Chicago News Report – August 22

By Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone
Medill Reports

On the final episode of Chicago News Report…

The CEO of the Chicago Housing Association abruptly resigns, an organization helping local women “dress for success” for job interviews, a sex scandal affecting an Evanston school and we put the burning question that’s making the rounds on the internet to a taste test; who makes it better – Popeye’s or Chick-fil-A?

Photo at top: Dress for Success suits women up to impress at job interviews. (Karleigh Stone/MEDILL)

Athletes with disabilities in it to win it

By Neel Madhavan
Medill Reports

Rohan Murphy lost his legs at birth and grew up thinking that he wouldn’t ever be able to play sports.

However, in eighth grade his physical education teacher introduced him to wrestling and he started to become fully involved with the team in ninth grade. He later went on to wrestle at the collegiate level at Penn State.

Murphy says going through life with his disability is much different than competing in wrestling with his disability.

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Chicago News Report- August 20

By Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone
Medill Reports

On this episode of Chicago News Report…

A woman is on the run in Skokie after two robberies, the city passes a plan for new construction in River North, a CTA ride promotion for the first day of school, drones are sweeping the lakefront for cracks in the sidewalk and a former Northwestern football player is now “Uplifting Athletes.”

Photo at top: Students of all ages will receive free rides on the CTA for the first day of school. (Karleigh Stone/MEDILL)

Chicago News Report – August 15

By Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone
Medill Reports

On this edition of Chicago News Report:

Are recreational marijuana shops opening on Michigan Avenue, a fatal fire on the South Side and a new project is popping up in Lawndale.

Photo at top: Future container museum in Lawndale. (Nicole Croteau/MEDILL)

Close-knit Ohio State alumni squad overcomes obstacles to win first TBT championship

By Neel Madhavan
Medill Reports

A week prior to the start of The Basketball Tournament, Carmen’s Crew, the Ohio State alumni team, wasn’t even sure whether or not they would play in the tournament this year. The team only had six players confirmed to participate.

“We were really looking at it saying: ‘I don’t know if this is going to be our year,’” said guard Aaron Craft. “I think the guys just seemed ready. Obviously, we’re extremely excited that we pulled it together in that last week. But it was tough that last week. We thought we were going to have to play zone for three games in a row for three days. Found a way.”

Now, the team is the TBT champion and $2 million richer, defeating the Golden Eagles, a Marquette alumni team, 66-60 on Tuesday night at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena.

“There’s no other group of guys I’d rather do this with, like Evan [Turner] said after the game, we’re family,” said guard Jon Diebler. “Winning the tournament is amazing, winning the money is amazing, but to compete again in an actual game with these guys, because during the year we all go our separate ways, it’s a thing that we’ll cherish forever.”

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Chicago News Report – August 6

Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone
Medill Reports

Today on Chicago News Report.

Seven people were killed and nearly 50 others wounded on the city’s most violent weekend of the year. Tim Hackett went to the West Side to investigate three different shootings.

Are you ready for back-to-school shopping? An organization in Auburn Gresham is working hard to make sure supplies are available for Chicago public school students.

And after 14 years, Krispy Kreme is opening a downtown location. Find out where you can get your glazed goodies in the Windy City.

Photo at top: Cabinets galore at the Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (Shannon Longworth/MEDILL)

TBT poised for continued growth with player-caliber higher than ever

By Neel Madhavan
Medill Reports

The roots of the The Basketball Tournament can be traced back to a group text message thread from a Sunday afternoon in 2010 between some like-minded friends.

On their day off from work, TBT CEO and co-founder Jon Mugar and his friends went back-and-forth about the feasibility of having an open call for a single elimination tournament for a large sum of money.

“Who would enter?” Mugar asked. “Would LeBron put a team in? Would the NBA players play? Would college alumni teams play? Would international players play? It kind of became an obsession over the course of maybe four or five months.”

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Chicago News Report – August 1

Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone
Medill Reports

Today on Chicago News Report:

Chickens are on the loose in one Chicago neighborhood. Find out where and why.

A blue line stop in the Loop is out of commission after a car crashed into the station overnight. Will this affect your commute?

Schools or condos? Controversy over open land on the North Side.

And the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile is in Evanston, and it’s not just for looks.

Photo at top: Fun in Evanston at the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. (Max Goodman/MEDILL)

Chicago News Report – July 30

By Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone

Medill Reports

On this episode of Chicago News Report:

A devastating fire in the Austin neighborhood left six people injured. What you need to know ahead of the Democratic debate. And a new education program is hitting the city.

Photo at top: The SMASH program. (Karleigh Stone/MEDILL)

Chicago News Report – July 25

By Nicole Croteau, Max Goodman, Tim Hackett, Shannon Longworth and Karleigh Stone
Medill Reports

On this episode of Chicago News Report:

Chicagoans flock to City Hall to call for change.
One local sports team is punished while another endeavors to protect fans.
And two different kinds of scales are on display at a weekly event at Shedd Aquarium.

Photo at top: Chicagoans protested at City Hall Wednesday to advocate for issues they’re passionate about, including homeless, pollution and minimum wages. (Karleigh Stone/Medill).