WTTW
Diane (Full Episode) — FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
- Title
- Diane (Full Episode) — FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
- Runtime
- 19:59
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Diane has been keeping the peace in Roseland for the past 20 years by offering positive alternatives to gangs and drugs. She runs her grassroots organization Kids Off the Block from her living room. It's her calling, she says, to help local youth by "all means necessary”—offering them food, clothing and activities—necessities they have been denied amidst the disinvestment in their neighborhood.
See more from FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers at https://interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/peacekeepers
----------
About FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
----------
As crime and public safety are top of mind across Chicago’s communities, there are people who are working to prevent conflict before it happens and stop it from escalating when it does. WTTW spends a year exploring violence interruption and prevention in Chicago in Firsthand: Peacekeepers, a series of documentaries, expert talks, investigative journalism, and community engagement focusing on extraordin...
- Title
- Patricia (Full Episode) — FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
- Runtime
- 21:38
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Judge Patricia Spratt spends most of her week in a traditional courtroom in Maywood. But every Thursday, she turns her attention to healing and reconciliation in North Lawndale, where she leads the neighborhood’s Restorative Justice Community Court. Her role is to transform young lives through restorative justice. The goal is to heal victims, the community, and the offenders themselves.
See more from FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers at https://interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/peacekeepers
----------
About FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
----------
As crime and public safety are top of mind across Chicago’s communities, there are people who are working to prevent conflict before it happens and stop it from escalating when it does. WTTW spends a year exploring violence interruption and prevention in Chicago in Firsthand: Peacekeepers, a series of documentaries, expert talks, investigative journalism, and community engagement focusing on extraordinary people w...
- Title
- Damien (Full Episode) — FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
- Runtime
- 25:37
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Damien is dedicating his life to making one Chicago neighborhood safer. He finds himself driving from one crisis to the next as he stops at crime scenes, visits victims at the hospital, mediates disputes, brokers peace agreements, and leads peace circles. But when Garfield Park’s violence hits too close to home, Damien’s peacekeeping skills are put to the test.
See more from FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers at https://interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/peacekeepers
----------
About FIRSTHAND: Peacekeepers
----------
As crime and public safety are top of mind across Chicago’s communities, there are people who are working to prevent conflict before it happens and stop it from escalating when it does. WTTW spends a year exploring violence interruption and prevention in Chicago in Firsthand: Peacekeepers, a series of documentaries, expert talks, investigative journalism, and community engagement focusing on extraordinary people who are making a differen...
- Title
- April 24, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton Announces US Senate Campaign
She is the first Democrat to announce her candidacy in the race to replace longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is retiring. It's expected to be a hotly contested race.
What to Know About CPD's New Policy Proposal for Traffic Stops
Chicago police officers would not be banned from making traffic stops based on minor registration or equipment violations that are designed to find evidence of “unrelated” crimes, under a new policy unveiled by Chicago Police Department leaders.
How Federal Funding Cuts Are Impacting Illinois Universities
The Trump administration is freezing $790 million for Northwestern University, putting more than 100 projects on pause. Research funding from the CDC and National Institutes of Health is also at risk.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 23, 2025 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Survivors of Highland Park Parade Shooting Recount 'Utter Chaos'
Nearly three years after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Illinois history, victims from the Highland Park parade shooting and their loved ones hoped to finally confront the man responsible, but he refused to attend his own sentencing hearing.
Long-Stalled Push for Reparations in Chicago is Moving Forward
Chicagoans can now apply to join the city’s Reparations Task Force, which will come up with a plan on how to pay reparations to Black residents.
Singer Jamila Woods on the Healing Power of Music
An event called "The Listening Field" will explore themes of rest, introspection and liberation on Chicago's West Side this weekend.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 22, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Supreme Court to Weigh in on Trump's Efforts to Ban Birthright Citizenship
The president’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for the children of people who are in the U.S. illegally has been halted nationwide by three district courts around the country. Appeals courts have declined to disturb those rulings.
