Stories by Amanda Vinicky
Lawmakers Adjourn as Budget Agreement Remains Elusive
| Amanda Vinicky
A new round of finger-pointing played out as Illinois lawmakers left the capitol Friday for a mini Memorial Day weekend break.
Chicago Retains Spot as No. 2 ‘U-Haul Destination City’
| WTTW News
The same day the U.S. Census Bureau released data outlining Chicago’s record population loss, moving equipment company U-Haul offered a different, sunnier take on things.
Community Initiative to ‘Reclaim Southwest Chicago’ Expands
| Maya Miller
A program targeting vacant homes and crime in a 20-block section of Chicago’s Southwest Side is expanding after a four-year pilot – and a noticeable change in the neighborhood.
CPS Says Crime Down by One-Third Along Safe Passage Routes
| Matt Masterson
Using an analysis of Chicago Police Department data, the district says crime along Safe passage routes has fallen by 32 percent since the 2012-13 school year.
Lake Michigan’s First Floating Water Park to Open in Mid-June
| Alex Ruppenthal
Officials in Whiting, Indiana, think their city is about to become a whole lot more popular.
The Week in Review: Budget Impasse End in Sight?
| WTTW News
A heated debate over affordable housing in Jefferson Park. Restrictions eased on local gun ranges. Population decline in Chicago … again. And could the end of Illinois’ budget impasse be near? These stories and more with Joel Weisman and guests.
Illinois House Once Again Backs Elected Chicago School Board
| Matt Masterson
House legislation calling for an elected Chicago Board of Education has once again passed with strong bipartisan support, but the bill may still have a difficult road ahead.
Tips for Terrific Tomatoes, from Soil Prep to Staking
| Erica Gunderson
Plump, sun-ripened tomatoes are indisputably the crown jewel of home vegetable gardens, and a successful tomato crop means giving them the best start possible. The Organic Gardener Jeanne Nolan shares her tomato tips.
Michael McDonald Talks Solo Career, Collaboration
| Marc Vitali
The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter talks about his solo career and his work with the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.
US Household Debt Exceeds Peak Levels of 2008 Recession
| Evan Garcia
After nearly a decade, household debt in the U.S. has surpassed its peak levels of the 2008 Great Recession.
Chicago Earns 4 of 5 ‘Park Benches’ in Ranking of Urban Park Systems
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago didn’t quite crack the top 10, but the city did receive four out of five “park benches” and moved up to No. 11 in the latest ranking of park systems in the nation’s 100 biggest cities.
Budget Clock Ticks, Lawmakers Linger
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois lawmakers are set to spend the bulk of the Memorial Day weekend at the capitol, as Illinois edges closer toward entering a third straight year without a budget.
Survivors of Torture Under Jon Burge Find a Place of Respite
| Brandis Friedman
This week, the city of Chicago is coming through on a promise made two years ago to survivors of torture.
Passages Charter Teachers Reach Late-Night Deal to Avert Strike
Becomes third Chicago charter network to avoid strike this school year
| Matt Masterson
Following a “marathon” bargaining session Wednesday night, educators at Passages Charter School announced they have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with school management.
UIC Expands Rapid Water Testing at Chicago Beaches
| Alex Ruppenthal
Same-day water testing conducted at UIC's School of Public Health will give Chicagoans more timely alerts about water quality at their favorite beaches this summer.
Chicago Tops Nation in Population Loss for Second Straight Year
| Maya Miller
For the second consecutive year, the city of Chicago experienced higher levels of population loss than any other city in the nation, according to 2016 data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Civic Groups to Lawmakers: Don’t Come Back Without Budget
| Paris Schutz
Some high-profile civic groups are getting together to pressure state lawmakers to finally get a full-year budget done.
Illinois Budget Now in Madigan’s Court
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois representatives Wednesday are beginning to vet the $37.3 billion spending plan – as well as the tax hike that would support it – passed a day prior by their Senate peers.
10 Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend
| Maya Miller
A scenic bike ride, street festivals, baseball, mole and a State Street parade usher in the long weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
$100M Gift to UChicago to Study the ‘New Science of Wellness’
| Nick Blumberg
Harnessing the power of the human body to prevent illness – that’s the goal behind a $100 million gift to the University of Chicago Medicine.
Chicago Bird Sanctuary is Best Place in State to See Spring Migration
| Jay Shefsky
Here’s something that might surprise you: The best place in the entire state of Illinois to see birds during their spring migration is in the city of Chicago.
Study: Intermarriages on the Rise 50 Years After Loving v. Virginia
| Evan Garcia
Fifty years after Loving v. Virginia, depicted last year in the film “Loving,” a new study examines interracial marriages.
Claypool on CTU, Rauner Criticisms: ‘We’re Doing Something Right’
| Matt Masterson
A day after a CTU vote revealed a widespread lack of confidence in the school district chief, Claypool defended himself before the Chicago Board of Education, comparing objections from union critics to those coming from the governor.
Growing Clean Economy Can Bring More Jobs to Chicago, Report Says
| Nicole Cardos
The clean economy: What is it, and how is Chicago faring? A new report tells the story.
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June 29, 2026 - Full Show
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