Chicagoan headed to the 2017 Special Olympic Winter World Games

By Rosie Langello Barbra Shimoda said she vividly remembers the first time her son starting skating at the age of 7. She never imagined it would lead to him attending the 2017 Special Olympic Winter World Games. “Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen,” Barbra Shimoda said. “We know we have our State […]

VIDEO: Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market waits for green light

By Karen Lentz and Mindy Tan Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market is widely regarded as a must-visit tourist destination. The market has been doing business on this site since 1935 but a possible move has the market’s future in question. Photo at top: Customers buy fish at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan. (Karen Lentz/MEDILL)

Trump presidency causes worries for local environmentalists

By Alaina Boukedes President Trump has signed 12 executive orders and published numerous presidential memorandums since he was sworn into office. Many of these proclamations have been directed at the EPA, like freezing federal funding and restarting the notorious Dakota Access Pipeline. These declarations not only affect large environmental government agencies, but non-profits and local […]

Wild Things Conference covers climate change in Chicago

by Alaina Boukedes Speakers representing Illinois waterways and wildlife spoke to environmentalists at The Wild Things Conference about the dangers of climate change in the Chicago area. This conference, hosted by the UIC Forum, brought together enthusiasts and amateur nature lovers from across a wide area to discuss the past, present and future of the […]

Local businesses make the most of a rare, warm February

By Puja Bhattacharjee Chicago winters are brutal. But not this year. On February 22, the temperature neared 70 degrees, and tourists were pleasantly surprised. And businesses grabbed the opportunity to make some money. Photo at top: Boaters on the Chicago River enjoy the warm February weather (Puja Bhattacharjee/MEDILL)