A Look at the City's Efforts to Rid CPD of Extremist Groups
Two months after Mayor Brandon Johnson formed a task force to examine how to rid the Chicago Police Department of officers with ties to extremist and anti-government groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, the effort has yet to show any sign of public progress.
Scientists Find Possible Signs of Life on Faraway Planet
The research, led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, detected evidence of compounds in the exoplanet's atmosphere that on Earth are only produced by living organisms and contended it's the strongest potential signal yet of life.
- Title
- Imani, Chicago’s Native Plover Son, Is Back at Montrose and He’s Already Battling for Turf.
- Runtime
- 0:22
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago’s favorite son has returned: Imani, the piping plover, is back at Montrose Beach.
Tamima Itani, who coordinates the brigade of volunteer plover monitors, said she received a text at 3:12 p.m. Friday that Imani had been sighted at the home base where he hatched in 2021. She was among a small group of monitors gathered at Montrose pier Friday afternoon, reveling in the arrival of the tiny plover, who represents a tangible link to Monty and Rose, the birds who introduced Chicagoans to plover fever.
Imani wasted no time making his presence known to a fellow plover, Pippin, who arrived at Montrose a week ago.
The two males could be seen chasing each other up and down the beach Friday, jockeying for territory. The behavior is known as a “parallel-run display,” according to the Cornell Bird Lab.
Story and Video: Patty Wetli/WTTW News
Follow us:
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/wttw
Instagram...
- Title
- April 21, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Remembering the Life and Legacy of Pope Francis
Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, has died. He was 88.
Advocates Challenge Trump Administration's Approach to Autism Research
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised to find the cause of the “autism epidemic” by September.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Week in Review: Jan. 6 Rioters Blocked From City Jobs; Police Misconduct Budget Nearly Exhausted
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell visits Chicago and warns President Donald Trump’s tariff war could have negative consequences for the economy. Powell said the Federal Reserve will wait for “greater clarity” before cutting interest rates.
Those remarks drew a blistering response from the president, who said Powell — whom he appointed in his first term — was always “too late and wrong” and should be fired.
Former President Joe Biden was also in Chicago to deliver his first major speech since leaving office — and took immediate aim at the Trump administration, accusing it of taking a hatchet to Social Security.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration doubles down on its deportation of a man sent to prison in El Salvador — despite previously calling it a mistake.
The Chicago City Council votes to block participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol from holding city jobs.
Chicago teachers ratify what their uni...
- Title
- April 17, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Judge Finds Cause to Hold Trump Administration in Criminal Contempt
A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court and warned he could seek officials' prosecution for violating his orders last month to turn around planes carrying deportees to an El Salvador prison.
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Talks New Job as Chicago Park District CEO
The Chicago Park District is the nation's third-largest park system, with more than 600 parks, 230 fieldhouses and 26 miles of lakefront.
Chicago History Museum to Explore Latino Stories in New Exhibit
Quinceañera dresses and an Indigenous ceremonial mask are among the items displayed in an exhibit celebrating the long history of Latinos in Chicago.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 16, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
- Runtime
- 25:43
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago City Council Blocks Jan. 6 Rioters From City Jobs
Shortly after taking office in January, President Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who were convicted of attacking the Capitol as part of an effort to overturn the 2020 election.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates on New Contract
After nearly a year of bargaining, the CTU is one step closer to finalizing a deal with Chicago Public Schools. The contract now needs approval from the Chicago Board of Education.
Black Women More Likely to Die From Pregnancy-Related Complications
As part of the sweeping layoffs orchestrated by the Department of Health and Human Services, the department tasked with monitoring and improving maternal and child health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was placed on leave. Others researching maternal mortality had their funding rescinded, leaving health experts in limbo.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw #BlackVoicesWTTW
- Title
- Storytelling and Social Justice are Heart and Soul of Chicago's New National Public Housing Museum
- Runtime
- 1:58
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The new National Public Housing Museum is “unlike any museum that you’ve been to,” according to Executive Director Lisa Yun Lee.
