More than a sport, Windy City Rollers is “a place to call home”
By Raquel Zaldivar [vimeo 161994061 w=474] For members of Chicago’s Windy City Rollers—an all-female roller derby team formed in 2005—there’s more to the sport than skating and blocking on the flat track. The more than two-dozen women athletes on the squad also find a place to call home. One skater named Shake n Bake (team members prefer to be called by their […]
Ahead of Nevada, S.C. primaries, Clinton courts African-American voters in Chicago
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 […]
Chicagoans indulge in Fat Tuesday tradition with pączki
By Raquel Zaldivar Chicagoans in Wicker Park made sure to stop through Oak Mill Bakery for Fat Tuesday to pick up pączki, or a doughnut-like Polish treat traditionally made for the pre-Lenten celebration. While the Wicker Park location has only been open for six years, Oak Mill Bakery has been making the polish dessert for […]
Ted Cruz rallies with voters in Davenport before the caucuses
By Raquel Zaldivar DAVENPORT, Iowa – Parking spots were scarce at Adventure Community Church before a Ted Cruz rally in this Mississippi River town. The church was just as crowded. Heidi Cruz introduced conservative broadcast personality Glenn Beck, who introduced the Texas Republican. Taking the stage, Cruz urged his cheering audience to show up at […]
Latino voting population doubles in Iowa, but will it matter?
By Raquel Zaldivar DAVENPORT, Iowa – With the number of registered Latino voters in Iowa doubling since 2008, nonpartisan organizers are pushing Latinos to make their voices heard as never before in Monday night’s presidential caucuses. Latino Vote Iowa, the first such project in the state, is knocking on doors and making thousands of phone […]
Magnificent Mile protest: A view from the inside
By Raquel Zaldivar Medill Reports’ Raquel Zaldivar also works at Cole Haan and was on duty during Friday’s protest along the Magnificent Mile. This was her view from the inside. I stepped out of the Chicago and State train station mid-morning on Black Friday to a strong gust of cold wind and rain. The sting […]
In Chicago, a murder charge and a police video as a city holds its breath
By Misha Euceph and Raquel Zaldivar Cook County prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges Tuesday against white Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in the October 2014 shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald. As Mayor Rahm Emanuel called for calm and others called for protests, the police prepared to release a graphic dash-cam video of […]
