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Stories by Quinn Myers

HIV Criminal Transmission Law in Illinois Faces Repeal

A bill awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature would repeal the state’s so-called HIV criminal transmission statute, which makes it illegal for people living with HIV to have unprotected sex without disclosing their status to sexual partners.

La Ultima Palabra: Lolita’s Bodega

The forces of gentrification can make people being priced out of their neighborhoods feel powerless. But the founders of Lolita’s Bodega in Humboldt Park say residents have more power than they think.

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center Celebrates 50 Years

Chicago’s oldest Latino cultural institution has brought Afro-Latin dance, music and art to the West Side since 1971. Now it’s celebrating a milestone after one of the most difficult years arts organizations have ever faced.

Disappearances Rise on Mexico’s ‘Highway of Death’ to Border

As many as 50 people are missing after setting out on three-hour car trips this year between Mexico’s industrial hub of Monterrey and the border city of Nuevo Laredo on a well-traveled stretch of road local media have dubbed “the highway of death.”

Explainer: Dental, Vision and Hearing Benefits for Medicare

Many working-age people assume that Medicare covers just about every kind of health care that an older person may need. It doesn’t.

‘Deep Fire’ Slowing Rescue Effort at Collapsed Florida Condo

Rescuers used infrared technology, water and foam to battle the blaze, whose source was unclear, and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the smoke has been the biggest challenge. In a news conference, she described the blaze as “very deep” and said rescuers faced “incredible difficulties” because of the flames.

J&J Agrees to Pay $230M to Settle New York Opioid Claim

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $230 million to New York state to settle claims that the pharmaceutical giant helped fuel the opioid crisis, Attorney General Letitia James said on Saturday.

Aldermen Buck Lightfoot’s Push to Reduce Their Power, Approve Midnight Liquor Sales Cutoff

Mayor Lori Lightfoot suffered a stinging defeat Friday as aldermen refused to approve her efforts to reduce their control over business signs, an indication that aldermen will not relinquish their veto over ward issues.

Chauvin Gets 22 1/2 Years in Prison for George Floyd’s Death

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, whose dying gasps under Chauvin’s knee led to the biggest outcry against racial injustice in the U.S. in generations.

The Week in Review: Lake Shore Drive Name Change Moves Forward

An iconic roadway is renamed after a chaotic City Council meeting. Tornadoes rip through the western suburbs. The mayor says violence is trending down, but the numbers don’t add up. And former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin is sentenced.

City Council Votes 33-15 to Create Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive

The vote Friday to change the name of the city’s most iconic roadway came after months of intense and raucous debate that included accusations of racism over how best to honor Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, Chicago’s first non-native settler. 

Nearly $9M in TIF Money OK’d to Help Restore Garfield Park to Its ‘True Glory’

Garfield Park is set to receive an infusion of Tax Increment Financing dollars for various projects that will help restore some of the park’s historic features, while reimagining others.

Chicago Teen Faces Federal Charges in Killing of Ride-Hailing Driver

Edmond Harris, 18, faces charges of carjacking, discharging a firearm and causing death through the use of a firearm during a crime of violence, stemming from the fatal March shooting of Javier Ramos in Chicago.

Biden Targets Law-Breaking Gun Dealers in Anti-Crime Plan

President Joe Biden announced new efforts Wednesday to stem a rising national tide of violent crime, declaring the federal government is “taking on the bad actors doing bad things to our communities.” But questions persist about how effective the efforts can be in what could be a turbulent summer.

Weekend Washout: Half a Foot of Rain Could Fall by Sunday

After one of the driest springs on record, the Chicago area is making up for lost precipitation in June. Waves of thunderstorms and torrential rains will roll through the Chicago region this weekend.

June 24, 2021 - Full Show

Illinois’ attorney general on his frustrations with the Chicago Police Department. Live from Woodridge as residents clean up from a tornado. Following up on Wednesday’s chaotic City Council meeting.

‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Woodridge

After a major tornado ripped through west suburban DuPage County, community members are picking up the pieces. For some, it will be a long road: more than 160 homes saw significant damage and about 30 were destroyed.

Russian Researchers Revive Tiny Creatures Frozen for 24,000 Years

Researchers in Russia revive creatures frozen in Arctic permafrost for more than 20,000 years. A new vaccine for malaria. The powerful connection between music and memory. And how “laughing gas” is being used to treat severe depression.

Latest Parish Unifications Prompt Concerns Over Fate of Historic Catholic Churches

Next month, a wave of Chicago-area Catholic church consolidations will take place, merging parishes as part of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s “Renew My Church” initiative. Among them will be five churches in and around Bronzeville.

Attorney General Renews Call for Ban on No-Knock Search Warrants, Faster Police Reform

Attorney General Kwame Raoul renewed his call Thursday for Chicago officials to ban no-knock warrants and put tighter restrictions on officers to prevent mistaken raids like the one that left Anjanette Young handcuffed and pleading for help in February 2019. 

Group Open to Compromise on Lake Shore Drive Renaming — If Vote Happens Friday, Leaders Say

Leaders of the group that launched the push to rename Lake Shore Drive say they will agree to a compromise plan to call the iconic roadway “DuSable Lake Shore Drive,” but Mayor Lightfoot has yet to endorse the proposal.

‘We Have a Deal’: Biden Announces Infrastructure Agreement

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday a hard-earned bipartisan agreement on a pared-down infrastructure plan that would make a start on his top legislative priority and validate his efforts to reach across the political aisle. 

Many Feared Dead After Florida Beachfront Condo Collapses

A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers continued to look for more.

Bipartisan Policing Deal Unlikely This Week in Blow to Talks

Despite a “June or bust” goal set by chief GOP negotiator Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senate was expected to leave town for a two-week recess after Thursday’s session without a final compromise on police reform, according to three senators.

Nearly All COVID-19 Deaths in US Are Now Among Unvaccinated

Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

Study Seeks Young Adults for Clinical Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine

A study analyzing whether the COVID-19 vaccine prevents infection and spread of the coronavirus among college students has been expanded to include adults ages 18-29, including those who choose not to get vaccinated.
 

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