Stories by Associated Press
Wisconsin Supreme Court, Florida Congressional Elections Provide Early Warning Signs to Trump and Republicans
| Associated Press
In the marquee race for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, the conservative judge endorsed by Trump and backed by Musk and his groups to the tune of $21 million lost by a significant margin in a state Trump won in November.
2-Term Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin Concedes to Challenger John Laesch
| Nick Blumberg
Irvin, who was first elected as mayor in 2017, garnered 47.5% of the vote to Laesch’s 52.5%, according to the unofficial results available late Tuesday night.
Cory Booker Sets a Record With Marathon Senate Speech. Will It Rally Anti-Trump Resistance?
| Associated Press
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker took to the Senate floor on Monday evening, saying he would remain there as long as he was “physically able.” More than 24 hours later, the 55-year-old senator, a former football tight end, was still going.
April 1, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The Chicago Teachers Union reaches a tentative contract deal — we explore what’s in it. And Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on her decision to run for a fifth term.
Chicago Teachers Have a Tentative Contract Agreement. From Pay Raises to Class Sizes, Here’s What It Includes
| Matt Masterson
CTU leaders called the four-year deal a “historic achievement” that represents the fulfillment of promises Mayor Brandon Johnson made to transform CPS into a school district that offers a well-rounded education to every Chicago child and security to its employees.
Ronan Farrow on Journalism, Diplomacy and New Project ‘Not a Very Good Murderer’
| Nick Blumberg
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Ronan Farrow has uncovered stories of sexual harassment and assault, chronicled the decline of America’s soft power and explored how powerful people try to track and manipulate journalists.
Retirement Not in Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s Lexicon
| Paul Caine
“If I didn’t do this job, I’d pick another one and it wouldn’t be as interesting or challenging or as impactful,” said Toni Preckwinkle, who has led Cook County since 2010.
Chicago Drivers With Eligible Ticket Debt Can Have Late Fees Waived Under New Program
| Eunice Alpasan
Chicago drivers with eligible ticket debt will be able to pay off their debt in the next three months without incurring any late penalties, interest or additional fees as part of a new program launched Tuesday by the mayor’s office.
As Johnson Continues to Resist Calls for Expanded Downtown Curfew, Ban on Teens in Millennium Park Remains
| Heather Cherone
“Working to relocate or displace the problem is not how we solve the problem,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “Of course, we’re going to continue to make sure that there are accountability mechanisms in place to keep people safe.”
Illinois Secretary of State Unveils New ‘Flagship’ DMV Location in Loop
| Eunice Alpasan
The center, at 24,000 square feet, is nearly five times the size of the office’s former Chicago Central DMV on LaSalle Street, which closed Friday and often experienced long lines and wait times because of its small size, according to a news release.
Pritzker Moves to Slash Cover Crop Funds Despite Rising Demand
| Investigate Midwest
Six years ago, Illinois became the second state in the nation to offer subsidies to farmers for planting cover crops in the fall, an effort to reverse its status as one of the worst states for agriculture runoff.
Students, Women in Trades Advocate for More Career and Technical Education
| Medill Illinois News Bureau
A recent study highlighted continued barriers to entry into the trades, including unpaid internships and minority-based disparities, such as low participation from female and non-white apprentices in certain fields.
US Justice Department to Seek the Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione, Attorney General Announces
| CNN
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing an insurance company CEO.
Layoffs Begin at US Health Agencies Responsible for Research, Tracking Disease and Regulating Food
| Associated Press
Employees across the massive U.S. Health and Human Services Department began receiving notices of dismissal on Tuesday in an overhaul ultimately expected to lay off up to 10,000 people.
Warning Notices Begin for 16 New Speed Cameras Near Chicago Schools and Parks. Here’s Where They Are
| Eunice Alpasan
After a 30-day warning period without fines and a 14-day blackout period, citations will begin being issued to the registered owners of vehicles going over the speed limit by six miles per hour or more.
Europe Warns Donald Trump: We Have ‘a Strong Plan’ for Retaliation Against Tariffs Ahead of Planned Announcement
| CNN
For weeks, Trump has promoted April 2 as “Liberation Day” in America, when a number of hefty tariffs will be unveiled to implement his administration’s radical economic agenda. The United States has already announced a sharp increase in tariffs on all imports of steel, aluminum and cars.
In Recruiting Battle, Illinois Lawmakers Consider Giving College Athletes a Tax Break on NIL Earnings
| Associated Press
Lawmakers see the legislation they are proposing as a way to level the hyper-competitive recruiting field if not gain an advantage. Their universities are going against schools from Florida, Tennessee and Texas, states where income is not taxed.
Carson Kelly Becomes 1st Chicago Cubs Player to Hit for the Cycle in 32 Years
| Associated Press
Carson Kelly homered in the fourth inning, had a two-run single in the fifth, doubled and walked in the sixth, and tripled in the eighth. The previous Cubs player to hit for the cycle was Mark Grace on May 9, 1993, against San Diego — before Kelly was even born in 1994.
March 31, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
The Trump administration is blocking millions in funding for Illinois health programs. And the U.S. Postal Service is facing massive cuts that could impact you.
Illinois, Cook County Public Health Leaders Say Federal Funding Cuts Came With Little Notice
| Abena Bediako
State officials say the Trump administration is pulling back $477 million aimed at preventing infectious disease and treating mental health and substance abuse issues.
Postal Workers Union Pushes Back on Potential USPS Cuts and Outlines Impact on Illinois Residents
| Shelby Hawkins
The United States Postal Service has been facing a slew of challenges for years following the rise of the internet and a subsequent decline in physical mail. And things recently got even more complicated.
Got Hard-to-Recycle Stuff, Like Electronics? Take It to Cook County’s Trash Bash Fair
| Patty Wetli
Participating vendors at Saturday’s Trash Bash will be accepting everything from electronics and expired prescription drugs to musical instruments and eyeglasses.
CTA Austin Green Line Station Begins $25M Reconstruction Aimed at Accessibility Amid Broader Funding Questions
| Eunice Alpasan
A $25 million reconstruction project to improve accessibility at the Green Line’s Austin station on the West Side is underway amid broader funding uncertainty that stands in the way of efforts to make all rail stations on the Chicago Transit Authority fully accessible by 2038.
Scientists Shielding Farming From Climate Change Need More Public Funding. But They’re Getting Less
| Associated Press
The U.S. needs more publicly funded research and development on agriculture to offset the effects of climate change, according to a paper out in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this month. But instead the U.S. has been investing less.
Elon Musk-Funded Political Group Spends Big and Goes Door to Door in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
| Associated Press
Elon Musk and his political operatives have tried to shape the closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race in ways that are not immediately obvious but could be critical to Tuesday’s outcome.
At Chicago Shakespeare, a Rousing ‘Sunny Afternoon’ Brings the Volume — and Tender Touch — of Ray Davies and the Kinks: Review
| Marc Vitali
“Sunny Afternoon” tells the tuneful tale of the brothers Davies, Ray and Dave – bandleader and founder of The Kinks. They caught fire in 1964 with the influential hit “You Really Got Me,” but the blaze was nearly doused when they couldn’t capitalize on the British Invasion.
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