A heritage of artists highlight Chicago Inaugural Indigenous Peoples’ Day Concert
By Elena Bruess Medill Reports The Chicago show began by honoring those who owned these ancient lands. It was a recognition of what was past, a moment of thought and solidarity with the natives peoples who held this land before it was taken away. Shout-outs from some of the audience and solemn nods from others […]
Should the U.S. continue prosecuting illegal immigrants? Northwestern community split but majority favors decriminalization
By Carolina Gonzalez Medill Reports Northwestern University students were divided at a recent campus debate on whether the U.S. should decriminalize illegal immigration, offering arguments both in favor and against the Democratic presidential candidate proposals to repeal or rewrite the existing law. Sachin Shukla, a sophomore studying viola performance and the main debate proponent in […]
Chicago Red Stars brings women’s soccer playoff back to the Windy City
By Krystina Iordanou Medill Reports For only the second time in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars will host a semifinal playoff game against Portland Thorns FC Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview. The matchup marks the fourth meeting this season between the two clubs, with Portland having the 2-0-1 edge […]
Life inside the ‘Cat suit: Northwestern alum Peter Keller shares the furry facts
By Christopher Miller Medill Reports Peter Keller never imagined that he would be standing, sweaty and naked, behind a stadium concession stand. But there he was, in San Diego with friends holding towels in front of him as he changed out of his Willie the Wildcat suit after the 2018 Holiday Bowl. Being a mascot […]
American Ninja Warrior local leagues host ninja competitions
By Junie Burns Medill Reports After swinging, balancing, climbing and flying through the first 10 obstacles of the ninja warrior course, pro competitor Derrick Pavoni paused for a brief moment to stare down the final obstacle: the infamous American Ninja Warrior Warped Wall. The crowd watched eagerly as Pavoni, a 26-year-old pizza maker nicknamed “The […]
American Ninja Warrior growth sparks Olympic bid effort
By Junie Burns Medill Reports Initially, American Ninja Warrior structured its TV presence so that the top Americans could compete in Japan. But as the show gained popularity and athletes became more skilled and aggressive, the show catapulted into a larger market, leaving NBCUniversal affiliate G4 for a new home on NBC ‘s prime time […]
4,000 floating robots take on climate change
By Elena Bruess Medill Reports I ziplined recently with a scientist who told me that her work involved almost 4,000 floating robots and a massive global computer database that could help her predict the future of our world’s climate. This was during a break in the Comer Climate Conference and the woods behind conference headquarters […]
Homegrown Residency spotlights local Chicago musicians
By Chris McConaghey Medill Reports Every Tuesday night, Uncommon Ground’s Live Intimate Listening Rooms spotlight artists who might otherwise be plugging up to amplifiers in their garages and basements. Here, they get their chance to perform in front of a room filled with friends, family, and other Chicago local music fans. Artists such as Danielle […]
New Grounds in Town: Newport Coffee brings taste of Stockholm to the North Shore
By Jake Holland Medill Reports Coffee has been big in Chicago since the ’90s, but the North Shore, says Mikael Bengtsson, can now hold its own. “It’s bubbling up here,” says the engineer-turned-barista, who this summer opened Newport Coffee with his wife, Lotta. The Evanston cafe, 622 Davis St., serves high-end coffee (a standard latte […]
Chicago Marathon runner Brigid Kosgei sets a new women’s world record
By Junie Burns Medill Reports It took 17 years to the day for Brigid Kosgei of Kenya to set a new women’s world record in running this year’s Chicago Marathon in 2:14:04. On October 13, 2002, Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe set the Chicago Marathon course record and a world’s record for a woman runner with […]