Stories by Associated Press
Biden Won’t Go to Milwaukee to Accept Democratic Nomination
| Associated Press
Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus, party officials said Wednesday, signaling a move to a convention that essentially has become entirely virtual.
CPS Will Start School Year on Sept. 8 With Remote Learning, Officials Announce
| Heather Cherone
Chicago Public Schools will start the school year on Sept. 8 the same way they ended the last academic year — with all students taking classes remotely, officials announced Wednesday.
Massive Beirut Blast Kills More Than 70, Injures Thousands
| Associated Press
A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky.
You’ve Got Mail: 5 Things to Know About Voting by Mail
| Amanda Vinicky
Voting by mail in Illinois isn’t new, but amid the pandemic, the state is encouraging voters to cast their ballots by mail rather than in person. But how do you go about that — and is it safe? Here’s what you need to know.
Lightfoot Mural Creates Landmark for South Side Neighborhood
| Angel Idowu
When a local real estate agent decided to commission a mural, he chose to include a prominent figure who has made history as the first black woman to become mayor of Chicago. We visit South Shore for a look.
CPS Planning All-Remote Learning For Fall, Sources Say
| Nick Blumberg
Sources tell WTTW News that CPS will announce an all-remote learning plan for the fall as soon as Wednesday, reversing plans for a hybrid model of at-home and in-person learning. Two Chicago aldermen weigh in on this and more.
Life After COVID-19: What Will it Look Like?
| Alexandra Silets
What will life, concerts, the workplace and education look like in a post-COVID-19 world? A futurist and a University of Chicago epidemiologist weigh in.
Democrats, Republicans ‘Miles Apart’ on Unemployment Insurance Deal, Says Bustos
| Paul Caine
As cities and states across the nation struggle to get control of COVID-19, members of Congress butt heads over another stimulus package. Illinois U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos weighs in on those topics and more.
Mercy Hospital’s Plans to Close Resurface Concerns on South Side
| Marissa Nelson
Mercy Hospital announced plans to shut its doors by June 2021. Now, concerns of a health care desert on the South Side are resurfacing as residents prepare to find new providers.
Local Guitarists Make Good Use of Downtime
| Marc Vitali
2020 was supposed to be the Year of Chicago Music. Now, the vast and vibrant local music scene lies dormant. We check in on a Chicago family that can play guitars – and make them too.
Controversy Brews Over Plan for More Affordable Housing on Far Northwest Side
| Heather Cherone
A plan to transform a long-vacant lot in Jefferson Park into an apartment complex has reignited the furious debate surrounding Chicago’s massive affordable housing shortfall.
Open House Chicago Is Still Happening In October. Here’s What Will Be Different
| Patty Wetli
The Chicago Architecture Center’s popular event, now in its 10th year, will stick to the outdoors and offer online programming, with a focus on Chicago’s South and West sides.
‘That Boy Was Loved’: Family, Friends Gather to Remember Slain Teen Activist Caleb Reed
| Matt Masterson
The 17-year-old worked as a youth leader with Voices of Youth in Chicago Education and had sought the removal of police officers from Chicago schools. He died Sunday, two days after he was shot in Rogers Park.
Murder Charge Filed in Slaying of 9-Year-Old Chicago Boy
| Matt Masterson
The man accused of gunning down Janari Ricks last week was “hunting” for a victim, Cook County prosecutors said, after he was seen on surveillance footage peering over fences in the area while “looking for somebody to shoot.”
City Likely to Give General Iron OK to Restart Shredding Within Days. ‘Unconscionable,’ Alderman Says
| Patty Wetli
Following a May explosion, General Iron has put appropriate controls in place to resume its metal shredding operation, experts say. Neighbors say they have little faith in the company’s commitment to compliance.
Pritzker: COVID-19 Pandemic is Now Worse in Carbondale Than Chicago
| Kristen Thometz
When the coronavirus pandemic struck Illinois in the spring, Cook County was hit hard while areas downstate were largely spared. But that’s changing. “We’re seeing troubling signs,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday.
City Orders Visitors From Puerto Rico to Quarantine As Officials Warn, Again, That Virus is Spreading
| Heather Cherone
Visitors to Chicago from Puerto Rico will be required to quarantine for two weeks starting Friday in an effort to stop the increasing spread of the coronavirus in Chicago, city officials announced Tuesday.
Progress Slow on Virus Relief Bill as Negotiations Continue
| Associated Press
Negotiators on a huge coronavirus relief bill reported slight progress after talks resumed Monday afternoon in the Capitol, but multiple obstacles remain.
Is Campaign Money From Speaker Michael Madigan ‘Dirty’?
| Amanda Vinicky
It’s about the time of year when your mailbox may start to fill up with glossy brochures, pitching you not on a product — but on a candidate. What impact the ComEd bribery scandal might have on the coming election.
Lurie Children’s Hospital to End Intersex Surgeries on Children
| Blair Paddock
Where the fight for intersex rights is headed after a recent victory in Chicago. We speak with activist Pidgeon Pagonis and Dr. Ellie Kim of Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Chicago Fair Housing Advocates Criticize Rollback in Regulations
| Marissa Nelson
Last month, the Trump administration announced it would end an Obama-era housing rule meant to eliminate racial disparities in the suburbs. How that rollback could affect housing in the Chicago area.
85-Year-Old Photographer Steve Schapiro Reflects on Civil Rights Movement
| Marc Vitali
He took memorable pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. and traveled with writer James Baldwin. Steve Schapiro talks about what he witnessed in the United States back then — and what he is seeing today.
Crain’s Headlines: Citibank to Replace Gresham Branch in New Location
| WTTW News
A bank franchise reassesses one of its locations on Chicago’s Far South Side. That story and more with Crain’s Chicago Business Editor Ann Dwyer.
Large Nonprofits Struggle to Provide Services While Locked Out of Pandemic Aid
| Erica Gunderson
Their size and reach allow them to get assistance quickly and efficiently to people in need, but nonprofits with more than 500 employees cannot apply for forgivable loans under the CARES Act.
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