Stories by Quinn Myers

Cicero Fire Chief on Nursing Home Outbreak, Pandemic Response

A conversation with Cicero Fire Chief Dominick Buscemi, who is part of the town’s emergency committee handling the pandemic response. 

COVID-19 Across Chicago: Cicero Records 844 Cases

In a part of the Chicago region that has seen disproportionately high numbers of COVID-19 cases, the near west suburb of Cicero has been hit especially hard.

Chicago’s Anti-Violence Workers Face Fight on Two Fronts

Even in the shadow of the pandemic, gun violence in Chicago has not stopped. How the fight against COVID-19 is affecting the fight against violent crime.

Infectious Disease Expert Says CDC Limits on Early Testing Likely ‘A Big Mistake’

Dr. Emily Landon’s job is to prepare for outbreaks like COVID-19. She joins us to discuss the effectiveness of testing and the statewide stay-at-home order.

Pritzker: Ruling Against Extended Stay-at-Home Order ‘Insulting, Dangerous’

New statewide totals: 45,883 cases, 1,983 deaths

A downstate judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday against the extension of Illinois’ stay-at-home order, a move the governor says risks the public’s health and safety.

‘People Dropping Like Flies’: Chicago’s South, West and North Siders on COVID-19

Chicagoans across the city are preparing themselves for another month of staying indoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social Service Agency Turns to Technology to Keep Tabs on Teens

We check in with Corazon Community Services in suburban Cicero, which works with about 400 teenagers every month, offering after-school programs and community events focused on violence prevention and education.

Suffering From the Coronavirus? Chicago Now Has An App for That

City officials on Monday launched a new web-based application they say was designed to help those suffering from the coronavirus while laying the groundwork for a massive vaccination campaign.

Home Studios, Near-Empty Stations: How Chicago Radio Hosts Are Staying On-Air

Broadcasters around the world have made big changes to stay on the air, and stay safe. We speak with three local radio veterans about how they’re staying connected with their listeners during the pandemic.

April 27, 2020 - Full Show

Watch the April 27, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Controversial Workers’ Comp Rule Repealed Amid Business Pushback

The emergency rule passed earlier this month would have presumed essential workers who contract COVID-19 got it on the job – an assumption that would have been costly for businesses and their insurers.

If Baseball Returns to Chicago This Summer, It Will ‘Likely Be Without Fans’: Lightfoot

Chicago is “a ways away” from even considering plans to reopen Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field because the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus are still rising, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday.

Health Officials Ready New Guidelines as Restrictions Ease

The Trump administration is reviewing proposed new guidelines for how restaurants, schools, churches and businesses can safely reopen as states look to gradually lift their coronavirus restrictions.

Michelle Obama Documentary ‘Becoming’ to Premiere on Netflix

The film, described as “an intimate look into the life of former first lady Michelle Obama” chronicles her 34-city book tour in 2018-2019 for her best-selling memoir “Becoming.” 

Final Test Results Show Smokestack Demolition Posed ‘No Apparent Health Risk’

The plume of dust that coated homes in Little Village after the botched demolition of a coal plant smokestack did not threaten residents’ health, according to final test results released Monday by the city of Chicago.

After COVID-19: Anxious, Wary First Responders Back on Job

The new coronavirus doesn’t care about a blue uniform or a shiny badge. Police, firefighters, paramedics and corrections officers are just a 911 call away from contracting COVID-19 and spreading it.

Video of House Party During COVID-19 Crisis Draws International Ire

Dozens of young adults flouted social distancing guidelines Saturday night at a house party that appears to have been held in Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot called it “reckless and utterly unacceptable.”

WHO, CDC and FDA: No Link Between COVID-19 and Food Packaging

What to do with groceries has been the source of much debate. But the amount of the virus that survives on surfaces is a tiny fraction of the original material, experts say. 

Pritzker Says Schools, Students Should Prepare for Remote Learning This Fall

As parents and students know, schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year. Gov. J.B. Pritzker says educators should be prepared to stay the course in case their doors have to remain closed this fall.

Illinois Puts COVID-19 Overflow Sites on Back Burner

New statewide totals: 43,903 cases, 1,933 deaths

The state reported another 2,126 COVID-19 cases and 59 fatalities Sunday. Despite those rising numbers, Illinois is not seeing so many severe cases that the medical system is overwhelmed.

White House Aiming for Trump Pivot from Virus to Economy

Days after he publicly mused that scientists should explore the injection of toxic disinfectants as a potential virus cure, President Donald Trump has now rejected the utility of his daily task force briefings.

Census Delay Could Put Off New Voting Districts, Primaries

The U.S. Census Bureau needs more time to wrap up the once-a-decade count because of the coronavirus, opening the possibility of delays in drawing new legislative districts that could help determine what political party is in power.

Bugged: Earth’s Insect Population Shrinks 27% in 30 Years

The world has lost more than one quarter of its land-dwelling insects in the past 30 years, according to researchers whose big picture study of global bug decline paints a disturbing but more nuanced problem than earlier research.

‘Mask Up, Save Lives’ Movement Gets Masks to Chicago’s West Side

In less than a week, wearing a mask or face covering will be mandatory in Illinois. But not everyone has a mask, nor does everyone have resources to get one.

Lawsuit Pits Businesses vs. Pritzker in COVID-19 Legal Battle

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to withdraw a temporary, emergency rule put in place earlier this month.

Chicago-Based Potbelly to Return $10M Small Business Loan

The Chicago-based sandwich chain announced Saturday that it will return the money after having received “further clarification from the Treasury Department” about the loan.
 

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