Stories by Marc Vitali
Chicago Theater Recommendations from Hedy Weiss
| Marc Vitali
Theater critic Hedy Weiss gives us her take on a Tennessee Williams classic, an Elvis musical full of glitz and hits and more on Chicago-area stages.
‘Historic’ Deal Creates Chicago’s Only Public Law School
| Alexandra Silets
The University of Illinois at Chicago is merging with the John Marshall Law School, creating the first and only public law school in Chicago.
Family Made Tortillas and Pitas Round Out Chicago’s Food Culture
| Erica Gunderson
They’re round, flat and hold some of your favorite fillings. We visit the Chicago-area factories where tortillas and pitas are made.
Study: Resting in Green Space Sharpens Focus – If You Stay Offline
| Kristen Thometz
Next time you step outside to mentally recharge, leave your phone at your desk. A new study finds using electronics outdoors counteracts nature’s restorative properties.
CPS to Revise Student Suspension, Bullying Guidelines
| Matt Masterson
The Board of Education this week will vote on updates to its student code of conduct policy in an effort to promote equitable discipline practices throughout the school district.
In ‘Pamplona,’ Stacy Keach Runs with Hemingway and the Matadors
| Hedy Weiss
A little more than a year after he suffered “a mild heart attack” midway through his opening night performance in “Pamplona,” Stacy Keach is in top form.
Illinois Sues EPA Over Pruitt’s Loophole for ‘Super Polluting’ Trucks
| Alex Ruppenthal
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has joined her counterparts in 14 states in suing the EPA over its suspension of a rule that limits the number of highly polluting trucks on the nation's roads.
The Week in Review: Public Outcry Over Police-Involved Shooting
| Evan Garcia
The fatal shooting of a South Shore barber sparks outrage and protests. Could the Trump-Putin summit reshape the local political landscape? And Chance the Rapper is now an emerging media mogul.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: NFL Policy and Miami Dolphins
| Evan Garcia
Eddie Arruza and guests discuss the latest developments in the NFL’s national anthem policy.
Chicago Advocates Call Out McDonald’s for Treatment of Chickens
| Alex Ruppenthal
Animal welfare advocates will gather next week at McDonald's new West Loop headquarters to present a petition with more than 200,000 signatures calling on the company to improve conditions for chickens in its supply chain.
Northwestern Rocket Launches Sunday to Explore ‘Star Stuff’
| Alex Ruppenthal
Scientists are preparing to launch a rocket in New Mexico that’s equipped with a new high-powered device that will capture unprecedented images of astronomical objects.
243 Cases of Foodborne Illness Reported in Illinois
| Kristen Thometz
A new outbreak this week of an intestinal illness has prompted an expanded investigation of possible sources of contamination.
Viewer Feedback: ‘It’s Not Exactly Niagara Falls, Is It?’
| WTTW News
Chicago’s last waterfall is about to be demolished. Viewers weigh in on that story.
Community Pushback to $5 Billion Lincoln Yards Proposal
| Paris Schutz
Community reaction comes in for the new Lincoln Yards proposal slated to be a city-within-a-city.
Black Sailors in Chicago Chart a New Course
| Jay Shefsky
Sailing is a mostly white, male sport. On the eve of the Race to Mackinac, we visit one crew that bucks both of those trends.
As Deadline Approaches, Attorneys Offer Insight on Immigrant Family Reunification
| Nick Blumberg
The Trump administration can’t say whether it will meet a July 26 deadline to reunite 2,500 migrant children with their parents.
Ald. Pawar Drives Initiative to Test Universal Basic Income in Chicago
| Nicole Cardos
A new resolution to bring universal basic income to Chicago may soon be making its way to City Council for a vote.
Chicago Tribune Food Critic Phil Vettel Comes Out of the Shadows
| Alexandra Silets
After 29 years of trying to stay anonymous, the Chicago Tribune’s restaurant critic has decided to reveal his face.
Chicago Remembers 1968 Special Olympics with Anniversary Celebration
| Nicole Cardos
The Special Olympics celebrates 50 years. How it all began – right here in Chicago.
Sheriff Tom Dart Launches Podcast About Opioid Epidemic
| Kristen Thometz
“This crisis touches the lives of so many – almost everyone knows someone struggling with an opioid addiction,” said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. “I hope this podcast opens eyes and minds to how easily an opioid addiction can happen and how hard it can be to stop.”
Elvis Makes a Faustian Bargain in ‘Heartbreak Hotel’
| Hedy Weiss
Too often this Elvis Presley-focused prequel to “Million Dollar Quartet” homes in on material that might have been cut from that earlier show. But on the plus side, it infuses the story with much that was omitted from “Quartet.”
How Transparent and Accountable Are Chicago, Cook County Governments?
| Amanda Vinicky
Chicago and Cook County have sometimes-spotty reputations when it comes to how they run government operations. But they have taken steps to clean up their acts.
Luxury Property Sales Booming in Chicago, But So Are Foreclosures
| Alexandra Silets
Chicago is still the second city when it comes to foreclosures, but at the other end of the real estate spectrum, luxury property sales are booming.
Task Force Aims to Reduce Number of Women in Illinois Prisons
| Paul Caine
One hundred women – including former inmates, corrections officials, judges and prosecutors – are calling for a 50-percent reduction in the number of women behind bars in Illinois. We speak with Deanne Benos, who is leading the initiative.
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