Suburban Airbnb pivots to long-term renting after coronavirus hit
By Henry Ren Medill Reports Panic crept in as Airbnb host Samuel Szobody lost $48,000 worth of guest bookings in the two weeks that followed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announcing a statewide lockdown on March 20. “From April through June, all my calendars just went completely empty,” he said. Szobody manages nine Airbnb listings in […]
College football recruits commit to uncertainty
By Dave Peck Medill Reports When a high schooler commits to playing college football, they do so expecting a season. That’s not the case for this year’s class of recruits. For incoming freshman Jacob Horigan and transfer Max Jacobs, the decision to play football for Bowdoin College came amid the most unusual circumstances. Photo at […]
Chase hosts first-ever HBCU virtual commencement
By Bre’onna Richardson Medill Reports Graduates from the class of 2020 could not have an in-person ceremony this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With 78 participating historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), JP Morgan Chase, along with partners, helped more than 27,000 students celebrate their graduation, virtually. The “Show Me Your Walk HBCU Edition” […]
Lakeview garden center remains optimistic about summer business despite stay-at-home order
By Kari McMahon Medill Reports When the U.S. economy experienced the Great Recession between 2007 and 2009, Susan Brandstetter and her husband, Russell, felt the impact. The owner of a 25,000-square-foot garden center walked away from a commercial lease on their property. They were left with a garden center but with no one to run […]
Beef mecca Buenos Aires shifts toward more vegetable options
By Dan Moberger and Colin Boyle Medill Reports Meat, especially beef, is deeply embedded in Argentina’s culture. Argentines consume more beef per capita than residents of any other country. Family gatherings revolve around “asados,” which most Americans would call a barbecue. Sporting events, protests and everyday lunch breaks give locals a chance to try a […]
Breaking barriers and binaries
By Rikki Li Medill Reports When Phyllis Liu was asked to share two personal facts during an icebreaker, the 27-year-old activist said: “Hi, I’m Phyllis. I use they/them pronouns, and I love Taiwanese pineapple buns.”
What I’ve Learned: Tricia Heaslip, PA-C at Stroger Hospital
By Ruby Thompson Medill Reports As an early-career physician assistant specializing in infectious disease, Tricia Heaslip, 25, has spent the last six weeks treating COVID-19 patients at Cook County’s Stroger Hospital.
Special ed students face challenges with distance learning
By Michael Thomas Medill Reports COVID-19 distance learning is putting a strain on special education students. Middle school teacher Tera Lambert says it can be almost impossible at times. “They like that interaction. That one on one is what keeps them going,” Lambert said. The California Department of Education has posted helpful guidelines for families […]
Amid skyrocketing unemployment, medical students report to frontline
By Jenny Ly Medill Reports More figures released from the Labor Department last Thursday shows the country still heading toward alarming economic conditions, as the new running total amounts to over 36.5 million Americans filing for unemployment claims. While unemployment is soaring to historic records, it seems as though only one category has job security: […]
COVID-19: Stories from across America
By Dave Peck Medill Reports In this May 10-17 special report, COVID-19: Stories from across America, Medill Reports looks at how the global pandemic is affecting local businesses, athletes, and public policy across the country. From Texas to Michigan, Connecticut to Florida, and everywhere in between, find out how the coronavirus is changing the way […]