Stories by Associated Press
1 in 5 Nursing Homes Short on PPE and Staff in Virus Rebound
| Associated Press
One in five U.S. nursing homes faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer even as the Trump administration pledged to help, according to a study released Thursday.
‘It Felt Like a Battle Zone’: Speakers Share Allegations of Police Abuse at Protests
| Matt Masterson
Dozens of people say police escalated violence at recent protests in Chicago, beat demonstrators and mocked their cause with no fear of reprisal. “It felt like a battle zone,” one speaker said.
Biden Seeking Party, National Unity in Convention Climax
| Associated Press
Joe Biden is hoping to start unifying a divided America as well as the nation’s diverse Democrats Thursday night as he accepts his party’s presidential nomination in the climax of recent history’s most unorthodox national convention.
Lightfoot Defends Police Ban on Protests Outside Her Logan Square Home, Citing ‘Threats’
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday defended the Chicago Police Department’s ban on protests on her Logan Square block, citing a significant number of threats against her, her wife and 12-year-old daughter.
James Beard Pulls Plug on 2020 Chef, Restaurant Awards. Cancels 2021 Program, Too
| Patty Wetli
Chef and restaurant winners were to have been announced in September, but the industry’s “dire situation” prompted the James Beard Foundation to cancel its annual presentation.
‘Still Early Days’: Lightfoot Says It Is Too Soon To Evaluate Trump’s Decision to Send Federal Agents To Chicago
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday it was too soon to evaluate whether President Donald Trump’s decision to send more than 100 federal agents to Chicago had begun to pay dividends in the ongoing effort to crack down on surging violent crime and gun violence.
CPD Expands Community Policing Initiative, Launches New Training Academy
| Matt Masterson
The Chicago Police Department is expanding a community policing initiative it says has already helped reduce 911 calls in one police district by assigning officers to specific geographic areas to build trust with its residents.
Ex-Trump Adviser Steve Bannon Charged in Border Wall Scheme
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others ripped off donors to an online fundraising effort to build a southern border wall.
Did So Many Trees Need To Die During Powerful Storm? Environmentalists Say No
| Patty Wetli
City crews are still clearing debris from last week’s powerful derecho. Thousands of trees were lost, which has renewed the call by some for an Urban Forestry Advisory Board to manage Chicago’s green infrastructure.
State Lawmaker Contemplates Suing CPD After Gun Charge Dismissed
| Amanda Vinicky
Now that he’s no longer fighting a gun charge, state Rep. Curtis Tarver is considering suing the Chicago Police Department for violating his rights.
Cook County Data Shows Disparities in Delinquent Houses
| Blair Paddock
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas talks about the disparities in delinquent houses and how she’s working to reduce the problem.
Virtual Bronzeville Art District Trolley Pays Homage to South Side Artists
| Angel Idowu
For the last 15 years, Chicagoans have explored the art of one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods thanks to a trolley. But this year, the Bronzeville Art District Trolley tour is going virtual.
Democratic Boundary Breakers’ Night: Obama, Clinton, Harris
| Associated Press
Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president, and Hillary Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major party, are speaking on Biden’s behalf Tuesday night. And Kamala Harris, the first Black woman on a major party ticket, will deliver highly anticipated remarks.
US Reps. Kelly, Casten on the Postal Service, Democratic National Convention
| Marissa Nelson
U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Sean Casten discuss recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service and funding for the agency as well the Democratic National Convention as part of our special coverage of the virtual gathering.
Poll: Pandemic Shifts How Consumers Use Gig Companies
| Associated Press
A new survey shows how consumer attitudes about using ride-hailing and delivery services have changed. It also highlights a wealth divide, where Americans with higher incomes are able to utilize the services to help reduce their risk of infection.
Gov. Pritzker Hails FDA Approval of U of I Coronavirus Test as Potential Game-Changer
| Heather Cherone
Gov. J.B. Pritzker hailed on Wednesday the decision by the Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency approval to a coronavirus test developed by University of Illinois researchers that uses saliva rather than a deep nasal swab.
How Community Input and COVID-Era Changes Can Inform Chicago’s Transportation Future
| Nick Blumberg
Chicago’s streets can have an impact on much more than the way we get from one place to another. That was the message from Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi in a speech to the City Club on Wednesday.
‘One of Us’: South Asians Celebrate Harris as VP Choice
| Associated Press
Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, often focuses on her identity as a Black woman. At times during her political career, as she ran for California attorney general and senator, some didn’t realize she was of Indian descent.
NASA Reports Closest Asteroid Flyby on Record
| Patty Wetli
An asteroid the size of an SUV buzzed past Earth over the weekend, coming closer to the planet than any other on record, according to NASA.
CPS Announces New Reforms to School Resource Officer Program
| Matt Masterson
School resource officers with sustained allegations of excessive force, or complaints of inappropriate interactions with youth in the past five years will no longer be eligible to serve in schools, city officials announced Wednesday.
Aldermen Call Special City Council Meeting to Pressure Lightfoot After Looting, Violence
| Heather Cherone
Four aldermen have called for a special Chicago City Council meeting in an effort to pressure Mayor Lori Lightfoot to ask Gov. J.B. Pritzker to call out the Illinois National Guard to reduce escalating violence and sustained protests amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Advocates Plan Birthday Gift for the 19th Amendment: The ERA
| Associated Press
It was a huge step forward for American women when, exactly 100 years ago, they finally gained the guaranteed right to vote with ratification of the 19th Amendment. But to Alice Paul, the step wasn’t nearly large enough.
US Reps. Davis, Garcia Prepare to Return to DC to Vote on USPS Bill
| Marissa Nelson
U.S. Reps. Danny Davis and Jesus “Chuy" Garcia weigh in on the U.S. Postal Service, the stimulus plan and the Democratic National Convention as part of our special coverage of the virtual gathering.
CPS Releases Final Reopening Plan With 3 Weeks Left Before Classes Resume
| Matt Masterson
Three weeks before students return to a fully remote instruction plan for the fall, Chicago Public Schools released its final reopening plan and updated remote learning guidelines for students and families.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
As Chicago Swelters Under Heatwave, ComEd Asks Customers to Immediately Conserve Energy to Avoid Outages
New Law Puts Cook County Sheriff’s Police on the ‘L.’ Here’s How It Works
Who Is Running, or Thinking About Running, to Become Chicago’s Next Mayor
Illinois House Speaker Welch to Rep. Harry Benton: Resign or Be Expelled
U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Challenge to Cook County’s Assault Weapons Ban
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter