversee the Chicago Police Department. And debt relief for Chicagoans.
A Repressed Mother’s Boy Breaks Free in Benjamin Britten’s Satirical Opera ‘Albert Herring’
| Hedy Weiss
The Chicago Opera Theater’s production of “Albert Herring” is alternately amusing and heartbreaking. To mark an early celebration of its 50th anniversary season, the ever-adventurous company has welcomed acclaimed British conductor Dame Jane Glover (DBE).
Jan. 27, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Reaction to the release of Memphis police video. One on one with the head of the Chicago Housing Authority. Making crosswalks accessible to blind pedestrians. And a winter showcase in River West.
‘Winter Dreams’ Celebrates the Season with Interactive Art Exhibit
| Angel Idowu
Organizers at a River West gallery said they hope to give the community a reason to celebrate the season through interactive art and reflective storytelling.
Chicago Housing Authority CEO Talks Agency Criticism, State of Affordable Housing
| Jennifer Cotto
The Chicago Housing Authority is facing a lot of criticism. Alderpeople are questioning how the department is using its resources, while residents said there isn’t enough housing and what they do have is in poor condition.
Memphis Authorities Release Video in Tyre Nichols' Death
| Associated Press
Nichols’ family members and their lawyers said the footage shows officers savagely beating the 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes in an assault that the legal team likened to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.
Chicago’s Plan to Make Crosswalks Accessible for Blind Pedestrians Moving at a Crawl
| Nick Blumberg
Last March, the Chicago Department of Transportation said it was planning to install about 150 accessible pedestrian signals in 2022 and 2023. So far, only nine of those signals are actually up and running – and only eight of them are new, since one of those installations was an upgrade to an older signal.
Week in Review: Chicago Mayoral Race Tightens
| Alexandra Silets
The footage of a Memphis traffic stop that led to Tyre Nichols’ death has been released. Lightfoot turns up the heat on her mayoral opponents. Assault weapons lawsuits come fast and furious. And remembering a beloved local radio DJ.
In Reversal by Skokie Officials, Approval of Carvana Vending Machine Tower is Repealed
| Patty Wetli
If the embattled online retailer still wants to build its tower in Skokie, the company will have to start the approval process back at square one, village trustees said.
Gas Prices Normally Drop in Winter. Why Are They Rising?
| CNN
All told, the national average has climbed by more than 9% since the end of last year — the biggest increase to start a year since 2009, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
FDA Moves to Ease Rules for Blood Donations From Gay Men
| Associated Press
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced draft guidelines that would do away with the current three-month abstinence requirement for donations from men who have sex with men. Instead, all potential donors would be screened with a new questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV.
This Week in Nature: Reports of the Earth Spinning in Reverse Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
| Patty Wetli
Headlines spun out of control when it came to new research results on the Earth’s core. In other news, narwhals have had it with noisy neighbors.
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