Founded by residents, it is the first cultural institution to interpret the American experience via public housing, and it’s housed in the last surviving building of the Jane Addams Homes built in 1937 on Chicago’s Near West Side.
The grand opening this weekend will be a celebration with music, art and a side of social justice.
For one former resident, it’s like traveling back in time.
“It’s surreal in a way to walk in here today,” said the Rev. Marshall Hatch, who lived here throughout the 1960s. “This is my neighborhood, my childhood. This is where my best friends were. This is where my birthday parties were.”
Story by Marc Vitali/WTTW News
Follow us:
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/wttw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wttwchicago/#
- Title
- April 15, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Trump Administration Targets Major Law Firms
Some of the nation's largest law firms have been faced with a stark choice: cooperate with the Trump administration or face punitive executive orders.
Spotlight Politics: Tensions Escalate Between Chicago, White House
Tensions between President Donald Trump and Chicago's mayor continue to escalate with Brandon Johnson referring to White House tactics as terrorism. Chicago police make progress meeting consent decree goals. And prosecutors rest their case in the federal corruption trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 14, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago Set to Exhaust Annual Budget for Police Misconduct Settlements
The city of Chicago is on track to exhaust the $82 million officials set aside to cover police misconduct settlements and judgments in 2025, just four months into the year, city records show.
Waves of Illinois’ International University Students Lose Their Visas
That group includes students attending Northwestern, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — which has one of the highest international student enrollments in the country.
Geoffrey Baer Explores Chicago Lakefront in New Special
From its many vibrant beaches to the tours and cruises it inspires, Chicago's beloved lakefront is a big part of the city’s culture and identity.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Week in Review: International Students Targeted; Pushback on Mayor’s Affordable Housing Plan
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- President Donald Trump and his administration take aim at local schools — and foreign students. International students from schools including Northwestern, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois have their visas revoked with little explanation.
Meanwhile, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon faces questions from state elections officials who say he took in far larger campaign contributions than legally allowed.
Alderpeople push back on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s affordable housing plan — and on a settlement for a man fatally shot by Chicago police.
In sports, the Chicago Bulls steer their way toward the postseason play-in tournament in good form.
And Northwestern University settles with former football players in a bombshell hazing lawsuit.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 10, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Trump Administration Using IRS to Further Push Deportation Efforts
The IRS reached an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to share taxpayer information about some undocumented immigrants with law enforcement agencies.
Meet the New 35th Ward Alderperson, Anthony Quezada
Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Quezada to replace former 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who was tapped to lead the Chicago Park District.
Inside a Local Organization Helping Teens Tell Their Stories
Andre Rodriguez founded the anti-violence initiative Luv City to give young people opportunities he didn't have.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw #LatinoVoicesWTTW
- Title
- April 9, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Mayor Brandon Johnson’s effort to take a new approach to reducing Chicago’s massive affordable housing shortfall by creating a city-owned nonprofit housing developer faced deeply skeptical City Council members Wednesday, delaying a planned vote.
The National Public Housing Museum in Chicago is also a workforce program, recording studio and contains actual affordable housing units on site.
Chicago Public Schools' Black Student Success Plan aims to bring in more Black teachers, reduce suspensions and expulsions, promote teaching on Black history and close opportunity gaps.
#BlackVoicesWTTW #WTTWNews
- Title
- April 8, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The Local Impact of Federal Funding Cuts for Arts, Cultural Groups
The abrupt termination of National Endowment for the Humanities grants means Illinois Humanities is now facing a $1 million budget shortfall.
Spotlight Politics: Alderpeople Push Back on Police Filing Felony Charges
The bribery trial for a longtime Illinois lawmaker gets underway. Public transit workers lobby in Springfield for transit funding. And alderpeople consider banning Jan. 6 participants from city jobs.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 7, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- What the Latest Trump Tariffs Mean for Businesses and Your Wallet
The president said the tariffs will strengthen the country's global economic position. But economists and business owners warn of the uncertainty a trade war could bring to everyone's wallets.
