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Chicago's $50-Million Fire Settlement Advances

A Chicago City Council committee has approved a $50 million legal settlement. The money will go to 15 survivors and the families of six people who died in a 2003 fire at the Cook County administration building in Chicago’s Loop. Before the vote, Committee Chair Alderman Ed Burke played a 911 recording from the fire. After playing the tape, Burke addressed committee members.

BURKE: I think you can understand why this case is being settled. If the jury heard that, I don’t think there would be any question what would happen.

A spokesman for the city says the full city council will vote on the settlement at Wednesday’s meeting.

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