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Stories by Associated Press

Shots Give COVID-19 Survivors Big Immune Boost, Studies Show

Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected.

Judge Denies Request to Halt Preliminary Obama Center Construction

Opponents of the Obama Presidential Center’s construction in Jackson Park suffered another legal setback Thursday in federal court.

United Airlines Will Require US Employees to be Vaccinated

United Airlines will require employees in the U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by late October, perhaps sooner, joining a growing number of big corporations that are responding to a surge in virus cases.

August 5, 2021 - Full Show

The latest on new state pot licenses. Live in Rogers Park. More businesses mandate vaccines for employees. A Chicago police officer is charged in a shooting. And preventing drowning off the lakefront.

CPD Officer Arrested, Charged in On-Duty Shooting at Grand Red Line Station

Melvina Bogard has been charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, more than 17 months after the shooting of Ariel Roman inside the Grand Red Line station.

Safety Advocates Want Flotation Devices Along the Lakefront. The Park District Isn’t Sold

Lake Michigan is one of Chicago’s biggest attractions. And while it’s scenic, it’s also sometimes dangerous. What water safety advocates are proposing to stop people from drowning and dying in the lake.

Will Pot ‘Piranhas’ Take Over Illinois’ Market?

Illinois today selected another 55 winners from a pool of 589 qualifying applicants seeking to open cannabis dispensaries. It’s another step on a long-delayed process of growing Illinois’ marijuana market, with a mind toward social equity. But is it working?

‘Chicago Tonight’ In Your Neighborhood: Revisiting Rogers Park

As the delta variant spreads and COVID-19 case counts rise across the city and state, Rogers Park community leaders are focused on vaccine outreach efforts. Meanwhile, small businesses are in recovery mode and residents are preparing for new developments in the neighborhood.

Vaccine Mandates on the Agenda for More and More Businesses

More and more employers are now mandating vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of returning to the office. Among them are some of the largest and best-known corporations in the country, from Walmart to The Washington Post and Tyson Foods to Twitter.

Proposed Wrigley Field Addition Clears Committee Hurdle: ‘The Cow Has Left the Barn’

A proposed two-story triangular DraftKings Sportsbook addition to Wrigley Field still requires a heavy lift from City Council, but the Commission on Chicago Landmarks won’t stand in the way of Cubs ownership.

Chicago Launches New Community Safety Coordination Center to Address Violence

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said a new information and resource hub will bring city resources together under one roof so they can more readily address and prevent violent crime. Chicago has seen more than 2,000 shootings and 450 homicides so far this year.

Illinois Records More than 3,000 COVID-19 Cases for 1st Time Since May

The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing over the past few weeks and on Thursday reached its highest single-day total in two months, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.

Illinois Sees Record Pot Sales, With Boost from Lollapalooza

Illinois dispensaries sold a record $127.8 million in recreational marijuana in July, with a big boost coming from out-of-state fans who converged on Chicago for the Lollapalooza music festival.

New Mini-Golf Course Opening in Douglass Park, and Its Design Is for the Birds

Three years in the making, the Douglass 18, a bird-themed mini-golf course, opens Saturday in Douglass Park. Neighborhood teens researched and designed the holes, drawing inspiration from Chicago’s bird population.

Pritzker Signs Legislation Increasing Access to Feminine Hygiene Products

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Thursday that makes feminine hygiene products available for free at homeless shelters and at public universities and community colleges throughout Illinois. 

Can I Get ‘Long COVID’ if I’m Infected After Vaccination?

The COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness and death from the coronavirus, but some people do get infected after the shots. Researchers are looking at whether those “breakthrough” cases could lead to long COVID-19.

Pushback on Illinois’ Latest COVID-19 Mandates

Masking will be universally required in Illinois schools, and some state employees must get vaccinated for the coronavirus, according to mandates handed down Wednesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker — a move that immediately drew rebuke from friends and foes alike.

New Target Warehouse in Little Village Draws Environmental Concerns Despite Job Creation

It is expected to provide up to 2,000 jobs, but a new Target warehouse in Little Village — on the site of a botched coal plant demolition in April 2020 — has sparked protests among some community members.

Photographer Explores Abandoned Places and Finds Beauty in Decay

Some photographers explore cities through their neglected places. At personal risk and sometimes legal jeopardy, they look for beauty in forgotten and faded locales. Meet Jerry Olejniczak, one such photographer in search of “Abandoned Chicagoland.”

Survey Examines COVID-19 Misinformation on Facebook

For many of us, social media is a convenient way to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues. But sharing false information on platforms like Facebook during a global pandemic can have life or death consequences.

Explainer: Will New CDC Moratorium Keep Tenants Housed?

After a federal eviction moratorium was allowed to lapse this weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new moratorium Tuesday on evictions that would last until Oct. 3.

August 4, 2021 - Full Show

A mask mandate for all pre-K through 12 Illinois schools. A local study on the effects of COVID-19 misinformation on social media. A new ban on evictions. And a classic Chicago building on the move.

Pritzker Announces Mask Mandate for Students, Staff at Illinois Schools

With classes for students in pre-K through 12th grade set to resume across Illinois in the coming weeks, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced a mask mandate for all students and staff at public and private schools.

Chicago Police Accused of Another Botched Raid in Lawsuit

A Black family is suing the Chicago police department, saying officers broke down their door and pointed guns at two small children while searching the place and then tried to cover up that they had no evidence to justify the raid.

10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 5-8

Asian carp, jam bands, a garden walk and vintage finds usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

10 Chicago-Area Residents Charged in Bank Fraud Schemes

Ten people from the city and suburbs face the potential of decades behind bars after they allegedly used counterfeit U.S. Postal Service money orders to fraudulently obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars from area banks.
 

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