How Federal Funding Cuts for Libraries, Museums Are Impacting Illinois
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The entire staff was placed on administrative leave.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Week in Review: Chicago Teachers Poised to Approve Contract; Trump Tariffs Tank Stock Markets
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago teachers appear to be on the brink of approving a new contract union leaders are calling “transformative” — but questions remain over how it will be paid for.
President Donald Trump declares a trade war — slapping tariffs on virtually every country around the globe — and triggering a massive stock market sell-off.
Chicago leaders debate whether to further restrict teens’ access to downtown.
Suburban voters head to the polls — with two-term Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin shown the door, and a longtime foe of Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard winning that seat.
And the Chicago Bears are once again talking up a potential move to Arlington Heights.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 3, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Some Push for Expanded Downtown Curfew After High-Profile Shootings
A crowd of hundreds of teens congregated in Streeterville over the weekend. One teen was shot, while another was stabbed. Multiple police officers were injured.
Illinois Trade Mission Delegation Returns From Mexico
Mexico was Illinois’ second-largest export market in 2024 with $32 billion worth of goods being sent to the country. Another $19 billion worth of Mexican goods came to Illinois that year, making the country Illinois’ third-largest import market.
How a Chicagoan is Working to Help Protect Monarch Butterflies
Monarch butterflies may be moving toward federally protected status. One local resident is taking it upon herself to help protect the pollinators with deep cultural meaning to the Mexican community.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 3, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Title
- April 1, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago Teachers Union Reaches Tentative Contract Deal
Negotiations over the last three contracts all came to a strike vote — and in two cases, a strike — before a deal was reached.
Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle on Her Decision to Run for a 5th Term
The 78-year-old cited the "chaos and uncertainty" emanating from Washington, D.C., as her reason for running again.
Ronan Farrow on New Project ‘Not a Very Good Murderer’
The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter has uncovered stories of sexual harassment and assault, chronicled the decline of America’s soft power and explored how powerful people try to track and manipulate journalists.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- April 2025 Birthdays — WTTW Kids Club
- Runtime
- 1:10
- Date posted
- 1 year 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
- March 31, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The Chicago Teachers Union could be close to making a contract deal as union negotiators were set to meet today to consider a proposal from the district.
The U.S. Postal Service has been facing challenges for years. The postmaster general now plans to resign as Elon Musk prepares to target the department.
Illinois' public health funding is set to take a hit as the Trump administration is pulling back on more than $400 million aimed at preventing infectious diseases and treating mental health and substance abuse issues.
- Title
- Week in Review: CTU Close to a Deal; Signal Group Chat Debacle
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- After nearly a year of bargaining, Chicago Teachers Union negotiators are mulling over a potential new contract deal.
Democrats demand answers after Yemen attack plans are inadvertently disclosed to a journalist from The Atlantic magazine over a commercial group chat program.
Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth calls the blunder “an egregious breach of national security.”
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins an effort to block the Trump administration from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.
The Chicago Police Department dramatically under-reports traffic stops.
A new study finds well-off voters hold more sway over property tax hikes.
And after a record season last year — in a bad way — the White Sox win their home opener against the Angels 8-1. While the Bulls stun LeBron James’ Lakers as Josh Giddey sinks a buzzer beater from half-court. #wttwnews #weekinreview
- Title
- March 27, 2025 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Man in ICE Custody Seeking Temporary Release to Donate Kidney to His Brother
A Chicago-area man with kidney failure is fighting for his life, while his brother who planned to donate a kidney is now facing an ICE custody battle. Here’s their story.
Could Bike Lanes Speed Up Gentrification on the Southwest Side?
Some 25th Ward residents want bike lanes, but others worry about the affects of cycling culture.
