Native American Powwow draws a multicultural crowd at UIC
By Anika Exum Medill Reports Every November, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) hosts a traditional powwow to commemorate the start of Native American Heritage Month. Chicago is home to the Midwest’s largest Native American population and is the second largest east of the Mississippi River. This year’s powwow was the 27th annual event, […]
Ten-thousand miles and two knee surgeries later, Jess Sancataldo continues to chase her dreams
By Tony Garcia Medill Reports Jess Sancataldo has long had lofty aspirations. Whether it was playing four sports at a time when she was a child or joining the Australian National team for Handball in high school, Sancataldo has always pushed herself. In eighth grade, she made the decision she wanted to play collegiate basketball […]
The evolving, not disappearing, presence of ethnic cuisine in Chicago
By Annie Lin Medill Reports “What is authentic?” Rooh’s executive chef Sujan Sakar remarked. “Nothing is authentic.” “I am having a hard time with the definition of authentic anyhow,” said longtime Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel. He thinks that it is going to be impossible to find authentic or traditional restaurants. In recent years, […]
How Chinatown’s public library is adapting to its senior population, along with others around the country
By Michael Lee Medill Reports On the second floor of the Chicago Public Library Chinatown branch, a group of older men huddled around tables in a study room playing Chinese chess, a strategy board game often played in China. Wearing beanies, ball caps and winter coats, they slid the circular, wooden pieces around the board […]
A guide to the 2020 election polls
By Areeba Shah Medill Reports The 2016 pre-election polls predicted that Hillary Clinton’s probability of winning the presidency was about 90%. When she lost, 40% of Americans lost faith in elections, according to NPR. Yet, the 2016 polls were among the most accurate in history, said Scott Keeter, a senior survey adviser at Pew Research […]
Triumphs and tribulations of the Chicago Red Stars franchise reflects the evolution of the NWSL
By Krystina Iordanou Medill Reports Within a seven-day span, the Chicago Red Stars experienced the triumph and defeat that comes with competition. On a beautiful autumn Sunday in Chicago, the Red Stars defeated the 2018 Thorns to reach their first National Women’s Soccer League Championship in franchise history. Just seven days later, the Red Stars […]
The Chi-Side provides opportunity for young sports journalists to stay in the game
By Yousef Nasser Medill Reports The Chi-Side was credentialed to cover the eighth annual Chicago Elite Classic, giving young journalists their first taste of covering high school basketball. Developed by social media professional Evan Marshall along with sports broadcasters Brooke Weisbrod and Camron Smith, the Chi-Side identifies itself as an intersection of basketball and culture […]
Becoming ‘social equity’ is nearly a must for opening an adult-use cannabis dispensary in Illinois
By Yun Hao Medill Reports With “the status of social equity applicant” worth one-fifth of the entire 250 points of the state’s evaluation, many applicants seeking an adult-use cannabis license in Illinois are now trying to affiliate with individuals or groups that can qualify them as social equity applicants. A social equity applicant, according to […]
How Cesar Izquierdo started a premiere Chicago Peruvian restaurant
By Harrison Liao Medill Reports It’s no “fu fu restaurant.” That’s the first thing Cesar Izquierdo tells you about his restaurant, Taste of Peru in Rogers Park. Irene Ulbrich, owner of Caleo Cafe in Angola, Indiana, and a Peruvian native that frequents Cesar’s restaurant when she visits Chicago, says it’s what makes Taste of Peru […]
A grandfather’s battle against the lead in drinking water
By Henry Ren Medill Reports Hyde Park resident Gordon Berry had never imagined that the drinking water in his century-old house could be contaminated by lead, until his 2-year-old granddaughter, who resided with him, had a routine blood test in January 2016. “They found lead in her blood,” Berry said. Horrified by the result, Berry […]