Medill Newsmakers: Illinois might soon become 7th state to legalize human composting
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports Human composting is gaining traction in Illinois. The state House voted 63-38 to pass a bill legalizing the method, but what exactly is it? Who is for it and against it? And what does it mean for the future of the death care industry and the environment? Transcript HELLO. WELCOME […]
Repair your broken items for free at Repair Cafe Chicago
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports If you have any broken items or torn clothes lying around in your home, bring them to the repair cafe. Its volunteers will attempt to repair almost anything. Dara Salk, a founding volunteer of the Repair Cafe in Chicago, has been leading a dedicated team of volunteers in an effort […]
Chicago considers installing public restrooms with revenue from company that manages bus stops
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports Chicago city officials are considering a plan to install public restrooms across the city, according to Ald. Daniel La Spata, who proposed a pilot program in 2021. The city is exploring the possibility of incorporating public restrooms as part of a renegotiated contract with JCDecaux, the company responsible for operating […]
After de-verification, fake Twitter accounts spread misinformation about road closure
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports Twitter users were in a frenzy on April 21 as a number of fake Twitter accounts impersonated the Chicago Department of Transportation and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, spreading misinformation about the closure of DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The fake announcement was called out by Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Sheridan. “My best […]
Despite record youth investment, Chicago leaders are divided on preventing youth violence
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports After large groups of Chicago teens gathered downtown earlier this month, leading to incidents of mayhem and destruction, city leaders are divided on prevention strategies as warmer days lie ahead. “We must have the will to immediately extricate and arrest anybody seeking to try to incite the crowds to violence,” […]
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center gets $1 million during awareness month
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC), a nonprofit organization that provides mental health and investigative services to child abuse victims, will receive $1 million in congressionally directed spending for building renovation. “Child abuse is a chronic public health issue. Year after year, hundreds of thousands of children across the country […]
WATCH: Somos Venezolanos
By Damita Menezes and Brenda Ordonez Medill Reports More than 7 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015. As of 2021, there are 179,203 Venezuelans living in Argentina as part of the refugee crisis, according to Chequeado – a news organization in Argentina. More often than not, Venezuelan migrants arriving in Argentina cannot work […]
Chicago is testing its first composting program
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports As people become more environmentally conscious, local governments are working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building eco-cities. And Chicago is finally taking its first step into composting. The city announced the launch of a pilot program in November and is now ready to begin accepting food scraps from a […]
Antisemitic incidents at all-time high, new Anti-Defamation League report finds
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports The Anti-Defamation League released its annual report on March 23, which showed a 36% increase in antisemitic incidents in the country compared with last year. A record-high 3,697 confirmed cases of targeted harassment, vandalism and assault toward Jewish people in the United States marks the third time in the past […]
First of its kind: Cannabis seed bank opens in Chicago
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports A new store has opened in Irving Park, becoming one of the first physical stores in the country to sell cannabis seeds. Transcript: Thomas Wilson, Money Tree Genetics co-owner: We are at MoneyTree Genetics, Chicago, Illinois. Damita Menezes: When people grow cannabis at home, they generally buy seeds online, not […]
