Stories by Rebecca Palmore
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Dec. 7-10
| Rebecca Palmore
Holiday markets, late-night shopping, jousting bouts and classic Christmas flicks usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Cancer Survivor Pushing for State Law on Dense Breast Notifications
| Kristen Thometz
Glenview resident Patti Beyer is advocating for a state law that would require mammography reports to inform women if they have dense breast tissue, a risk factor for cancer. “It’s already in the mammography report to the doctor but unless the doctor tells you, it’s kept from you,” she said.
North Korea, US ‘In Game of Nuclear Chicken’
| Alexandra Silets
White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster believes the U.S. is inching closer to war with North Korea.
Obama, Mayors Resist Trump on Climate Change at Chicago Summit
| Alex Ruppenthal
A good chunk of the U.S. will stay in the Paris climate agreement, despite President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the accord. That was the message Tuesday from former President Barack Obama and several mayors from the U.S. and around the world.
GOP House Members Call for Action on DACA by End of Year
| Amanda Vinicky
Thirty-four Republican Congressman, including two from Illinois, sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for “a permanent legislative solution” for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients before year’s end.
LaSalle County Doctor Admits Trading Opioids for Sex, Takes Plea Deal
| Matt Masterson
From 2011 to 2013, a LaSalle County physician prescribed hundreds of thousands of milligrams of controlled substances to a trio of opioid-dependent patients in exchange for sex, according to a plea agreement.
Rare Holiday Crèche on Display at Art Institute of Chicago
| Marc Vitali
The Christmas season is the only time to see a rare Nativity scene that blends both spiritual and earthly pursuits. We go for a look.
Suburban Express Issues New Apology for ‘Grotesquely Xenophobic’ Ad
| Matt Masterson
Facing ongoing controversy from an advertisement it now calls “indefensible,” a Champaign-based bus company says it hopes to “relaunch” its conduct and will cooperate with a state investigation into its business practices.
Gov. Rauner Seeking Re-election: ‘I Am Not in Charge’
| Amanda Vinicky
Gov. Bruce Rauner came into office selling his credentials as a deal-making businessman who could turn Illinois around. But nearly three years into his term, Rauner said he’s “not in charge.”
Suburban Express Bus Line Facing Blowback from ‘Offensive, Bigoted’ Ad
| Matt Masterson
Attorney General Lisa Madigan issues a subpoena to college bus service Suburban Express over possible civil rights violations after the company told customers in an ad that “you won’t feel like you’re in China when you’re on our buses.”
CPS Announces Plans for 2 New Elementary Schools
| Brandis Friedman
Several days after announcing proposed school closures and mergers, Chicago Public Schools is touting plans to offer two new elementary schools, while enhancing three others.
Cardinal Blase Cupich Visits Hurricane Survivors in Puerto Rico
| Brandis Friedman
In a Facebook post Sunday, Cardinal Blase Cupich said it was “painful” to see the destruction up close, and that he was there to “reassure our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters that the Holy Father cares about them and prays for them.”
Kerry James Marshall Unveils Monumental Mural in the Loop
| Marc Vitali
A new mural at the Chicago Cultural Center honors 20 women, past and present, who contributed to the cultural life of the city. “Chicago Tonight” was on site throughout the creation of the work, the largest to date by Chicago artist Kerry James Marshall.
How Will GOP Tax Plan Affect the Economy and Americans’ Wallets?
| Evan Garcia
Republicans in Congress have successfully passed tax legislation. Will a corporate-friendly tax overhaul help spur job and wage growth, or merely help the rich get richer?
Officials Dedicate First Stage of McCook Reservoir
| Alex Ruppenthal
Public officials gathered Monday to celebrate the completion of stage one of the McCook Reservoir, which will offer 10 billion gallons of storage capacity to prevent flooding once complete in 2029.
South, West Side Residents to Emanuel: You’re No ‘Green’ Mayor
| Alex Ruppenthal
Organizers from several Chicago environmental groups are demanding more action from the city to combat air pollution in industrialized neighborhoods as Mayor Rahm Emanuel prepares to host a high-profile summit on climate change.
CPS Announces School Action Plan: Closures, Consolidations in Proposal
NTA Conversion, Ogden-Jenner Merger Among Proposals
| Matt Masterson
As Chicago Public Schools' five-year moratorium on school closures draws to an end, the district announced plans Friday for a new series of school closings, conversions and consolidations.
The Week in Review: Rep. Gutierrez Sets Off Political Reshuffling
| Alexandra Silets
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez drops a bombshell announcement after 13 terms in Congress. Cook County’s soda tax is dead, but political ramifications linger. Elon Musk is bidding on the O’Hare express train project. And the Bears lose patience with coach John Fox.
Joel Weisman to Retire as Host of ‘The Week in Review’
| Kristen Thometz
“After 40 years I've decided to end my term as host and senior editor of this show I helped create,” Joel Weisman said. A special show next month will mark the show’s fourth decade, and Weisman’s final appearance as host.
Viewer Feedback: ‘I Wish We Could Legalize This Drug and Move On’
| WTTW News
Earlier this week we spoke with PBS travel host Rick Steves about his advocacy for legalizing marijuana. Viewers weighed in with opinions on both sides of the debate.
New Round of Chicago Public School Closures Looming
| Brandis Friedman
A day before the Chicago Public Schools system is set to confirm which schools it plans to close next year, teachers say they’re already getting word. And the Chicago Teachers Union is pushing back.
The Nuclear Age at 75: Remembering Chicago’s Role
| Eddie Arruza
The nuclear age was triggered in Chicago 75 years ago this week. We remember that fateful day, the man behind it and the lingering implications.
100-Plus Groups Urge Feds for More Funding to Save Monarch Butterflies
| Alex Ruppenthal
Conservation groups say the federal government needs to spend more to save monarchs, the beloved black-and-orange insects whose population has dropped in recent decades.
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