Latvian hip-hop: ‘It’s music without boundaries’
By Austin Zeglis Medill Reports RIGA, Latvia — Decades ago, Helmuts Steins discovered his love for American rap music by connecting with the beats he heard on the radio despite not being able to understand the English lyrics. When the young Latvian boy decided to pursue music production, he made his first songs by renting […]
Puerto Ricans use culture and community to combat environmental issues
By Autumn Coleman Medill Reports San Juan, Puerto Rico — Walking into one of the many forests, beaches or towns of Puerto Rico, it’s impossible to tell how much work is put into preserving its natural beauty. With Puerto Rico’s national debt being more than tens of billions of dollars, very little government money goes […]
Chicago’s Willy Wonka of Flowers, Bruce Jasinski, keeps business blooming across 3 decades
By Autumn Coleman Medill Reports Bruce Jasinski, 65, gives me a handmade bouquet with eucalyptus and orange lilies. Then, he serenades me on his flute with Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” and “Good as Hell.” His compact flower shop transforms into a private party for the two of us. Jasinski explains this is typical for his […]
WATCH: Chicago This Week — Episode 6
Medill Reports This week in Chicago, we bring you a special show: “From Chicago to the Vatican: The Making of Pope Leo XIV.” Our reporters take you from his childhood into priesthood and finally to the Sistine Chapel. Have an inside look at the new pope’s Chicago roots. “Chicago This Week” is a half-hour show […]
WATCH: Chicago This Week — Episode 5
Medill Reports This week in Chicago: A local cardinal heads to the conclave. Plus, Illinois honors fallen officers and a high school softball pitcher with a remarkable story. “Chicago This Week” is a half-hour show that features news, sports, business and entertainment stories from around Chicago. All the producing, reporting, writing, shooting and editing are […]
Inside Vienna’s small, persistent crypto community
By Janani Janarthanan Medill Reports VIENNA — The Viennese cafe Das Delicious in the 11th district was packed on a Saturday evening. Near the billing counter was a big table, with more than 10 patrons — most of them wearing glasses, all of them men clad in T-shirts and jeans. But they had more in […]
Chicago pulls strings to become international puppetry hub
By Paulina Czupryna Medill Reports According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a puppet is “a small-scale figure (as of a person or animal) usually with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is moved by the hand.” Puppeteers might disagree. They can debate the definition for hours — a “common joke,” said Elaine Petkovsek, […]
Lead biosensors could make water testing accessible for Chicagoans
By Fern Alling Medill Reports Nearly three-quarters of all service lines in Chicago’s public water system are made of lead. A 2024 analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council on Environmental Protection Agency data found more than 387,000 lead service lines in the city. The federal government banned the installation of new lead pipes in […]
WATCH: Chicago This Week — Episode 4
Medill Reports This week in Chicago: Cinco de Mayo celebrations canceled out of fears of ICE raids. Plus, a Chicago cardinal heads to the conclave, and team coverage of the NFL draft. “Chicago This Week” is a half-hour show that features news, sports, business and entertainment stories from around Chicago. All the producing, reporting, writing, […]
LISTEN: What’s going on with Chicago baseball?
By Evie Mason Medill Reports The season is now underway for Major League Baseball, and Chicago fans were both excited and frustrated during spring training as one team seems to be on the rise, while the other is stagnating. Cubs fans haven’t tasted sweet victory since their 2016 World Series win. [Radio call […]