Stories by Associated Press
GOP Convention Takeaways: Pence Pounces While Crises Swirl
Plus: Spotlight Politics team recaps Pence’s speech and previews the finale
| Associated Press
Republicans proceeded with the third night of their national convention, but many Americans — particularly those in the path of Hurricane Laura — were focused on more immediate concerns.
Vigilante Calls on Social Media Before Deadly Kenosha Attack
| Associated Press
Repeated calls for armed vigilantes to travel to Kenosha to protect businesses following the police shooting of Jacob Blake spread across social media in the hours before two people were shot to death and a third was wounded.
Lightfoot Asks for Proposals for Casino in ‘Heart’ of Chicago
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Lori Lightfoot took the first step Thursday toward making the long-planned Chicago casino a reality, asking firms interested in building and operating “a unique entertainment and gaming experience” to make their pitch to city officials.
Chicago Will Not Alter COVID-19 Testing Recommendation After Federal Government Changes Guidance: Arwady
| Heather Cherone
Chicago health officials will continue to recommend that anyone exposed to someone diagnosed with the coronavirus be tested for COVID-19, despite new guidance from the CDC that ignited a firestorm of controversy.
1,707 New COVID-19 Cases in Illinois, 24 More Deaths
| Matt Masterson
Eight Cook County residents were among the 24 deaths reported by Illinois health officials Thursday as the state nears 8,000 virus-related deaths and more than 227,000 cases of COVID-19.
Struggling Native Oaks Get $40K Boost From Forest Service to Fight Invaders
| Patty Wetli
Oak trees, once abundant in the Chicago region, have been struggling to reproduce in recent decades. A grant from the U.S. Forest Service will help fund a restoration project at Greene Valley in Naperville.
Kenosha Protests Peaceful After Night of Chaos and Shootings
| Associated Press
Groups that had taken to Kenosha’s streets with long guns were nowhere to be seen early Thursday following somber protests and no widespread unrest for the first night since the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Top CPS Official Charged With Lying to FBI
| Matt Masterson
Pedro Soto, a high-ranking Chicago Public Schools official, has been charged with lying to FBI investigators about giving non-public information to a lobbyist on behalf of a bidder seeking a $1 billion custodial services contract.
17-Year-Old Arrested After 2 Killed During Unrest in Kenosha
| Associated Press
A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake.
Local GOP Lawmakers Praise First Lady’s ‘Home Run’ RNC Speech
| Paul Caine
The president’s wife and children present the case for their dad’s reelection. Republican state lawmakers share their thoughts about the Republican National Convention so far.
So You Need to Renew Your Driver’s License …
| Amanda Vinicky
Even before the pandemic, Illinois Secretary of State offices in Chicago saw long lines as people sought Real IDs ahead of a fall deadline. That deadline and others have been pushed back. Here’s what you need to know.
Emmett Till’s Cousin: ‘65 Years Later and Nothing Really Has Changed’
| Evan Garcia
The painful legacy of Emmett Till seems fresh amid this era of civil unrest. We reflect on his death with Ollie Gordon, Till’s cousin, and Chris Benson, who co-authored an autobiography of Mamie Till-Mobley, Till’s mother.
State Sen. Bill Brady on Unrest, COVID-19, Mail-In Voting and RNC
| Marissa Nelson
As part of our special coverage of the Republican National Convention, we speak with Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady.
Board of Education Renews SRO Contract With Chicago Police
| Matt Masterson
Resource officers will remain in Chicago Public Schools once in-person learning resumes after the Board of Education approved a new contract with the Chicago Police Department.
14K Chicagoans Apply for Housing Assistance Grants: Officials
| Heather Cherone
Thousands of Chicagoans who lost their jobs or found their paychecks scaled back because of the coronavirus pandemic asked the city for help paying their rent or mortgages, officials said.
What the City, Park District Are Doing to Shore Up Infrastructure Along Chicago’s Lakefront and Beyond
| Nick Blumberg
Chicago is facing a lot of unfunded infrastructure needs in the coming years, according to officials. And it’s not just roads, bridges and streetlights that need work. The city’s lakefront is grappling with another year of high lake levels.
2,157 New COVID-19 Cases in Illinois, 37 Additional Deaths
New policy on face coverings at bars and restaurants takes effect
| Heather Cherone
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,157 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and another 37 virus-related deaths — including a teenage girl from Cook County.
Push to Keep Woodlawn Residents In Their Homes Near Obama Center Advances
| Heather Cherone
Even though the Obama Presidential Center has yet to receive final approval from the federal government to break ground, Woodlawn’s real estate market is already bubbling, with the median sale price rising 106% from 2016 to 2020.
2 Men Face Federal Charges In Connection With Looting During Protests in May
| Heather Cherone
Two Chicago men will face federal charges that they looted three Northwest Side pharmacies on May 31 during the protests triggered by the death of George Floyd.
‘Fighting for You’: First Lady Makes Her Case for Trump Vote
Plus: Spotlight Politics team breaks it all down
| Associated Press
First lady Melania Trump offered a polished portrait of Trump’s presidency Tuesday night that was often at odds with the crises, division and unforgiving actions of his administration.
How Race Has Had a Starring Role at Both Party Conventions
| Amanda Vinicky
We take a closer look at the role race has played in the political conventions — especially at the opening night of the Republican National Convention.
Jeanne Ives Weighs In on Republican Convention, Illinois GOP
| Quinn Myers
As part of our special coverage of the Republican National Convention, we speak with Jeanne Ives, Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 6th District.
How New Delegates are Celebrating the Virtual Republican National Convention
| Blair Paddock
Many Republican delegates will be watching the convention from their couches this week, missing the usual excitement of an in-person event. We check in with two first-time delegates for their impressions so far.
Lawyer: Blake Not Likely to Walk Again After He Was Shot By Police
| Associated Press
Jacob Blake, the Black man shot multiple times by police in Wisconsin, is paralyzed, and it would “take a miracle” for him to walk again, his family’s attorney said Tuesday.
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