Stories by Amanda Vinicky
Poll: Voters Not Happy With Rauner, Madigan or Other State Leaders
| Amanda Vinicky
Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Republican Party have spent months and millions trying to frame Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as a master puppeteer, but Rauner appears to be dragging himself down at the same time.
Governor Piles on with Pension Plan as CPS Fix
| Amanda Vinicky
Under pressure to send Chicago Public Schools cash following a social media lashing from Chance the Rapper, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration is intensifying pressure on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Democrats to act.
Dragged Behind a Boat, Shedd Team Searches for Queen Conch in Bahamas
| Alex Ruppenthal
Shedd Aquarium researchers are studying queen conch populations in the Bahamas to understand the decline of the popular snail in the Caribbean.
Republican Health Care Reform Bill Struggling
| Nick Blumberg
As the Republican replacement for Obamacare faces political backlash, we take a closer look at how the law might change health coverage.
Former Fashion Photographer Finds Beauty in Nature
| Jay Shefsky
After 20 years in the fashion industry, Owen Deutsch wasn’t planning on getting back into photography. But then he discovered a new subject: birds.
Chicago Expands ‘Day for Change’ Homeless Program
| Maya Miller
The city is allocating $540,000 toward a program that offers temporary work to hundreds of Chicagoans who are struggling with housing and economic stability.
Allies of Innocence to Provide Free Counseling to Gun Violence Victims
| Kristen Thometz
A coalition of Chicago companies has teamed up to provide free grief and trauma counseling services to people who have lost family members to gun violence.
Key Illinois Republican Predicts Passage of Health Care Law
| Paris Schutz
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam indicated he supports the measure although he is concerned about the possible impact of the Medicaid rollback. “The Medicaid question, particularly for Illinois, is very challenging,” he said.
Illinois Education Board Approves State ESSA Plan
| Matt Masterson
The latest draft of what will become Illinois' new public education policy plan cleared its first major hurdle Wednesday, earning unanimous support from state education leaders.
Eddie Johnson Talks New Police Reforms
| Evan Garcia
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson joins us to discuss his department’s new policies and the challenges facing Chicago.
CPD Use of Force Policy Getting Revisions Amid Larger Reform Effort
| Brandis Friedman
The Chicago Police Department's controversial use of force policy gets a do-over.
Good Food Festival Celebrates Locally Grown, Sustainable Food
| Alexandra Silets
Chef Rick Bayless is just one of the highlights at this year’s three-day Good Food Festival. We speak with the event’s founder to learn more.
Great Lakes Funding Threatened
| Paris Schutz
Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes could see a substantial amount of federal funding dry up.
As Colorectal Cancer Rises in Young Adults, Emphasis on Screening
| Kristen Thometz
Colorectal cancer is increasing among younger adults despite an overall decrease in the disease in the U.S., according to a new study. A local doctor talks about the disease and the importance of screening.
Illinois Eyes Expanded Trade With Cuba
| Alex Ruppenthal
Advocates for Illinois’ agriculture industry anticipate new export opportunities if the U.S. relaxes trade barriers with Cuba.
UIC Exhibit: What does ‘Sanctuary’ mean?
| Maya Miller
Artistic responses to the politically pointed term are on display starting this week at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Learn about the “Sanctuary” exhibit.
Chicago Author’s Memoir Details 8-Month ‘Duck Season’ in Rural France
| Nick Blumberg
A place where ducks outnumber people 20 to 1 might not sound like somewhere you’d want to move with your wife and young daughter. But that’s exactly what Chicago author David McAninch did.
Pinball Meets Paschke in ‘Kings and Queens’ Exhibition
| Marc Vitali
Pinball machines and Ed Paschke paintings go side by side as a suburban museum becomes an artful arcade.
US Attorney Zachary Fardon Asked to Resign
| Paris Schutz
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has asked for the immediate resignation of 46 remaining U.S. attorneys that were appointed under the previous presidential administration.
State Bill Aiming to Close Gender Wage Gap Advances
| Maya Miller
A bill prohibiting employers from screening job applicants based on wage or salary history advanced out of the Senate’s Labor Committee this week.
CPS Student Files Civil Suit Claiming School Building Violates ADA
| Matt Masterson
CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and the Board of Education are both named in a civil suit filed Friday by Access Living, a disability advocacy nonprofit, on behalf of the wheelchair-bound student at Drummond Montessori Magnet School in Bucktown.
Chicago Hackathon to Address Resources for Veterans
| Maya Miller
A weeklong event brings coders and innovators together – both virtually and in person – to build websites and mobile apps to help veterans.
The Week in Review: Illinois Leaders Worry Over Health Care Overhaul
| Nick Blumberg
Illinois would get slammed with extra Medicaid costs as Republicans rush to repeal Obamacare. Chicago teachers threaten another one-day walkout. And the Bears cut Jay Cutler.
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