Q&A: Josh Zagoren, the puppeteer whose alter ego is Chad the Bird, talks about TikTok success and how the pandemic changed him
By Koster Kennard Medill Reports When actor-turned-comedian-turned-puppeteer Josh Zagoren, 41, heard the Green Mill was shutting down indefinitely because of COVID-19, taking away one of his primary sources of income, he crumpled. As the puppeteer whose alter ego is live op-ed columnist Chad the Bird, Zagoren has entertained audiences at the Green Mill’s variety show […]
WATCH: ‘Live theater … was no more’: Chicago performers reflect on major comeback 3 years after beginning of COVID-19 pandemic
By Jordana Comiter Medill Reports It’s been three years since the world shut down and people’s lives were interrupted. With live performances halted, the theater industry took one of the biggest hits. Three years later, Cabaret Zazou performers, crew and audience members are reflecting on how their lives have changed since the return of the […]
WATCH: Evanston girls defy status quo in sports
By Lena Folke Medill Reports Held at Evanston Township High School, Girls Play Sports is a nonprofit organization designed to encourage young girls to participate in and enjoy sports. Recognized for its impact during Women’s History Month, Girls Play Sports was selected as a winner for M&M’s Flip the Status Quo contest, awarding them $10,000. […]
Little Village Community Council welcomes Venezuelan refugees with open arms, stresses need for mental health services
By Brenda Ordoñez Medill Reports A Chicago organization with strong Mexican roots is proving it doesn’t take a big village to make a difference. TRANSCRIPT: Inside the Little Village Community Council edifice awaits a beige-colored room lined with tables disguised by donations. Standing in the center of the room is the council’s community organizer, Kristian Armendariz. […]
First of its kind: Cannabis seed bank opens in Chicago
By Damita Menezes Medill Reports A new store has opened in Irving Park, becoming one of the first physical stores in the country to sell cannabis seeds. Transcript: Thomas Wilson, Money Tree Genetics co-owner: We are at MoneyTree Genetics, Chicago, Illinois. Damita Menezes: When people grow cannabis at home, they generally buy seeds online, not […]
Mendes joins Northwestern volleyball staff: ‘I could tell there was something special going on here’
By Elena Shklyar Medill Reports Coming off their winningest season in the past decade in 2022, the Northwestern volleyball team has added a new member to the coaching staff. Pedro Mendes comes to the program after most recently working as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Minnesota for the 2022 season. TRANSCRIPT: [Video […]
Abortion advocacy improves mental health, activists say
By Alexa Erbach Medill Reports Almost a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many states continue to fight for abortion access while 13 have already banned most abortions. Three of those states include Wisconsin, Missouri and Kentucky, all of which border Illinois. As local activists in Illinois fight to secure safe […]
Q&A: How an 87-year-old Italian grandma became an accidental YouTube star
By Carolina Baldin Medill Reports Nearly seven years ago, Gina Petitti, an Italian grandma who lives in Freehold, New Jersey, starred in her first video. She simply wanted to record memories for her family. Last January, the 87-year-old’s YouTube channel, “Buon-A-Petitti” (a wordplay combining “Buon appetito,” which means “Enjoy your meal,” and Petitti’s last name), […]
NFL, Arizona Cardinals promote physical wellness, community building among Phoenix youth at Boys & Girls Clubs
By Tristan Tucker Medill Reports PHOENIX — Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley worked in collaboration with the NFL to inspire local youth to get active, both in their community and on the football field. On Feb. 10, Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner Dak Prescott and several runners-up came to the […]
‘365 Days of Defending Freedom’ rally in Chicago: How the war in Ukraine has changed and what’s ahead?
By Almagul Serikbayeva Medill Reports One year has passed since the beginning of the war, and some people are already forgetting about it, Ukrainian native Anya Lomachenko said on Feb. 24, the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She joined thousands of Chicagoans who aren’t forgetting at a rally in Ukrainian Village to show support […]