Sueños Music Festival Returning to Grant Park for 4th Year
The celebration of Latino culture features musical artists from across Latin America, this time bringing Shakira, Don Omar, Peso Pluma and more to the stage.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 26, 2025 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- What to Know About Boycotts Facing Walmart, Target and Amazon
The group People's Union USA is urging buyers to stop shopping at major companies in protest of corporate control and the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
New Memoir Explores Late CTU Leader Karen Lewis' Life and Legacy
The legacy of former Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis can still be felt in public education in the city today. The feisty and outspoken chemistry teacher led nearly 25,000 teachers on a historic weeklong strike in 2012, changing the way the union organized and negotiated.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 25, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- US Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls for Pete Hegseth to Step Down
The Trump administration is playing defense after shocking reports that senior officials accidentally shared details of an imminent attack on Yemen to a journalist over an unclassified group chat.
CPD Failed to Track Hundreds of Thousands of Traffic Stops in 2024
A CPD spokesperson acknowledged to WTTW News that officers made an additional 210,622 stops in 2024 that were not documented as required by state law and CPD policy, making it impossible to know whether the drivers’ constitutional rights were protected during those stops.
Bill Calls for More Oversight on Homeschooling in Illinois
Efforts to regulate homeschooling have touched off a heated debate. Backers of a new bill say it's aimed at ensuring kids get the education they need and are better protected from neglect.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 24, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The Local Impact of a Shrinking Department of Education
President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order seeking to dismantle the Department of Education. But critics say the president's efforts are illegal.
Retired Lt. Col. Jennifer Pritzker on Trump's Efforts to Ban Transgender Troops
A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's attempt to ban transgender troops from serving in the military, saying the policy is discriminatory. The move comes after service members sued over Trump's executive order, calling it "character assassination based on nothing."
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Week in Review: CPS and CTU Say They’re Close to a Deal; Sun-Times Loses 20% of Its Journalists
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Tensions between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union are running hot, but both sides say a contract deal is close as of Friday evening.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Board of Education postpones a controversial budget vote that could have been embarrassing for Mayor Brandon Johnson.
This, as President Donald Trump moves to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education saying schools are failing in their mission to educate American children.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker lambasted the president even as he warns the state could lose up to $11 billion in federal funding.
And Chicago area transit agencies threaten major cuts to services if the state doesn’t come through with more funds to plug a looming budget deficit.
Plus, the Chicago-Sun Times loses 20% of its journalists following a buyout offer. #wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 20, 2025 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- CPS Board Calls Off Vote to Make $175M Pension Payment
Chicago Board of Education leaders called off a vote to cover a $175 million pension payment amid implacable opposition, dealing a significant blow to Mayor Brandon Johnson and threatening the city’s financial stability.
Attorneys Sue ICE Over Claims of Illegal Arrests in Chicago Area
Local attorneys and activists allege there's been foul play by Immigration Customs and Enforcement and other federal agencies during the first weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Venezuelans in Chicago Set to Lose Temporary Protected Status
Without these protections, many Venezuelans become undocumented and could lose financial assistance, work permits and other benefits.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 19, 2025 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- What the Future of Police Reform Looks Like After COPA Leadership Change
COPA Chief Andrea Kersten resigned after the city’s police oversight board — the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability — issued a letter to Kersten saying they were planning to take a vote of no confidence in her leadership.
3 Illinois Universities Face Federal Investigations Over DEI Programs
It comes after the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter instructing educational institutions to stop “using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 18, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago Nonprofit Sues Trump Administration Over Anti-DEI Orders
Chicago Women in Trades Executive Director Jayne Vellinga said the federal lawsuit was necessary to support an underrepresented part of the workforce.
Spotlight Politics: Johnson Presses CPS Board to Make Pension Payment
Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing Chicago Public Schools to make a pension payment. Meanwhile, the race for Cook County Board president has officially kicked off. And a judge ordered the city to ramp up efforts to make crosswalks more accessible.
WTTW News Explains: Why is Chicago’s Pension Debt So High?
