Stories by Eddie Arruza
Daniel Biss and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Part Ways
| Eddie Arruza
It was only last week that gubernatorial candidate and Democratic state Sen. Daniel Biss named Chicago’s 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as his running mate. On Wednesday, the two went their separate ways.
Chicago World Music Festival: Around the World in 13 Days
| WTTW News
If music is one of the best ways to get a taste of another culture, Chicago is in for a feast starting Friday. We get a preview.
Debating DACA: Trump Gives Congress 6 Months to Find a Fix
| Paul Caine
President Donald Trump has said he expects Congress to use the next six months to come up with a way to “legalize DACA.” But given the level of dysfunction in Congress, can that happen?
Illinois Education Secretary Beth Purvis on School Funding Reform
| Alexandra Silets
The state’s education secretary said Gov. Bruce Rauner agreed with 90 percent of the education funding bill known as SB1. Then he vetoed it. We discuss education funding reform with Beth Purvis.
Illinois to Withhold Voter Data from Trump Administration, For Now
| Paris Schutz
Questions over President Donald Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity have caused anxiety on both sides of the aisle. But Illinois’ voter data will not be turned over, at least for now.
S.H. Bell Gets Deadline Extension for Manganese Dust-Control Plan
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago public health officials have given the Southeast Side company an additional week to come up with an improved plan for reducing emissions of manganese dust.
Ask Geoffrey: Who’s Holding Up This Southeast Side Building?
| Erica Gunderson
Since about 1915, a 7-foot-tall stone man has been shouldering a heavy burden on the corner of a Southeast Side building — more than hundred years without a break! But there’s some debate as to exactly who he is.
The Nation’s Oldest African-American Women’s Golf Club Turns 80
| Jay Shefsky
There was once an extensive network of African-American golf leagues and clubs across the country. As the golf world opened up, most of them faded away. But one that remains is the Chicago Women’s Golf Club. We go for a visit.
Chicago Gun Violence Down Over Labor Day Weekend, Police Say
| Amanda Vinicky
The Chicago Police Department says it’s not a victory, but it is progress: Homicides were down 46 percent over the holiday weekend compared with last year, and there was a 30-percent reduction in shootings.
Chicago Builds Underground Tunnel to Fight Flooding in Albany Park
| Evan Garcia
After heavy storms, the Chicago River’s North Branch floods hundreds of homes on the Northwest Side. The Chicago Department of Transportation is now constructing a permanent flood-fighting weapon. We take a look.
Understanding Court Oversight: New Lawsuit Seeks Police Reforms
| Anne Strother
More on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s lawsuit calling for court oversight of the Chicago Police Department.
President Trump Ends DACA Program
| Paris Schutz
Local reaction the Trump administration’s announcement to end the program that protected those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
Karen Lewis on School Funding Reform, Scholarships and Budgeting
| Brandis Friedman
The head of the Chicago Teachers Union joins us with a report on the first day of school.
Maziar Bahari on Education, Journalism and His Imprisonment in Iran
| Marc Vitali
The international reporter talks about making a movie based on his imprisonment in Iran, and his partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Nursing Homes Fight to Block Lawsuits From Residents
| Paul Caine
A proposed new rule backed by the Trump administration would make it harder for nursing home residents to sue in cases of neglect and abuse. We discuss nursing home residents’ right to sue with the AARP.
Turning Trash into Fuel Reduces Need for Landfills, Study Finds
| Alex Ruppenthal
Instead of dumping it in landfills, organic waste could be used to power cars, heat homes and potentially reduce the need for new landfills in the U.S., according to research by Argonne National Laboratory.
New Bike Law Legalizes ‘Common’ Motorist, Cyclist Traffic Practices
| Kristen Thometz
Drivers in Illinois will soon be allowed to pass cyclists in no-passing zones, and bicycling on the shoulder of the road will also be legal. Learn more.
CPS Graduation Rate Rises as Enrollment Rate Drops
| Matt Masterson
Despite ongoing funding issues and declining enrollment, students at Chicago Public Schools graduated last year at the district’s highest rate on record, with more students earning a diploma than in each of the past six years.
Instagram Plastic Surgery Ads Can Be Misleading, Study Finds
| Kristen Thometz
In addition to luscious food pics and contoured abs, users of the popular photo-sharing app can find a bevy of advertisements for plastic surgery. But a new study finds that many providers are not board-certified plastic surgeons. And that, they say, is an issue.
Fracking Permit is First to Be Approved in Illinois
| Alex Ruppenthal
Despite more than 5,000 public comments opposing the permit, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources this week approved an application for the controversial oil-drilling practice.
Chance the Rapper Donating $2.2M to 20 CPS Schools
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago-born recording artist said money raised through the New Chance Arts & Literature Fund will be split among nearly two dozen Chicago schools to help boost arts programming and facilities.
Argonne Teams to Compete in ‘Shark Tank’ for Scientists
| Alex Ruppenthal
New technologies that could change the way we live and work will be on display this month during a reality TV-inspired competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Brushes with Cancer Celebrates Life, Art
| Kristen Thometz
Everyone who has been touched by cancer has a story to tell. Through Brushes with Cancer, artists find inspiration from those stories to create reflective works of art.
Photos: World’s Largest Dinosaur Coming to Field Museum
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago’s iconic T. rex Sue will get a makeover when the largest dinosaur ever discovered comes to town. Stretching 122 feet from snout to tail, the titanosaur is longer than two accordion CTA buses end to end.
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