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Advocates Say ‘Really Vulnerable Lives’ at Stake as Trump Administration Moves to Shutter LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Line
| Abena Bediako
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will close its specialized services program for LGBTQ+ youth on July 17.
Iran Launches Missiles at US Military Base in Qatar in Retaliation for American Bombing
| Associated Press
Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.
Sister Rosemary Connelly, Longtime Leader of Misericordia, Dies at 94
| Matt Masterson
Connelly, who served as Misericordia’s administrator for more than 50 years and propelled the institution into one of the nation’s most prominent communities for people with disabilities, passed away peacefully at her home Friday.
Pritzker OKs Changes to Prisoner Review Board Following Years of Controversy
| Ben Szalinski — Capitol News Illinois
The law gives victims the right to file impact statements ahead of hearings, provides them with additional notice when their offender is granted early release, and allows them to seek an order of protection against an offender who is incarcerated.
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Tying Transportation Funds to States’ Cooperation With Immigration Efforts
| CNN
The lawsuit was brought by Illinois and 19 other states. Many state attorneys general have sued over issues ranging from the president’s bid to end birthright citizenship to his tariff policies.
The Largest Digital Camera Ever Built Just Released its First Shots of the Universe
| Associated Press
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, was built to take a deeper look at the night sky, covering hidden corners. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy, it will survey the southern sky for the next 10 years.
Chicago Heat Indices to Top 100 Degrees Monday as Oppressive Temps Continue
| Matt Masterson
According to the National Weather Service, oppressive levels of heat and humidity will stick around through Monday afternoon, with highs expected in the mid 90s and heat indices topping out at 105 degrees.
NIH Froze Funding for Clinical Trials at Northwestern University. By Fall, They’ll Run Out of Funding
| CNN
One trial is seeking to discover whether the drug metformin could help prevent lung cancer. Another trial is testing a vaccine combination to prevent cancer in people with Lynch syndrome.
Republican Tax Bill Would Ease Regulations on Gun Silencers, Some Rifles and Shotguns
| Associated Press
The guns provision was first requested in the House by Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Republican gun store owner. The House bill would remove silencers from a 1930s law that regulates firearms that are considered the most dangerous, eliminating a $200 tax while removing a layer of background checks.
Comedy and Crime Fighting Join Forces in Chicago for Police Learning Leadership Skills
| Associated Press
Officials at the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy brought members of The Second City, Chicago’s storied improv theater, to teach police leaders the more diverse skills found in improv exercises — like thinking on your feet, reserving judgment and fully listening.
Eggs-tra, Eggs-tra! Piping Plover Chicks Hatch at Montrose Beach
| Blair Paddock
Three eggs of piping plovers Imani and Sea Rocket hatched as of Friday at Montrose Beach, according to monitoring group Chicago Piping Plovers.
Week in Review: Johnson Vetoes ‘Snap Curfew’ Ordinance; CPS CEO Martinez Departs
| Paul Caine
The mayor vetoes a “snap curfew” measure aimed at curbing large teen gatherings. And Democratic members of Congress are turned away from an ICE facility.
Judge Denies R. Kelly’s Release After Singer Claims Prison Officials Plotted to Kill Him
| Associated Press
Born Robert Sylvester Kelly, the 58-year-old Grammy-winning R&B singer is serving sentences at a prison in Butner, North Carolina, for child sex crimes and racketeering.
Supreme Court Rejects Illinois Toy Company’s Push for a Quick Decision on Trump’s Tariffs
| Associated Press
Learning Resources Inc. wanted the justices to take up the case soon, rather than let it continue to play out in lower courts. The company argues the tariffs and uncertainty are having a “massive impact” on businesses around the country.
Steppenwolf’s Amy Morton on Working With Young Actors, Good Fortune and Bad Etiquette
| Marc Vitali
Steppenwolf Theatre’s “You Will Get Sick” is laugh-out-loud funny and deadly serious. It’s a puzzle of a play where the pieces come together in surreal but satisfying ways.
Chicago, Cook County Open Cooling Centers Amid Extreme Heat Warnings
| Blair Paddock
An extreme heat warning has been issued for Cook County from Saturday through Monday. Afternoon temperatures are predicted to be in the 90s. Coupled with high humidity, heat indices could reach 100-105 degrees each day, according to the National Weather Service.
A Potent Heat Dome Will Send Temperatures, Heat Index Into the Triple Digits
| CNN
Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the U.S., contributing to more than 800 deaths annually on average since 1999, a 2023 study found.
Advocates Await Action on Bill Protecting Rights of Immigrant Students in Illinois
| Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois
The “Safe Schools for All Act” passed both chambers of the General Assembly. It would prohibit schools from denying any child access to a free public education based on their actual or perceived immigration status, or that of their parents.
The Summer Solstice Is Here. What to Know About the Longest Day of the Year
| Associated Press
Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It’s the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start.
Want to Help Plants and Pollinators Make a Love Connection? Check Out Morton Arboretum’s New ‘Matchmaking’ Info
| Patty Wetli
Thanks to a recent update to the arboretum’s website, gardeners will find it easier to broker a love connection between plants and pollinators.
June 19, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
On this Juneteenth, learning how rest can be a means of resistance. And how Meigs Field became a public park.
From ‘War of the Worlds’ to a Juneteenth Festival, Here Are 5 Weekend Event Picks
| Marc Vitali
Whether the weather ahead is pleasant or there’s a June monsoon brewing, here’s a starter list of arts and culture opportunities to get you out into the atmosphere.
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, June 18, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
City Council narrowly approves a “snap curfew.” And a wrongfully convicted man gets a settlement after almost three decades behind bars.
Chicago’s ‘Snap Curfew’ and How the Approved Ordinance Could Affect Teens
| Sean Keenehan
The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed the "snap curfew" ordinance by a vote of 27-22. Mayor Brandon Johnson has pledged to veto it.
Chicago to Pay $23.4M to Settle 3 Police Misconduct Cases
| Heather Cherone
Less than six months into the year, Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $189.3 million to resolve nearly two and a half dozen lawsuits, exceeding its budget to resolve lawsuits alleging police misconduct by more than $100 million, city records show.
City Council Votes 27-22 to Allow CPD to Declare ‘Snap Curfews’ to Stop Teen Gatherings; Mayor Says He’ll Veto
| Heather Cherone
Before the vote, Mayor Brandon Johnson Johnson repeatedly questioned whether the measure is constitutional and frequently said that he does not believe that expanding the city’s curfew would stop teen “trends” or “takeovers.”
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