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It’s one week until Christmas, Chicago. Enter the holidays with these stories from WTTW News.
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Alberto Zavala is incarcerated at Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg, Illinois. He has submitted a petition for clemency. (WTTW News)
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Thinking of his sons brings tears to Alberto Zavala’s eyes. His sons are now in their early 20s, having grown up while their father was serving a 56-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Zavala is scheduled for release in 2054. He’s been behind bars for 22 years, currently at Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg, Illinois. He's one of more than 1,100 people who submitted petitions for clemency to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in 2021 alone.
Some backstory:
Late last week, President Joe Biden granted clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans, in addition to the pardon he gave his son, Hunter Biden, earlier this month. 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.
The Prisoner Review Board said just this year, Pritzker has granted only six clemency petitions. In 2023 he granted 57, and 11 in 2022. But he granted 144 in 2020 and 2021 each. Attorney advocates at the Illinois Prison Project said there are very few other options for the incarcerated to pursue an earlier release from IDOC.
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River otter snapped this fall in Lincolnshire by a wildlife camera set up by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute. (Courtesy Lincoln Park Zoo)
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With wildlife cameras set up at more than 100 sites within a 30-mile radius of Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute has captured hundreds of thousands of images of critters since it launched a monitoring project in 2010. Now, for the first time in nearly 15 years, one of the zoo's cameras finally clicked at the right moment and caught a North American river otter. This is good news. River otters were nearly hunted to extinction in parts of the Midwest: By 1989, wildlife officials estimated only 100 of the creatures were left in Illinois.
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Local Live Music Recommendations for Dec. 18-Dec. 24
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Thursday, Dec. 19:
Resavoir, Mei Seimones at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
The excellent experimental jazz project from local trumpeter and producer Will Miller debuts an orchestral lineup.
Thursday, Dec. 19 and Friday, Dec. 20:
Andrew Sa at Hideout. Tickets.
The city’s best country crooner continues his residency at Hideout.
Friday, Dec. 20:
Advance Base at Color Club. Tickets.
Chicago songwriter Owen Ashworth celebrates the release of new album “Horrible Occurrences.”
Saturday, Dec. 21:
Hollyy, Motel Breakfast, GreenTTea & The Tempos at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
Chicagoland soul outfit brings the grooves and the party for their annual holiday shows.
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Back in the Day: December 18, 2021 - Rahm Emanuel Confirmed As U.S. Ambassador to Japan
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Rahm Emanuel served as Chicago's 55th Mayor from 2011 to 2019 but that wasn't the end of his career in government and public service. The former congressman and White House chief of staff known for his caustic and acerbic personality is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. On this day three years ago, he was confirmed to the role by the U.S. Senate in a bipartisan vote. Three of the Senate's most liberal Democrats in Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley and Elizabeth Warren, voted against Emanuel’s confirmation. (Bernie Sanders didn't vote). He got eight Republicans to back him so the final rollcall was 48-21 in favor of his appointment.
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Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW. |
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Where is the best place to get away from the Chicago winter? Whether it's a local oasis to warm up or an out-of-town destination, let us know and tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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- We sit down with the city's budget director to talk through what's in the spending plan.
- Efforts to bring greater access to health care on the city's South Side.
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5:30 PM|10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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