Rogers Park restaurant has put politics front and center for 40 years

Heartland Cafe

By Max Greenwood It was a Thursday night in mid-April, and Kathleen Dillon dragged tables around the Heartland Café, carefully arranging them to give a good view of a projector screen. It was less than an hour before the New York Democratic presidential debate between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, and Dillon frantically prepared the […]

Obama brings fight for Supreme Court nominee to Chicago

By Max Greenwood President Barack Obama returned to his old constitutional bastion of the University of Chicago Law School on Thursday to pitch his case for his Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland. “Merrick Garland is an extraordinary jurist who is indisputably qualified to serve on the highest court in the land, and no one […]

Foxx defeats Alvarez for state’s attorney bid; Clinton, Trump win big

Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally in Bronzeville

By Max Greenwood Kim Foxx snagged a decisive win in Tuesday’s Illinois primary, winning the Democratic nomination for Cook County State’s Attorney, effectively ousting incumbent Anita Alvarez. Foxx crushed Alvarez by a nearly 30-point margin. Donna More, the former top attorney for the Illinois Gaming Board who was also running for state’s attorney, finished in […]

What matters to Chicago voters in 2016?

By Max Greenwood and Aryn Braun Photos by Raquel Zaldivar Voters from around Chicago flocked to precincts Tuesday to cast their ballots in the 2016 primary elections. But what’s driving them to the polls? Medill Reports asked Chicagoans what issues they think are important and what voting means to them. Earl Moore, 21 Englewood “No. […]

Trump Chicago rally cancellation prompts chaos on UIC campus

By Max Greenwood Jack Adams and Harry Huggins contributed reporting Chaos erupted at the University of Illinois at Chicago Friday evening after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cancelled a campaign rally on campus amid mounting security concerns over tensions between Trump supporters and a large number of protesters. Less than an hour after the candidate […]

Ahead of Nevada, S.C. primaries, Clinton courts African-American voters in Chicago

Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally in Bronzeville

Story by Max Greenwood Video by Kat Lonsdorf and Raquel Zaldivar Hillary Clinton worked to solidify her support among black Chicago voters Wednesday at a South Side rally. She spoke alongside the mother of Sandra Bland, whose death in police custody last year added to outrage about police violence in the African-American community. At the […]

4 things to know after the Iowa caucuses

Ted Cruz addresses the audience at his rally Sunday night

By Max Greenwood The Iowa caucuses are over, but the 2016 primary calendar is just beginning. The candidates are focused on New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday’s primary. Before the caravan moves on, here are five things to know coming out of Iowa:

In Iowa, Cruz wins big, Trump nips Rubio; Sanders and Clinton in virtual tie

Ted-Cruz

By Max Greenwood DES MOINES – Texas senator Ted Cruz delivered an unexpected blow to Donald Trump in Iowa’s Republican caucuses on Monday night, sweeping to victory as Florida senator Marco Rubio made it a three-man race. On the Democratic side, the race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders remained close. With 95 percent of […]

Caucus locations bursting at seams

Iowa Precinct

By Steve Musal ANKENY, Iowa — Two reporters walk into a caucus room and are immediately asked to leave. In most cases that might be a sign of a failing democracy, but the reverse was true in Iowa tonight: There simply wasn’t any room for us. The place was packed wall-to-wall with Democratic caucus-goers. It’s […]

Lines at Iowa precincts suggest record turnout for caucuses

Caucus-Site

By Max Greenwood ANKENY, Iowa — More than half-an-hour after caucusing was set to begin, many Iowa voters are still waiting in line to get into the precincts – let alone cast their votes – a sign that this year’s contest in Iowa is shaping up to be one of the most heated in recent […]