Keeping the spirit: Religious groups adapt to COVID-19 but challenges persist
By Jake Holland Medill Reports Instead of preaching to a live crowd, replete with white-haired parishioners and toddlers wobbling up and down the nave, Pastor Ryan Kapple has found himself facing the empty pews, delivering sermons via livestream to no one in particular. High-definition cameras track and record Kapple’s every move and turn of phrase, […]
Walgreens’ weakness can continue during painful post-COVID recovery, analysts say
By Henry Ren Medill Reports Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has traded near a seven-year low since executives said in early April that comparable sales started to decline due to the coronavirus pandemic, reflecting Wall Street’s concerns about the company’s post-shelter-in-place recovery in what is likely a recession. Walgreen’s comparable sales rose 26% in the first […]
Creating a TRiiBE of her own
By Grace Asiegbu Medill Reports On the ninth floor of the historic Nichols Tower on the West Side of Chicago sits a shared workspace with creaky floors and the smell of old books. Tiffany Walden, 31, walked out of a corner office with a bright smile. Tiffany relayed all the meetings and work she hadn’t […]
Fort Myers NAACP Protest Calls for Unity
By Samone Blair Medill Reports Roughly 40 Floridians gathered Monday in downtown Fort Myers, Florida, for a protest organized by the NAACP of Lee County demanding justice after the police killing of George Floyd. A broad range of the community took to the stage to explain why they attended the protest. Photo at top: A […]
Michigan teen collects handmade cards for COVID-19 patients
By Bre’onna Richardson Medill Reports Isaiah Rubin, 17, is a junior at Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan. Since March, he’s delivered more than 1,000 get-well cards to seniors and COVID-19 patients. For more information on Caring Cards for COVID-19, visit the website here. Photo at top: Dozens of handmade get-well cards. (Courtesy of Isaiah […]
Weekend scenes: Police killing of George Floyd ignites ‘Day of Protest’
By Anika Exum, Hannah Farrow, Briana Garrett, Nicole Girten and Yilin Xie Medill Reports Last week’s police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota resulted in widespread outrage and calls for protest nationwide — a protest that turned into days. Here’s what Medill reporters documented over the weekend. Chicago’s Loop on Friday: The first sparks […]
ASMR, Explained
By Justin Horowitz Medill Reports Autonomous sensory meridian response has taken over select corners of the Internet. More commonly known as ASMR, the term was coined in 2010 as a way to describe the experience of brain tingles. Brain tingles are a sensation some people experience when exposed to triggers such as hearing whispers, tapping […]
COVID-19: Stories from across America
By Jenny Ly Medill Reports In this May 25-31 special report, COVID-19: Stories from across America, Medill Reports looks at how the global pandemic is affecting Memorial Day and wedding celebrations, campaign voting and youth activities across the country. Coronavirus has now officially claimed the lives of at least 100,000 Americans. From Indianapolis to Chicago, […]
George Floyd protests and ongoing pandemic push attorneys to provide free counsel
By Sidnee King and Emine Yücel Medill Reports As hundreds of protesters wait in jails across the country after a weekend of raucous demonstrations, lawyers from Chicago to Los Angeles are taking to social media, offering free counsel. Legal professionals say pro bono work is especially important given that the pandemic is still ravaging the […]
Journalist Teryn Payne speaks to challenges Black women face in the industry
By Grace Asiegbu Medill Reports Teryn Payne, director of strategic communications and logistics for Chance the Rapper and former deputy editor and project manager of the Chicagoist, walked into Dollop Coffee Company in relaxed, casual joggers and a sweatshirt under her black puffer coat. Payne, 25, sits somewhere between communications newbie and magazine veteran. While […]