Stories by Nick Blumberg
Study: Program for At-Risk Youth Cuts Arrests by 35 Percent
| Nick Blumberg
A new study finds a program that works with at-risk young men in Chicago reduced overall arrests in the group by 35 percent, violent crime arrests by 50 percent and boosted on-time high school graduation for participants by 19 percent.
1st Summer Harvest Finds Organic Garden Thriving
| Dan Andries
We get a tasty sampling of the first harvest of our garden with organic gardener Jeanne Nolan.
Rauner, Madigan, Cullerton Spar on CPS Funding
| Paris Schutz
The governor and legislative leaders meet on the eve of Wednesday's special session. Was anything resolved on a budget and how much money Chicago Public Schools will receive?
What Can Consumers Expect for 2017 Health Care Premiums?
| Beni Enas
With Obamacare premiums expected to rise, what options do consumers have now?
Mel Brooks Celebrates 90th Birthday
| Marc Vitali
The great Mel Brooks turns 90 on Tuesday. A WTTW11 crew met him in February 2001 when this genuine genius of entertainment was just a babe at 74 years old.
Starting July 1 You Must Be 21 to Buy Tobacco Products in Chicago
| Kristen Thometz
Increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, the city of Chicago says, will decrease smoking among youth, boost health and save lives.
Bobcat Trapping Ban Still on the Table, Says Lawmaker
| Evan Garcia
An Illinois senator is renewing his call for a proposed ban on bobcat trapping and the sale of the animals' pelts after a reported deal with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources fell through.
For Marcia Clark, No Mystery Behind Renewed Interest in OJ Simpson Trial
| Hunter Clauss
It's been more than 20 years since O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with murder, but there is renewed fascination with his trial–a fact that holds no mystery for Marcia Clark, the former L.A. prosecutor tasked with laying out the case against Simpson in 1995.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Abortion Access Law, Deadlocks on Immigration
| Alexandra Silets
The Supreme Court strikes down Texas abortion restrictions. Former Supreme Court clerks highlight the term's other blockbuster cases.
Witness Cooperation in Murder Cases a Chronic Problem in Chicago
| Brandis Friedman
It's a chronic problem in Chicago: unsolved murder cases. A look at one case, gone three-years cold.
Will Special Session Yield Stopgap Budget, Education Deal?
| Paris Schutz
The state of Illinois is a mere days away from passing the one-year mark without a state budget in place. Could there be a deal reached during a special session scheduled for Wednesday?
CPD: Fear of Retaliation Drives Community Code of Silence
| Brandis Friedman
Unsolved murder cases like that of Marissa Boyd-Stingley are a chronic problem in Chicago. Why are some witnesses unwilling to share information with police? We asked CPD's Chief of Detectives Gene Roy to weigh in.
What Stunning Brexit Vote Means for US
| Dan Andries
The Leave votes have carried the day in what has been called the single most important vote in Europe in the past 50 years. A look at the impact of the referendum which is expected to mark the end of Britain's membership in the European Union.
Viewer Feedback: ‘The People’s Lakefront is Not for Sale’
| Erica Gunderson
We got strong reaction from viewers about George Lucas’ decision to build the Lucas Museum in California. Hear what viewers had to say when read feedback from the "Chicago Tonight" website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Lila Downs Blends Tradition, Activism in Music
| Marc Vitali
Lila Downs is an innovative singer with roots in both Minnesota and Oaxaca, Mexico. She studied voice and anthropology in college and marries the two interests in her culturally inspired musical pursuits.
Chicago Loses Lucas Museum to California
| Paris Schutz
The multi-episode saga to build the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on Chicago’s lakefront is apparently over. In a statement sent just before noon on Friday, “Star Wars” creator George Lucas himself announced that the ongoing litigation from Friends of the Parks effectively killed off the project.
Classic Chicago Cocktail: Blood Sport
| Erica Gunderson
Longtime U.S. Congressman Dan Rostenkowski famously called Chicago politics “blood sport.” We raise a glass to one of Chicago's own (who also happened to have one of the all-time great heads of political hair) with a Polish twist on a classic cocktail.
The Week in Review: New Regulations on Sharing Economy
| WTTW News
City Council strikes deals on Uber, Airbnb, the Wrigley Field plaza and more. Dennis Hastert reports to prison. And Derrick Rose is leaving the Bulls. Joel Weisman and guests discuss these stories and more on this week's edition.
Robin Robinson on Her New Role at the Chicago Police Department
| Paul Caine
The longtime Chicago news anchor was recently hired by Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to be a departmental spokesperson and his special adviser on fostering stronger community relationships. She tells us about her new job.
How Would CPS Bankruptcy Work?
| Paris Schutz
Gov. Bruce Rauner doubles down on his calls for Chicago Public Schools to declare bankruptcy. But how would it work, and could it actually make CPS finances worse?
$35 Million Gift for New U of Chicago Entrepreneurship Center
| Nick Blumberg
The University of Chicago's startup accelerator and entrepreneurship center lands a multimillion-dollar gift to expand. Meet the alumni donor and the center's director.
Zip Line and Treetop Obstacle Course Opens in Cook County
| Evan Garcia
Starting Saturday, thrill-seekers and nature lovers will get the chance to swing, soar and climb through a new zip line and obstacle course nestled in the treetops of a Cook County forest preserve.
Big Mural on Campus: Lane Tech High School Adds to Art Collection
| Marc Vitali
Students are the focus of a new mural at a CPS school that has a nationally recognized art collection. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the contemporary work.
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