Pensions affect nearly everyone — even if you’re not a public employee. Taxpayers have already been footing the bill to alleviate the pension debt.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 17, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Developers Present New Chicago Bears Stadium Proposal
Farpoint Development released renderings of a new lakefront stadium, located at the former Michael Reese Hospital site.
How Pharmacy Benefit Managers Impact Illinois Patients
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is calling it one of the greatest ironies of the modern age: There are breakthroughs in live-saving medicines, but they're so expensive that they're out of reach.
What a National Measles Outbreak Could Mean for Chicagoans
Chicago and Illinois have no confirmed cases so far this year, but public health experts say it's just a matter of time before the virus is here.
WTTW News Explains: Dyeing the Chicago River Green
The history of the green river flows back to the local plumbers union. It’s been sponsoring the dye job for more than 60 years. WTTW News explains.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Week in Review: Education Department Cuts; Downtown Shooting Revives Curfew Talk
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education as the Trump administration works toward the department’s ultimate elimination.
The cuts announced so far have gutted the Chicago office responsible for enforcing civil rights laws.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the administration’s attacks on public education are tantamount to dismantling democracy — and says up to $3 billion in federal education funding for Illinois could be at risk.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Justice Department turns a critical eye toward Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and other colleges the president says haven’t done enough to combat antisemitism on campus after last summer’s pro-Palestinian protests.
A downtown shooting revives talk of instituting a curfew for minors, but Mayor Brandon Johnson sticks by his “whole of government” approach.
Plus, a plan to expand a toxic dump on the Southeast Side gets scrapped.
Driver...
- Title
- How Does Chicago Dye the River Green for St. Patrick’s Day? | WTTW News Explains
- Runtime
- 2:20
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- #ChicagoTonightWTTW #WTTWNews #stpatricksday #stpaddysday #chicagohistory #chicago #chicagoriver #irish
Ahhh … St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago.
While for some the holiday may mean green beer and lots of partying, one thing’s for certain: Chicago’s estimated 200,000 residents of Irish heritage take their traditions seriously.
And there’s no more iconic Chicago St. Patrick’s Day tradition than dyeing the Chicago River green.
The history of the green river flows back to the local plumbers union. It’s been sponsoring the dye job for more than 60 years.
The story goes — as the plumbers tell it — that business manager Stephen Bailey got the idea from seeing a plumber in stained green coveralls.
See, the city was working to enforce restrictions on waste going into the river during construction projects. Plumbers were using dye to help trace the flow of wastewater and detect leaks.
Bailey...
- Title
- March 13, 2025 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Army Corps Drops Plan to Expand Toxic Dump on Lake Michigan
The dump — known as a confined disposal facility — was constructed in 1984 to store polluted sediment dredged from the Calumet River and Cal-Sag Channel.
Medical Schools Are Enrolling Fewer Black, Latino Students
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in 2023, diversity is in decline at medical schools nationwide. This includes a 10.8% drop in medical students of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.
Chicago Astronomer Joe Guzman on Tonight's Lunar Eclipse
Get your binoculars ready because scientific magic rises in the sky tonight.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 12, 2025 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- What Cuts to the Department of Education Could Mean for Illinois
President Donald Trump's administration announced plans to lay off more than 1,300 Department of Education employees, which will impact every sector of the agency.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on the Trump Administration's Agenda
Democratic officials are sounding the alarm — and in some cases filing legal challenges — about the president’s flurry of executive orders and policy changes.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 11, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Is the US Prepared to Weather the Next Pandemic?
Despite having one of the most sophisticated health care systems in the world, the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic fell short when compared to other developed nations.
Advocates Say More Help Needed for People With Long COVID
For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic is still not behind us. According to the CDC, three in 10 adults who've been infected with COVID-19 have experienced long COVID.
