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Teachers Unions Decry ‘Traumatizing’ Active Shooter Drills
| Alexandra Silets
Active shooter drills are as common as reading, writing and arithmetic in American schools. But a new report says they are traumatizing students.
Local Health Officials: Couple with Coronavirus Now ‘Free and Clear’
| Paris Schutz
At a press conference Thursday in Chinatown, state and local health officials sought to reassure the public that the risk of contracting the deadly virus is low, and that Chicagoans should go about their daily lives.
NBA All-Star Weekend Hits Chicago. Here’s What You Need to Know
| Nick Blumberg
The NBA’s All-Star Game is in Chicago for the first time since 1988 and the city is bouncing with NBA events all weekend. Here’s a preview.
Crain’s Headlines: Clayco Finalizing Big Buy in Fulton Market District
| WTTW News
A fast-growing construction and design firm is buying almost a full city block near the eastern end of the Fulton Market District.
Ask Geoffrey: A Long-Lost State Street Hot Spot
| Erica Gunderson
A viewer’s photo of her mother at a glamorous restaurant in 1940s Chicago left her wondering where the photo was taken. And we finally address an elephant in the room at Marshall Field’s.
February 13, 2020 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Feb. 13, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Expanded Drug Takeback Program Aims to Keep Pharmaceutical Pollutants Out of Our Water
| Patty Wetli
Flushing unused or expired prescription drugs down the toilet is “neither safe nor responsible,” says one local official. A new bill would establish convenient statewide locations for their collection instead.
Senn High School Students Hold Sit-In After Racial Discrimination Allegations
Female student said teacher told her to “go back to your country”
| Matt Masterson
Students inside a North Side high school staged a sit-in Wednesday following allegations that a school staffer told a female student to “go back to (your) country” after she refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.
New Solar Telescope Reveals Sun’s Surface in More Detail than Ever Before
| Paul Caine
A local scientist talks about his work to help capture the most detailed images ever of the sun’s bubbling surface.
Discovery Partners Institute Gets Long-Awaited State Cash
| Amanda Vinicky
The 78 megadevelopment gets a big boost as Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces $500 million in funding for the University of Illinois tech hub that will make its home on the Near South Side.
Spotlight Politics: Foxx Fight, Preckwinkle Aide Trouble
| Amanda Vinicky
Actor Jussie Smollett is facing a fresh set of charges for allegedly staging a hate crime on himself. Our politics team digs into that and more in our weekly roundtable.
Aviation Training Returns to One Chicago Vocational High School
| Jay Shefsky
You may have heard of Bessie Coleman, the pioneering African American pilot from Chicago. But there is much more to the history of black aviation in this town. And though that story has been largely forgotten, it’s now inspiring a new generation of aviators.
How Chicago Schools Handle Sexual Misconduct Allegations
| Andrea Guthmann
The father of a Lincoln Park High School student is suing the Chicago Board of Education for allegedly not protecting his daughter from sexual assault. It’s the latest twist in a story for which few details have been released.
Kim Foxx Faces Political Fallout from New Smollett Charges
| Paris Schutz
There’s more political fallout related to the Jussie Smollett case after a special prosecutor announced a new six-count indictment against the “Empire” actor.
New Play Tells Story of Nancy Pelosi, ‘The Adult in the Room’
| Marc Vitali
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was center stage in the House impeachment hearings. Now she is on stage, in a sense: a new play about Pelosi is receiving its world premiere in Chicago. We drop by an early rehearsal.
Crain’s Headlines: Bolingbrook Mayor Won’t Support Amazon Plan
| WTTW News
Amazon’s push to build a massive network of warehouses to store and distribute goods may be moving into Bolingbrook, but the town’s mayor isn’t thrilled about it.
Brunch-Loving Chicagoans, Rejoice: City Council Could Loosen Sunday Liquor Sales at Restaurants
| Nick Blumberg
If you’ve ever tried to order a bloody mary with your eggs benedict on a Sunday morning, you might have run into one of the many quirks of Chicago’s liquor laws. But that could soon change.
Widow of Slain Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer Suing Online Arms Marketplace
| Matt Masterson
“If the Armslist Defendants had acted with reasonable care – instead of callous and willful disregard of human life – Commander Bauer would still be alive,” a federal complaint states.
February 12, 2020 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Feb. 12, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
CTA Weekend Closures at Three Red Line Stations in Edgewater
| Nick Blumberg
For the fourth weekend in a row, three CTA Red Line stations in Edgewater will be closed from Friday night through Monday morning.
Musical Version of ‘Emma’ Taps Into Enduring Allure of Jane Austen
| Hedy Weiss
The flaws and fancies, and triumphs and comeuppances of Jane Austen’s characters continue to ring true two centuries after the publication of her books. The latest proof can be found in this utterly charming production at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
If Pangolins Are Linked to Coronavirus, Conservationists Fear for Animal’s Safety
| Patty Wetli
Preliminary findings point to the endangered pangolin as a possible host of the novel coronavirus, sparking concerns that a panic could lead to killings of the animal.
Mother of Teen Killed Inside Cook County Jail Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
| Matt Masterson
Leticia Ruiz says the Cook County sheriff failed to protect her son from a reputed gang member who allegedly beat him to death inside the jail earlier this month, and that the “vicious and violent” beating was avoidable.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Feb. Feb. 13-16
| Kristen Thometz
Hot cars, folk music, dance lessons and scaly creatures usher in the Valentine’s Day weekend. Here are 10 things to do in Chicago.
Lyric Opera Announces 2020-2021 Season of Classics, New Works and ‘Singin’ in the Rain’
| Hedy Weiss
The formidable full schedule will feature 10 major productions, eight of which will be “new to Chicago.” The season also will mark the grand finale of Sir Andrew Davis’ tenure as music director of the Lyric Opera.
A Victory, A Caution: Takeaways from New Hampshire’s Primary
| Associated Press
New Hampshire Democrats gave Bernie Sanders a win, but also a warning.
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