Stories by Angel Idowu
Anonymous Artist Dont Fret Turns Office Space Into Art Gallery
| Angel Idowu
Nestled between computers, tape dispensers and staplers in a public relations office in Lakeview sits the latest collection by anonymous Chicago artist Dont Fret. We go for a look.
The Open House Chicago Schedule Is Here. Get Ready to Pound the Pavement
| Patty Wetli
The revamped Open House Chicago features walking and biking trails and celeb-led virtual tours of the architecture and history of more than 20 city neighborhoods.
Artist Builds Effigy Mounds to Honor Indigenous People in Cook County
| Evan Garcia
Indigenous artist Santiago X showcased Serpent Mound, a group of effigy mounds in a Cook County forest preserve, as part of the county’s Racial Equity Week on Tuesday.
September 15, 2020 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Sept. 15, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
From ‘Nosh Pods’ to ‘Dibs Dining,’ City Receives 600+ Mostly Serious Ideas for Winter Outdoor Dining
| Patty Wetli
The city asked for creative winter outdoor dining ideas, and Chicagoans delivered, offering 643 submissions ranging from the practical to the ridiculous.
Officials Are Failing to Release Video, Documents Swiftly After Police Use Force: Watchdog
| Heather Cherone
The agency charged with investigating allegations of police misconduct has failed to promptly release video and audio recordings of use-of-force incidents, as required by city law, according to a new audit by Chicago’s watchdog.
As MLB Plays On, The Businesses It Feeds Fight for Survival
| Associated Press
As MLB sprints through two months, the businesses in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadiums that rely so heavily on thousands making their way through the turnstiles 81 times a year are struggling, their futures murky at best.
Chicago is Making ‘Definite Progress’ in Coronavirus Fight as Utah Joins Quarantine Order
| Heather Cherone
The Midwest is now the center of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday, but Chicago has begun making “definite progress” against a surge of infections among young adults and Latinos.
Petalo, Not Charmin: Virus Brings Mexican Toilet Paper to US
| Associated Press
Demand for toilet paper has been so high during the pandemic that in order to keep their shelves stocked, retailers are buying up foreign toilet paper brands, mostly from Mexico.
Pritzker: ‘We’ve Reached a Critical Juncture For Our Own State Finances’
| Kristen Thometz
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday warned of looming cuts to state government, including potential layoffs, without help from the federal government.
Thousands of UIC Hospital Workers Walk Off the Job
| Paris Schutz
They’ve been on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. Now they’re on the picket lines. Why University of Illinois and UIC health care workers, including about 800 nurses, are on strike.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Racial Equity Week
| Marissa Nelson
Cook County’s second annual Racial Equity Week began Monday. This year’s theme: acknowledging past harm, its impact today and a vision for the future. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle tells us more.
Globetrotting Hikers Learn to Love Chicago Nature During the Pandemic
| Jay Shefsky
Matt Sparapani and Alison Newberry weren’t planning to be in Chicago this summer. But like many of us, they had to rethink their plans. What the local teachers have learned about the natural areas of Chicago.
A Big Day for Chicago Sports Fans Who May Have Needed It
| Evan Garcia
Amid uncertainty in Chicago and across the nation, a ray of hope: Chicago’s baseball teams are in first place, and the city’s beloved Bears pulled off a miracle comeback. Can professional sports actually be a tonic for tough times?
Chicago’s Sustainability Officer on Legacy Pollution and Neighborhood Priorities
| Nick Blumberg
We speak with Angela Tovar, the city’s recently named sustainability officer, about a new air quality ordinance and improving Chicago’s environment.
Social Media Misinformation a Major Challenge for Election Authorities, Voters
| Paul Caine
In an age when false information can be disseminated to millions with a single tweet or Facebook post, combatting that misinformation is all the more important. What election officials are doing to dispel misleading myths.
Lightfoot Calls on Investigators to Finish Probe Into Officers Who Lounged, Napped in US Rep. Rush’s Office as Looting Swept South Side
| Heather Cherone
It is past time for investigators to complete their probe into the conduct of 13 officers who lounged, slept and snacked in the burglarized office of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush as unrest swept the city in June, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday.
Crain’s Headlines: Amazon Begins Hiring Binge in Chicago
| WTTW News
The e-commerce giant is opening more distribution centers in Chicago — and plans to hire thousands. Crain’s Chicago Business Editor Ann Dwyer joins us with the stories behind the headlines.
September 14, 2020 - Full Show
| WTTW News
Watch the Sept. 14, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”
Durbin Raises COVID-19 Testing Concerns, Shortfalls in Letter to HHS
| Kristen Thometz
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is raising concerns about coronavirus testing at the nation’s schools, colleges and universities in the wake of incidents in which he says the federal government “commandeered” supplies.
Salvation Army Kicks Off Red Kettle Fundraiser in September to Rescue Christmas
| Patty Wetli
The unmistakable sound of the Salvation Army’s bell-ringers could be heard Monday morning along Michigan Avenue as the organization announced an unprecedented September kickoff to its annual Red Kettle fundraiser.
Anti-Inflammatory Drug May Shorten COVID-19 Recovery Time
| Associated Press
A drug company says that adding an anti-inflammatory medicine to a drug already widely used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients shortens their time to recovery by an additional day.
Effort To Track COVID-19 Infections With New Workforce Behind Schedule
| Heather Cherone
A push to build a first-of-its-kind workforce to conduct community-level contact tracing is months behind schedule, even as health officials brace for a surge in infections at the start of the traditional flu season.
‘It’s Beyond Frustrating,’ Top Cop Says After Man Out on Bail for Gun Offense Charged in Fatal Shooting
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown again criticized a perceived lack of consequences for gun offenders after a weekend in which 53 people were shot in the city, 10 fatally.
West Coast Wildfire Smoke Reaches Chicago, Creating Hazy Sky
| Patty Wetli
Smoke from the West Coast wildfires has drifted into northern Illinois, creating milky white or gray skies over what should be a sunny Chicago, according to the National Weather Service.
Chicago Must Build More Affordable Housing That Black, Latino Chicagoans Can Actually Afford: Task Force
| Heather Cherone
The city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance created just 1,049 homes in 13 years by requiring some developers to set aside units for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans, but that has barely dented the city’s affordable housing gap, according to a new report.
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