Stories by Associated Press
4 Dead in Possible Murder-Suicide in Joliet
| Associated Press
The Joliet Police Department says in a statement that the four were found dead shortly after 10:15 p.m. Wednesday after officers responded to a report of a shooting.
Contrasts Abound for 2 Black Women in Chicago Mayoral Runoff
| Associated Press
Former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot, a political outsider, will be matched up against the ultimate insider, Toni Preckwinkle – a longtime member of the Chicago City Council who now holds the top job in Cook County.
Familiar Names on Preservation Chicago’s 2019 Most Endangered Buildings List
| Erica Gunderson
Preservation Chicago has released its annual list of Chicago’s most threatened historic buildings – and this year, it includes two return entries and an entire category of buildings that dot Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Lightfoot Accuses Preckwinkle Campaign of Spreading False Rumors
| Paul Caine
Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot tells Carol Marin on “Chicago Tonight” that the Preckwinkle campaign had previously tried to “take her out” by spreading a rumor that she would quit the race.
In 3 Wards, Chicago Voters Oust Incumbents, Opt for Newcomers
| Andrea Guthmann
We meet three political newcomers who upset longtime aldermen – plus a fourth candidate who won an open seat in Tuesday’s election.
Spotlight Politics: Chicago Election by the Numbers
| Amanda Vinicky
Just how did the vote break down Tuesday, and why was turnout so much lower than expected? Our politics team digs into the numbers in this week's political roundtable.
Ask Geoffrey: Why is Chicago Divided into 50 Wards?
| Erica Gunderson
Just how did Chicago wind up with 50 wards and 50 aldermen? Geoffrey Baer does the math in this edition of Ask Geoffrey. And: five fast facts about Chicago mayors past.
A Contentious Family Dinner Morphs Into an Absurdist Black Comedy in ‘Act(s) of God’
| Hedy Weiss
This feverishly verbal play, now receiving its world premiere at Lookingglass Theatre, poses some epic, cosmic questions while capturing the more familiar aspects of family relationships and identity crises. But it supplies no answers.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Feb. 28-March 3
| Kristen Thometz
An icy dip in the lake, film festivals, Mardi Gras pastries and a shopping cart race usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Trash Removal Project Adds 7-Mile Stretch of Chicago River
| Alex Ruppenthal
The Litter Free Chicago River project will soon include a stretch of the river from North Avenue to Foster Avenue, where the North Branch connects with the North Shore Channel.
Another Transgender Inmate Seeking Transfer from IDOC Prison
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for inmate Janiah Monroe say she suffers from PTSD and has been a constant target for sexual harassment and abuse inside her all-male prison.
R. Kelly Insiders May Have Helped R&B Star with Sexual Abuse
| Associated Press
R. Kelly is looking at the possibility of decades in prison if convicted, but there’s no official word on whether his manager or anyone else in his inner circle might face charges.
Chicago Will Elect a Black Woman as Its Mayor for First Time
| Associated Press
Political outsider Lori Lightfoot, who was a federal prosecutor in northern Illinois, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle were the top two vote-getters among 14 candidates in the race for mayor.
Police Hoping to Identify Suspect in High School Student’s Murder
| Matt Masterson
Authorities on Wednesday released photos of an offender they believe was involved in the fatal shooting of Emanuel Gallegos outside a high school Monday evening in the Old Irving Park neighborhood.
Chicago Aldermanic Races Yield Some Stunning Upsets
| Eddie Arruza
Several incumbent aldermen were voted out of office and others are headed into a runoff. And despite scandals and investigations, some others prevailed.
Ald. Ed Burke Re-elected Despite Federal Corruption Charge
| Evan Garcia
Chicago’s longest serving alderman, has been re-elected to an unprecedented 13th term despite a highly publicized federal charge of attempted extortion.
Lightfoot vs. Preckwinkle in Chicago Mayoral Runoff
| Paris Schutz
Calling Tuesday’s election a referendum on the “crumbling political machine of the past,” former Chicago Police Board chair Lori Lightfoot claimed a spot in the historic mayoral runoff set for April 2.
Discovery of Political Buttons at NEIU Offers Glimpse Into Past
| Jay Shefsky
A recently discovered collection of old political buttons may tell us something about the voters of an earlier era.
How, and Why, Chicago Has Nonpartisan Elections
| WTTW News
The push for nonpartisan elections began after the 1983 election of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. What it means for elections today.
What to Make of This Extraordinary Chicago Election
| Paul Caine
Fourteen mayoral candidates? A possible runoff? Political reporters and political scientists give us their take on this unprecedented election.
Early Totals Show Older Voters Driving Election Traffic
| Matt Masterson
More than half the ballots cast as of 6 p.m. Tuesday came from voters who were 55 or older, according to unofficial totals from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
Illinois Police Release Audio from Aurora Warehouse Shooting
| Associated Press
Authorities have released the audio of 911 calls reporting the Feb. 15 shooting at the Henry Pratt Co. facility that resulted in five deaths.
R. Kelly’s Affinity for McDonald’s Dates to Childhood
| Associated Press
R&B singer R. Kelly signed autographs and waved at a fan who yelled “I love you!” when he stopped at a McDonald’s in Chicago after being released from jail in his sexual abuse case.
Chicago Voters Head to Polls to Pick Rahm Emanuel Successor
| Associated Press
Those looking to succeed retiring Mayor Rahm Emanuel include veteran politicians — a couple whose fathers also held elective office — businessmen, former prosecutors and community activists.
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