Stories by Associated Press
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.
Chicago Election Has Potential to Change Face of City Council
| Eddie Arruza
With 160 candidates running for alderman, the Chicago City Council could be seeing a major makeover in May.
Judge Allows Smollett to Travel to Meet with Attorneys
| Associated Press
A Chicago judge says “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett can travel out-of-state to meet his lawyers while he’s free on bond on charges he falsely reported being attacked by two masked men.
Jim DeRogatis: ‘A Lot of People Failed a Lot of Women’
| Nicole Cardos
The latest on R. Kelly from the journalist who’s been reporting on the Grammy Award-winning R&B star for decades.
Chicago Girls Learn the Ropes of Double Dutch
| Erica Gunderson
Memories of jumping rope as a child lures a Chicago woman back to the sport as an adult – and inspires her to start teaching double Dutch to a new generation through her organization Black Girls Jump.
Record Number of Mayoral Candidates Leaves Voters Spoiled for Choice
| Paul Caine
Chicago voters may want change, but with so many mayoral candidates to choose from, what are they to think? We get election analysis from political reporters Craig Dellimoreo, A.D. Quig and Greg Hinz.
There Are 150-Plus Aldermanic Candidates. Here Are 6 Wards to Watch.
| Eddie Arruza
In addition to the very competitive and crowded mayoral contest, voters in all 50 wards are voting for alderman as well. We highlight some of the races to watch.
Election Officials to Undecided Voters: Time’s Up
| Paris Schutz
Election day is almost upon us as the 14 mayoral candidates make their final pitches to voters.
Illinois Senate Democratic, Republican Leaders on Budget Priorities
| Nick Blumberg
Gov. J.B. Pritzker struck a bipartisan tone in his budget speech. What the top Democrat and Republican in the state Senate think of his proposal.
R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to 10 Sexual Abuse Charges
| Matt Masterson
The R&B superstar posted $100,000 bail Monday and walked out of Cook County Jail, where he spent the weekend after being charged in four separate cases late last week.
Field Museum’s First Poet-in-Residence to Host Pop-Up Poetry Stations
| Alex Ruppenthal
Poet Eric Elshtain is one of the museum’s newest additions, and he represents the institution’s latest effort at using art to change the way visitors interact with nature.
Survey: Gun Violence, Bullying Top Social Issues Facing Chicago Youth
| Kristen Thometz
Chicago parents say gun violence, bullying and poverty are among the top 10 social issues affecting the city’s youth, according to a citywide survey.
R. Kelly Held on $1 Million Bond
| Matt Masterson
A Cook County judge on Saturday ordered R. Kelly held on $1 million bond, a day after the R&B star was indicted by a grand jury on 10 charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: Impact of Jussie Smollett
| Nick Blumberg
Eddie Arruza and guests take a dive deep into the broader impact of the Jussie Smollett case.
The Week in Review: Mayoral Candidates Fight to the Finish
| Nick Blumberg
Charges for “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett. Accusations, missteps and big money in the run-up to election day. A disturbing revelation about the Aurora mass shooter. And Manny Machado disses Chicago.
R. Kelly Charged With Aggravated Sexual Abuse
| Matt Masterson
Controversial Chicago R&B singer R. Kelly is facing a slew of sexual abuse charges after a video purporting to show him sexually assaulting an underage girl was turned over to Cook County investigators.
New Program Aims to Give Cancer Patients a Road Map for Treatment
| Kristen Thometz
Navigating cancer treatment can be overwhelming. A new pilot seeks to improve the process for patients by consolidating all aspects of treatment into one all-encompassing care plan.
Southeast Side Facility to Stop Handling Bulk Amounts of Brain-Damaging Manganese
| Alex Ruppenthal
Watco Transloading says it will no longer handle materials with high concentrations of manganese, a heavy metal used in steelmaking that can cause brain damage at high exposure levels.
CSO Concert Moves from Earthly Horror to Heavenly Yearning
| Hedy Weiss
The CSO’s current program features two radically different pieces: American composer William Schuman’s haunting “Symphony No. 9” and Mozart’s glorious “Requiem in D Minor.”
Six Girls Negotiate Difficult Road to Adulthood in ‘Twilight Bowl’
| Hedy Weiss
“Twilight Bowl” is a telling depiction of a crucial transitional period in the lives of a cross-section of young women who are at once lost and found in the American heartland.
Valentino, Antelope Born on Valentine’s Day at Brookfield Zoo, Euthanized
| Kristen Thometz
The tiny African antelope born on Valentine’s Day was euthanized Tuesday, according to zoo officials, who identified a birth defect that affected the animal’s ability to swallow normally.
Preckwinkle Parts Ways with Top Aide After Controversial Social Media Post
| Paris Schutz
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, considered a front-runner in the race for Chicago mayor, has cut ties with Scott Cisek after he made a controversial post on Facebook.
Anita Alvarez to Kim Foxx: ‘Do Your Job’
Cook County state’s attorney recused herself this week from Smollett case
| Matt Masterson
Former Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez this week blasted her successor Kim Foxx for not “doing her job” after Foxx recused herself from the investigation into claims made by “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.
Transgender Chicagoan Reunites with Christian Cousin
| Dan Protess
WTTW captures a family reunion between two cousins. Both from central Illinois, one now calls Chicago home and identifies as “trans-feminine.” The other, an evangelical Christian, stayed downstate and has no experience with the LGBTQ community.
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