The race for COVID-19 vaccines: A deep dive into Moderna’s frontrunner candidate
By Shivani Majmudar Medill Reports COVID-19’s sudden emergence as a catastrophic global pandemic, and the absence of medical treatment, left scientists grasping for any means to meet the overwhelming demand for care. In the historic race to develop a vaccine, Moderna Therapeutic’s candidate, mRNA-1273, stands out as a frontrunner. The biotechnology company went from genetic […]
Election Day in Oak Park: Spending referendum is haunted by ghost of past pool fiasco
By Helen Quinn Pasin Medill Reports On election day Nov. 3, 2020, Oak Parkers had to decide how to vote on the local referendum: “Shall any capital expenditure of $5 million or more by any local taxing body within Oak Park be subject to a binding referendum for approval or rejection by voters?” This referendum […]
Chicago Election Commissioners support bilingual voters, but still fall short of community needs
By Kelly Heinzerling Medill Reports When Sarah Cartagena went to Humboldt Park to vote with her predominantly Spanish-speaking mother, she was surprised to find that, though the materials and signs were in multiple languages, the poll worker she interacted with in this large Spanish-speaking community did not speak the language. For the 15.7% of Chicago […]
Elena Grossman helps local health departments connect climate change dots in Illinois
By Natalie Eilbert Medill Reports In August, the heavy downpours filled houses with four feet of river water, though this happens every summer now in Peoria. Heat-stressed illnesses drove more people to a local hospital than capacity allowed in Jackson County. This past February, Kendall County collected more than 30 disease-carrying ticks, an unseasonable time […]
With 62 judges on the ballot, what’s a voter to do? ‘Toss Toomin’ campaign was latest effort to engage voters on judicial races
By Courtney Kueppers Medill Reports By shortly after 10 a.m. on Election Day, Dan Schneider was beginning to feel like a broken record. “I’ve been saying the same thing for over an hour,” the 29-year-old lawyer said. Outside of Chicago’s United Center, typically home to the Bulls and Blackhawks, upbeat music played on a speaker, […]
Former Cabrini-Green residents report painful discrimination in redeveloped mixed-income housing
By Yilun Cheng Medill Reports It seemed like just another winter day in 2008 when Keith Rodgers came out of his home on North Halsted Street –– a three-story red brick building housing eight mixed-income families in the Near North Side neighborhood –– and saw nearly a dozen police cars closing in on him. Born […]
Vancouver artists share their stories of being queer and Asian
By Sian Shin Medill Reports While Vancouver is home to the largest LGBTQ+ population in Western Canada and has a significant presence of Asian residents, Vancouver’s queer community has not created space for a prominent presence of queer Asians. 46.5% of Vancouver residents are of Asian origins, with the biggest subgroups being of East […]
Biologist Philip Willink keeps tabs on Illinois endangered species
by Emily Little Medill Reports Conservation policy doesn’t just happen overnight. Fish biologist Philip Willink is proof of that. His months of field research, reports and discussions eventually lead to some form of conservation action. Willink, who formerly worked in the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium, has found a way to bridge that gap […]
Chemist’s childhood love of nature sparks her search for medicinal plants
By Marisa Sloan Medill Reports Dr. Nadja Cech is used to getting her hands dirty. “Gardening has always been really important to me, but especially during the pandemic,” she said. “I manage the community garden in my neighborhood, which is used by about 30 different families.” When not in the garden, Cech can be found […]
Neighbor Loaves program protects every stage of grain production amid pandemic
By Carlyn Kranking Medill Reports On March 16, Hewn bakery in Evanston had 65 wholesale customers. The next day, it had only four. As the coronavirus pandemic swept across the country, shutting down businesses and driving customers indoors, the Midwest’s grain supply chain strained under the pressure. At Hewn, the resulting loss of wholesale customers, […]