Stories by
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Oct. 1, 2022 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Queen Elizabeth’s death is sparking questions about the history of the British Empire. Plus, the mother of Hadiya Pendleton on preventing gun violence and raising awareness of kidney disease.
Two Prophets, Century-Old Prayer Duel Inspire Suburban Zion Mosque
| Associated Press
This weekend, thousands of Ahmadi Muslims from around the world have congregated in the Lake County city to celebrate what they see as a century-old miracle and a significant milestone in the life of Zion and of their faith: The building of the city’s first mosque.
The Week in Review: Lightfoot Nixes Tax Increase, Pritzker Leads Poll
| Paul Caine
Mayor Lori Lightfoot nixes a plan for a $42 million property tax increase tied to inflation. And a WGN poll says Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has a double-digit lead over his Republican challenger Darren Bailey, who this week likened Chicago to an unruly child.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Muti Sets Orchestra Hall on Fire With Prokofiev Symphony
| Hedy Weiss
What truly set Orchestra Hall on fire came in the second half of the program as Maestro Riccardo Muti, in subtle but wonderfully expressive balletic form, led an altogether blazing performance of Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major,” a 1944 masterwork composed at the height of World War II.
Teen Charged With Murder in Crash That Left 55-Year-Old Woman Dead
| Matt Masterson
Juan Vazquez, 17, appeared in adult bond court Friday where he was held without bail following his arrest on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated fleeing and eluding stemming from the death of 55-year-old Dominga Flores.
Illinois’ Old State Capitol Announced as New Addition to National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
| Patty Wetli
Between 1841 and 1872, the building served as the seat of Illinois Supreme Court, during which time justices heard several cases linked to Illinois' Underground Railroad.
Goodman Theatre’s Production of “Clyde’s” Sets Powerful Play at Relentlessly High Pitch
| Hedy Weiss
Lynn Nottage’s most recent play, “Clyde’s — a nominee at last year’s Tony Awards that is now receiving a production at the Goodman Theatre — deals with a rarely explored but crucial issue. It’s the matter of the extreme difficulty faced by those who have been incarcerated and who, upon release, find it all but impossible to find a job.
Reuse-a-Palooza at The Plant Is a Fest for Waste Reduction
| Patty Wetli
Along with accepting items for donation, experts will be on hand to share tips not only about recycling but re-using, re-purposing and reducing consumption.
Hurricane Ian Heads For Carolinas After Pounding Florida
| Associated Press
With South Carolina’s coast under a hurricane warning, many left Charleston for higher ground and store owners used sandbags to ward off high water levels in an area prone to inundation.
Abortion Ruling Intensifies Fight Over State Supreme Courts
| Associated Press
Surrounded by states with abortion bans that took effect after Roe v. Wade fell, Illinois is one of the few places where the procedure remains legal in the Midwest. Abortion-rights supporters are worried that might not last.
Chicago Tonight In Your Neighborhood: Plan for New School on Near South Side Runs Into Opposition
| Acacia Hernandez
A new high school is slated to be built at 24th and State streets, with the recent blessing of the Chicago Board of Education. It was a tight 4-3 vote, an indication of how controversial the plan is considering that residents of Chinatown, the South Loop and surrounding communities have been asking for a new school for decades.
Transplant Recipient Advocates for Kidney Disease Awareness
| Joanna Hernandez
Last year, the National Kidney Foundation launched Kidney Health for Life, a campaign focused on educating and targeting the high rate of kidney disease among the Black, Asian and Latino populations.
Sept. 29, 2022 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Controversy over a new school on the near South Side, we have a live report. The latest on Hurricane Ian. Northwestern plans a new billion dollar football stadium. And raising awareness around kidney disease.
Queen Elizabeth’s Death Prompts Mourning But Also Discussions on Monarchy and Empire
| Paul Caine
To many, Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign was a symbol of tradition and stability that linked the present to the past. But on her death, along with expressions of sympathy, many people from former colonies from Ireland to Kenya — and here in America — have pushed back on the glorification of the monarchy and empire.
Northwestern University Details Plans for New $800M Stadium
| Andrea Flores
Northwestern University on Wednesday unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art $800 million stadium, which would replace the almost 100-year-old Ryan Field.
Floods Trap Many in Florida, Knock Out Electricity for 2.6M as Hurricane Ian Heads to South Carolina
| Associated Press
Floodwaters rose waist-high near Orlando as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States crossed the peninsula. Ian's tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 415 miles, drenching much of Florida and the southeastern Atlantic coast.
Lightfoot Drops Proposal for $42.7M Election-Year Property Tax Hike After Hitting Brick Wall of Opposition
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Lori Lightfoot did not explain Thursday how she would propose to bridge the city’s projected 2023 budget shortfall, which is now 33% bigger than the gap she detailed nearly two months ago.
Chicago Police Must Allow Those Arrested Access to a Phone Within 3 Hours: Consent Decree
| Heather Cherone
Chicago Police Department officers agreed to allow those arrested access to a phone within three hours in order to resolve a lawsuit filed by the Cook County Public Defender’s Office after mass arrests during the protests and unrest triggered by the police murder of George Floyd in May 2020.
What Would Ron Swanson Think? Nick Offerman Makes Pitch for Cook County Forest Preserve Tax Levy Hike
| Patty Wetli
His alter ego, Ron Swanson, may have been an anti-government government employee, but in real life, actor Nick Offerman has thrown his support behind a referendum that would increase the property tax levy for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
Explainer: How Do We Know When a Recession Has Begun?
| Associated Press
The economy shrank in the first half of this year, the government confirmed in a report Thursday, underscoring fears of a broad-based slowdown that could lead to a recession.
Woman Killed in Little Village Crash With Alleged Carjackers: Police
| Matt Masterson
Charges are pending against multiple suspects, according to Chicago police, following a crash in the 3100 block of South Kedzie Avenue that left a 55-year-old woman dead.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Sept. 29 - Oct. 2
| Michael Izquierdo
Skaters, wings, art walks and more fun surprises usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Sept. 28, 2022 - Full Show
| WTTW News
More migrants arrive in Chicago from the border. Why reports say investigators might be closer than ever to solving the 40-year-old Tylenol murders. And carving out a monument to Monty and Rose.
Migrants Bused From Texas Arriving Without Basic Necessities, Local Aid Organizations Say
| Andrea Flores
Chicago officials say 81 more migrants arrived in town on a bus from Texas during the day Wednesday. City officials say more than 1,500 total migrants have arrived in recent weeks from Texas with more expected Wednesday evening.
As Reporters Revisit the Tylenol Murders 40 Years Later, New Developments Emerge
| Eunice Alpasan
The Tylenol poisonings case is still unsolved, but new reporting from the Chicago Tribune says investigators might be closer than ever to charges.
Spotlight Politics: Welch Defends Ending Cash Bail; Pritzker Threatens to Sue Conservative PAC
| Paul Caine
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch makes a spirited defense of the SAFE-T Act and the end of cash bail. Our politics team weighs in on that story and more.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
Charlie Kirk, Conservative Activist Raised in Chicago Suburbs, Shot and Killed at Event in Utah
Staff Shakeup at Fermilab and Argonne as Buyouts Follow Budgeted Funding Drop, Federal Research Shift
American Politicians Who Have Directly Experienced Violence React to Charlie Kirk Shooting
Chicago-Founded Potbelly Being Acquired by Gas Station and Convenience Chain for $566 Million
ICE Agent Fatally Shoots Man During Immigration Operation in Suburban Franklin Park
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter