Stories by WTTW News
Top Trump Administration Brass on Fighting Opioid Addiction
| WTTW News
Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan discusses his agency’s role in combating the opioid crisis.
Trump’s Tariffs on China Stoke Trade War Fears
| Evan Garcia
China faces steep tariffs for allegedly stealing U.S. intellectual property. Is a trade war in the offing?
During Chicago’s Pothole Season, City Crews Work Around the Clock
| Alexandra Silets
One thing we can all count on in Chicago is the late winter and early spring pothole season. We catch up with some city crews trying to make life a little less bumpy.
Cook County Jail Warden On Her Way Out
| Brandis Friedman
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart drew national attention when he appointed a psychologist to be the jail’s executive director. After almost three years on the job, Nneka Jones Tapia is moving on.
Driehaus Prize: Architects Focus on Public Housing With Classical Style
| Paul Caine
Geoffrey Baer travels to France to meet this year’s winners of the Driehaus Prize for architecture.
Former Staffer Sues Madigan, Democratic Party for Sexual Harassment
| Paris Schutz
Alaina Hampton, a former political and legislative staffer in House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political organization, is taking her ex-boss to federal court.
At CPS, Playing Chess About Strategy Both On and Off the Board
| Erica Gunderson
The Chicago Public Schools K-8 chess championship is this weekend. We visit two schools whose students hope to capture the prize.
Chicago-Area Population Drops for 3rd Straight Year
| Kristen Thometz
Of the top 10 most populous cities in the country, the Chicago metro area was the only one to see a decline. Chicago demographer Rob Paral says a “complex stew” of factors is behind the drop.
Humboldt Penguin Chick Born at Brookfield Zoo
| Alex Ruppenthal
The yet-to-be-named chick is healthy and being hand-reared by animal care staff, the zoo said this week.
Mudslinging Begins as Democrats Look to Take Back Governor’s Mansion
| Amanda Vinicky
With the race for governor winnowed down, Democrat J.B. Pritzker and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner are wasting no time in going after one another.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: March 22-25
| Kristen Thometz
Spring blooms, tattoo ink, a march against gun violence and a chef-driven food fest usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Casten, Bennett Take on Incumbent Reps. Roskam, Schneider in November
| Evan Garcia
Meet the primary winners set to take on suburban incumbent U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam and Brad Schneider in the November general election.
2018 Primary Results: Analyzing Political Power Shifts
| Nick Blumberg
A big-picture look at what the primary results say about where November’s election might be headed.
Raoul Emerges From Crowded Field to Be Democrats’ AG Pick
| Paul Caine
State Sen. Kwame Raoul emerged from a crowded field to win the Democratic nomination for attorney general – beating former Gov. Pat Quinn and six others in the process. He joins us in discussion.
Backed by Rauner, Former Miss America Harold is GOP Pick for AG
| Paul Caine
Erika Harold is a Harvard-trained lawyer and former Miss America. Strongly backed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, she is also the Republican candidate to replace Lisa Madigan as Illinois’ next attorney general. Harold joins us in discussion.
Fritz Kaegi Beats Democratic Machine in Cook County Assessor’s Race
| Alexandra Silets
A political newcomer takes down one of the most powerful men in Chicago politics: Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios. We speak with Fritz Kaegi.
CPS Adds STEM Magnet Programs at 3 More Elementary Schools
| Matt Masterson
The Board of Education voted Wednesday to add STEM-focused magnet programs at Brown, Claremont and Jungman elementary schools beginning this fall.
‘An Enemy of the People’ a Tragic, Comical Political Farce of Our Times
| Hedy Weiss
Corrupt and greedy politicians, a poorly educated citizenry skeptical of science and “facts,” and short-term thinking about the impact of pollution on health were all issues in 1882 when the play debuted and still resonate today.
2018 Primary: 6 Congressional Districts to Watch
| Evan Garcia
Not one of the incumbents in Illinois’ 18 congressional districts lost their party’s nomination in the March primary. From Lipinski to Quigley to “Chuy” Garcia, see how these primary races shook out.
Cook County Primary: Preckwinkle Wins, Fritchey Out, Boykin’s Fate Uncertain
| Nick Blumberg
Despite a challenge from former Chicago alderman and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will once again take the top post in Cook County for what she says will be her final term.
Battle of the Big Bucks: It’s Pritzker vs. Rauner for Illinois Governor
| Amanda Vinicky
Brace yourselves, Illinois residents. The matchup between Gov. Bruce Rauner and venture capitalist J.B. Pritkzer virtually guarantees incessant campaigning and political ads leading up to the Nov. 6 general election.
Kwame Raoul Wins Democratic Nomination for Illinois Attorney General
| Paul Caine
State Sen. Kwame Raoul has won a hard-fought race against a crowded field of eight candidates vying to be the Democratic nominee for Illinois attorney general. He will face political neophyte and former Miss America Erika Harold who won the GOP nomination.
Kaegi Knocks Off Berrios in Cook County Assessor’s Race
| Paris Schutz
In a blow to the Democratic establishment in Cook County, Fritz Kaegi has defeated incumbent Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios. “The old machine style is no match for the people of Cook County,” Kaegi told a gathering of supporters.
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