WTTW
December 23, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Title
- December 23, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Chicago Public Schools will be searching for a new CEO after a highly contested decision by the Board of Education to fire Pedro Martinez. The action was greeted by some and heavily criticized by others.
A list of potential designs was released and a taskforce will evaluate if Illinois will soon have a new state flag.
In a new special, WTTW's Geoffrey Baer illuminates the history of Hanukkah and how the holiday is celebrated with traditions old and new.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: CPS Board Takes Aim at CEO; City Budget Passes
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Chicago Public Schools students are off for two weeks. When they return to classes the district may well have a new chief as the Board of Education was set to make moves Friday night to fire CEO Pedro Martinez.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union — no fan of Martinez — wants a new contract wrapped and under the tree by Christmas.
But while there’s tumult at CPS, the city did finally pass a budget for 2025 on the fourth attempt.
The spending plan raises a host of fees in order to avoid hiking property taxes.
Critics like Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) says it’s “just smoke and mirrors.”
And on a holiday break are the jury in the corruption trial against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Prosecutors have rested their case and Madigan’s lawyers have begun mounting their defense.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- House Music: A Cultural Revolution – A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 52:05
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Chicago’s secret is very much out in the open now: house music DJs headline clubs and festivals from London to Cape Town. But this electronic dance music was born behind closed doors at underground venues. In the early 1980s, a band of mostly Black, gay artists created house music in old warehouses. Led by such DJs as Frankie Knuckles, a group of artists created a mechanical, bass-heavy sound using drum machines and synthesizers. It became the soundtrack of safe spaces that were free from the racism and homophobia of the outside world.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/housemusic
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#ChicagoStoriesWTTW
- Title
- December 19, 2024 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- The proposed demolition of the Damen Silos has cleared a significant hurdle, gaining a key authorization Monday from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Chicago’s Department of Buildings, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, still needs to weigh in on the demolition permit application, but the Corps’ approval was necessary due to the site’s location on the South Branch of the Chicago River. Some residents on the Southwest Side have concerns.
For years, the debate has raged over ride hailing apps Uber and Lyft — are they taxi companies or tech firms? The tech giants have been firm in their stance that they’re merely a tech platform connecting independent drivers with passengers looking for a ride. To regulators, worker advocates and other detractors, the companies are cab services trying to avoid classifying their drivers as employees.
Now, a similar crop of apps has arisen in the temporary employment arena. The apps conne...
- Title
- December 18, 2024 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:57
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Chicago Budget Director on 2025 Spending Plan
Fierce pushback from alderpeople helped block a property tax increase, but there's still more than $165 million in additional taxes and fees.
Advocate Announces Plans to Invest $1B in South Side Care
Stakeholders say the goal is to improve residents' health and well-being by focusing on prevention, disease management and increased access to care.
Inside the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s New Facility
At the food bank on the Southwest Side, the operation is all about teamwork — from cutting vegetables to preparing and packing food trays for more than 800 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters throughout Chicago.
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 17, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Spotlight Politics: Prosecution Prepares to Rest in Madigan Trial
Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget proposal squeaks by City Council. Meanwhile, prosecutors are set to rest their case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. And it's a growing debate in Illinois — whether to put tighter regulations on the hemp industry.
Incarcerated People Hope Pritzker Addresses More Petitions for Clemency
Executive clemency is designed to extend mercy and restore opportunity for people who were convicted of crimes and have demonstrated successful rehabilitation. But in Illinois, advocates say that grace has been slow to come for people with criminal records, some of whom are still in prison.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 16, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Chicago City Council Narrowly Passes 2025 Budget
The budget passed 27-23 on Monday after nearly two months of sharp debate that left alderpeople bitterly divided and the mayor politically weakened.
Reaction to Efforts to Regulate Illinois' Hemp Industry
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently came out in support of legislation that would impose new regulations on the state's hemp industry.
Ald. Jessie Fuentes on Chicago's Budget Negotiations
The budget, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, does not include a property tax hike. The spending plan still calls for a host of other taxes and fees to rise by an additional $165.5 million.
