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Illinois Bill Would Help Agencies Donate Leftover Food
| Alex Ruppenthal
Lawmakers recently approved a bill that would help state agencies donate leftover food in an effort to reduce waste and feed hungry residents.
UChicago Trauma Center Treats 274 in First Month
| Kristen Thometz
UChicago Medicine began offering level-one adult trauma care on May 1—something it hadn’t offered since 1988.
Tobacco 21 Bill Heads to Rauner’s Desk
| Kristen Thometz
Illinois will become the sixth state in the country to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21, if legislation is signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Illinois on the Precipice of a Budget
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois lawmakers are expected to make a clean break from the paralyzing dysfunction of recent years, and are on the precipice of passing a bipartisan budget.
The ERA’s Revival: Illinois Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment
| Amanda Vinicky
Nearly a half-century after it was first approved by Congress, Illinois on Wednesday night became the 37th state to vote to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Mayor Expands Early Learning, But Critics Are Skeptical
| Brandis Friedman
Chicago parents should have more early learning options for their 4-year-olds starting next year.
Illinois Lawmakers Approve Ban on Sale of Ivory
| Alex Ruppenthal
A growing number of states are taking up bans on the sale of ivory in an effort to curb elephant and rhinoceros poaching and undermine the $20 billion-per-year enterprise of wildlife trafficking. Illinois could be next.
South Side Native John Kozlar, 29, Running for Chicago Mayor
| Siobhan Neela-Stock
There are at least 10 candidates eyeing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s job. One of them is Bridgeport native John Kozlar, who ran for alderman of the 11th Ward in 2011 and 2015. Why he now says he wants to be mayor.
Cook County Clerk David Orr: Illinois Needs to Overhaul Its Elections
| Alexandra Silets
The outgoing Cook County clerk has some ideas to boost democracy and to avoid a repeat of the March primary debacle that surrounded the Cook County assessor’s race. David Orr joins us in discussion.
Aldermen on Obama Center, Police Academy and FOP Contract
| Nick Blumberg
To call last week in Chicago City Council “eventful” might be an understatement. We discuss the latest with a panel of Chicago aldermen.
Valerie Jarrett: Roseanne Barr’s Tweet Should be a ‘Teaching Moment’
| Kristen Thometz
In response to Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet, the former senior advisor to President Barack Obama said, “We need to turn it into a teaching moment.”
10 Things to Do This Weekend: May 31-June 3
| Kristen Thometz
Global fare, gospel choirs, craft beer and outdoor art fairs usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in Chicago.
Scalia and His Clerk Joust Their Way Through Constitutional Arguments in ‘The Originalist’
| Hedy Weiss
It’s a good bet that no one seeing “The Originalist” will undergo a major shift in their opinions, but they certainly will be reminded of how the Supreme Court’s polarization reflects the temper of the current moment in politics.
Is Illinois Close to a Budget Deal?
| Amanda Vinicky
With only two more days before the Illinois legislature’s budget deadline, insiders say a bipartisan deal is within reach.
Alpana Singh to Return as ‘Check, Please!’ Host
| Siobhan Neela-Stock
After a five-year break, the master sommelier and restaurateur is set to return as host of the Emmy Award-winning WTTW series.
Nearly 20 Years Later, ‘Cha-Cha Slide’ Still Gets People Moving
| Erica Gunderson
Meet the South Side native whose line dance became a worldwide phenomenon.
Exploring the World of Camper Culture With WGN’s Dave Hoekstra
| Marc Vitali
RVs and camper culture hit the highway in a book that celebrates the “moveable American dream.”
New European Law Raises the Bar for Data Privacy Protection
| Paul Caine
A new European Union data privacy law is causing headaches for many American businesses. How General Data Protection could impact U.S. policies.
US Supreme Court: A Look at Today’s Most Controversial Cases
| Alexandra Silets
Supreme Court justices on Tuesday refused to rule on an Arkansas law regulating abortions. We discuss that and other hot-button cases.
New Brookfield Zoo Exhibit Highlights ‘Amazing Arachnids’
| Alex Ruppenthal
Get a close-up look at 100 live eight-legged critters – aka arachnids – including spiders, scorpions, tarantulas and more at Brookfield Zoo.
FDA Approves Non-Opioid Drug for Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
| Kristen Thometz
Opioid withdrawal symptoms have typically been treated with another narcotic, but a newly approved drug offers what a local doctor calls a “clean break” for patients.
Bill to Boost Urban Agriculture in Illinois Heads to Rauner’s Desk
| Alex Ruppenthal
Legislation that could help break up food deserts in Chicago and other cities across the state passed the Illinois Senate last week and now awaits the signature of Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Free Summer Workouts in Millennium Park Return June 2-Sept. 1
| Kristen Thometz
Get fit this summer with free outdoor yoga, Pilates, cardio, strength and Zumba classes on the Great Lawn at Millennium Park.
Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Wiped Out Forests, Too, Study Finds
| Alex Ruppenthal
A research team with a Chicago connection has uncovered new evidence about the devastating impact of the dinosaur-killing asteroid that struck Earth about 66 million years ago.
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