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Fireworks on July 4th: Where to Watch Around Chicago
| Kristen Thometz
Fireworks will light up the skies all over the Chicago area in celebration of Independence Day on Thursday, July 4. Here’s where you can watch.
EPA’s Rollback of Obama Rule Decried as ‘Dirty Power Plan’
| Alex Ruppenthal
Public officials and environmental advocates are speaking out against the Trump administration’s rollback of an Obama-era effort to shift the U.S. away from coal-fired power plants.
Judge Says R. Kelly’s Lawyers Have Week to Answer Lawsuit
| Associated Press
Attorneys for R. Kelly have one week to respond to a lawsuit alleging sex abuse or face losing the case. Associate Judge Moira Johnson gave Kelly’s lawyers until June 26 to respond.
Pilots Criticize Boeing for Mistakes on its Grounded Jet
| Associated Press
Airline union leaders and famed former airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger say that Boeing made mistakes while developing the 737 Max, and the biggest was not telling anybody about new flight-control software so that pilots could train for it.
Spotlight Politics: Feds Raid Another Longtime Alderman’s Office
| Paris Schutz
Assessing the political fallout from the federal raid of another longtime alderman’s office. Our politics team tackles that and more in our weekly roundtable.
FBI Raids 34th Ward Office of Ald. Carrie Austin
| Paris Schutz
Federal agents have executed a search warrant at the South Side ward office of Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin. A source close to the matter says Austin has been under federal investigation for several years.
Pritzker Announces Help for Flood-Hit Farmers, Aims for Emergency Declaration
| Paul Caine
Much of Illinois’ farmland is too wet to seed. Assessing the fallout from excessive rain – and what Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to do about it.
Question of Balance: Analysts Talk State Budget, Pension Reform
| Nicole Cardos
Does Illinois really have a balanced budget? Local analysts weigh in.
Brendt Christensen Seemed ‘Excited’ and ‘Amused’ by FBI’s Interest, Former Girlfriend Testifies
| Matt Masterson
During testimony Wednesday, Terra Bullis described her past relationship with Brendt Christensen and how she came to wear a wire for FBI investigators who believe he is responsible for the disappearance of Chinese scholar Yingying Zhang.
EPA Defies Climate Warnings, Gives Coal Plants a Reprieve
| Associated Press
The Trump administration on Wednesday completed one of its biggest rollbacks of environmental rules, replacing the landmark Obama-era Clean Power Plan with a replacement rule.
Meet the Artist Behind ‘The Obama Paintings’ As They Debut in Chicago
| Marc Vitali
Artist Rob Pruitt created a painting for each of the 2,922 days of Barack Obama’s presidency. His project is now on display in Chicago.
10 Things to Do this Weekend: June 20-23
| Kristen Thometz
Celebrations of pride, music fests, pop-up theater, craft beers and dragon boats usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Endangered Baby Rhino Makes First Public Appearance
| Quinn Myers
“Our new rhino calf is thriving. He is exceeding all of our expectations,” said Mike Murray of Lincoln Park Zoo. “He’s a pretty incredible little guy that, just behaviorally, is doing everything a rhino calf should.”
White Sox Plan to Extend Netting at Guaranteed Rate Field
| Associated Press
The Chicago White Sox plan to extend the protective netting to the foul poles at Guaranteed Rate Field, becoming the first major league team to take that step.
AP Explains: Juneteenth Celebrates End of Slavery in the US
| Associated Press
A holiday that is spreading across the U.S. and beyond, Juneteenth is considered the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Here’s a look at the holiday and its history.
In ‘Hedwig,’ Divided Cold War-Era Germany Gives Birth to Even More Divided Identity
| Hedy Weiss
Arriving at Theo Ubique as the final show of the theater’s first season in its spacious new Evanston home, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” serves as definitive proof that this company can finesse anything and everything in the musical theater repertory.
Hospital Largely Cleared in Newborn Cut from Womb Case
| Associated Press
Investigators have largely cleared Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for how it dealt with a Chicago woman accused of cutting a baby from his mother’s womb and claiming him as her own.
Cancer Diagnosis Leads to Donation of 400 Rare, Valuable Books
| Jay Shefsky
In recent years, Bob Connors found a new passion and expertise. Now, he’s offering it to the world.
State Leader Defends Personal Stake in Illinois’ Gambling Industry
| Amanda Vinicky
A recent investigation revealed that Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady has a “business interest” in Midwest Electronics Gaming, a prominent video gaming company. On Tuesday, Brady commented on the business.
Illinois’ Gaming Expansion Could Be a Losing Bet for Problem Gamblers
| Paul Caine
As Illinois prepares to expand gambling to every corner of the state – including slot machines at O’Hare and Midway airports – supporters tout the generation of much-needed revenue to help plug a massive budget deficit. But at what cost?
‘16 Shots’ Documentary Examines Fatal Shooting of Laquan McDonald
| Evan Garcia
The murder of Laquan McDonald and ensuing public outrage in Chicago are the focus of a new documentary on Showtime. We speak with “16 Shots” writer and director Rick Rowley.
Lightfoot: Independent Commission Should Redraw City’s 50 Wards
| Paris Schutz
The decennial redrawing of Chicago’s 50 ward boundaries is messy and anything but transparent. Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls the current map an obvious case of gerrymandering, and says it’s bad for Chicago residents.
Closing Arguments Expected This Week in Death-Penalty Trial of Brendt Christensen
| Matt Masterson
Federal prosecutors and Brendt Christensen’s defense team are each expected to call their final witnesses before Friday. Among those slated to testify: Christensen’s former girlfriend, who wore a wire for the FBI, and his ex-wife.
Cook County Health Program Focuses on ‘Whole Person Care’
| Kristen Thometz
How addressing homelessness, access to food and other social needs improves a patient’s overall health – and reduces costs. A 2017 study found treating patients with just one risk factor was $65 more per month than those with none.
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