Community Groups Work to Combat Chicago’s Food Insecurity Crisis
With one in five Chicagoans facing food insecurity, residents are working to feed their own with grassroots efforts led by community nonprofits.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- VOICES: A WTTW News Community Conversation – Exploring Chicago’s Arts Scene
- Runtime
- 56:39
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- On Monday, December 16, 2024 WTTW hosted Voices: A WTTW News Community Conversation – Exploring Chicago’s Arts Scene.
Marc Vitali of WTTW News, who is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent, moderated a live virtual conversation with Janine Mileaf, executive director and chief curator of the Arts Club of Chicago; Laura-Caroline de Lara, director of the DePaul Art Museum; and Faheem Majeed, artist, educator, curator, and Co-Director and Founder of the Floating Museum. The conversation highlighted Chicago’s unique artistic heritage and creative communities.
#wttwcommunityengagement #chicagotonightwttw #WTTWNews #VoicesWTTW
Funding for WTTW’s arts coverage as part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration highlighting the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities, is provided in part by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
- Title
- Week in Review: Johnson Calls Off Budget Vote; Hemp Industry Crackdown
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Why Mayor Brandon Johnson called off a budget vote. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushes back on mass deportations. And calls for a crackdown on unregulated hemp.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Al Capone's Bloody Business — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 56:16
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- During the Prohibition-era 1920s, a young man named Al Capone succeeded his mentor, Johnny Torrio, to run the Chicago Outfit. An Italian-American crime syndicate first established by “Big Jim” Colosimo at the turn of the century, the Outfit amassed an estimated $100 million in revenue – more than $1.5 billion today – through its nearly 200 brothels, illegal alcohol production and sales, gambling, and racketeering. For several years, the mob had a chokehold on Chicago politics, influencing elections through intimidation and violence and working in cahoots with the aldermen who ran the city’s political machine. This quintessentially Chicago story traces the powerful criminal enterprise from its inception through its 1920s heyday and to its gradual demise. At the center of it all, wearing a sleek fedora and a knowing smirk, was Capone – “Public Enemy No. 1” – and one of America’s most notorious gangsters.
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Dive deeper into ...
- Title
- December 12, 2024 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Chicago Alderpeople React to Threats of Mass Deportations
Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump's so-called border czar, said Chicago will be "ground zero" for mass deportations.
155,000 Standard IDs and Driver’s Licenses Issued to Illinois Noncitizens
A new law, which went into effect in July, grants noncitizens regardless of immigration status the ability to obtain a standardized state driver’s license replacing the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License, which displayed a purple banner and the words “Not Valid For Identification.”
Shedd Aquarium Debuts ‘Wonder of Water’ Exhibit
One tank replicates a saltwater ecosystem, home to corals, anemones and 1,500 fish, among other animals. The second tank mimics a freshwater environment, full of 5,000 fish and some 50 species of aquatic plants.
#LatinoVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 11, 2024 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:47
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- December 11, 2024 Full Episode — Black Voices
Jesse Jackson Jr., son of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., served in Congress for 17 years until he resigned in 2012 amid a criminal investigation. Jackson Jr. was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to defraud his reelection campaign of $750,000 over a span of 10 years. That was over a decade ago.
While he’s mostly been out of the spotlight since then, Jackson Jr. is back and drawing attention to President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of three gun-related felonies over the summer. Jackson Jr. is advocating for the same forgiveness for himself and others whose futures have been stunted because of a criminal past.
And the Red Line extension project begins in 2025. We look at residents’ hopes and concerns for the Far South Side of Chicago.
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 10, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:54
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Spotlight Politics: Chicago Faces Looming Budget Deadline
Pressure is mounting on Mayor Brandon Johnson as the city faces an end-of-year budget deadline. And as the mayor’s hand-picked school board prepares for its last meeting before a partially elected board takes over in January, a growing chorus of principals and alderpeople are urging board members not to dismiss CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.
New Book Examines Richard M. Daley's Reign as Mayor
Richard M. Daley was first elected mayor of Chicago in 1989. It was a time of fractious, racially polarized politics at City Hall and violence that had one newspaper dubbing the city "Beirut on the Lake."
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 9, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- How the Public Reacted to Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Investigators said the ammunition used in the attack was etched with the words deny, defend and depose. It's led to a wave of public feelings — like anger, resentment and frustration — over the health insurance industry.
