Low interest rates should drive lower rents — But not in hot Chicago nieghborhoods
By Katie Murar The Federal Reserve backed away from an April rate hike, meaning there’s still time for consumers to take advantage of low borrowing costs. With the benchmark level for interest rates remaining between 0.25 and 0.5 percent, individuals can expect the cost of homeownership to stay low along with rental prices. But this […]
Chicago’s former addicts help addicts recover
By Anna Boisseau It’s nearly 12:30 p.m. when a rushed young man drops by the Chicago Recovery Alliance’s parked silver truck in West Garfield Park. He’s turned away for HIV testing, but told to come back next week, but just a bit earlier. The truck can’t be late for its next stop in Austin. If […]
Rochester Hills residents fight to prevent oil and gas drilling in town
By Danielle Prieur Spring evenings in Rochester Hills, Michigan, have been the same for decades. High school students move in a line in front of the glass windows of the gym. They practice their flag routine to the sound of whistles and the marching band that performs in the parking lot to their right. Their flags […]
Chicago State grad defies the odds amid Illinois budget crisis
By Branden Hampton When Felix Mitchell started his first semester at Kennedy-King College in 2014, he suddenly lost his job as a sales representative at Comcast. He received some financial aid, but was concerned about how he was going to survive without a job to pay for school. It was his second try at college. […]
John the Barber: beats odds to cut hair again, even from a wheelchair
By Hannah Gebresilassie Getting shot six times and becoming paralyzed from the chest-down didn’t stop John “So Icey John” Sharp from becoming one of the best barbers in town. “I got shot up being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Sharp, 28, says, adding he wont let the circumstances prevent him from continuing […]
Ethiopians celebrate Fasika (Easter) in Chicago following 55-day fast
By Hannah Gebresilassie Hundreds of Ethiopians came together at Debre Tsion Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in Chicago to celebrate Fasika, or Easter, on May 1. The 6-hour service includes individual and community prayers led by Father Michael during worship. From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, priests and some church members don’t eat anything to show […]
Smoking rates among younger Chinese-Americans shrouded in mystery
By Ruojing Liu Cigarette butts litter the streets in Chinatown. The Respiratory Health Association (RHA) collaborates with the Asian Health Coalition to organize students for a tobacco litter clean-up there on World No-Tobacco Day each May 31st. They meet in Chinatown Square. As in the past, volunteers can expect to fill dozens of clear jars […]
Plastic bags — the stuff that dreams are made of
By Xiao Lyu & Qingwei Chen Mary Moy, vice president of New Life for Old Bags (NLOB), has crocheted 52 sleeping mats in the last 5 years ago. But the mats are not made of yarn, they’re made from discarded plastic shopping bags. The process not only recycles the bags, but gives them new life: as sleeping mats for the homeless. Every […]
When a Chicago Radio Station becomes a mouthpiece for activism
By Iacopo Luzi Que4 Radio is more than just another Chicago radio station. It’s a place where people can share ideas, develop solidarity, and promote diversity. The community station shares independent music and independent thoughts. Located on North Elston Avenue, Que4 Radio broadcasts its music and the voice of its radio hosts every day. “It’s […]
On The Clock: Medill’s 2016 NFL Draft Podcast Examines the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
In Part II of our post-draft podcast, Jordan, Tolly and Peter give their evaluations for several teams throughout the NFL. Tolly gives high marks to Washington, Jordan bemoans the Texans not selecting a certain receiver, and Peter hands out low marks to the Atlanta Falcons.