Trump warns the Green New Deal will ‘take out the cows.’ Here’s the science showing why that’s a myth.
By Grace Rodgers and Carlyn Kranking Medill Reports At the first 2020 Presidential debate, President Donald Trump said that Green New Deal supporters “want to take out the cows” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Not only is this claim untrue, but eliminating cows, which notoriously produce the greenhouse gas methane, isn’t necessary to address climate […]
UIC College of Social Work quashes police abolition discussions as national debate grows
By Michael Murney Medill Reports When Christy Stewart’s client called her in the midst of being assaulted by her boyfriend, she begged Stewart not to call the police. Stewart, 31, a first-year social worker who recently earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, felt paralyzed. Both she and her […]
Teachers union and Chicago Public Schools lock horns over COVID-19 reopening plans
By Marie Mendoza and Catherine Henderson Medill Reports As COVID cases continue to rise in Illinois, Chicago Public Schools’ second quarter has started, but school buildings remain empty. This comes after a month of pushback from teachers and parents after the district released a plan to bring back pre-K and some special education students. But […]
Patients with chronic diseases struggle to receive care in COVID-19-era China
By Amy Ouyang Medill Reports Wearing two layers of surgical masks and holding a bag full of her medical records for the past six months, Shuhua Liu filled out the COVID-19 questionnaire in front of Peking University People’s Hospital in Shenzhen, the last step before she could enter the hospital after half a year. “I […]
Chicago area erupts into cheers after news breaks for Biden/Harris
By Caroline Catherman, Natalie Eilbert, Carlyn Kranking, Emily Little, Grace Rodgers, and Marisa Sloan Medill Reports Following days of uncertainty, former Vice President Joseph Biden was named the projected winner of the presidency on Nov. 7. In the hours following the announcement of Biden’s win, Chicagoans swarmed the streets in celebration. From the Loop to […]
56-million-year-old algae could shed light on future climate change
By Marisa Sloan Medill Reports Faced with a challenge as mammoth as climate change, scientists are turning to some very tiny organisms for insight — coccolithophores, the single-celled algae that are smaller than a grain of sand. In order to grow, algae use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into energy in a process […]
In the wake of an undecided election, Chicagoans gather to ‘Defend Every Vote’
By Allison Schatz Medill Reports After a summer of intense clashes between the Chicago Police Department and protesters, the post-election rally and march to “Defend Every Vote” was without incident for both protesters and police. Attendees gathered in downtown Chicago, at Daley Plaza, at the feet of Picasso’s imposing metal sculpture, to make their voices […]
Youth crisis counselor Melissa Coleman highlights complications COVID-19 has posed to her work
By Allison Schatz Medill Reports Prior to the pandemic, community-based behavioral health screenings were as challenging as they were needed in communities throughout Illinois. For residents of the state, anyone in need of an assessment is eligible for screening and support as part of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Public Act of 2003. In Illinois, […]
On Election Day, Chicago’s homeless population grapples with what it means for them to vote
By Hannah Lichtenstein Medill Reports On the day millions headed to the polls to vote for an American president, Mike McCool offered up a very different option for the country’s future leadership. “I think this country should just turn itself back over to England and say, ‘we apologize for the Revolutionary War. We’ll never do […]
Entering Chicago’s homeless “underworld” with photographer Lloyd DeGrane
By Caroline Catherman Medill Reports Photographer Lloyd DeGrane’s homeless friends Greg and Stacey know how to create a welcoming living space. One of the newest additions to their home is a Black Lives Matter sign that Greg hung on a water pipe. Beside the sign, a half-finished Tom Clancy thriller sits next to a sleeping […]