Taking the long road: As Route 66 turns 100, fans look ahead instead of in the rearview mirror
By Phoebe Bock Medill Reports In 1963, Bill Thomas took his first road trip on Route 66 from Illinois to California to visit Disneyland. Although the historic cross-country drive meant little to him as an 8-year-old, he is now helping lead this year’s centennial celebrations along what remains of the original 2,448-mile highway. “It’s all […]
Illinois ‘One Health’ initiatives may protect farmers from climate, animal-related infectious disease risks
By Kimberly Henrickson Medill Reports There’s an old adage in medicine: if you see a farmer enter the emergency room, you better pay attention and act fast. Farmers are “notorious” for not seeking medical care, said Dr. Dan Shirley, an infectious disease physician at University of Wisconsin Health. He attributes this to an ingrained do-it-yourself culture, as well as low […]
Atari legend Eugene Jarvis celebrates 25 years running arcade machine company Raw Thrills in Chicago
By Conner Dejecacion Medill Reports Eugene Jarvis, 71, has worked on video games since their inception. He grew up in Menlo Park, Calif., the heart of Silicon Valley. As a “young, rebellious” person living in the shadow of the Vietnam War, he played chess, invented war games out of bottle caps and explored the Bay Area on his bike. When he played Spacewar!, an early video game released […]
WATCH: Chicago This Week — Season 6, Episode 1
By Morgan Hawes and Victoria Olaleye Medill Reports In this season’s first episode of “Chicago This Week,” reporters cover new efforts to make riding the CTA safer for women. They speak with someone who has experienced conversion therapy, and he shares his thoughts on a recent Supreme Court ruling. They also catch up with University […]
WATCH: Music Box Theatre succeeding — even expanding — despite national decline in movie theater attendance
By Thomas Hodgkins Medill Reports Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, an independent movie theater, is expanding despite national movie theater attendance declining. Owner and CEO Brody Sheldon, as well as Assistant Technical Director Rebecca Lyon, explain why the Music Box is so successful, from the 70mm film projection to the theater’s ornate interior design. TRANSCRIPT: Narration: […]
The sun is Taíno: Despite extinction and erasure narratives, Puerto Rico honors Indigenous heritage
By Naisha Roy Medill Reports SALINAS, PUERTO RICO — In Puerto Rico, the symbols are everywhere. Spirals and almost-cubist faces representing the sun, the coquí frog and other pieces of nature native to the island. They are preserved in rocks breaking up a cascading waterfall in the central town of Jayuya, etched on handmade magnets in Old San Juan and graffitied onto bridges in Salinas on the southern […]
25-year-old Peter Kuli transforming Lincoln Square silent film landmark for film obsessives, casual moviegoers
By Daniela Cantu Medill Reports With the flick of a switch, Davis Theater program director Peter Kuli casts a red, velvety glow over the 276 faux-leather, popcorn-free seats in the Tom Fencl Memorial Theater. “We also have some spotlights I can turn on to give the room a little more light,” Kuli said. With the grace […]
WATCH: A ‘fresh’ future — How communities are combating food deserts
By Ellie Fideli Medill Reports More than 17 million people in the U.S. live under “food redlining” — that is, they lack nearby access to fresh, healthy groceries. In Chicago, the Urban Growers Collective uses a “produce aisle on wheels” to deliver high-quality fruits and vegetables directly to divested neighborhoods like South Chicago. Residents and […]
WATCH: Chicagoans march in protest on International Women’s Day
By Morgan Hawes Medill Reports Last month, hundreds of demonstrators marched down the streets of downtown Chicago as part of a nationwide effort to celebrate International Women’s Day. Protesters held up signs and chanted phrases with reference to reproductive health, immigration justice and women’s rights. Narration: On International Women’s Day, hundreds of protesters are gathering at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. Women […]
Northwestern researchers explore artificial cells as new frontier in medicine
By Emma Henry Medill Reports At Northwestern University’s Center for Synthetic Biology, scientists are re-engineering one of life’s most fundamental building blocks: the cell. Instead of relying solely on living cells, researchers are experimenting with artificial ones, allowing scientists to study the potential for these designed biological systems to perform specific tasks. While everyday applications are […]