Alderpeople on Where Chicago's 2025 Budget Stands
The countdown is on. Chicago City Council has just over three weeks to pass a budget or face a potential government shutdown.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: Brandon Johnson’s Latest Budget Pitch; Embattled CPS Chief Offered Buyout
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- A new budget pitch from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Chicago’s self-styled “collaborator in chief” says he’s “going to continue to work through this process to present a budget that continues to invest.”
His latest plan relies on an array of tax increases, fines, fees and surcharges — plus ending pandemic-era programs like a guaranteed basic income pilot project.
There’s also a property tax hike — though it is reduced. But will enough members of the City Council get on board?
And Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union are now negotiating seven days a week. That’s as the Board of Education works to force district CEO Pedro Martinez from his post.
And jurors hear undercover recordings in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial, with prosecutors saying they show the inner workings of an alleged criminal enterprise.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- When the West Side Burned — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 56:26
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- In the days after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, columns of smoke rose above Chicago’s West Side. The murder of a man who preached nonviolence in the face of struggle ignited grief and rage as uprisings spread in cities across the United States with violence, looting, and fires. On the West Side, the anguish was palpable as 11 people died, hundreds were injured, thousands were arrested, and approximately 200 buildings were destroyed.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/westside
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#ChicagoStoriesWTTW
- Title
- December 5, 2024 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Advocates Against Clearing Out Humboldt Park Homeless Encampment
Ald. Jessie Fuentes and city officials announced the proposal to remove all tents from the area before the holidays as part of the Humboldt Park Encampment Housing Initiative.
Investigation Finds Privacy Violations in Chicago Migrant Shelters
Allegations say shelter staff used personal devices to access and share migrants’ information without proper security measures — leading to potentially compromised data.
New Coffee Shop Brings Vibrant Twist to Mexican Flavors
The owners of Grano Panaderia y Cafe share their mission to grow in the Back of the Yards community.
#LatinoVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 4, 2024 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Some Neighbors Push Back on New Quantum Computing Development
The former U.S. Steel South Works site is set to be transformed into the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. Advocates say things are moving too fast without a clear understanding of the environmental impact the project will bring.
How a Local Basketball League is Working to Reduce Violence
Former Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah founded One City Basketball League alongside Cobe Williams, author of "Interrupting Violence: One Man’s Journey to Heal the Streets and Redeem Himself."
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 3, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Some Downstate Counties Considering Split From Illinois. Is it Feasible?
Seven southern Illinois counties were added to the growing list of those wanting to explore breaking away from the Chicago area to form their own state — and signaling their dissatisfaction with what's happening in Springfield.
Spotlight Politics: Deadline Looms to Pass a Budget
With a Dec. 31 deadline looming to pass the city budget, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council remain divided over how to close a $1 billion budget gap. Meanwhile, alderpeople demand reforms to the city's do-not-hire list, which was altered by Johnson's former press secretary who placed employees who filed complaints against him on the list.
Shedd Scientist Recruits Volunteers to Study Sucker Fish
Sucker fish are vital to the Great Lakes ecosystem, forming a foundation on which other organisms depend, from macroinvertebrates to bald eagles.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNew...
- Title
- December 2, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- How Johnson Lost Control of the Chicago Budget Debate
As City Council members return to City Hall to wrap up budget hearings, there is no clear path to a deal with just 29 days left before the deadline to avoid an unprecedented shutdown of city government.
How Trump's Tariff Plan Could Impact Illinois
President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs are set to take effect on his first day in office through executive order, and they’re already drawing concern from economists about global and local impacts.
What's Next After the Chicago Bears Fired Their Head Coach
It's the first time in franchise history a coach has been sacked during the season.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- December 2024 Birthdays — WTTW Kids Club
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Wishing a happy, happy birthday to these kids in the WTTW Kids Club!
The WTTW Kids Club is a very special level of membership. With each Kids Club membership, you can enroll a child to receive a Kids Club Birthday Card from their favorite WTTW Kids character, an On-Air Birthday Greeting, a Kids Club thank you gift, a WTTW Kids Club Card which includes 2-for-1 entrance to children’s museums in the Chicago area and discounts at popular children’s stores, invitations to special events just for kids and families, and more!
