Stories by Kristen Thometz
Chicago’s Runoff Election: Early Voting Locations, Dates
| Kristen Thometz
An April 2 runoff election will determine Chicago’s next mayor, city treasurer and aldermen in more than a dozen wards across the city. Find out when and where you can cast your ballot.
Growing Number of Boeing Max 8 Planes Grounded After Crash
| Associated Press
Chicago-based Boeing’s stock plunged 8 percent Monday morning as aviation authorities in China, Indonesia and Ethiopia ordered airlines to ground their Boeing 737 Max 8 planes the day after one crashed in Ethiopia.
Attorney: Tape Appears to Show R. Kelly Sexually Abusing Girls
| Associated Press
A man who said he was cleaning out an old videotape collection found a tape that showed a man who appeared to be R. Kelly sexually abusing girls, he and his attorney said Sunday.
R. Kelly: ‘We’re Going to Straighten All This Stuff Out’
| Associated Press
R. Kelly walked out of a Chicago jail on Saturday after someone who officials say did not want to be publicly identified paid $161,633 that the R&B singer owed in back child support.
A Guide to Recycling Plastics
| Alex Ruppenthal
On average, people in the U.S. generate 220 pounds of plastic waste each year, even though much of those materials could be recycled. Here’s the lowdown on the types of plastic that can and can’t be recycled.
‘Empire’ Actor Jussie Smollett Facing 16 New Charges
| Matt Masterson
A grand jury has returned 16 additional disorderly conduct charges against the actor following an alleged attack hoax, according to the Cook County State’s Attoorney’s Office.
Willie Wilson Endorses Lori Lightfoot for Chicago Mayor
| Kristen Thometz
Businessman Willie Wilson, who finished fourth in his bid for Chicago mayor in the Feb. 26 election, announces his endorsement of former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot.
Aurora Shooting Survivor Files Lawsuit Against Illinois State Police
| Matt Masterson
Timothy Williams was shot three times during the Feb. 15 attack at a manufacturing facility in Aurora. He believes that attack would have been prevented if state police had “followed their internal protocols.”
Web Extra, The Week in Review: Pritzker’s ‘Fair Tax’ Plan
| Alexandra Silets
Brandis Friedman and guests discuss the details of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan, as businesses and Republicans cry foul at higher taxes for millionaires.
The Week in Review: Mayoral Runoff Election Heats Up
| Alexandra Silets
Sparks fly in the first mayoral runoff forum. Courts deliver bad news for politicians and R. Kelly. Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock beats his charges. And the Lincoln Yards development nears a full City Council vote.
City Investigating Salmonella Exposure at Archer Heights Grocery Store
| Kristen Thometz
The Chicago Department of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of salmonella after six people who consumed food from the kitchen counter at Supermercado Rivera became sick late last month.
After Making Millions, R. Kelly Could be Left with Nothing
| Associated Press
R. Kelly built a worldwide musical brand that earned tens of millions of dollars over a nearly 30-year career. But tax and legal issues could leave the Grammy Award winner with next to nothing.
Chicago Police Looking for Source of Leaks in Smollett Case
| Associated Press
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the investigation began after Smollett was charged with felony disorderly conduct last month.
Lincoln Yards Project Passes Another Hurdle
| Paris Schutz
The massive $6 billion Lincoln Yards development has nearly passed through all of its regulatory hurdles.
Millionaires Would Pay 3 Percent More Under Pritzker Tax Plan
| Paris Schutz
Want to know how much you’d pay under the governor’s graduated income tax proposal? Specifics of the plan, released Thursday, show it would hit high earners the hardest.
Suspect in Shooting of Illinois Deputy Arrested
| Associated Press
A man suspected of fatally shooting a sheriff’s deputy and wounding a woman at an Illinois hotel was taken into custody Thursday after an hours-long standoff.
In Rennie Harris’ ‘Lazarus,’ the Spirit of Alvin Ailey Rises to Freedom
| Hedy Weiss
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago with three different lineups, including an opening program that captures its illustrious history with an absolutely fascinating, generation-shifting juxtaposition of two pieces.
Lincoln Park Zoo Helps Save 1,800 Abandoned Flamingo Chicks in South Africa
| Alex Ruppenthal
A severe drought earlier this year forced a large group of flamingos to flee a nesting site in South Africa. That’s when Lincoln Park Zoo and other wildlife conservation groups from around the world stepped in.
Alex Kotlowitz on ‘An American Summer’ and Violence in Chicago
| Nicole Cardos
The author of “There Are No Children Here” tells us about his new book set in Chicago during the summer of 2013.
Report: Young Black Men at High Risk of Homicide by Firearm
| Kristen Thometz
In 2016, the number of young black men killed by a firearm in Chicago was nearly 50 times the national rate, according to a new report analyzing such deaths among 15- to 19-year-olds.
Chicagoans Embrace Gamelan, an Ancient Indonesian Art Form
| Evan Garcia
The musical tradition dates back centuries. Meet two groups in Chicago that are keeping the art form alive.
Court Ruling on Jason Van Dyke Sentence Challenge Expected Next Week
| Matt Masterson
The former Chicago police officer is currently slated to get out of prison in 2022. But an upcoming decision from Illinois’ Supreme Court could directly impact that timeline.
Rep. Kinzinger Meets with Trump After Deployment to Border
| Associated Press
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger says his first-hand experience led him to conclude that the situation at the border represents a legitimate national emergency.
R. Kelly Says Ex-Wife Destroyed His Name, Others Stole Money
| Associated Press
Embattled R& B star R. Kelly angrily blamed his ex-wife for “destroying” his name and claimed other people stole from his bank accounts in an interview that aired Thursday.
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