Back of the Yards Public Library: When a library can’t serve its community
By Kate Cimini Medill Reports While the re-introduction of a public library to the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago has been a boon to the community, its location has placed severe limitations on its ability to serve community members, and even, some allege, have detracted from other public services. […]
The case for Keurigs
By Emily Clemons Medill Reports I am a proud drinker of sh—y coffee. I am a longtime user of the ubiquitous and much-reviled Keurig coffee maker. Above only instant brews, K-Cup coffee occupies the lowest rung on the java ladder, eternally damned there by knowledgeable and high-brow coffee-drinkers who value their French presses and pour-over […]
West Side Church Provides a Safe Haven for Chicago Veterans
By Xinyi (Ethel) Jiang Medill Reports More than a hundred Austin neighbors from the West Side gathered on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to celebrate and honor the service of veterans at the Healing Temple Church. This “Musical and Award Luncheon” is part of the “Standup for Veterans” program sponsored by the Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute. […]
NU climate change symposium stresses urgency and solutions
By Lakshmi Chandrasekaran Excuses that exonerate business-as-usual emission scenarios are not a luxury we can afford as climate change heats up the globe, said Chad Frischmann, vice president and research director of Project Drawdown, a climate change mitigation project envisioned by renowned environmentalist Paul Hawken. But do not despair, since opportunities and optimism can convert […]
Volunteers open their homes to those traveling to Chicago for abortions
By Sofi LaLonde Medill Reports A blue state among red states in the Midwest, Illinois is often considered an “oasis” for reproductive health care when it comes to access to abortion. But even with less-restrictive abortion policies, clinics in the state are concentrated in Chicago, leaving gaps in access for women statewide, particularly in southern […]
It’s not too late to train for your first marathon, top coaches say
By Caroline Tanner Medill Reports “If you can put one foot in front of the other faster than you walk, then you’re a runner,” says New York City running coach and triathlete Corinne Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald uses this mantra to guide marathon runners as a coach at Mile High Run Club (MHRC), a studio that trains […]
The Concussion Conundrum
Researchers are still perplexed as to the effects of concussions on female athletes. But a Northwestern duo believes accounting for the menstrual cycle could be the key. By Brittany Callan Medill Reports For rugby player Brittany O’Dell, it took a Will Smith movie to scare her into taking sports injuries seriously. The 2015 true-life film […]
Immigration courts remain backlogged in big cities as judges are sent to the border
By Mariana Alfaro Medill Reports In April, Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent 25 immigration judges to detention centers near the border and promised to add 125 new judges to the bench in the next two years, all part of the Administration’s plan to “fight against criminal aliens.” This plan was criticized by immigrant communities and […]
Panel addresses shortcomings of ‘me too’ campaign for women of color
By Cailin Crowe Medill Reports “Me Too” — it’s a short but powerful phrase that has taken social media, politics, workplaces and dinner tables by storm…at least for white women. The viral social media campaign has been tweeted more than 1.7 million times and is credited with creating a unified platform for women to share […]
Without supervision, recycling goes rogue
By Kristine Sherred Medill Reports The city imposed a strict recycling ordinance last summer but forgot about enforcing it. Chicago has struggled to be green since 1995, when new rules first required businesses and large apartment buildings to begin a modest recycling effort through private haulers. In 2017, the city expects these same buildings to […]