Learn more at https://www.wttw.com/kidsclub
- Title
- November 2024 Birthdays — WTTW Kids Club
- Runtime
- 1:28
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Wishing a happy, happy birthday to these kids in the WTTW Kids Club!
The WTTW Kids Club is a very special level of membership. With each Kids Club membership, you can enroll a child to receive a Kids Club Birthday Card from their favorite WTTW Kids character, an On-Air Birthday Greeting, a Kids Club thank you gift, a WTTW Kids Club Card which includes 2-for-1 entrance to children’s museums in the Chicago area and discounts at popular children’s stores, invitations to special events just for kids and families, and more!
Learn more at https://www.wttw.com/kidsclub
- Title
- Week in Review: Assessing the Potential Local Impact of Trump’s 2nd Term
- Runtime
- 26:47
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Is he playing turkey — or serious? The potential local impact of Trump’s gambit on tariffs. And what has to happen before the year ends.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- The Making of Playboy — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 56:18
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- The Playboy Bunny is one of the most recognized logos in the world. But the brand now synonymous with sex was launched in the conservative 1950s, an era when talking about sex was taboo. Twenty-seven-year-old Hugh Hefner saw an opportunity to test the limits of the First Amendment and bring sex into the mainstream. From his kitchen in Hyde Park, he launched Playboy, an aspirational lifestyle magazine aimed at young, single men that attempted to associate sex with sophistication. Hefner pushed boundaries and created controversy. He sparked debates about feminism and erotica, advocated for free speech, and was committed to tearing down the walls of segregation and social oppression, all while spearheading a sexual revolution.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/playboy
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#Ch...
- Title
- November 27, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Small Business Owners on the Holiday Shopping Season
In addition to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this week also brings Small Business Saturday. But local entrepreneurs are encouraging shoppers to visit throughout the season.
How Local Native Americans Are Preserving Their History
While November marks Native American Heritage Month, many locals say they don’t confine celebrating their traditions, culture and achievements to just one month.
Novel Pizza Cafe Offers Modern Twist on Italian Classic
A nurse and a factory owner teamed up to open their own pizza place in Pilsen.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 26, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Spotlight Politics: Top Johnson Staffer Faced Misconduct Allegations
Mayor Brandon Johnson made a big revision to the proposed budget, which may be an expensive consequence to the city and the future of the Chicago Police Department. Meanwhile, the trial of Michael Madigan entered its sixth week with a new face: former 25th Ward alderperson and FBI mole Danny Solis.
'America's Test Kitchen' Co-Hosts on Show's Legacy, New Cookbook
The show is celebrating its 25th season with a new cookbook featuring 500 of the most iconic recipes. “America’s Test Kitchen” has been on public television since 2001 with the aim of putting home cooks at ease by focusing on their needs.
WTTW News Explains: How Are Highway Exits Numbered?
Do you ever find yourself wondering how all the exits got their numbers? It’s relatively simple — but not necessarily intuitive. WTTW News explains.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 25, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- How a Second Trump Presidency Could Impact Chicago-Area Transit
With transit advocates hopeful they’ll see shovels in the ground next year to kick off the long-awaited Red Line Extension, the Chicago Transit Authority is racing to finalize the $1.9 billion in federal funding needed to complete the 5.6-mile project before the Biden administration leaves office.
Northwestern Professor to Trump's Health Department Picks
The president-elect nominated environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, and controversial television talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz as head of Medicare and Medicaid. Neither has public health experience.
Makeup Maven Bobbi Brown on Her Latest Venture
Bobbi Brown has been a household name since the '90s. And now at 67, she's given her own business a makeover with the brand Jones Road Beauty.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: Johnson Proposes $150M Tax Hike; Solis Takes the Stand
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Mayor Brandon Johnson says alderpeople should stop throwing tantrums and start negotiating the budget seriously. And disgraced former Ald. Danny Solis takes the stand in Michael Madigan’s historic corruption trial.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- The Young Lords of Lincoln Park — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 54:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- There was a time, from the late 1940s through the 1960s, when the now-upscale Lincoln Park neighborhood served as the beating heart of Chicago’s huge Puerto Rican community, and the base of operations for a band of Puerto Rican revolutionaries known as the Young Lords. Led by a young man named José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, the activist group – which evolved from a social club to a street gang to a political force – banded together with the Black Panthers as the Rainbow Coalition to wage war against what they called Mayor Richard J. Daley’s “urban removal of the poor” and the area’s eventual gentrification.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/younglords
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#ChicagoStoriesWTTW
- Title
- November 21, 2024 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- How Local Groups Are Preparing for Potential Mass Deportations
Local attorneys and community advocates are in the midst of preparing for a second Trump presidency.
