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R. Kelly’s Lawyers Ask Judge to Dismiss Sex Abuse Lawsuit
| Associated Press
The lawsuit says the abuse occurred in 1998. Kelly’s attorneys say she had until 2002 to sue. But state law can extend deadlines to file in cases where the accuser becomes aware of the abuse later.
Vaccine No Match Against Flu Bug That Popped Up Near End
| Associated Press
The vaccine didn’t work against a flu bug that popped up halfway through the past flu season, dragging down overall effectiveness to 29%, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
Deep Frydays: Totally Tubular Tamales
| Nick Blumberg
For our new summer series, we take some of Chicago’s favorite foods and, like the name says, we deep-fry them and deal with the big questions. Today’s sacrifice to the gods of hot oil: Chicago-style tamales.
Chosen Few House Music Festival Returns to Jackson Park
| Quinn Myers
Alan King and Tony Hatchett talk about their annual house music festival on the city’s South Side – and its power to bring people together.
Driving Under the Influence of … Marijuana?
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois is on the road to legalized marijuana. What that means for local law enforcement.
Former Supreme Court Clerks Debate Blockbuster Decisions
| Alexandra Silets
On its final day before a summer break, the Supreme Court issues major rulings on a census citizenship question and the very controversial practice of political gerrymandering. Former Supreme Court clerks weigh in.
Democratic Debates: How 1st Group Fared – and What to Watch for on Night 2
| Nick Blumberg
How the first round of Democrats tried to set themselves apart on a packed stage, and how the second group of candidates might fare. A conversation with Jason DeSanto.
EPA Plans $1.3M Cleanup of Manganese-Contaminated Soil on Southeast Side
| Alex Ruppenthal
The Environmental Protection Agency will soon begin removing up to 2 feet of contaminated soil from as many as 15 homes near a storage facility operated by S.H. Bell, which handles manganese and other industrial materials.
The Streetscape Symphony of Chicago’s Brick Buildings
| Erica Gunderson
From houses of worship to working class homes, brick built Chicago. And brick enthusiast Will Quam believes Chicago is one of the nation’s best showcases for all that a brick can do.
‘I Feel Trapped’: Photos Capture Experiences of People Who Use Drugs
| Kristen Thometz
People who inject drugs typically aren’t part of traditional advocacy because of risks associated with going public. But a local research project allows them to share their experiences without the fear of potential repercussions.
Trump’s Next Tweet Could Get a Warning Label
| Associated Press
Starting Thursday, tweets that Twitter deems to involve matters of public interest, but which violate the service’s rules, will be obscured by a warning explaining the violation and Twitter’s reasons for publishing it anyway.
Supreme Court Allows Partisan Districts, Blocks Census Query
| Associated Press
In two politically charged rulings, the Supreme Court dealt a huge blow Thursday to efforts to combat the drawing of electoral districts for partisan gain but also put a hold on the Trump administration’s effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
800,000 Eligible to Clear Their Record in Illinois Legal Pot
| Associated Press
Lawmakers who drafted the measure making Illinois the 11th state to legalize marijuana emphasized repairing what they say is the damage done by a half-century of the war on drugs.
New Software Glitch Found in Boeing’s Troubled 737 Max Jet
| Associated Press
Boeing said Wednesday that the FAA “identified an additional requirement” for software changes that the aircraft manufacturer has been working on for eight months, since shortly after the first crash.
Controversy Over School Ratings as New CPS Board Meets
| Amanda Vinicky
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s newly appointed Chicago Board of Education ushered in some changes during its first meeting Wednesday.
Spotlight Politics: Austin Real Estate Deal Under Scrutiny
| Paris Schutz
More details emerge about the investigation into 34th Ward Ald. Carrie Austin, as a former alderman is sentenced to one year in prison. Our politics team takes on those stories and more in our weekly roundtable.
Attorney: Girl Hit During Astros Game Had Skull Fracture
| Associated Press
An attorney for the family of a 2-year-old girl struck by a foul ball during a game last month between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros said Wednesday that the girl suffered a skull fracture.
Tour the Southeast Side Facility Producing New CTA Rail Cars
| Nick Blumberg
Rail car manufacturing is back in Chicago after some 50 years. We go inside the Hegewisch facility where production is underway on the CTA’s new 7000 series.
Homeowners Across Chicago Brace for Higher Property Taxes
| Evan Garcia
Cook County property owners will soon be getting new property tax bills, and depending on where you live, you may see a steep increase. Cook County Assessor Frank Kaegi shares his road map.
Historian Rick Atkinson Tells Gripping Story of America’s Founding
| Paul Caine
Award-winning historian and former journalist Rick Atkinson spent 15 years researching and writing his highly acclaimed World War II Liberation Trilogy books. With “The British Are Coming,” he turns his gaze to the Revolution.
Chicago Botanic Garden Exhibit Explores the Vital Role of Pollinators
| Alex Ruppenthal
Pollinating animals account for an estimated one out of every three bites of food humans eat. “Bees & Beyond” explains how the process works, traces its evolutionary history and demonstrates its impact on our daily lives.
10 Things to Do this Weekend: June 27-30
| Kristen Thometz
A massive parade, dance lessons, mariachi ensembles and lots of hot sauce usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Brendt Christensen Offered to Reveal Location of Yingying Zhang’s Body
Motion claims offer was made to feds months after Christensen’s arrest
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for Brendt Christensen say he offered to cooperate with investigators and disclose what he did with the Chinese scholar’s remains in return for a life sentence just six months after his 2017 arrest.
Ask Geoffrey: What Happened to Immel State Bank?
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer deposits some knowledge about buildings left behind by the banking panics of the Great Depression in this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey.
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