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Federal Courts in Chicago in Triage Mode as Shutdown Trudges On
| Eddie Arruza
The chief judge of the Northern District of Illinois speaks out on the effect the shutdown is having on the federal courts.
Photographer Dawoud Bey Reimagines Journey on Underground Railroad
| Marc Vitali
In a 1967 speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said the Underground Railroad “symbolized hope when freedom was almost an impossible dream.” Chicago photographer Dawoud Bey talks about his new exhibition, “Night Coming Tenderly, Black.”
What You Should Know About the 2020 Census
| Tonia Hill
The next U.S. census will take place April 1, 2020. How the data is collected, what it’s used for and the latest on the controversial citizenship question.
Senate to Vote Thursday on Dueling Bills to End Government Shutdown
| Alexandra Silets
Yamiche Alcindor of the “PBS NewsHour” brings us the latest on the longest partial federal government shutdown in U.S. history, now in its second month.
‘Let the People See’ Dives Deep into Murder of Emmett Till
| WTTW News
A new book takes a close look at the murder of Emmett Till, and suggests that our memories of the horrific crime can sometimes deceive us.
Authors Look to Other Cities to Chart a ‘New Chicago Way’
| Nick Blumberg
The challenges facing Chicago are problems with clear solutions. So argue the authors of a new book that charts a path for government reforms in the city.
Judge Limits Access to R. Kelly’s Chicago Recording Studio
| Associated Press
The ruling comes a week after Chicago building inspectors found code violations at the R&B star’s recording studio on the city’s Near West Side during a court-ordered inspection.
Kari Steele Elected as New President at MWRD
| Alex Ruppenthal
New MWRD President Kari Steele is the only chemist on the organization’s nine-member board. She was re-elected in November to a second term as commissioner.
WWCI Names George Preston WFMT Vice President, General Manager
| Kristen Thometz
George Preston will take over as vice president and general manager of WFMT starting March 1. WWCI President and CEO Sandra Cordova Micek says Preston is “uniquely qualified” for the position.
Police Seek Man Suspected in Fatal Shooting at Orland Park Mall
| Associated Press
Orland Park Police identified the suspect as 19-year-old parolee Jakharr Williams of University Park. The department said that Williams, who fled after the shooting and has not been arrested, should be considered armed and dangerous.
Puppet Theater Festival Explodes the Boundaries of Classic Art Form
| Hedy Weiss
A sampling of a trio of shows conveyed a strong sense that puppets have the power to take on the most vivid existences, even as their human puppeteers project powerful profiles of their own.
Federal Employees in Chicago Turn to Food Pantries for Help
| Eddie Arruza
A growing number of federal workers in Chicago are turning to food pantries as the government shutdown enters its second month.
A Closer Look at O’Hare Expansion Proposals
| Alexandra Silets
Making sense of the proposals in the O’Hare design competition with the Chicago Tribune’s architecture critic Blair Kamin.
WTTW Launches Voters’ Guide to the Chicago Election
| WTTW News
Early voting is scheduled to being next week for Chicago’s municipal election on Feb. 26. If you haven’t done your homework yet, fear not: our 2019 Chicago Voters’ Guide is now available.
Activists, Local Business Leaders Push Back Against Lincoln Yards
| Paul Caine
A master plan for the $6 billion Lincoln Yards development is released. The developer says it has taken community concerns to heart, but critics say the plan is being pushed too fast.
Van Dyke Sentence a Complicated ‘Victory’ for McDonald Family
| Nicole Cardos
The sentencing of Jason Van Dyke raises questions about criminal justice and police reform in Chicago and beyond. The Rev. Marvin Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s great-uncle, weighs in.
Laquan McDonald and the Future of Police Reform in Chicago
| Evan Garcia
In the wake of two historic cases, a discussion with two central figures in the story of the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald: journalist Jamie Kalven and former police union president Dean Angelo.
Shark Remains Discovered in Rock That Contained Sue the T. Rex
| Alex Ruppenthal
Tiny fossilized teeth found in sediment that surrounded Sue the T. Rex have led to the classification of a new shark species.
Officials: Chicago Teen Birth Rate Still Declining
| Kristen Thometz
The city’s teen birth rate has dropped 70 percent since 2000, according to city officials, but African-American and Latina teens are more than five times as likely to give birth than their white peers.
Evanston School District Reaches Settlement With Students Who Alleged Sex Abuse
| Matt Masterson
Evanston Township High School district officials have reached an agreement with four former students who claimed they were sexually abused decades ago by a former drama teacher.
Zoe Mikva, Educator and Activist, Dies at 90
| Kristen Thometz
Along with her husband, the late Abner Mikva, Zorita “Zoe” Mikva created the Mikva Challenge more than 20 years ago. She died Saturday at the age of 90.
Reports: Sony Drops R. Kelly After Furor Over Allegations
| Associated Press
The announcement comes two weeks after the popular documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” drew fresh attention to the sex abuse allegations against R. Kelly, which have dogged him most of his career.
Tall Buildings, More Park Space in $6 Billion Lincoln Yards Master Plan
| Paris Schutz
Sterling Bay calls the project a “once in a lifetime opportunity to transform a former industrial site into a vibrant river front community.” But at least one alderman says the deal amounts to an unprecedented public giveaway to a private developer.
The Week in Review: Jason Van Dyke Sentence, Cover-Up Acquittal
| Alexandra Silets
The highly anticipated sentencing of Jason Van Dyke – and a ruling on the fate of three other Chicago cops in a related case stemming from the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald.
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