Abandoned Railway in Pilsen May Be Getting New Life
The Chicago Department of Transportation is working with community members to transform the area. But some worry it'll create more gentrification and displacement.
WTTW News Explains: Chicago's Dibs System
Every winter, Chicago stands divided around a practice commonly known as “dibs” – when car owners use janky household objects to reserve their precious shoveled-out parking spaces.
#LatinoVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 20, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- In 5 Years, Chicago Has Barely Made Progress on Court-Ordered Police Reforms
Chicago police agreed to judicial oversight in 2019. Since then, a series of mayors and police chiefs let efforts languish and no one in a position of oversight has pushed forcefully to keep the process on track, WTTW News and ProPublica found.
Groundbreaking Documentary 'Hoop Dreams' Turns 30
Six years, two high schoolers, one game. That was the winning combination for "Hoop Dreams," which follows two Chicago teens with dreams of making it in the NBA in the early '90s.
Exhibit Showcases Black Excellence in Aviation and Aerospace
Since “Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen” opened on Navy Pier, thousands of kids have used the space to imagine themselves as little pilots and learn more about Black heroes in aviation and aerospace history.
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 19, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Spotlight Politics: Where Chicago Budget Negotiations Stand
Mayor Brandon Johnson is back to the drawing board after Chicago City Council unanimously voted against a $300 million property tax hike. Meanwhile, state officials are pushing back on President-elect Donald Trump's promise to execute mass deportations. And the trial of Michael Madigan is in its fifth week.
The Onion is Adding Controversial Infowars to Its Brand
The purchase happened in a bankruptcy auction, held after Jones was ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a defamation lawsuit, brought by families of Sandy Hook victims. But Alex Jones and company are fighting back, claiming fraud and collusion.
Cook County Tops 70,000 Acres of Forest Preserve Land
For years, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has referred to its total holdings as “nearly” 70,000 acres. Well scratch that modifier and replace it with “more than.” There’s nothing equivocal about those 70,000 acres ...
- Title
- November 18, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Police, Family Members Pay Tribute to Slain Chicago Police Officer
Hundreds gather to remember slain Chicago police Officer Enrique Martinez.
Meet 3 Members of Chicago's New Elected School Board
Voters just elected 10 new members for the Chicago Board of Education. The election follows the last board’s en masse resignation and public clashes between Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Advocates Say After-School Programs Are at Risk of Losing Funding
Illinois lawmakers approved $50 million for after-school and summer programs, but advocates say that funding hasn’t reached schools yet.
New Documentary Explores Life, Work of Leonardo da Vinci
Artist, scientist, engineer and philosopher — titles that only scratch the surface of what 15th century Italian Leonardo da Vinci achieved. A new two-part PBS documentary series from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon dissects da Vinc...
- Title
- Week in Review: Trump's Cabinet Picks; New Bears Stadium
- Runtime
- 26:45
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- President-elect Trump starts planning his return to Washington — and picking his Cabinet. And the City Council unanimously votes down Mayor Johnson’s proposed property tax hike.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Amusement Parks — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 55:03
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Thrill-seeking Chicagoans have been lining up at local amusement parks for nearly a 150 years. From the early trolley parks of the nineteenth century, to the famous Ferris wheel of the World’s Fair, to the golden age of roller coasters, to the white-knuckle, gravity-defying rides of the modern age, the business of fun has always been central to Chicago. Beloved parks such as Riverview Park and Kiddieland, among others, served as a beacon for laughter, thrills, and childhood fun for a generation of Chicagoans.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/amusementparks
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#ChicagoStoriesWTTW
- Title
- November 14, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:46
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- City Council Votes to Reject Johnson’s $300M Property Tax Hike
Without debate, the Chicago City Council voted unanimously Thursday to reject the $300 million property tax hike proposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, sending negotiations over the city’s spending plan for 2025 back to square one.
