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Pay for Senior Teachers Still Unresolved, Months after CTU Strike Ended
| Brandis Friedman
Why the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education are still at odds over the teacher’s contract.
Anti-Plastic Advocates Defend Cost of Chicago’s Proposed Single-Use Ban
| Nick Blumberg
Chicago aldermen have proposed a ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam containers in an effort to cut down on plastic pollution. We learn more from Abe Scarr of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, which helped craft the proposal.
Giuliani Associate: Trump Had Knowledge of Ukraine Pressure
| Associated Press
A close associate of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is claiming Trump was directly involved in the effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden.
Illinois Officials Using Campaign Funds to Pay Big Legal Fees
| Paris Schutz
House Speaker Michael Madigan has shelled out big money from his campaign fund to pay attorneys – and he isn’t the only public official to do so.
Crain’s Headlines: Cook County OKs 3% Tax on Pot Sales
| WTTW News
Come summer, people buying cannabis in Chicago will pay 6% in local pot taxes, in addition to the state tax on pot, which ranges from 10% to 25%, depending on the potency of the product being purchased.
Newly Discovered Photos Reveal Childhood of Groundbreaking Journalist
| Jay Shefsky
Dozens of old glass negatives found in the attic of a North Side home lead to a surprising discovery, just days before the house was scheduled to be torn down.
Ask Geoffrey: Lincoln Park Statue in Mexico City?
| Erica Gunderson
How did a Lincoln Park statue wind up standing in cities all over the world? Geoffrey Baer goes south of the border for the answer.
Chicago More Vulnerable to Climate Change than Miami, Says ‘Death and Life of Great Lakes’ Author
| Patty Wetli
Author Dan Egan had sobering words for Chicagoans at a One Book, One Chicago event this week.
Weekend Red Line Construction, Station Closures Canceled
| Nick Blumberg
Three CTA Red Line stations in Edgewater that were scheduled to be shut down this weekend will remain open after construction work was canceled due to a high wind advisory, according to the office of 48th Ward Ald. Harry Osterman.
Ex-Judge: Kim Foxx Shouldn’t Use Tax Dollars for Outside Counsel
| Matt Masterson
Sheila O’Brien, who successfully petitioned for a special prosecutor to take over the Jussie Smollett investigation, is now seeking to bar the Cook County state’s attorney from using taxpayer dollars to pay for her own outside counsel.
‘Impartial Justice’? What to Watch in Trump’s Senate Trial
| Associated Press
The impeachment of President Donald Trump is the Senate’s challenge now. Look Thursday for a series of striking ceremonial matters to set up the Senate as a court of impeachment.
Spotlight Politics: A Corruption Check-In
| Amanda Vinicky
Just weeks into 2020, fresh headlines are shining light on politicians behaving unethically. Our politics team digs into those stories and more in our weekly roundtable.
‘It’s Not Regular’ Highlights Injustices on Chicago’s South, West Sides
| Andrea Guthmann
A new book and sign campaign points out daily inequities in some of Chicago’s underserved neighborhoods. We speak with Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of the nonprofit My Block, My Hood, My City.
City Council Approves New Protections for Undocumented Immigrants
| Paris Schutz
Undocumented immigrants stand to gain more protections in Chicago after City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday. The meeting also featured a tense debate over contracting for LGBTQ business owners.
House Sends Articles of Impeachment to the Senate
| Paul Caine
After nearly a month of delay, the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to transmit articles of impeachment for the trial of President Donald Trump to the Senate. We discuss the latest and look ahead.
For 30 Years, Chris Ware Has Chronicled the Adventures of American Misfits
| Marc Vitali
For fans of comics and graphic novels, he is a superstar. But the artist Chris Ware lives a low-key life just outside Chicago. At his home studio, we meet the engaging comic book artist with an unusual eye for everyday life.
Interim Top Cop Charlie Beck on the Future of Policing in Chicago
| Evan Garcia
It’s a temporary job, but a big one: Chicago’s interim police superintendent talks about restructuring the police force, parallels between LA and Chicago and the search for the city’s next top cop.
Crain’s Headlines: Advocate Closing 7 Suburban Immediate Care Clinics
| WTTW News
Advocate Medical Group is closing immediate care clinics at seven Chicago-area Walgreens stores next month.
So Long Spork, See Ya Clamshell: Chicago Moves to Get Rid of Plastic Waste
| Patty Wetli
Chicago is getting tough on plastic waste. A new city ordinance would, if passed, ban Styrofoam to-go containers and reduce single-use plastic utensils.
E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce is Over, CDC Says
| Kristen Thometz
A monthslong E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce harvested in Salinas, California, appears to be over. The outbreak sickened 167 people in 27 states, including Illinois, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chicago Man Charged in Dual Carjackings of Porsche, SUV
| Matt Masterson
A Chicago man from the South Side is facing felony criminal charges after he allegedly carjacked a Porsche and another vehicle that had two children in it on the Near North Side.
12 Things to Do This Weekend: Jan. 16-20
| Kristen Thometz
Tributes to Martin Luther King Jr., hot jazz, theater festivals and dumplings usher in the weekend. Here are a dozen things to do in and around Chicago.
Passion for Design Leads to Career in Handmade Leather Goods
| Angel Idowu
A Chicago leather craftsman is wrapping up his first year as an entrepreneur creating leather products in the form of shoes, bags and even greeting cards.
Chicago Prepares to Declare Climate Emergency
| Patty Wetli
A resolution introduced at Wednesday’s City Council meeting calls for an emergency “climate mobilization” on a scale not seen since WWII.
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