Monument to Pay Tribute to Essential Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic
Chicago will soon be home to a new monument that honors those killed by the COVID-19 virus and acts as a tribute to essential workers who risked their lives.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Touring Chicago's Lakefront with Geoffrey Baer — Trailer
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Geoffrey Baer is back to traverse the length and breadth of Chicago’s world-famous “front yard” and explore everything from beloved birds to submerged secrets along Chicago’s lakefront. A fascinating journey from the history of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable to modern-day hikes on Northerly Island, fishing for lake trout, and snorkeling on a prehistoric reef, Touring the Lakefront with Geoffrey Baer is streaming now on the PBS app and wttw.com/lakefront.
#Chicago #ChicagoLakefront #WTTW #TouringChicago'sLakefrontWTTW
- Title
- March 10, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Alexi Giannoulias on the Real ID Deadline, Book Ban Legislation
After being extended multiple times, the deadline for needing a Real ID to travel domestically seems to really be approaching. But not everyone needs a Real ID. Who does and how can you make the process as quick and painless as possible?
Chicago SBA Office is Leaving Town. How Local Entrepreneurs Could Be Impacted
The Small Business Administration is tasked with offering resources to small business owners. The agency is pulling up stakes in Chicago and five other so-called sanctuary cities.
WTTW News Explains: What's the Story Behind Some of Chicago's Famous Foods?
Chicago is home to a plateful of iconic foods. The Italian beef sandwich was born here in the early 20th century. Gyros were introduced to America in Chicago during the mid ‘60s. As for dessert, the brownie is said to have been invented at the Palmer House Hotel in 1893. But more than anything else, Chicago is known ...
- Title
- Week in Review: Johnson Testifies Before Congress; Trump’s Tariffs Put Markets on Edge
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson answers the call of Congress and tells a Republican-led committee the city is safer because it’s a sanctuary for immigrants.
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel tells the Economic Club of Chicago that he’s not done with public service — prompting speculation over a political comeback.
Meanwhile President Donald Trump says “bear with me” as higher tariffs on some goods take effect — while others are delayed — putting world markets on edge.
A sudden guilty plea from the gunman who murdered seven people at Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade in 2022.
Walgreen’s longtime prescription for success ends in a $10 billion private equity buyout.
And Illinois seems to wave surrender in its hunt for a new state flag.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- March 6, 2025 Full Episode — Latino Voices
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Local Businesses, Consumers React to Trump's Tariff Plans
President Donald Trump is again pausing tariffs on some goods from Mexico and Canada — this time after attempting to enact them on Tuesday. He's also moving forward with 20% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Trump Administration Ends Reimbursements for Illinois Food Programs
The Local Food Purchase Assistance Program uses federal funding to buy fresh products from farmers at a fair market value, then distributes the food to communities via food pantries and other similar programs designed to help people in need for no additional cost.
WTTW News Explains: Chicago's History as a Sanctuary City
For four decades, Chicago has held the designation of a sanctuary city — but what does it mean, and how has Chicago’s status endured? WTTW News explains.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- The History of the Chicago Dance Style Known as Steppin’ From the 1940s to Today
- Runtime
- 4:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- “Chicago is the steppin’ capital of the world.”
That’s a phrase coined by local DJ Sam Chatman, also known as the Godfather of Steppin’. And though the dance craze’s popularity has spread far and wide, no one can do it quite like the hometown originators.
Chicago steppin’ originated in the 1940s as a style of dancing called bopping, but evolved into steppin’ after Chatman noticed a friend breaking away from his partner and walking back toward her. Chatman then took to the mic and encouraged his friend to “step on.” Soon after, Chatman began printing the phrase on posters and flyers and it caught on quickly.
For several years, “Love’s Gonna Last” by Jeffree was the national steppin’ anthem, according to Chatman.
The song was not instantly popular. According to Chatman, it did not become a hit record until several years after it was created, but once it blew up, Chatman and his peers reached out to Jeffree and broug...