Kim Foxx Reflects on 8 Years as Cook County State's Attorney
After eight years in office, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is passing the torch. Foxx was among a cadre of so-called “progressive prosecutors” to take office around the country — promising to reshape the nation's criminal justice system.
Advocates Push Back Against City's New Shelter Approach
Chicago's plan to merge its new arrivals shelter operations with the homeless shelter network is receiving pushback from local organizations. The city plans to launch the One System Initiative in January, with 6,800 shelter beds.
#LatinoVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 13, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:46
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- South Side Residents Take Part in a Study on Reparations
America’s so-called war on drugs was intended to reduce illegal narcotic use but instead led to decades of criminalization, the incarceration of millions of people and increased levels of violence. According to a new report, the war on drugs is one reason some South Side residents say they could be owed a form of reparations.
Task Force Releases Findings on Illinois' Role in Underground Railroad
A task force created by a 2023 law to explore ways chronicle Illinois’ Underground Railroad history announced its findings, recommending the state create a commission that would organize historical sites and stories about the network.
New Opera Explores Black Family's Grief, Journey Toward Healing
A new opera at Chicago's Lyric Opera explores a Black family's grief and journey toward healing.
Homewood Brewery Honors Juice WRLD's Memory
And we visit a south suburban brewpu...
- Title
- November 12, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Illinois House Speaker on Veto Session, Trump's Victory
As state lawmakers return to Springfield for a veto session, we're one on one with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch. He shares Democratic priorities ahead of a second Trump presidency.
Spotlight Politics: Pushback on Johnson's Proposed Tax Hike
The latest on the fate of Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed property tax hike. Meanwhile, plans by Democratic politicians in Springfield to "Trump-proof" the state. And defense attorneys cross-examine a key witness in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 11, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- What Trump's Reelection Could Mean for His Ongoing Legal Cases
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office early next year, we take a look at the ongoing criminal cases he is facing and how his election will impact those court proceedings.
Federal Judge Finds Illinois' Assault Weapons Ban Unconstitutional
After a federal judge last week ruled Illinois' ban on so-called assault weapons unconstitutional, what happens now? Gun rights advocates say the ruling was fair, while those who support the ban say an appeal is on its way.
Remembering Ella Jenkins
Plus, we remember Ella Jenkins, a pioneer in Chicago children's music and education who died at age 100.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: Trump Wins Election; Pritzker Promises Resistance
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- President-elect Donald Trump prepares for a second term. Meanwhile, Democrats are left to digest and come to terms with a crushing defeat.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- The Black Sox Scandal – A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 54:16
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- It’s the most notorious scandal in the history of professional baseball. Eight Chicago White Sox players conspired to throw the World Series in 1919. It was an event that ruined the reputations and careers of some of the greatest players of all time, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and broke the heart of a nation. As the favored White Sox lost the series, word got out that the once-noble game of baseball had been compromised. At trial, the players were found not guilty – but they were later banned from professional baseball for life. The Black Sox Scandal is a story that forever changed America’s pastime.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/blacksox
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Watch more amazing Chicago Stories: https://www.wttw.com/chicagostories
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#ChicagoStoriesWTTW
- Title
- November 7, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- City Council Members Push Back on Mayor's Tax Hike Plan
Chicago’s top financial officials defended Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to hike property taxes by $300 million and use it to pay down the city’s massive pension debt to skeptical members of the Chicago City Council.
How Trump Won Over Latino Men in His Reelection Bid
Donald Trump's victory came after securing support from voters in key battleground states. That includes winning over a number of Latino men who had historically backed the Democratic Party.
US Rep. Delia Ramirez on What Trump's Win Means for Illinois
Donald Trump’s central issue has been immigration and his promises to conduct the largest mass deportation once in office. More than 400,000 undocumented residents live in Illinois.
#LatinoVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 6, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Local Reaction to Kamala Harris' Loss in 2024 Race
President-elect Donald Trump's victory marks a sweeping political comeback for a candidate who refused to accept defeat four years ago, was convicted on felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
Local Congressmen on What Trump's Victory Means for Illinois
Donald Trump's election is just the crest of an apparent red wave, as Republicans picked up more seats in the U.S. House and shifted the balance in the U.S. Senate.
