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Lincoln Park Zoo Receives Arboretum Accreditation
| Alex Ruppenthal
It’s home to more than animals: More than 330 species of trees, shrubs and plants live on zoo grounds, including the historic canopy of oak trees whose roots predate the city’s founding.
Chicago Police Union President Talks Kim Foxx, Officer Mental Health
| Matt Masterson
“I hope that (Kim Foxx) suddenly realizes that this is what her job is and that she needs to do it," FOP President Kevin Graham said Tuesday. “If she can’t, she needs to step down and let somebody else do it.”
Foxx Opposes Special Prosecutor in Smollett Case
| Associated Press
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is fighting a push to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate her office’s handling of the case against actor Jussie Smollett.
It Seems Like Alzheimer’s But Peek Into Brain Shows a Mimic
| Associated Press
Some people told they have Alzheimer’s may instead have a newly identified mimic of the disease — and scientists say even though neither is yet curable, it’s critical to get better at telling different kinds of dementia apart.
Poll: Illinoisans Say Improving Schools Among Top Issues Facing State
| Kristen Thometz
A new statewide poll released by the Illinois Education Association shows that residents have a pessimistic view of the state and public schools – but a favorable view of teachers.
Chicago Police Offer First Look at 2019 Summer Safety Strategies
| Matt Masterson
A day after meeting with Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson gave a first look at his plans to combat summer violence increases.
AJ Freund’s Parents Agree to Give Up Custody of Other Son
| Associated Press
JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr.’s younger son was taken into Illinois Department of Children and Family Services custody following the disappearance of Andrew “AJ” Freund.
5 CPS High Schools Among Top 100 in Nation: U.S. News Rankings
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools once again scored the top five public high schools in the state of Illinois, according to the annual list. All five of those schools were also ranked among the top 100 nationally.
Illinois Riddled with Political – and Literal – Potholes
| Amanda Vinicky
Finding billions of dollars to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs is high on legislators’ list of priorities with five weeks left in their spring session, but so too are other hefty “asks” of first-time Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Controversial Proposal Would Require Corporate Board Diversity
| Alexandra Silets
Should the state require corporate boards of publicly held companies like McDonald’s and Boeing to seat women and African Americans? We discuss the proposal and whether it passes legal muster.
Age and the American Presidency: How Old is ‘Too Old’?
| Erica Gunderson
The Constitution says anyone under 35 is too young to be president, but are candidates in their 70s too old? What science can tell us about aging and job performance.
Rare Copy of World’s Most Famous Bird Book on Display in Chicago
| Alex Ruppenthal
The groundbreaking book “Birds of America” by painter and ornithologist John James Audubon features intricate watercolor paintings of nearly every bird on the continent. It’s now on display at the Field Museum.
Lightfoot Takes Aim at Aldermanic Prerogative
| Paul Caine
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot says aldermanic prerogative is at the heart of many corruption scandals emanating from City Hall. Two aldermen give us their take on the issue.
Boeing CEO Defends Safety Record Amid 2 Deadly Crashes
| Associated Press
The CEO of Boeing defended the company’s safety record and declined to take any more than partial blame for two deadly crashes of the 737 Max even while saying the company has nearly finished an update that “will make the airplane even safer.”
The Wild Life of Nature Photographer Thomas Mangelsen
| Marc Vitali
A world-renowned nature photographer visits Chicago for the opening of an exhibition of his truly magnificent wildlife pictures at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
MIT Economists Argue for Increased Public Investment to ‘Jump-Start’ America
| Nicole Cardos
In their new book, a pair of MIT economists say that if the government doesn’t start investing more in research and development, America’s future growth will be in jeopardy. Co-author Simon Johnson makes the case.
Health Officials Investigating Report of Legionella at Mercy Hospital
| Kristen Thometz
The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a report of Legionella in the water system of a Chicago hospital and two cases of Legionnaires’ disease in patients who were possibly exposed to the bacteria.
Mental Health Defense Dropped in Chinese Scholar Case
| Associated Press
Lawyers for a former University of Illinois student accused of killing a visiting Chinese scholar say they are abandoning their mental health defense.
Report: Aurora Gunman Vowed to Kill Others If He Was Fired
| Associated Press
The gunman who opened fire at a suburban Chicago manufacturing plant in February told a co-worker the morning of the shooting that if he was fired he was going to kill every other employee and “blow police up,” according to a new report.
Jewish Community Will ‘Stand Tall’ After Synagogue Shooting
| Associated Press
“We are a Jewish nation that will stand tall,” said Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein following a shooting Saturday, April 27 at the Chabad of Poway that killed one. “Terrorism like this will not take us down.”
Striking Chicago Musicians Approve 5-Year Contract
| Associated Press
The Chicago Federation of Musicians says the five-year deal includes a 13.2% increase in salary and protects retirement benefits. The union says musicians unanimously supported it Saturday.
The Week in Review: Pritzker Reportedly Under Federal Investigation
| Evan Garcia
J.B. Pritzker faces a federal investigation into his property taxes. Mayor Emanuel brokers a deal between striking musicians and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Emanuel: CSO, Union Have Reached an Agreement to End Strike
| Kristen Thometz
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement that Chicago Symphony Orchestra management and striking musicians “have reached an agreement in principle to bring the music back to the symphony center.”
Riding the Waves of Madness and Sanity in Opera Version of ‘Moby-Dick’
| Hedy Weiss
Transforming Herman Melville’s 1851 classic is no easy feat. This opera not only captures the pivotal characters in the novel, but also illuminates its major themes with impressive emotional directness.
4-8 Inches of Snow Possible for Chicago Area on Saturday
| WTTW News
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch Saturday for a storm system that could bring up to 8 inches of snow to the Chicago area.
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