Stories by Heather Cherone
Larry Snelling Confirmed by Chicago City Council as New Top Cop
| Heather Cherone
Mayor Brandon Johnson picked Larry Snelling to implement Johnson’s pledge to fight crime in Chicago with a holistic approach that focuses on the root causes of violence.
Get Ready to Stomp and Squash: Illinois’ First Infestation of Dreaded Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed in Chicago
| Patty Wetli
The insect was found in the Fuller Park neighborhood of Chicago, according to a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Midway Airport to Open Its Own Fee-Based Lounge for Travelers Next Fall
| Eunice Alpasan
The lounge will be accessible to travelers who buy an airport lounge membership or day pass. It is expected to open next fall.
New Recall: Hyundai and Kia Say 3.3 Million Vehicle Owners Should Park Outside Due to Risk of Fire
| CNN
The vehicles addressed in this particular recall could develop an internal fluid leak in the anti-lock brake module. This could result in a short circuit leading to overheating and, possibly, a fire, according to the NHTSA.
Illinois House Speaker Introduces Bill to Allow Legislative Staff to Unionize
| Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois
The bill comes in response to a monthslong effort by Democratic staff in House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office to unionize and negotiate wages, hours and other working conditions.
Chicago Community Activist, Ex-Board of Education Member Joyce Chapman Dies
| Matt Masterson
“Chicago will miss her fighting spirit and her public service,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “I pray for her family during this trying time and send my deepest condolences to her friends, colleagues and loved ones.”
Chicago Police Board Rejects Union’s Call to Move Some Officer Disciplinary Cases to Arbitration
| Matt Masterson
The board on Tuesday rejected a motion brought by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, which sought to move 22 disciplinary cases from the board to an independent arbitrator, following a summer ruling that opened the door for such a shift.
At Orchestra Hall: The Latest Examples of Maestro Muti’s Magic and the CSO’s Brilliance
| Hedy Weiss
Something truly magical (and magnificent) happens when Maestro Riccardo Muti arrives on the podium to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The latest proof was on display in two different concerts this past Thursday and Saturday evening.
Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth Join Calls for New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez to Resign
| Matt Masterson
Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth this week have added their voices to the growing number of calls seeking the ouster of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who’s now facing federal charges in a wide-ranging corruption case.
With Broadway Hopes, New Betty Boop Stage Musical Premiering in Chicago Announces Star
| Associated Press
Jasmine Amy Rogers will star in “BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical” making its debut this fall in Chicago with hopes that it can charm itself to Broadway. It first plays Broadway In Chicago from Nov. 19-Dec. 24.
A Canon Injury and the Strange Story Behind an 1858 Abraham Lincoln Photo Just Donated to His Springfield Museum
| Associated Press
The 1858 ambrotype was created during the future nation-saving Civil War president’s ascendancy, an image which the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has added to its collection.
The Physical and Mental Toll of Living With Long COVID: ‘I Feel Like We’ve Been Abandoned and Forgotten’
| Eunice Alpasan
Amid many unanswered questions and the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration earlier this year, long COVID patients remain in limbo as they continue to manage and live with their symptoms.
Sept. 26, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The local impact of the auto worker strike. A judge says an alderman violated the First Amendment — the price he might have to pay. And the host of PBS’ “America Outdoors” on exploring nature.
President Joe Biden Makes Unprecedented Visit to Auto Workers Picket Line, Tells Union to ‘Stick With It’
| Associated Press
Experts in presidential and U.S. labor history say they cannot recall an instance when a sitting president has joined an ongoing strike, even during the tenures of the more ardent pro-union presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
Connecting People and Places in PBS Series ‘America Outdoors’
| Erica Gunderson
In the PBS series “America Outdoors,” host Baratunde Thurston explores our country’s relationship to its natural places.
Health Committee Agrees to Form Working Group to Reopen Chicago’s Public Mental Health Clinics, Expand 911 Alternate Response
| Heather Cherone
The measure, introduced by Mayor Brandon Johnson and Health Committee Chair Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, is set for a final vote by the full City Council on Oct. 4.
In Joint Effort, Illinois Election Authorities Try to Tamp Down Misinformation Ahead or 2024 Races
| Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois
Before the next presidential primary elections in Illinois, county clerks and other local election authorities are asking for the public’s help in stopping misinformation campaigns before they get started.
Charges Dropped Against Chicago Man Who Spent Decades Behind Bars on Wrongful Murder Conviction
| Matt Masterson
The murder charges were dismissed against 53-year-old Francisco Benitez weeks after he was released from custody following a new bail hearing that came nearly 34 years after he was first imprisoned.
Amazon Sued by FTC and 17 States Over Allegations It Inflates Online Prices and Overcharges Sellers
| Associated Press
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, is the result of a years-long investigation into Amazon’s businesses and one of the most significant legal challenges brought against the company in its nearly 30-year history.
Illegal Building Still Standing in Humboldt Park. Community Meeting Scheduled To Discuss Its Future
| Patty Wetli
More than a year after the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture began construction on a non-permitted facility in historic Humboldt Park, a community meeting has been scheduled to discuss the project's status and explore future possibilities for the structure.
Sept. 25, 2023 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Striking writers could be heading back to work after months on the picket lines. Easing fears for neighbors near the Obama Center. And 60 years since the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
Writers Guild and Hollywood Studios Reach Tentative Agreement to End Strike. No Deal Yet for Actors
| Associated Press
The Writers Guild of America announced the deal in a joint statement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies in negotiations.
Federal Judge: Ald. Jim Gardiner Violated First Amendment by Blocking Critics from Official Facebook Page
| Heather Cherone
“The record is clear that Gardiner engaged in both content-based and speaker-based restrictions on his Facebook page, according to the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. The Court thus finds Gardiner in violation of the First Amendment.”
Entering the 2024 Primary Election Season: A ‘Latino Voices’ Community Conversation
| Acacia Hernandez
As Americans enter the primary election season, Latino voters will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the 2024 election.
Applications Open for Cook County Residents Interested in Free Home Solar Panels
| WTTW News
Under the “Sun and Save” program, solar photovoltaic systems will be supplied and installed at no cost for income-qualified county residents.
Few Have Seen It, Even Fewer Have Played It. The Story Behind Michael Jordan’s Ultra-Private Golf Course
| CNN
The Grove XXIII – a nod to his signature No. 23 jersey — is Jordan’s very own golf paradise, a private club tucked away on the outskirts of Hobe Sound, Florida. Ultra-exclusive, few have seen it, and even fewer have played it.
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