New Documentary Celebrates 40 Years of House Music
To mark the 40th anniversary of the invention of house music, a new “Chicago Stories” documentary is celebrating the innovative and catchy dance music that still inspires artists today.
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 5, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- How Many Chicagoans Voted? Updates From the Board of Elections
WTTW News reporter Joanna Hernandez is live at the Chicago Board of Elections.
Spotlight Politics: Democrats, Republicans Offer Very Different Visions for US
In Chicago, we've seen long lines as voters look to weigh in on not just the presidential race, but significant races closer to home. Those include the first-ever Chicago Board of Education election and an Illinois congressional race that could tip the balance of power in the U.S. House.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- November 4, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Looking Ahead to Chicago's Board of Education Election
For the first time, Chicago voters will choose members to represent them on the Chicago Board of Education. Here's how that process will work.
Presidential Polls Are in the News. What Do They Really Tell Us?
Recent polls say presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in a neck and neck battle. But how much can polling data actually tell us?
Ahead of Election, Americans Report Significant Stress Around Future of the Nation
A study reports that 77% of U.S. adults say the nation's future is a significant source of stress in their lives. With polls showing a tight race, it appears Americans are struggling with the unpredictable outcome.
Chicago Students Volunteer as Election Judges
Chicago has hired more than 8,000 election judges to help things run smoothly on Election Day. Many of them are students.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Week in Review: Presidential Election Approaches; Johnson Proposes Property Tax Hike
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- What’s on the line as Election Day approaches. And Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget pitch includes property tax hike.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- Deadly Alliance: Leopold & Loeb — A Chicago Stories Documentary
- Runtime
- 55:30
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were the quintessential picture of privilege. Both brilliant and wealthy, the two University of Chicago graduate students had bright futures. But under the glossy veneer lurked something much more sinister. In 1924, after several months of meticulous planning, Leopold and Loeb kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks – Loeb’s second cousin – all for the thrill of committing a “perfect” crime. The men wanted to put their self-professed superior intellect to the test. The kidnapping and murder were quickly dubbed the “Crime of the Century” and provoked a media frenzy. In the sensational sentencing hearing that followed, they were defended by none other than Clarence Darrow, the most famous lawyer in America. This is the story of a crime that is no less compelling today than when it first captivated a horrified nation one hundred years ago.
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Dive deeper into the story: https://www.wttw.com/d...
- Title
- October 31, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- CPS Board President Resigns Under Pressure
Chicago Board of Education President Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson resigned under pressure Thursday after a series of antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial social media posts generated a wave of outrage that stretched from the Chicago City Council to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Where Latino Voters Stand on the Issues This Election
Latinos make up an increasing number of voters across Illinois. Both presidential candidates have a made a point of addressing Latino voters.
Pilsen Scrap Metal Facility Raises Environmental Concerns
The Sims Metal Management company in Pilsen has been cited by state and federal officials for violating environmental laws. The company agreed to build new equipment to contain emissions, but advocates don't want the facility's permit renewed.
#LatinoVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- October 30, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Johnson Calls for $300M Property Tax Hike to Close Budget Gap
Mayor Brandon Johnson said he had no choice but to break one of his central campaign promises in order to avoid draconian cuts to city services and thousands of layoffs.
Black Male Voters Could Be Crucial Bloc in Presidential Election
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are both making appeals to Black male voters.
Advocates Seek More Funding for Early Childhood Intervention Programs
Advocates want Gov. J.B. Pritzker to increase early intervention funding by $60 million to tackle staffing shortages and huge delays in treatment.
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- October 29, 2024 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 2 years ago
- Description
- Spotlight Politics: Will Johnson's Budget Plan Include a Tax Hike?
Mayor Brandon Johnson is going to be in the hot seat at City Council, outlining his plans to close the city's nearly $1 billion budget gap. Meanwhile, another resignation at City Hall this week. And in the final stretch toward Election Day, millions are being spent on the inaugural Chicago Board of Education candidates.
James 'Big Cat' Williams on Where the Bears Stand This Season
The deflating last-second loss to the Commanders came after a string of three consecutive wins had Bears fans dreaming of a post-season appearance.
#ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews
