Stories by Angel Idowu

How ‘Mural Moves’ is Using Art to Invest in Communities

A family of artists is encouraging communities to reclaim their neighborhoods through the art of storytelling. We check out their work at 71st Street and Jeffery Boulevard in South Shore.

#ReleaseTheRecords Movement Seeks Release of Police Misconduct Files

Organizers are pushing for the Chicago Police Department to release officer misconduct records, saying publicly available top-level data omits the public’s narrative and prevents them from seeking “narrative justice.”

Chicago’s Annual Chicken Coop Tour Is Still on for 2020. It Just Needs Host Sites

Organizers are moving forward with the outdoor event, which showcases urban livestock and agriculture in its many forms. Prospective hosts have until July 26 to apply to be part of the September 2020 tour, no chickens required.

Report: Streets & Sanitation Inefficient in Clearing Weeds from Vacant Lots

An audit by the Inspector General’s Office found numerous flaws in the Department of Streets and Sanitation’s system of clearing weeds from vacant lots, including the lack of an up-to-date list of city-owned vacant property.

Local Researchers Develop Wearable Sensor to Monitor COVID-19 Symptoms

Worn 24/7, the soft, flexible sensor is being used to monitor cough, shortness of breath and fever in a small number of patients and front-line health care workers. Researchers hope the device can provide more insight about the coronavirus.

July 23, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the July 23, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Opening Day Amid Virus: Masks, Empty Parks, Social Justice

A baseball season that was on the brink before it ever began because of the virus outbreak is set to start Thursday night.

Pritzker Extends Ban on Evictions to Aug. 22; Applications for Rental Assistance Open Aug. 10

The three-week reprieve ordered by Gov. J.B. Pritzker allows state officials time to set up a program to distribute more than $300 million in help to landlords and tenants struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic.

Activists File Suit to Protect Protesters With Federal Agents Coming to Chicago

Attorneys representing Black Lives Matter Chicago and several other groups filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking an injunction to halt the feds from interfering with peaceful protests or making arrests without probable cause.

WTTW News Seeking Freelance Reporters for Weekend Coverage

Interested in contributing to WTTW News? We are seeking experienced, motivated news reporters for weekend coverage of Chicago news and events. Learn more.

Trump Deploys More Federal Agents Under ‘Law-And-Order’ Push

President Donald Trump is expanding the administration’s intervention in local enforcement as he runs for reelection under a “law-and-order” mantle.

Chicago Pastor on Mass Shooting: ‘I Haven’t Seen a Scene Like This’

Chicago police say Tuesday’s mass shooting is a chilling example of gang revenge and retaliation — a cycle that needs to end. They are pleading with witnesses for help, while residents deal with the trauma.

Spotlight Politics: Trump Weighs in on Chicago’s Violence

Gun violence in Chicago is again taking the national spotlight. Our politics team weighs in on President Donald Trump’s plans to send 100 federal agents to the city and more.

‘It’s Affecting Everyday Life’: Community Leaders Respond to Gun Violence

A mass shooting injures at least 15 people outside a funeral home in the city’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. How community leaders are responding to the gun violence crisis.

Attorney to Sheriff Dart: Protect Jail Detainees, Not Your Reputation

The Cook County sheriff says an advocate for detainees is lying about what the jail has done to curb the coronavirus. She responds on “Chicago Tonight.”

Park District Board Says of Douglas Park Name Change: ‘It Will Be Done’

Students leading the movement to change the name of Douglas Park said they were frustrated to have been left out of the board’s meeting Wednesday, and for their broader campaign to have been ignored. 

Trump Sends More Than 100 Federal Agents to Chicago to Fight Violence

President Donald Trump will send “more than 100” federal agents to crack down on surging crime in Chicago — but will not order a Portland-style paramilitary strike force to patrol the city.

July 22, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the July 22, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

A Tour of the ‘Notorious RBG’ Exhibition With Son James Ginsburg

A look at the life and legal work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with family stories from her son.

Some Tenants to Get More Notice Before Evictions Under New Law

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has repeatedly said 30 days’ notice is not nearly enough time for a single person, let alone a family, to find a new place to live and move. Now, long-term renters will get more notice of an eviction without cause.

City Council Tightens Rules That Allow CPD to Impound Cars

The Chicago Police Department can no longer impound cars that may have been used to commit a crime following a unanimous vote Wednesday to rein in the program in an effort to ease the debt burden imposed on low-income residents.

Illinois Officials Warn of Fraud Linked to Federal Pandemic Unemployment Program

State officials announced Wednesday they are investigating a widespread nationwide fraud schemed linked to each state’s federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

1,598 New COVID-19 Cases in Illinois as Officials Again Implore Residents to Wear Masks

State officials on Wednesday reported the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases for the month of July, prompting a stern warning from Illinois’ top doctor: Wear a mask or we’ll move backwards.

Aldermen Reject Lightfoot’s Push to Settle Case That Sought 48 Years’ Worth of Misconduct Files

An effort by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration to settle a lawsuit that sought to force the Chicago Police Department to turn over nearly five decades’ worth of secret files stalled Wednesday amid opposition from progressive aldermen.

Silent Spread of Virus Keeps Scientists Grasping for Clues

As workers return to offices, children prepare to return to schools and those desperate for normalcy again visit malls and restaurants, the emerging science points to a menacing reality: If people who appear healthy can transmit the illness, it may be impossible to contain.

‘Put Your Guns Down,’ Lightfoot, Police Implore After Tuesday’s Mass Shooting

The morning after a shooting injured at least 15 people, police Superintendent David Brown and Mayor Lori Lightfoot pleaded with community members to come forward with information and help break the ongoing cycle of gang violence in Chicago.
 

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