Stories by Paul Caine
Cook County Jail Settles Hundreds of Lawsuits
| Paul Caine
Cook County has approved hundreds of low-dollar legal settlements in connection with conditions at the Cook County Jail.
Chicago Police Board Cracks Down on Misconduct
| Alexandra Silets
Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot talks about misconduct findings against all 15 officers who faced discipline last year.
Bill Aims to Overhaul Illinois’ Electronic Recycling Program
| Alex Ruppenthal
Legislation proposed this week in the Illinois Senate would require electronics manufacturers to pay for permanent recycling drop-off sites set up by counties.
Is Hate on the Rise in America?
| Evan Garcia
The Chicago Police Department documented 72 hate crimes in 2016 – a 20-percent spike compared to 2015. That increase falls in line with hate crime upticks in other large U.S. cities, like New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
New Bill Would Curb Pre-K Expulsions in Public Schools
| Matt Masterson
How young is too young for a student to be expelled from school? A new bill going through the state Legislature would keep preschoolers from being kicked out of class.
America’s Forgotten ‘Radium Girls’ Take the Lead in New Book
| Nicole Cardos
The author of a new book explores the lives of young factory workers exposed to radium in the 1920s.
Flying Creatures Soar Below Loop ‘L’ Tracks
| Kristen Thometz
The recently installed “Flying Creatures Initiative” on the southeast corner of Wabash Avenue and Randolph Street is part of the city’s Year of Public Art.
‘Aladdin’ National Tour Begins Magic Carpet Ride in Chicago
| Marc Vitali
A conversation with actors Anthony Murphy and Chicago’s own Jonathan Weir from the production “Aladdin.”
Former NASA Engineer’s Interesting Take on Women in Science
| Alex Ruppenthal
Northbrook native Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor for the world's first commercial spaceline, returns to Chicago to receive Adler Planetarium's Women in Space Science Award.
Virtual Doctor in Development to Explain Test Results
| Kristen Thometz
Annual physicals often come with a roster of tests, and the results of those tests can leave many of us scratching our heads. Scientists at the University of Illinois are trying to change that.
The Surprising Story Behind ‘Whistler’s Mother’
| Marc Vitali
We visit the Art Institute of Chicago to find out more about the 19th century oil painting “Arrangement in Grey and Black, Number One” – commonly known as “Whistler’s Mother.”
10 Things to Do This Weekend: May 11-14
| Maya Miller
Celebrate Mother’s Day with spring blooms, handmade designs, food trucks and more. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Democrats Call for Special Prosecutor After FBI’s Comey Fired
| Paul Caine
A retired former FBI supervisor and two former assistant U.S. attorneys share their reactions to the ouster of FBI Director James Comey.
Hop Dreams: Lagunitas Looks to Global Future for Craft Beer
| Erica Gunderson
Brew news with Lagunitas Brewing Company founder Tony Magee.
Illinois Senate Passes Bill to Expand Taxpayer-Funded Abortions
| Amanda Vinicky
In passing House Bill 40, Illinois senators tossed a political hot potato into Gov. Bruce Rauner’s lap ahead of the 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
‘True History’ of H.H. Holmes Examines Life, Career of Serial Killer
| Alexandra Silets
Adam Selzer, author of the new book “H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil,” joins us to discuss the latest chapter in a story that's already more than a century old.
Ask Geoffrey: A ‘Pipe Dream’ of the 1893 World’s Fair
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer explores an eccentric architect’s wacky proposal for the World’s Fair.
Former Fashion Photographer Finds Beauty in Nature
| Jay Shefsky
After 20 years in the fashion industry, Owen Deutsch wasn’t planning on getting back into photography. But then he discovered a new subject: birds.
Chicago Bolsters Graffiti Removal Fleet, Kicks Off Cleaning Sweeps
| Alex Ruppenthal
The city’s neighborhood cleaning program kicked off this year with additional graffiti-removal crews and new chemical-blasting trucks.
State’s Office of Tourism Reports ‘Robust Growth’ in 2016
| Maya Miller
Illinois’ fiscal woes do not appear to be discouraging out-of-towners from visiting, according to figures released by the state’s Office of Tourism.
Report: Budget Impasse a ‘Stunning Failure of Leadership’
| Amanda Vinicky
The political inertia that’s left Illinois without a budget can’t continue, according to a report released Tuesday by the non-partisan Civic Federation.
North Branch Redevelopment Plan Reflects Change in Economy
| Nicole Cardos
Plans for new office buildings, apartment complexes and hotels along the North Branch of the Chicago River are underway.
Graphic Artist Returns to Chicago to Inspire Next Generation
| Marc Vitali
Craig Rex Perry grew up in Englewood and has studied and worked around the world. We catch up with him in Kenwood during a master class on cartooning – and careers.
Great Lakes Summit to Tackle ‘Environmental Racism’
| Evan Garcia
Issues impacting the Great Lakes and communities surrounding the massive freshwater system will be at the center of a two-day conference in Chicago starting Wednesday.
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June 29, 2026 - Full Show
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