Stories by Heather Cherone
Chicago Voters to Decide Whether to Hike Taxes on Sales of Million-Dollar Homes to Fight Homelessness
| Heather Cherone
Supporters say the plan would generate approximately $100 million annually to address the root causes of homelessness by building new permanent housing that offers wraparound services.
‘Chicago Politics?’ ‘Messy’: Jury Selection Continues For a Second Day in Former Ald. Ed Burke’s Corruption Case
| Matt Masterson
The selection process, which began slowly Monday morning, has continued at a leisurely pace throughout Tuesday. No jurors have yet been officially seated to hear the case.
Three Chicago Companies Have Danced Up a Storm: Review
| Hedy Weiss
During the past couple of weeks, three of Chicago’s most formidable contemporary dance troupes — the Hubbard Street Dance Company, Giordano Dance Chicago and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater — have turned in terrific performances.
Demand for Child RSV Vaccine Is Greatest in History, Health Officials Say. Many Pediatricians Can’t Meet It
| Amanda Vinicky
Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said manufacturers, who are making the immunization for the first time, underestimated demand.
Calumet City Drops Citations Against Daily Southtown Reporter for Asking Too Many Questions
| Associated Press
The reversal occurred days after officials in Calumet City mailed several citations to Hank Sanders, a Daily Southtown reporter whose job includes covering the suburb, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday. The Southtown is owned by the Tribune’s parent company,
Gun Owners in Illinois Are Now Required to Register Assault Weapons. What Happens if They Don’t?
| Amanda Vinicky
Since the Protect Illinois Communities Act became law in early 2023, the sale of numerous types of guns, cartridges and accessories has been illegal in Illinois. People who owned the covered guns prior to the law can keep them but are required to register them with the state.
Debate Continues Ahead of City Council Vote on Paid Leave Ordinance
| Emily Soto
Under the version approved, Chicago employers would have to give workers five sick days and five days of paid time off for any reason.
Nov. 6, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The father of the alleged Highland Park gunman pleads guilty. Jury selection begins in the corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke. And debating the paid leave ordinance.
$16.6B Chicago Budget Set for Final Vote as Johnson’s 1st Spending Plan Sails Through Committees
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first spending plan eliminates a $538 million shortfall and prioritizes new investments in affordable housing, mental health services and environmental justice.
Man Killed, Chicago Police Officer Wounded in South Shore Shooting Monday
| Matt Masterson
According to a statement from the Chicago Police Department, the shooting occurred just before noon Monday in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue.
Under Fire, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Resigns as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Top City Council Ally
| Heather Cherone
Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa said in a statement that he allowed tensions at Thursday's special City Council meeting “to get the better of me and act in a way unbecoming of a leader.”
Chicago Cubs Hire Manager Craig Counsell Away From Milwaukee Brewers in Surprising Move
| Associated Press
The Chicago Cubs hired manager Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee on Monday in a surprising move, replacing David Ross after the team slipped out of a playoff spot in the last part of the season.
Jury Selection Begins in Corruption Trial of Former Ald. Ed Burke
| Heather Cherone
Former Ald. Ed Burke entered the Dirksen United States Courthouse for the first time since June 2019 accompanied by his wife, former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Burke, and a phalanx of attorneys.
Measure Aimed at Curbing Illegal Early Morning Chicago Trash Pickup Advances
| Nick Blumberg
For many Chicagoans, the quiet pre-dawn hours are regularly interrupted by the sound of noisy — and illegal — early morning pickups by private garbage hauling companies. A proposed ordinance aims to fix that.
Another Ex-Player Alleges Blackhawks’ Former Video Coach Sexually Assaulted Him in 2009-10
| Associated Press
One of the player’s “Black Aces” teammates was Kyle Beach, who reached a settlement with the Blackhawks in December 2021 after alleging he was sexually assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich. The lawsuit filed last week raises similar allegations against Aldric.
Father of Alleged Highland Park Gunman Pleads Guilty to Reckless Conduct Charges as Trial Was Set to Begin, Gets 60 Days in Prison
| Matt Masterson
Just as proceedings were set to begin, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart announced that Robert Crimo Jr. had agreed to plead guilty to seven Class A misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct, rather than the seven felony charges he had faced.
Aurora Officials Gave Long-Delinquent Aviation Company a Sweetheart Deal, Lawsuit Claims — Ahead of Sale to Company Now Backing Aurora’s Mayor
| Nick Blumberg
A federal lawsuit awaiting a judge’s ruling says city of Aurora terms for Revv Aviation illegally disadvantage one of their competitors at the Aurora Municipal Airport. Revv’s owners have donated to Mayor Richard Irvin’s campaign fund and hosted a fundraiser for him.
Hospital Emergency Departments Saw Firearm Deaths, Injuries in Children Double During COVID-19 Pandemic: Study
| Eunice Alpasan
The study compares firearm injury emergency department visits for kids at nine urban hospitals across the U.S. before and during the pandemic.
Nearly 5 Years After FBI Raid of City Hall, Former Ald. Ed Burke Finally Faces the Jury Box
| Heather Cherone
Former Ald. Ed Burke, once the most powerful member of the City Council, is scheduled to go on trial starting on Monday at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on 14 charges of bribery, extortion and racketeering — charges that are usually brought against members of the mob or street gangs.
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Illinois’ Assault Weapons Ban
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois’ nearly year-old ban on guns deemed assault weapons can stand, per a decision issued Friday by a federal appeals court. Still, other legal challenges could be ahead.
Week in Review: Seeking Support for Migrants; Chicago Elected School Board Map
| Blair Paddock
Migrants left out in the cold as Chicago officials beg Washington for more money. And previewing the historic corruption trial of former longtime alderperson Ed Burke.
Calumet City Tickets Reporter for Asking Too Many Questions, in Latest First Amendment Dustup
| Associated Press
Hank Sanders reported in an Oct. 20 story that consultants told Calumet City administrators the city’s stormwater infrastructure was in poor condition before flooding wrought by record September rains. Officials say Sanders continued to call and email city employees, drawing complaints including from Mayor Thaddeus Jones.
Chicago Skating Collective Focuses on Inclusivity by Building Bonds, Creating Community
| Blair Paddock
“They make an environment where it’s easy to be a beginner, it’s easy to not know people and find someone to talk to and work on a trick together,” longtime skateboarder Randi Rogers said of froSkate, a Chicago collective centered around women, people of color and queer people.
Don’t Forget to Set Clocks Back an Hour This Weekend
| Patty Wetli
Clocks roll back to standard time at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Shootings, Homicides in Chicago Continue Downward Trend in 2023 Compared to Recent Years: Police
| Matt Masterson
With two months left in 2023, Chicago remains on pace for double-digit percentage declines in the number of homicides and shootings recorded in the city as violence crime rates return to pre-pandemic levels.
Father of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Heads to Trial on Charges He Recklessly Helped Son Obtain Firearms
| Matt Masterson
The bench trial of Robert Crimo Jr. is set to begin Monday in Lake County, more than 16 months after his son — Robert Crimo III — allegedly killed seven people and wounded dozens more during the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.
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