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‘ComEd Four’ Attorneys Grill Government’s Star Witness on Lobbying Tactics, Madigan’s Influence

Fidel Marquez, the government’s witness, continued testifying for the fourth day, now under cross examination from defense attorneys seeking to show how their clients’ actions were above board when they tried to garner Madigan’s support on legislation in Springfield.

March 29, 2023 - Full Show

Handicapping the mayor’s race six days away from the election. Priorities of the business community for the next mayor. What the FDA’s over-the-counter approval of Narcan means. And Chicago’s transit system as … art.

Vallas, Johnson Begin Closing Arguments in Race for Chicago Mayor as Focus Turns to Mail Voting

Polls show Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner, and Paul Vallas, the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, running neck and neck with a large portion of voters undecided.

Beyond Noise: Audio-Visual Artist Finds Inspiration in Chicago’s Transit

Artist Rachel Steele mixes sounds she recorded live on public transit and out in neighborhoods with musical instruments reflective of the city’s different cultures. Her show, "Soundpost: Remixing Transit," is on display at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this Thursday.

Public Safety a Top Issue for Chicago Business Leaders in Mayor’s Race

The Chicago business community has been battered a bit over the past few years — from COVID-19 closures to fleeing corporate headquarters. For many business leaders, public safety weighs heavily in the conversation about Chicago’s business future.

FDA Approves Over-The-Counter Narcan. Here’s What it Means

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved selling the leading version of naloxone without a prescription, setting the overdose-reversing drug on course to become the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter.

The ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’ is Headed to the Moon. Check Out This 3D-Printed Space House

The Rosenberg Moon Habitat made by Rockford-based Ingersoll Machine Tools has been crowned the winner of Illinois’ 2023 Makers Madness contest.

Dangerous Storms, Tornadoes May Target Midwest, South

A seemingly relentless series of severe storms, likely with deadly tornadoes, are forecast to rip across parts of America’s Midwest and South over the next couple weeks, especially Friday, meteorologists said.

Chicago Chefs, Restaurants Nab James Beard Nominations

Winners will be announced June 5 at the Lyric Opera.

March 28, 2023 - Full Show

City Council members act quickly to cement some of their power before the next mayor comes in. Where the candidates stand on education. And the latest on a suburban bakery harassed for drag shows.

Chicago’s Next Mayor Faces Pressing Public Education Issues

The next mayor will face a number of education hurdles, including the transition to an elected school board, a new teachers union contract, securing school funding and the end of a moratorium on school closures.

How a West Side Congregation is Helping Migrants Bused to Chicago From the Border

It’s been more than six months since hundreds of migrants arrived in buses from the Texas border. At Grace and Peace Church in North Austin, a congregation is helping asylum seekers through their journeys.

Push to Make Chicago City Council More Independent Before New Mayor Takes Office Faces Key Vote

The proposal – which has not yet been debated in public – could get a final vote on Thursday as part of supporters’ push for a quick vote before the runoff between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson set for April 4.

Owner of Bakery Targeted for Hosting Drag Shows Plans to Stay Open in a New Location

UpRising Bakery and Cafe owner Corinna Sac plans to relocate her business after months of harassment, protests and threats. The attacks came after the cafe announced plans last July to hold two family-friendly drag shows as part of an event series.

Environmental Issues Take Center Stage at Mayoral Forum Held in Heart of Chicago’s Overburdened Communities

The only violence people wanted to hear about was the harm being done to their health due to decades of pollution from surrounding industries.

Mayoral candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas made their case to voters at a packed forum held in Pilsen, and the words “crime” and “police” didn't come up once.

‘If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It’: Prosecution’s Star Witness Continues Testimony in ‘ComEd Four’ Trial

Fidel Marquez, the government’s star witness in the “ComEd Four” bribery trial, continued his testimony for a second day Tuesday as he detailed how former utility officials allegedly conspired to corruptly influence Michael Madigan.

Lightfoot Picks 3 Developments to Launch Effort to Transform Chicago’s Financial District

The three proposals would invest $550 million in the Loop to build 1,059 apartments in what is now mostly empty office space, including 317 units set aside for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans as part of an effort to reduce segregation in Chicago in return for $188 million in city subsidies, officials said.

‘Alan Turing’ Opera Captures the Tortured Private Life of a British Genius

Alan Turing was a genius — a brilliant English mathematician and logician who is renowned for his invaluable work as a codebreaker during World War II. But he also was a tragic figure, driven to an early death by chemical castration (and possibly by suicide) because of his homosexuality, which during his lifetime, was treated as a crime.

Evanston City Council Votes to Expand Reparations Program to Include Direct Cash Payments

On Monday night, the Evanston City Council approved a cash option to its Housing Restorative Program. Now, the program includes direct cash benefits for those who qualify.

Political Fund Backed by Charter School Network Ramps Up Spending to Defeat Johnson, Boost City Council Picks

The independent expenditure funded by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, paid for $258,000 in cable television advertisements on March 16 and $359,000 in digital advertising on March 15, records show. 

March 27, 2023 - Full Show

City officials weigh solutions to Chicago’s lead-paint problem. A key witness pulls back the curtain on alleged bribery in the “ComEd Four” trial. What the mayoral candidates plan to do about transit issues.

Star Witness Takes the Stand in ComEd Trial, Testifies About Efforts to Influence Michael Madigan

ComEd’s lobbying team got the go-ahead in 2018 to kill the Illinois attorney general’s proposal to give low-income consumers a break on their electric bills with the blessing of her father, Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan, according to a witness. 

Lead Paint Is Still a Problem in Chicago Apartments, but Expanded Screening Is a Costly Proposition

Recently, a young child was poisoned in his Belmont-Cragin apartment and now faces a host of health problems. It’s spurred a debate on whether the city can do more to fix the problem before another child is affected. 

Public Transit Advocates Outline System’s Pressure Points Ahead of Chicago Mayoral Election

Buses that never show up and unreliable train travel times. Filling a CTA staffing shortfall. And a push for better bike safety. Those are just a few of the transit topics on the minds of voters

Nashville School Shooter Had Drawn Maps, Done Surveillance Before Killing 3 Children and 3 Adults

The suspect also died after being shot by police following the violence at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. 

Suburban Business Owner Charged With Conspiring to Bribe Cook County Official

Alex Nitchoff, 56, of Lemont, was charged with one count of conspiracy to bribe a public official and two counts of using a facility in interstate commerce in order to facilitate the acts of bribery, federal authorities announced Monday.
 

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