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How Fritz Kaegi Plans to Transform the Cook County Assessor’s Office
| Nicole Cardos
The new Cook County assessor has vowed to bring fairness, transparency, ethics and modernization to the office. Fritz Kaegi joins us to discuss his 100-day plan and more.
Pope Urges US Bishops to Heal Divisions, Repair Trust
| Associated Press
Pope Francis is encouraging U.S. bishops meeting near Chicago to unify as the Roman Catholic church deals with a “crisis of credibility” stemming from the clergy sex abuse scandal.
UIC Researchers Develop Method to Detect ALS
| Kristen Thometz
There is no definitive test to diagnosis the progressive neurodegenerative disease. But that could change, thanks to new research that was able to accurately detect ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases using graphene.
Group Forecasts Statewide Impact of EPA’s Controversial Mercury Plan
| Alex Ruppenthal
The advocacy group Moms Clean Air Force warns that a Trump administration proposal to weaken standards for emissions of toxic mercury would harm residents and wildlife across Illinois.
Verdict Delayed for Second Time in Laquan McDonald Conspiracy Trial
| Matt Masterson
A Cook County judge has already delayed her finding once in the unprecedented trial of three Chicago police officers. The new verdict date is Jan. 17 – a day before the sentencing of former Officer Jason Van Dyke.
COPA Employee Accused of Sending Workplace Email Threat
| Matt Masterson
Chicago police descended on COPA’s office last Friday following a report of an emailed threat. But COPA officials now say that threat was “false” and the sender has been identified as an agency employee.
CPS Watchdog: Former Music Director Mismanaged $13K in Funds
| Matt Masterson
The school district’s inspector general found the music director “willfully violated” CPS fundraising guidelines. That’s just one of the investigations highlighted in the watchdog’s just-released annual report.
As Catholic Bishops Meet, Sexual Abuse Victims Implore Pope for Change
| Evan Garcia
Activists call on Pope Francis to remove Cardinal Blase Cupich from his role in organizing a Vatican conference on sex abuse. We discuss the story with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Robert Herguth.
Spotlight Politics: Chicago Alderman in Jail
| Paris Schutz
Ald. Ricardo Munoz is facing domestic abuse charges, and the field of candidates for Chicago mayor is narrowing. Political reporters Paris Schutz and Amanda Vinicky have those stories and more in this week’s roundtable.
New Book Examines Past, Present and Future of Free Speech in U.S.
| Nicole Cardos
How did we get the free speech protections we enjoy today, and where might they head in the future? A new book uncovers that – and more.
Farthest Object Ever Explored Comes into View on New Year’s Day
| Eddie Arruza
Ultima Thule, the relatively tiny object in the outer solar system, is now the farthest cosmic body to be reached by humans. We hear from the lead scientist behind the farthest flyby ever.
New Nonprofit Gives Old Furniture – and People – Second Chances
| Erica Gunderson
Meet the founders of the Chicago Furniture Bank, which offers people in need an apartment’s worth of gently used furniture, including beds for each family member, for just $50.
The Weird and Fanciful Art of the Hairy Who
| Marc Vitali
A show at the Art Institute explores the work of a group of Chicago artists who made a strong impression on the art world in the 1960s.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Jan. 3-6
| Kristen Thometz
Pet portraits, model trains, fermented tea and a murder mystery usher in the first weekend of 2019. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
New Year Begins With Chicago Police Officer Committing Suicide
| Amanda Vinicky
The Chicago Police Department has taken steps to combat low morale and suicide among its officers, but some are calling for more to be done.
Ask Geoffrey: What Happened to ‘World’s Greatest Newspaper’?
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer has some newspaper history hot off of yesteryear’s presses, and dives deep into the fishy story of storm drain covers in this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey.
Police: Homicides in Chicago Down by Nearly 100 in 2018
| Associated Press
Preliminary numbers indicate that homicides in Chicago fell last year, though the total again eclipses the number of homicides in Los Angeles and New York combined, according to data released Tuesday.
Study: Mediterranean Diet Linked to Better Cognition in Older Adults
| Kristen Thometz
A new study links higher levels of key nutrients associated with the Mediterranean diet to more efficient brain connectivity and performance on cognitive tests in older adults.
CPS Space Utilization Data Shows More Underutilized Schools
| Matt Masterson
Nearly 250 Chicago schools have been labelled “underutilized,” according to district data. That total exceeds the number of schools CPS says are running efficiently.
Advocates: EPA Plan to Weaken Mercury Rule Threatens Great Lakes Fish
| Alex Ruppenthal
The Trump administration’s plan to roll back limits on toxic mercury pollution will harm Great Lakes fish – and potentially those who eat them, advocates say.
Ja’Mal Green Drops Out of Mayor’s Race
| Nicole Cardos
Activist and entrepreneur Ja’Mal Green has dropped out of the race to become Chicago’s next mayor. His departure brings to 17 the number of candidates vying for the seat.
Mother’s Murder Drives Chicago Cop to Help Domestic Violence Victims
| Kristen Thometz
The Chicago Police Department fields about 500 domestic violence calls every day. One police officer tries to help victims by sharing his own experiences. “I know what it’s like to need help and not knowing who can help me,” said Officer Gino Garcia.
Bears Keep Vikings Out of Playoffs with 24-10 Win
| Associated Press
Fueled by that relentless defense and 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns by Jordan Howard, the Bears beat the Vikings 24-10 on Sunday for their first sweep of Minnesota since 2011.
Origin of Virus That Hobbled Newspapers Still Unclear
| Associated Press
The origins of a suspected computer attack that disrupted the Los Angeles Times and Tribune Publishing newspapers remained unclear Sunday after causing delivery delays.
Illinois Issues Proposed Rules for Growing Industrial Hemp
| Alex Ruppenthal
Farmers and others across the state are preparing to grow and process a new crop as Illinois finalizes regulations for industrial hemp.
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