- Title
- March 5, 2025 Full Episode — Black Voices
- Runtime
- 26:47
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Johnson Testifies Before Congress About Chicago's Sanctuary City Status
Mayor Brandon Johnson fiercely defended Chicago’s protections for undocumented immigrants, telling Republicans on the U.S. House Oversight Committee that the city’s Welcoming City ordinance makes all Chicagoans safer.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates on Ongoing Contract Negotiations
After nearly a year of bargaining, Chicago Teachers Union officials believe a contract agreement is close and submitted on Wednesday a list of their five “absolute must haves” to push a new contract over the goal line.
Afro Sheen Creator George E. Johnson on His Memoir, Philosophy
For many Black people, Afro Sheen is a household name. Businessman George Johnson created the products in 1954 on Chicago’s South Side. He pushed through racial barriers to become one of the most successful Black entrepreneurs in the U.S. by the late 1960s.
New Field Museum Exhibit Celebrates Af...
- Title
- March 4, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Illinois AG Kwame Raoul on Legal Challenges to the Trump Administration
There have been nearly 100 legal challenges to the Trump administration’s executive orders — all filed in the six short weeks since he assumed office.
Spotlight Politics: Brandon Johnson to Testify Before Congress
Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Washington, D.C., with other sanctuary city mayors preparing for what could be combative questioning before Congress. As the president prepares to give his speech before Congress, the stock market continued plummeting on the first day of new tariffs against Mexico and Canada.
WTTW News Explains: How Did Chicago Get Its Shape?
Here’s a look at how a once small-but-mighty city gobbled up surrounding land to become the City of the Big Shoulders (and expanded borders) that we know and love today.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- How Did Chicago Become a Sanctuary City and What Does It Mean?
- Runtime
- 2:43
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- For four decades, Chicago has held the designation of a sanctuary city — but what does it mean, and how has Chicago’s status endured?
The term sanctuary city refers to any jurisdiction that discourages, limits or denies cooperation with federal immigration authorities. There are currently hundreds of sanctuary communities in America and 13 sanctuary states.
Where did it come from?
While Berkeley, California, claimed the title of first sanctuary city in 1971, the sanctuary city movement really began popping up across the country in the mid-1980s. As President Ronald Reagan focused on identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, churches opened their doors to provide shelter and resources to Central Americans fleeing civil war and violence.
In Chicago, becoming and remaining a sanctuary city has been a bit of a mayoral tug of war.
Mayor Harold Washington first declared Chicago a sanctuary city in 1985 via executive order.
...
- Title
- March 03, 2025 Full Episode — Chicago Tonight
- Runtime
- 26:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Highland Park Parade Gunman Pleads Guilty to Murder Charges
Robert Crimo III, the gunman who killed seven people and wounded dozens of others at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in 2022, pleaded guilty moments before his trial was set to begin.
Members of Illinois' Congressional Delegation on Trump, Ukraine
President Donald Trump is set to outline his policy agenda in a speech to Congress tomorrow night. U.S. Reps Delia Ramirez and Raja Krishnamoorthi, both Democrats from Illinois, discuss the president, Ukraine, tariffs and more ahead of the speech.
What Potential Cuts to Medicaid Could Mean for Illinois
The GOP-controlled U.S. House narrowly passed a budget last week that Republicans say will cut $2 trillion from the federal budget over a decade. Among those massive proposed cuts: spending on Medicaid.
#wttwnews #chicagotonightwttw
- Title
- Week in Review: Trump Scolds Ukrainian President Zelenskyy; City Council Passes $830M Bond Deal
- Runtime
- 26:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- In an angry meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance berate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — warning him that unless he makes peace with Russia he will lose American support.
That as Ukrainian Americans in Chicago marked the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of patients in Illinois and across the country risk losing access to health care if Republicans follow through with plans to slash billions from Medicaid.
The Chicago City Council narrowly approves an $830 million bond deal to pay for infrastructure upgrades — but not before a contentious City Hall debate and protests it’ll cost residents a whole lot more in the long run.
A near-miss at Midway Airport between a Southwest Airlines plane and a business jet.
It looks like the end of the line for Dolton’s embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
And slow down or get ticketed...
