Stories by Associated Press
College Towns Growing Alarmed Over Outbreaks Among Students
| Associated Press
As more and more schools and businesses around the country get the OK to reopen, college towns are moving in the opposite direction because of too much partying and too many COVID-19 infections among students.
Teen Charged in Kenosha Killings Stalls Return to Wisconsin
| Associated Press
A judge postponed a decision Friday on whether Kyle Rittenhouse should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges in the killing of two people in Kenosha during unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
City Can’t Afford to Take Over ComEd, Study Finds
| Heather Cherone
It would likely cost the city nearly $9 billion if Chicago wanted to cut ties with Commonwealth Edison and form its own electric utility, according to a city study released Friday.
Judge Refuses to Release Full Report Into Kim Foxx’s Handling of Jussie Smollett Case
| Matt Masterson
A judge has denied a request to make public an investigatory report into the handling of the high-profile case by the Cook County State’s Attorney and her office, days after the special prosecutor released the findings of that investigation.
DuSable Park Close to Becoming Reality, at Moment When Its Namesake Has Never Been More Relevant
| Patty Wetli
Development of DuSable Park, stalled for more than 30 years, is finally inching forward. Advocates say Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable set an example for multicultural harmony we’ve yet to follow.
Trump Lashes Biden, Defies Pandemic on White House Stage
| Associated Press
President Donald Trump blasted Joe Biden as a hapless career politician who will endanger Americans’ safety as he accepted his party’s renomination on the South Lawn of the White House.
Kenosha Shooting Strains Tie Between Black Residents, Police
| Associated Press
Until the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the bedroom community of Kenosha had been largely untouched by the level of demonstrations that were seen in nearby Milwaukee and Chicago after the death of George Floyd.
Illinois Teen Charged In Kenosha Shooting That Killed 2, Hurt 1
| Associated Press
Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 17-year-old from Illinois in the fatal shooting of two protesters and the wounding of a third in Kenosha during a night of unrest following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Speechwriters Analyze GOP Talking Points at Republican Convention
| Evan Garcia
President Donald Trump will accept his party’s nomination for president at the Republican National Convention on Thursday. We take a close look at GOP talking points with two accomplished speechwriters.
Unrest in Kenosha: A Live ‘Chicago Tonight’ Report
| Quinn Myers
Protesters have returned to the streets of Kenosha every day since a police officer shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake seven times. We visit the city to speak with residents and officials about the shooting and unrest that’s followed.
Black National Convention Puts Spotlight on Police Brutality
| Associated Press
Black Lives Matter activists are holding their first Black National Convention on Friday, a virtual event that will adopt a political agenda calling for slavery reparations, universal basic income, environmental justice and criminal justice reform.
GOP Rep. Mike Bost Weighs In on Civil Unrest, RNC
| Marissa Nelson
Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost shares his perspective on civil unrest, mail-in voting and the 2020 general election as part of our special coverage of the Republican National Convention.
GOP Convention Takeaways: Pence Pounces While Crises Swirl
Plus: Spotlight Politics team recaps Pence’s speech and previews the finale
| Associated Press
Republicans proceeded with the third night of their national convention, but many Americans — particularly those in the path of Hurricane Laura — were focused on more immediate concerns.
Vigilante Calls on Social Media Before Deadly Kenosha Attack
| Associated Press
Repeated calls for armed vigilantes to travel to Kenosha to protect businesses following the police shooting of Jacob Blake spread across social media in the hours before two people were shot to death and a third was wounded.
Lightfoot Asks for Proposals for Casino in ‘Heart’ of Chicago
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Lori Lightfoot took the first step Thursday toward making the long-planned Chicago casino a reality, asking firms interested in building and operating “a unique entertainment and gaming experience” to make their pitch to city officials.
Chicago Will Not Alter COVID-19 Testing Recommendation After Federal Government Changes Guidance: Arwady
| Heather Cherone
Chicago health officials will continue to recommend that anyone exposed to someone diagnosed with the coronavirus be tested for COVID-19, despite new guidance from the CDC that ignited a firestorm of controversy.
1,707 New COVID-19 Cases in Illinois, 24 More Deaths
| Matt Masterson
Eight Cook County residents were among the 24 deaths reported by Illinois health officials Thursday as the state nears 8,000 virus-related deaths and more than 227,000 cases of COVID-19.
Struggling Native Oaks Get $40K Boost From Forest Service to Fight Invaders
| Patty Wetli
Oak trees, once abundant in the Chicago region, have been struggling to reproduce in recent decades. A grant from the U.S. Forest Service will help fund a restoration project at Greene Valley in Naperville.
Kenosha Protests Peaceful After Night of Chaos and Shootings
| Associated Press
Groups that had taken to Kenosha’s streets with long guns were nowhere to be seen early Thursday following somber protests and no widespread unrest for the first night since the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Top CPS Official Charged With Lying to FBI
| Matt Masterson
Pedro Soto, a high-ranking Chicago Public Schools official, has been charged with lying to FBI investigators about giving non-public information to a lobbyist on behalf of a bidder seeking a $1 billion custodial services contract.
17-Year-Old Arrested After 2 Killed During Unrest in Kenosha
| Associated Press
A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake.
Local GOP Lawmakers Praise First Lady’s ‘Home Run’ RNC Speech
| Paul Caine
The president’s wife and children present the case for their dad’s reelection. Republican state lawmakers share their thoughts about the Republican National Convention so far.
So You Need to Renew Your Driver’s License …
| Amanda Vinicky
Even before the pandemic, Illinois Secretary of State offices in Chicago saw long lines as people sought Real IDs ahead of a fall deadline. That deadline and others have been pushed back. Here’s what you need to know.
Emmett Till’s Cousin: ‘65 Years Later and Nothing Really Has Changed’
| Evan Garcia
The painful legacy of Emmett Till seems fresh amid this era of civil unrest. We reflect on his death with Ollie Gordon, Till’s cousin, and Chris Benson, who co-authored an autobiography of Mamie Till-Mobley, Till’s mother.
State Sen. Bill Brady on Unrest, COVID-19, Mail-In Voting and RNC
| Marissa Nelson
As part of our special coverage of the Republican National Convention, we speak with Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady.
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