Stories by Heather Cherone
Chicago, Suburban Cook Remain On Track For Limited Indoor Dining: Officials
| Heather Cherone
Limited indoor dining and drinking is set to resume in Chicago and suburban Cook County on Saturday under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s revised plan to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to data released Friday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
CPS Will Begin Vaccinating Teachers, School Staff for COVID-19 as Soon as Next Month
| Matt Masterson
The state of Illinois is expanding vaccine eligibility beginning Monday, meaning school-based staff and other front-line employees will be able to start getting inoculated
Art Institute Reopening in February, Extending Popular Monet Exhibit
| Patty Wetli
The Art Institute of Chicago will reopen Feb. 11, joining the list of museums preparing to welcome back visitors now that coronavirus restrictions are being loosened.
Police: Spike in Carjackings Continuing into 2021 With Nearly 150 Cases Already Reported
| Matt Masterson
In just the first three weeks of 2021, there have already been 144 carjackings across Chicago, according to police, continuing the spike seen throughout last year.
‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Archer Heights
| Marissa Nelson
The Southwest Side community is home to many essential workers and has been a hot spot for the coronavirus throughout the pandemic.
Breaking Down Illinois’ COVID-19 Mitigations
| Amanda Vinicky
Metrics. Warnings. Phases. Tiers. What does it all mean? We break it all down.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Seeking Black, Latino Mentors
| Erica Gunderson
The more than 50-year-old organization is seeking to make cultural connections that help kids achieve their full potential.
McConnell Seeks to Push Impeachment Trial to February
| Associated Press
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is proposing to push back the start of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial by a week or more to give the former president time to review the case.
Distribution Centers Are Growing Fast, But Some Worry About Inequitable Impact
| Nick Blumberg
The number of distribution centers being built in the Chicago area is on the rise. Supporters say they can create jobs in places that have long faced disinvestment and unemployment. But critics say they aren’t always good jobs.
‘Just Move On’: Republicans Grapple with Post-Trump Future
| Associated Press
The shift to minority status is always difficult, prompting debates over who is to blame for losing the last election. But the process is especially intense as Republicans confront profound questions about what the party stands for without Donald Trump in charge.
Basement-to-Tiki Bar Conversion Wins Bungalow Association’s ‘COVID Creativity’ Award
| Patty Wetli
The Driehaus Bungalow Awards were established in 2005 and honor the best in bungalow restoration and renovation. “COVID Creativity” was added to the association’s annual award categories. Two winners were announced — check out the ingenuity.
Limited Indoor Dining On Track to Resume in Chicago
| Heather Cherone
Limited indoor dining and drinking is set to resume in Chicago under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s revised plan to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Suburban Man Charged With Threatening Violence at Biden Inauguration Held Without Bond
| Matt Masterson
During a hearing Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Gabriel Fuentes pointed to the “very explicit and concerning” voicemails allegedly left by Louis Capriotti in ordering the Chicago Heights man held without bond during his case.
Can COVID-19 Vaccines Be Mixed and Matched?
| Associated Press
The COVID-19 vaccines rolling out in the United States, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world so far require two shots given a few weeks apart.
Biden Signs Burst of Virus Orders, Requires Masks for Travel
| Associated Press
The 10 orders signed by Biden are aimed at jump starting his national COVID-19 strategy to increase vaccinations and testing, lay the groundwork for reopening schools and businesses, and immediately increase the use of masks — including a requirement that Americans mask up for travel.
Chicago Cites Unlicensed Club, 11 Restaurants, Bars for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions
| Heather Cherone
Since March, city inspectors have conducted more than 8,000 investigations and cited 416 businesses for violating COVID-19 regulations, officials said.
Chicago Park District Brings Back In-Person Winter Programs
| Patty Wetli
Registration is now open, with limited in-person programming beginning Monday.
Chicago’s Top Doctor Pleads with Chicagoans to be Patient While Waiting for Vaccine
| Heather Cherone
“My word for you is patience,” Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said Thursday. “I know a lot of you will be frustrated.”
Chicago Claims Dibs on Best Sanders Memes
| Patty Wetli
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ appearance at Wednesday’s inauguration was the gift that kept on giving to social media. Chicagoans had some particularly clever takes.
US Jobless Claims Decline to a Still-High 900,000
| Associated Press
The Labor Department's report Thursday underscored that President Joe Biden has inherited an economy that faltered this winter as virus cases spiked, cold weather restricted dining and federal rescue aid expired.
CTU Delegates Approve Walkout Resolution That Could Lead to Possible Strike
| Matt Masterson
Voting members of the Chicago Teachers Union approved a resolution Wednesday night which could mark the first step toward a potential strike if the union can’t reach a deal with Chicago Public Schools on a safe reopening plan amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Spotlight Politics: A Peaceful, Historic Inauguration
| Alexandra Silets
A solemn and somber Inauguration Day for President Joe Biden, as well as a historic day for Vice President Kamala Harris — and the nation. Our politics team breaks it all down in this special edition of our weekly roundtable.
Demands, Hopes, Expectations: Illinois Leaders on Biden Agenda
| Amanda Vinicky
Now that President Joe Biden is officially in the Oval Office, it’s time to get down to work. Interest groups — made of supporters and critics alike — have a lot of expectations for the country’s 46th president. Here’s a sampling.
On Day One, Biden Targets Trump Policies on Climate, Virus
| Associated Press
President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump’s legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden Takes the Helm as President: ‘Democracy Has Prevailed’
| Associated Press
Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that “democracy has prevailed” and summoning American resilience and unity to confront the deeply divided nation’s historic confluence of crises.
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