Stories by Matt Masterson
Chicago Police Again Seeking Help to Solve 14-Year-Old’s Killing
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department re-published a crime bulletin and video showing a person of interest who is being sought in connection with the teenager’s killing. Thursday marks one year since the fatal shooting.
New Illinois General Assembly Convenes
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois’ leadership has shifted, with a fresh group of 177 lawmakers sworn in to office on Wednesday.
Jan. 11, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Assault weapons, abortions and pay raises: the latest from Springfield. A new bill could allow Chicago principals to unionize. Did the Lori Lightfoot campaign run afoul of ethics rules? And the Chicago Public library turns 150.
Lightfoot Campaign Asks CPS Teachers to Encourage Students to Help Her Win Reelection in Return for Credit
| Heather Cherone
“We’re looking for enthusiastic, curious and hard-working young people eager to help Mayor Lightfoot win this spring,” according to an email obtained WTTW News that was sent to Chicago Public Schools teachers’ work email addresses.
No Plans to Ban Gas Stoves, But Health Concerns Remain
| Jennifer Cotto
Politicians have blasted the notion of banning gas stoves after a federal regulator seemed open to it. It turns out, there are no plans to shut off the stoves for now — but there are significant concerns about their health risks.
Bill Awaiting Pritzker's Signature Would Allow CPS Principals to Unionize, Advocates Say Move Overdue
| Acacia Hernandez
Chicago principals could soon have a seat at their own bargaining table. The bill would allow principals to unionize but not strike.
Jeff Beck, Guitar God Who Influenced Generations, Dies at 78
| Associated Press
Jeff Beck first came to prominence as a member of the Yardbirds and then went out on his own in a solo career that incorporated hard rock, jazz, funky blues and even opera.
Ex-CPD Officer Avoids Prison Time Following Off-Duty Shooting Incident
| Matt Masterson
A Cook County judge sentenced Joseph Cabrera to 24 months probation after he pleaded guilty to a charge of recklessly discharging a firearm. He had previously faced other serious charges, including attempted murder.
Soaring US Egg Prices Put Pressure on Consumers, Businesses
| Associated Press
A lingering bird flu outbreak, combined with soaring feed, fuel and labor costs, has led to U.S. egg prices more than doubling over the past year and hatched a lot of sticker shock on grocery aisles.
Promontory Point’s Bid for Landmark Status Gets Preliminary Hearing Thursday
| Patty Wetli
The road to city landmark status for Promontory Point starts at Thursday’s meeting of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Supporters have been fighting to protect the lakefront peninsula for more than 20 years.
New Mega Millions Jackpot of $1.35B Is Game’s 2nd Highest
| Associated Press
The new jackpot drawing on Friday night will be another milestone in the game, Mega Millions said in a statement early Wednesday.
FAA Lifts Ground Stop on Flights Following Computer Outage
| Associated Press
The Federal Aviation Administration is lifting a ground stop on flights across the U.S. following a computer outage early Wednesday that resulted in thousands of delays and hundreds of cancellations quickly cascading through the system at airports nationwide.
Pritzker Quickly Signs Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Into Law: ‘We Got It Done’
| Amanda Vinicky
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law Tuesday night , hours after it passed the legislature on the final day of the General Assembly’s session, and roughly six months since the July 4 mass shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day parade.
Rare Green Comet May Soon Be Visible with Naked Eye
| Paul Caine
According to NASA, the comet would last have been seen in the night sky more than 10,000 years ago — millennia before the birth of human civilization — and it may never pass this way again.
Thousands of Cook County Residents May See Medical Debt Disappear Under New Program
| Jennifer Cotto
Medical debt affects 27% of Cook County residents. Of those, 42% are people of color.
How Much COVID-19 Is in Your Wastewater? New Online Tracker Shares Illinois Data With Public
| Patty Wetli
Wastewater sampling has been a key early-warning tool for detecting spikes in the spread of COVID-19, and now Illinois is making its data available to the public through an interactive online dashboard.
How Republicans are Transforming the US House in the Majority
| Associated Press
Lawmakers no longer have to walk through metal detectors before gaining access to the House floor. And any time they do vote, they will have to do so in person — no more voting by proxy from home. Those are just some of the changes.
Average Chicago-Area Driver Spent 155 Hours Waiting In Traffic in 2022, Report Says
| Acacia Hernandez
Chicagoans are all too familiar with having to sit in traffic. A recent report shows that the average Chicago-area driver spent 155 hours in traffic last year. That's the highest number in North America and second highest in the world.
Jan. 10, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
What's the new GOP-run house going to be like? We talk with two local congressmembers. The latest on the assault weapons ban in Springfield. How to erase medical debt. And we take a look up at the sky, where you'll see a bright green comet.
Bears GM Poles Expects Fields to Be Starting QB Next Season
| Associated Press
Fields, the No. 11 overall pick in 2021, emerged as one of the NFL's most exciting players in his second season. But he was drafted by former general manager Ryan Pace — not current GM Ryan Poles.
Chicago Man Pointed Rifle at Parents, Children During Carjacking, Prosecutors Say
| Matt Masterson
“This was probably the most terrifying thing these victims ever experienced in their life,” Judge Ankur Srivastava said during a court hearing Tuesday while explaining why he was denying bail for 22-year-old Sederick Wright.
EPA to Award $100M to Boost Environmental Justice Programs
| Associated Press
The funding, established through the 2022 climate and health law signed by President Joe Biden, marks the largest environmental justice grants the agency has ever offered.
It's Triplets! Lincoln Park Zoo Welcomes Three Lion Cubs
| Patty Wetli
Lincoln Park Zoo announced it welcomed not one, not two, but three lion cubs on Monday. The zoo had been on lion watch since early December, when staff confirmed 4-year-old African lion Zari was pregnant.
Tuesday’s Mega Millions Jackpot Soars Above $1 Billion After Months with No Winner
| CNN
If someone wins Tuesday’s jackpot, it would be the third-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, the lottery announced in a news release.
NWSL Bans 4 from Coaching, Takes Other Disciplinary Actions
| Associated Press
Former North Carolina coach Paul Riley, former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames, former Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke and former Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly were all banned from coaching in the league.
Illinois Senate Passes Assault Weapons Ban Bill, Heads to the House
| Paul Caine
On Monday evening, the Illinois state Senate passed an assault weapons bill with some changes to the version passed by the House on Friday. The bill will now return to the House for a concurring vote before heading to the governor’s desk.
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