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Boeing Makes 96 Flights to Test Software on Troubled Max Jet
| Associated Press
The Federal Aviation Administration, which will consider whether the plane can resume flying in the U.S., plans to meet Friday with safety officials and pilots from the three U.S. carriers that were using the Max jet.
ReptileFest Slithers into its 25th Year This Weekend
| Erica Gunderson
We get up close and personal with some cold-blooded creatures ahead of the nation’s largest educational reptile show.
Chicago Sues ‘Empire’ Actor Jussie Smollett
| Matt Masterson
City officials have made good on their threat of legal action against Jussie Smollett, filing a civil lawsuit that seeks to recoup the cost of a police investigation into what they believe was a staged attack the actor orchestrated on himself.
How Black Leaders Unintentionally Contributed to Mass Incarceration
| Nick Blumberg
Author James Forman Jr. talks about his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.”
The Report From Court? Too Few Court Reporters
| Brandis Friedman
They play a key role in court proceedings, but industry experts say there aren’t enough of them. What it takes to become a court reporter – and why some say it’s a good alternative to a four-year degree.
The Mystery of Nathan Leopold’s Bird Collection
| Jay Shefsky
In all the attempts to dissect the Leopold and Loeb story, one mystery remains unsolved: What happened to the vast bird collection that Nathan Leopold had in his Chicago home when he went to prison?
NASA Twins Study Shows How Astronaut’s Body Changed Over a Year in Space
| Alex Ruppenthal
A groundbreaking study concludes that human health can be “mostly sustained” for a year in space, a key finding that figures to help NASA with its mission of sending humans to Mars within two decades.
University of Chicago Receives $9.1M to Provide Holistic Trauma Care
| Kristen Thometz
A $9.1 million gift will help the University of Chicago expand its efforts to treat the social, psychological and medical needs of young trauma patients and their families.
CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita Leaving Post in June
| Kristen Thometz
Dr. Julie Morita is moving on after two decades at the Chicago Department of Public Health. She tells us about her future plans, and discusses current threats to the city’s health.
Gang Database ‘Strains Police-Community Relations’ City Watchdog Says
| Matt Masterson
More than 90% of individuals in the gang database are people of color, according to Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who says that puts a strain on police-community relations. “There’s an extraordinary adverse effect on certain communities.”
10 Things to Do This Weekend: April 11-15
| Kristen Thometz
A Halal lifestyle fest, scaly creatures, roller derby matches and island music usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Spotlight Politics: Warm Send-Off for Mayor Emanuel
| Paris Schutz
Mayor Rahm Emanuel gets a warm send-off from his colleagues at his final City Council meeting. Our politics team tackles that and some of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering over Lincoln Yards.
Astronomers Take First-Ever Picture of a Black Hole
| Paul Caine
Ever since Einstein’s theory of relativity first predicted them, black holes have captured the imagination of the public and scientists alike. We speak with two local astrophysicists about this scientific breakthrough.
A Day in the Life of a Cook County Burn Crew
| Jay Shefsky
Sometimes the best thing for a forest or prairie is to burn it. We spend a day with a Cook County burn crew.
Chicago Mayor-Elect Lightfoot Meets with Madigan, Pritzker
| Amanda Vinicky
Chicago’s next mayor won’t be sworn in until May 20, but she’s hitting the ground running. On Wednesday, Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot left the city to meet with top political leaders in Springfield.
Ask Geoffrey: A Ballpark in Logan Square?
| Erica Gunderson
A semi-pro baseball team once bested the big leagues on the Northwest Side. Geoffrey Baer takes a swing at local baseball history and its “outlaw clubs.”
Chicago Inspector General to Release Report on Gang Database
| Evan Garcia
More than 128,000 individuals in Chicago are identified as gang-related, according to reports. The city’s top watchdog tells us about the police department’s gang database.
Softhearted Detective Delves into Life of Boy Who Was ‘Too Much’
| Hedy Weiss
“The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” is a wildly creative story about a familiar message brought to life by Chicago actor Joe Foust’s effortless storytelling skills, comic sensibility and emotional range.
Chicago City Council Approves Clean Energy Resolution
| Alex Ruppenthal
The non-binding measure is being celebrated by environmental advocates, who note that Chicago is now the largest U.S. city to announce a timeline for obtaining all of its energy from renewable sources.
4 Police Officers Facing Termination for Role in Laquan McDonald Shooting
| Matt Masterson
An evidentiary hearing that began Wednesday will be used to determine whether four officers can keep their jobs following accusations they lied about what happened the night Laquan McDonald was killed.
City Council Approves Massive TIFs for Lincoln Yards, The 78
| Paris Schutz
After months of debate, the controversial $1 billion public subsidy for Lincoln Yards is now law. City Council approved the measure hours after Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot softened her opposition to the project.
Defense: Accused in China Scholar’s Death Denied Proper Care
| Associated Press
Lawyers for a former University of Illinois student accused of killing a Chinese scholar say university counselors didn’t offer him adequate care when he sought help for suicidal and homicidal thoughts.
Johnson Publishing Company Files for Bankruptcy
| Associated Press
Johnson Publishing Co., former owner of the iconic Ebony and Jet magazines that helped changed the negative image of black people portrayed by U.S. media, filed for bankruptcy liquidation Tuesday in a federal court in Chicago.
Stage is Set for Major Fight Over Illinois Constitution, Tax Policy
| Amanda Vinicky
The latest on a possible – and major – amendment to the state constitution that would lift a requirement that all income be taxed at a flat rate.
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