Stories by Bridgette Adu-Wadier
Political Reporter Craig Dellimore Retires After 42 Years at WBBM Newsradio
| Bridgette Adu-Wadier
For many radio listeners, Craig Dellimore is a household name — a voice that’s become a part of people’s car rides and train commutes.
CPD Working to ‘Fix’ Problem That Led to 211K Undocumented Traffic Stops, Police Official Tells City Panel
| Heather Cherone
CPD reported to state officials that officers made 295,846 traffic stops in 2024. But police dispatchers recorded that officers made an additional 210,622 stops in 2024 that were not documented, raising questions about how many traffic stops took place last year.
‘The Lines Are Already Long’: How Cuts to SNAP, Medicaid Could Impact Illinois
| Shelby Hawkins
In Illinois, 1.9 million residents receive SNAP benefits, including more than 891,000 people in Cook County. Approximately 3.4 million Illinoisans are covered by Medicaid.
‘I Need to Know the Truth’: Krystal Rivera’s Family Calls for Additional Investigation After Officer Fatally Shot by Partner
| Matt Masterson
The parents of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera are calling for “full transparency,” including an independent investigation and the release of all available footage, weeks after their daughter was mistakenly shot and killed by her partner.
O’Hare Anticipates One of the Busiest July 4 Weekends for Travel, With More Than 1.5M Passengers
| Eunice Alpasan
The busiest day at O’Hare is expected to be Sunday, with 300,000 passengers passing through the airport, a nearly 40% surge from the airport’s daily average, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Liberal Majority Strikes Down 176-Year-Old Abortion Ban
| Associated Press
The statute Wisconsin legislators adopted in 1849, widely interpreted as a near-total ban on abortions, made it a felony for anyone other than the mother or a doctor in a medical emergency to destroy “an unborn child.”
Illinois, 19 Other States Sue After Trump Administration Releases Private Medicaid Data to Deportation Officials
| Associated Press
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s advisers ordered the release of a dataset that includes the private health information of people living in California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C., to the Department of Homeland Security, The Associated Press first reported last month.
Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for July 2-8
| Josh Terry
Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
July 1, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Gov. JB Pritzker names his new running mate. And a debate over the growing cost of police misconduct lawsuits — and their impact on taxpayers.
From Planned Parenthood to Birthright Citizenship, What to Know About Recent Supreme Court Decisions
| Bridgette Adu-Wadier
It’s a wrap on the most recent term for the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices delivered a slew of decisions on cases ranging from birthright citizenship to funding for Planned Parenthood.
Growing Cost of Chicago Police Misconduct Lawsuits Sparks Debate
| Abena Bediako
Chicago taxpayers have spent more than $189.3 million so far this year to resolve police misconduct lawsuits. For some, the issue raises concerns about the city’s finances. Others argue financial pains are necessary to ignite meaningful change.
‘Leave the Fireworks to the Experts’: First Responders Warn of Amateur Fireworks, Sparklers Ahead of July 4
| Eunice Alpasan
Unpermitted fireworks and sparklers are illegal in Chicago. That doesn’t stop residents from putting on DIY firework displays in city streets, backyards and alleys every year.
Illinois Secretary of State Awards $20M in Grants to More Than 600 Public Libraries Amid Federal Cuts
| Eunice Alpasan
“Libraries are so much more than books,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said. “They offer things like job searching and training courses, literacy support, de facto child care for working parents, language instruction, and most of all, welcoming and inclusive public spaces for the community.”
Key City Panel Demands Probe Into CPD’s Conduct During Immigration Raid, Protest
| Heather Cherone
The five-hour hearing focused on questions about whether Chicago Police Department brass and officers violated the city’s Welcoming City ordinance, which prohibits all city employees from assisting federal immigration agents in nearly all cases.
Former Loretto Hospital Exec Facing New Charges in Alleged $300M Fraud Scheme
| Matt Masterson
Anosh Ahmed was among four people charged after they allegedly submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims to the federal government for COVID testing materials totaling nearly $900 million, of which approximately $293 million was paid.
Johnson Says It Is ‘Not Acceptable’ That CPD Overspent Its $2B Budget by $207M
| Heather Cherone
“No, it’s not acceptable,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “No one is going to agree that the overspending in this moment is something that we should accept or be OK with.”
CTA Launches Next Round of Rider Feedback Pop-Ups Following ‘Strong Turnout’
| Eunice Alpasan
The events are designed for CTA leaders and staff to have open, informal conversations with riders about service, safety, improvements and rider priorities, according to the transit agency.
Those Impacted by Chicago Gun Violence Say Low Arrest Rates Continue Trauma, Halt Progress
| Emily Soto
According to the Chicago Police Department, 56% of homicide cases were cleared last year, but only 23% resulted in an arrest. Gun violence advocates say discrepancies in reporting and poor communication with victims is leaving survivors without badly needed answers.
Marco Rubio Hails End of USAID as Study Says Agency’s Elimination Could Contribute to 14 Million Deaths in Next 5 Years
| CNN
A study published Monday in The Lancet estimates that the USAID funding cuts could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. Nearly a third of those deaths – more than 4.5 million – are estimated to be among children younger than 5.
Senate Passes Trump’s Tax Breaks and Spending Cuts Bill as Vance Breaks 50-50 Tie
| Associated Press
Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie to push it over the top. The three Republicans opposing the bill were Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Musk Proposes a New Political Party, Trump Suggests DOGE ‘Might Have to Go Back and Eat Elon’
| Associated Press
The dispute has laid bare not only the differences between the Republican president and one of his most vociferous one-time advocates, but also has reignited the possibility that the world’s richest man will — along with his billions — reenter the political spending arena.
Donald Trump Says Migrants Would Need to Know ‘How to Run Away From an Alligator’ to Flee Florida Detention Facility
| Associated Press
Assembled on a remote airstrip with tents and trailers that are normally used after a natural disaster, the detention center has been nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” a moniker that has alarmed immigrant activists but appeals to the Republican president’s aggressive approach to deportations.
Future of NASCAR’s Downtown Chicago Weekend is Unclear Heading Into the Third Year of Contract
| Associated Press
The future of NASCAR in Chicago is murky going into its third edition on the first weekend in July. The three-year contract between the motorsports organization and the city that was announced in 2022 has two mutual options, and their fate is unclear.
Prosecutors Seek 56 Month Prison Term for John Hooker, First of ‘ComEd Four’ to be Sentenced in Madigan Bribery Scheme
| Matt Masterson
The feds asked a judge to give John Hooker, a former ComEd exec, a prison sentence of 56 months following his conviction on charges including bribery conspiracy and willfully falsifying the utility company’s books.
Pritzker Taps Former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell as Running Mate
| Heather Cherone
Gov. JB Pritzker called the little-known former state representative “a proven leader with deep experience, steady judgment, and an unshakable commitment to the working families of Illinois.”
June 30, 2025 - Full Show
| WTTW News
What’s behind Chicago’s low homicide clearance rates. And the city’s queer ballroom culture takes center stage.
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‘This is Only the Beginning’: Illinois Accountability Commission Hears First Testimony on Federal Agents’ Use of Force in Chicago
Chicago Bears’ Threat to Move to Indiana a ‘Slap in the Face,’ Gov. Pritzker’s Office Says
City Council Votes 30-18 to Approve Final Part of 2026 Budget. Will Mayor Veto It?
City Council Votes 29-19 to Approve Rival Spending Plan, Rebuking Mayor Johnson
Johnson Stops Short of Vowing to Veto Rival Budget Plan, But Calls It ‘Morally Bankrupt’
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