Stories by Associated Press
USPS Touts Crackdown on Postal Crime and Carrier Robberies, With Hundreds of Arrests
| Associated Press
Criminals are both stealing mail and targeting carriers’ so-called “arrow keys” to get access to mailboxes.
Chicago Man Charged After Wave of Arsons Targeting Halloween Decorations in Lincoln Square, North Center
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police on Wednesday announced Mario Munoz, 34, has been arrested and charged with a felony count of arson and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Recovering From Attack That Killed Her 6-Year-Old Son, Suburban Palestinian American Mother Urges Prayers for Peace
| Associated Press
Hanaan Shahin, who works as a caregiver to seniors, lost her son, Wadea Al-Fayoume, in the attack that has contributed to fears about rising hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S.
Man Facing Hate Crime Charges After Allegedly Discharging Pepper Spray at Skokie Rally
| Matt Masterson
Skokie police announced Zevulen Ebert has been charged with two felony battery counts and two felony hate crime counts stemming from an incident at a rally Sunday.
Lawmakers Push for Compensation for Chicago’s Elected School Board
| Amanda Vinicky
State Sen. Robert Martwick, a Democrat who represents parts of the city’s Northwest Side, said if Chicago wants a diverse school board, it needs to remove barriers that would prevent some residents from running for board seats.
Oct. 24, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Brighton Park residents protest a “winterized base camp” for migrants in their community. Controversy over the mayor’s deal with the police union. And if you’re hoping to get a CityKey ID card, you may have to wait a bit longer.
At Heated Community Meeting, Officials Detail Plan to Transform Vacant Brighton Park Lot Into ‘Winterized Base Camp’ for Migrants
| Heather Cherone
Many furious residents urged Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration to scrap the proposal, while others vowed to protect and care for Chicago’s newest residents.
Top Cop Vows to Rid Chicago Police Department of Officers Tied to Proud Boys, Oath Keepers
| Heather Cherone
The Oath Keepers organization is considered by the FBI to be a “large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some who are associated with militias” who have vowed to “not obey unconstitutional (and thus illegal) and immoral orders.”
City Clerk Cancels Mobile City Hall Events Amid Crush of Demand for Municipal IDs from Migrants
| Heather Cherone
More than 1,000 people – mostly migrants – lined up hours before the city clerk’s event on Oct. 12 at Gill Park in Wrigleyville was scheduled to start, overwhelming the 15-person staff, City Clerk Anna Valencia told WTTW News.
Pritzker Proposes Creation of New Standalone Early Childhood Agency
New entity would coordinate child care, preschool, early interventions
| Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois
Vowing to make Illinois the top state in the nation for child care accessibility, Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a plan to consolidate all the state’s early childhood programs and funding into one new state agency. Currently, early childhood services are spread across three agencies.
Cook County Residents See Over $280M in Medical Debt Erased as Part of Medical Debt Relief Program
| Eunice Alpasan
Neighborhoods on the South and West Sides of Chicago have seen the highest amount of medical debt erased so far, according to officials.
Tom Emmer Withdraws Bid for House Speaker Hours After Winning GOP Nomination, Sources Say
| Associated Press
It’s been three weeks since Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. Rep. Tom Emmer won a simple majority of his colleagues behind closed doors, but he will need the support of most all Republicans during a House floor vote ahead.
33 States, Including Illinois, Sue Meta Claiming Its Social Platforms Are Addictive and Harm Children’s Mental Health
| Associated Press
A lawsuit filed by 33 states in federal court in California, claims that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.
Ta-Nehisi Coates Picked as Commencement Speaker for Northwestern’s Unique Prison Education Program Graduation
| Matt Masterson
The first cohort of students in Northwestern University’s Prison Education Program are set to graduate next month, and when they do they’ll be joined by one of the most renowned writers and journalists in the country.
FDA Takes ‘Momentous’ Step Toward Banning Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars
| CNN
The FDA has been officially exploring the possibility of a menthol ban for more than a decade. In July 2013, the FDA requested comments on preliminary research, data and evaluations with regard to the regulation of menthol.
Cook County Prosecutors Won’t Charge Man Accused of Firing Gun Near Pro-Palestinian Rally in Skokie
| Matt Masterson
The incident occurred Sunday evening near a banquet hall in Skokie, where about 1,000 people had gathered to show solidarity with Israel, according to event organizers. A group of about 200 pro-Palestinian protesters also staged their own rally near the hall.
City Health Official Watchdog Said Should Be Fired for Role in Smokestack Implosion Promoted, Will Oversee Environmental Inspections and Enforcement
| Jared Rutecki
Dave Graham, who a watchdog report said should be fired for “willful bureaucratic negligence” in the 2020 incident that covered Little Village in dust, is now in charge of environmental inspections and enforcement.
Man Fires Gun Near Pro-Palestinian Rally in Skokie, Another Pepper-Sprays Crowd, Police Say
| Associated Press
The episode took place Sunday evening around a banquet hall in Skokie, where about 1,000 people had gathered to show solidarity with Israel, according to event organizers.
Johnson Asks City Council to Reject Part of Deal He Inked with Police Union Amid Uproar Over Discipline Change
| Heather Cherone
Less than 72 hours ago, Johnson hailed the agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7, as “fair and in alignment with Chicago’s current policing needs, economic landscape and budgetary capabilities.”
$1.2M Wetlands Restoration Project on City’s Southeast Side Aims to Alleviate Flooding, Restore Wildlife Numbers
| Eunice Alpasan
A major effort to restore nearly 200 acres of wetland habitat at Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Nature Preserve on the Chicago’s Southeast Side is now complete after more than three years.
Oct. 23, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Local members of Congress on aid to Israel. What’s behind record opioid overdoses. And a city program that allows drug offenders to choose treatment over arrest.
Cook County on Pace to Surpass Fatal Opioid Overdose Record as Fentanyl Use Spreads
| Andrea Guthmann
The rise in opioid deaths is largely due to the increase in synthetic opioids like fentanyl, says law enforcement officials.
Illinois Members of Congress on House Speaker Vacancy, Aid to Israel and Migrant Funding
| Blair Paddock
U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, and U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Chicago, joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss aid to Israel, the House Speaker race and a growing number of migrants arriving to Chicago from the southern border.
Chicago Program That Encourages Drug Treatment Over Arrest Shows Signs of Success, Research Says
| Paris Schutz
The Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, an initiative launched in 2018, offers those arrested for low-level drug offenses who meet certain criteria a chance to have their charges dropped if they agree to meet with a drug counselor.
Autoworkers Strike Escalates, 41,000 Workers Now Picketing
| Associated Press
The union says that 6,800 members walked out Monday morning and shut down the Sterling Heights, Michigan, Assembly Plant, a huge profit center for the company.
Even With Carbon Emissions Cuts, a Key Part of Antarctica Is Doomed to Slow Collapse, Study Says
| Associated Press
Though the full melt will take hundreds of years, slowly adding nearly 6 feet to sea levels, it will be enough to reshape where and how people live in the future, the study’s lead author said.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter