Stories by WTTW News

December 5, 2019 - Full Show

Watch the Dec. 5, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

House Will Draft Trump Impeachment Articles, Pelosi Says

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that the House is moving forward to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

Police Chief Firing Puts Spotlight on Cops Who Let Him Go

When fellow officers discovered former top cop Eddie Johnson asleep behind the wheel of his car, they did not conduct any sobriety tests and let their boss drive home – a decision that has thrown a spotlight on what happens when one officer confronts another on patrol.

African American Aldermen Try to Halt Sale of Legal Pot in Chicago

Sales of recreational marijuana will begin in Chicago – and across the state – on Jan. 1. Or will they? A group of aldermen on Wednesday explained why they want to put the brakes on pot in Chicago.

Constitutional Questions Debated in Testy New Phase of Impeachment

The House Judiciary Committee holds its first hearing as it weighs articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Local law professors Tom Ginsburg and David Franklin discuss the testimony and what lies ahead.

Crain’s Headlines: Whistleblower Suit Claims Navistar ‘Wildly’ Inflated Prices

Illinois-based truck and engine maker Navistar is accused of bilking the Pentagon out of almost $1.5 billion. 

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit in John Dillinger Exhumation Case

A nephew of 1930s gangster John Dillinger needs a cemetery’s permission to exhume the notorious criminal’s Indianapolis gravesite to prove whether he’s actually buried there, a judge ruled Wednesday in dismissing the nephew’s lawsuit against the cemetery.

Bears vs. Cowboys Preview: Chicago Hopes to Gain Ground in Playoff Picture

Can the Bears actually make a playoff push? Former Bears offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams joins us to preview their matchup with the Cowboys.

10 Things to Do This Weekend: Dec. 5-8

A festive CTA train, winter markets, irreverent attorneys and holiday hounds usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

December 4, 2019 - Full Show

Watch the Dec. 4, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Man Convicted of Shooting ATF Agent Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Prison

Ernesto Godinez, 29, the reputed gang member convicted of shooting a federal agent in the head last year on the Southwest Side, has been sentenced to more 200 months in federal prison.

Climate Simulations Are Mostly Accurate, Study Finds

The computer models used to simulate what heat-trapping gases will do to global temperatures have been pretty spot-on in their predictions, a new study found.

Of Founders and Findings: What to Watch on Impeachment

When House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler gavels open Wednesday’s impeachment hearings against the nation’s 45th president, he’ll launch the business of actually writing an indictment against Donald Trump. Watch live.

A Radiant Moment in Chicago History Key to Magic of Joffrey’s ‘Nutcracker’

This highly original reimagining of the classic holiday tale is a monumental production both in its storytelling and its design, yet it manages to beautifully interweave its grand scale elements with human scale emotions. 

Charlie Beck Takes Charge Following Eddie Johnson’s Ouster

Charlie Beck held his first press conference as interim police superintendent Tuesday, a day after Eddie Johnson was abruptly fired as top cop. What can the city expect from Beck? And what’s next for a department already laboring under a consent decree?

Report: Local Transit Fails to Meet Needs of Disabled, Elderly Riders

A new report outlines barriers faced by the elderly and people with disabilities when using public transportation and makes recommendations for improvements. “Access benefits everyone,” said one disability advocate.

House Report Outlines Evidence for Trump Impeachment

The House released a sweeping impeachment report Tuesday outlining evidence of what it calls President Donald Trump’s wrongdoing toward Ukraine, findings that will serve as the foundation for debate over whether the 45th president should be removed from office.

Crain’s Headlines: BMO to Cut Nearly 400 Chicago-Area Jobs

BMO Harris Bank is preparing to cut jobs as part of a companywide cost-savings push. Executives with BMO’s Toronto-based parent company announced the new cost cuts Tuesday as they posted the bank’s earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter. 

Cyclists Say City Isn’t Addressing 311 Complaints About Bike Lanes

With hundreds of miles of bike lanes, Chicago is touted as a city for cyclists. But many who ride on city streets say the daily hazards they encounter and report aren’t being addressed.

Preservationists Rally Around Thompson Center as Pritzker Prepares for Sale

The state says the building is too expensive to maintain and repair, but architectural activists are determined to highlight its unique features and its role in the city’s past, present and future.

Retired Police Commander Sentenced to Probation for Social Security Theft

Kenneth Johnson pleaded guilty to stealing more than $360,000

Federal prosecutors say Kenneth Johnson continued accepting Social Security checks meant for his mother for more than two decades after her death. His sentence includes six months of community confinement and an order to pay back all the money he stole.

December 3, 2019 - Full Show

Watch the Dec. 3, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Eddie Johnson: ‘I Did Not Intentionally Mislead Mayor’

Former Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is making his first public comments a day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot abruptly terminated him amid claims that he “repeatedly lied” to both the mayor and the public.

Reports Shed New Light on Chicago Police Chief’s Firing

Top cop Eddie Johnson was having drinks with a woman for hours the mid-October night officers found him sleeping behind the wheel of his SUV, according to two newspapers citing unidentified sources.

Cubs Cut Russell Year After Domestic Violence Ban

The Chicago Cubs did not offer a 2020 contract to shortstop Addison Russell on Monday, making the 2016 All-Star a free agent one year after he was suspended for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.

Lightfoot Fires Top Cop Eddie Johnson for ‘Intolerable Actions’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot makes a bombshell announcement: Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is terminated, effective immediately. Lightfoot says an inspector general’s investigation revealed Johnson “repeatedly lied” to both the mayor and the public.
 

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