Stories by Associated Press
Mercury Even WNBA Finals With 91-86 Overtime Win Over Sky
| Associated Press
Chicago backed up its Game 1 win with another strong offensive performance, yet couldn’t finish it off.
New Film Inspired By 1987 Hijacking of WTTW’s Airwaves
| Blair Paddock
Longtime WTTW fans may remember that back in 1987, our airwaves were hijacked by an unknown TV “pirate.” Now nearly 34 years later, it’s inspired a new film playing Thursday at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Cook County Reports Carjackings Nearly Doubled This Year
| Leslie Hurtado
In March, a task force was formed by the Chicago Police Department, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police, and others to try and put the brakes on carjackings.
UIC Lab Tracking COVID-19 Trends and Hot Spots By Testing Wastewater
| Nick Blumberg
A University of Illinois Chicago lab and its partners have been tracking the virus that causes coronavirus in wastewater and sharing the data with local public health agencies.
Joffrey Ballet Debuts with ‘Home: A Celebration’
| Angel Idowu
The Joffrey Ballet is welcoming back company dancers and instructors. It’s also welcoming choreographers, including Chanel DaSilva. As one of Joffrey’s 2020 Winning Works choreographers, the New York based artist is back with a dance interpretation and reimagining of the old Negro Spiritual, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
October 13, 2021 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Remembering civil rights icon Timuel Black. Is a shortage of police officers coming this weekend? Tracking COVID-19 in wastewater. A new movie based loosely on Chicago’s Max Headroom incident, and more.
Chicago Police Union Head Urges Cops to Defy Vaccine Mandate
| Associated Press
In a video posted online Tuesday, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara vowed to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration to court if it tries to enforce a mandate, which requires city workers to report their vaccine status by the end of the work week.
Park District Vows to Replace ‘Frat Boy Culture,’ Names City Hall Veteran as Interim Chief
| Heather Cherone
A search for a new leader of the Chicago Park District to usher into “a new era of accountability in our parks system” is underway, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
Police Board Set to Get Power to Remove Chicagoans from Still Under-Development Gang Database
| Heather Cherone
A measure that grants the Chicago Police Board the power to overrule the Chicago Police Department and remove a Chicagoan from an under-development gang database advanced Wednesday — even though it is not clear when that system will be up and running.
Unvaccinated Chicago Teachers Can Keep Working if They Agree to Weekly COVID-19 Testing
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez said those staffers who are not fully vaccinated by Friday’s deadline must consent to weekly testing, but will not be immediately barred from working, as had previously been threatened.
Racketeering Charges Filed Against Reputed Gang Members Accused of Killing Chicago Rapper FBG Duck
| Matt Masterson
Federal prosecutors announced charges against five reputed members of the O-Block street gang, accusing them of participating in a criminal organization responsible for murder and of “violently” protecting the gang and its territories on the South Side.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Oct. 14-17
| Kristen Thometz
Architectural gems, an arts festival, cemetery walk and international films usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
More Questions for J&J Vaccine Boosters Ahead of FDA Review
| Associated Press
The Food and Drug Administration is wrestling with whether and when to offer another dose of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, while a new study out Wednesday raises the prospect that using a different brand as the booster might work better.
Border Residents Rejoice as US Says It Will Lift Travel Ban
| Associated Press
Beleaguered business owners and families separated by COVID-19 restrictions rejoiced Wednesday after the U.S. said it will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze.
Scooter-Sharing Program Gets Green Light from Key City Panel to Become Permanent
| Heather Cherone
The Chicago City Council is poised to allow shared electronic scooters to return to Chicago streets this spring — including downtown and the 606 Trail, where they were banned in last year's pilot program.
William Shatner, TV’s Capt. Kirk, Blasts Into Space
| Associated Press
William Shatner, 90, became the oldest person in space, eclipsing the previous record — set by a passenger on a similar jaunt on a Jeff Bezos spaceship in July — by eight years.
Inflation Rises 5.4% From Year Ago, Matching 13-year High
| Associated Press
The unexpected burst of inflation this year reflects sharply higher prices for food and energy, but also for furniture, cars, televisions, and other largely imported goods. COVID-19 has shut down factories in Asia and slowed U.S. port operations.
City Council Committee Chairs Used Their Budgets to Boost Spending in Their Wards: Watchdog
| Heather Cherone
The chairs of the City Council committees examined by Inspector General Joseph Ferguson rejected nearly all of his recommendations, and disputed that state law had been violated.
Congressional Remap Underway, But Little Participation at Public Hearings
| Amanda Vinicky
Illinois lawmakers have turned their attention toward their task of drawing new Congressional district boundaries, but critics aren’t ready to give up on the previous mapmaking task they say the General Assembly fumbled.
City Council Members on Chicago’s Homicide Numbers, Upheaval at the Park District
| Alexandra Silets
Four City Council members share their thoughts on the mayor’s budget proposal, the embattled park district, and more.
Fifth Third Bank Invests $20M in South Chicago Neighborhood
| Blair Paddock
The infusion comes on the heels of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Invest South-West Initiative, a three-year program aimed at investing $750 million in developments across 10 neighborhoods, including South Chicago.
Altuve, Astros Going Back to ALCS After Topping White Sox
| Associated Press
Led by their October-tested stars, the Houston Astros are going back to the AL Championship Series for the fifth straight year.
NASA Tests Its Planetary Defense Capabilities With DART Mission
| Paul Caine
A NASA mission to deflect an asteroid – it’s been the premise for more than one Hollywood movie – but next month NASA launches its DART mission that aims to do it for real.
CSO Announces Full Calendar of Orchestra Hall Concerts for 2021, 2022
| Hedy Weiss
On the heels of the recent triumphant return to live concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Riccardo Muti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association has announced its extensive programming plans for the remainder of the 2021 season and the first half of the 2022 season.
Chicago Fire Department Still Not Measuring Response Times, 8 Years After Audit: Watchdog
| Heather Cherone
The lack of data collected by officials makes it impossible to determine whether the Chicago Fire Department meets national standards for getting to medical emergencies and fires, according to Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who will leave office Friday at the end of his third term in office.
‘Game Changers’ Mural Series Brings Sox Diverse History to Colorful Life
| Erica Gunderson
The Chicago White Sox commissioned three Chicago artists to create murals inspired by the Sox past and present that celebrate the diversity of America’s pastime.
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