Stories by Erica Gunderson
Ask Geoffrey: What Happened to the Young Abraham Lincoln Statue?
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer has the story of a statue's journey from a library to a North Side park in this encore edition of “Ask Geoffrey.”
CPS Won’t Withhold Money, But Keeping Funding Appeals Process
| Matt Masterson
Citing principal feedback, CPS says it will no longer withhold 4 percent of schools’ special education funding and will instead using central contingency funds to grant appeals for both general and special education resources.
Efforts to Simplify CPS High School Application Process Draw Concern
| Brandis Friedman
An attempt to make the high school application process easier is raising some questions.
Chicago Leads Nation in Reducing Racial Disparity in Breast Cancer Deaths
| Kristen Thometz
For black women in Chicago, a breast cancer diagnosis in 2003 meant you were 68 percent more likely to die from the disease than a white woman. A new study shows that gap is closing.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 2-6
| Rebecca Palmore
Lollapalooza, lowriders, indie flicks and Staley Da Bear usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Memo Finds Cook County Bail System Unconstitutional
| Brandis Friedman
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is criticizing Cook County’s bail bond system.
Uninsured Driver? Secretary Of State Wants to Hear From You
Spokesman acknowledges inefficient program to identify those without insurance
| Paris Schutz
If you’re one of the nine million drivers in the state of Illinois, there’s a slight chance you could be driving on suspended license plates and not even know it.
New Guide Helps Identify Native Trees, Shrubs for Your Garden
| Paul Caine
Why native trees and plants not only look good but are better for local wildlife and the environment. A discussion with author Charlotte Adelman.
Trump to Sign Sanctions Against Russia ‘Soon’
| Nick Blumberg
Vladimir Putin orders hundreds of U.S. diplomats out of the country as tensions escalate with Russia.
A Fresh Look at the Colossal Photography Archive at Columbia College
| Marc Vitali
Curators and students at Columbia College Chicago have devised a way to get viewers to reimagine the meaning of a photograph.
Ordinance Aims to Punish Parents of Gun-Toting Kids
| Alexandra Silets
Should parents be held responsible if they know their kids have guns? We speak to Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) about a new ordinance.
Art Conservation Expert Does Museum Work for Free
| Jay Shefsky
Art conservation can cost thousands of dollars. Meet one man who’s dedicated to restoring works of art pro bono.
Broccoli, Kale Could Slow Cognitive Decline, Study Finds
| Kristen Thometz
Your mother was right to tell you to eat your broccoli. Eating nutrient-rich foods like broccoli, spinach and kale could slow age-related cognitive decline, according to a new study.
Rauner Issues Amendatory Veto of Education Funding Bill
| Amanda Vinicky
Gov. Bruce Rauner made generous use of his veto pen to redline money for Chicago Public Schools and to make other sweeping changes to a major revamp of education funding.
2 Plains Zebras Debut at Lincoln Park Zoo
| Alex Ruppenthal
The young males belong to a highly social zebra species and will eventually share a habitat with the zoo’s giraffes.
PolitiFact Rates Rauner’s SB1 ‘Bailout’ Claim as False
| Matt Masterson
Just before Gov. Bruce Rauner issued a long-anticipated amendatory veto of an education funding reform bill in Springfield, top political fact-checkers cast doubt on one of the governor’s biggest criticisms of the legislation.
Governor Gets Education Funding Bill, But Schools’ Future Remains Hazy
| Amanda Vinicky
The future of school funding is now in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s hands, after Democrats finally sent him legislation he’s made a show of demanding they release. Now the question is what Rauner will do with it.
Mayor Declines to Say Whether He’ll Reappoint Police Board President
| Brandis Friedman
The Chicago Police Board could be without a president Tuesday. The term of current President Lori Lightfoot expired Monday.
The Future of Health Care After Republicans Fail to Repeal and Replace
| Alexandra Silets
A bipartisan coalition of 43 House members, including three from Illinois, said Monday they’ve come up with a compromise plan to stabilize the health care market. What happens next?
City Forecasts Smallest Budget Gap in a Decade
| Paris Schutz
Preliminary numbers released Monday show that the city’s financial picture is improving. But is the news all good?
Illinois State Fair to Auction Off $100,000 in Unclaimed Property
| Eddie Arruza
The nine-day event has something for everyone, including an attraction that’s been found to lure folks to the fair who might not otherwise go: an auction of unclaimed property.
Viewer Feedback: ‘The Chicago Public School System Is a Failure’
| WTTW News
We hear from you about the the school funding debate in Springfield.
Book Inspires Young People to Create ‘No Small Plans’ For Chicago
| Nick Blumberg
A new graphic novel wants to empower Chicago teenagers to push for the city they deserve. Meet one of the teens who created the book.
Red Cross Facing ‘Critical’ Blood Shortage
| Kristen Thometz
“Blood donations are being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in, which could lead to delays in patient care,” said Laurie Nehring of the American Red Cross. “We are doing everything we can to prevent that from happening.”
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