Road to professional wrestling is not scripted

By Everett Munez Medill Reports Loud banging filled the air as wrestling trainees threw their bodies on the hard canvas, rolling forward and backward. As two wrestlers rolled in the ring, others in a queue waited their turn. Standing at the back of the line was a skinny 6-foot-5, 180-pound, bearded man with red hair […]

Array of emotions accompany Bears fans to NFL draft

By Everett Munez Medill Reports When Caleb Williams walks onto the grass at Soldier Field, he won’t be following in the footsteps of greatness.  The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner out of USC and the Bears top pick in the 2024 NFL draft follows a long history of disappointment at quarterback. The 104-year-old franchise is one […]

WATCH: What’s brewing? Chicago, suburbs get dose of Yemeni coffee shops

Adeni chai

By Sidra Dahhan Medill Reports Yemeni coffee shops, like Qahwah House in Lombard and Haraz Coffee House in Orland Park, have surged in popularity in the past couple of years — especially among young Muslims in America. It’s not just a Chicago phenomenon, it’s happening nationwide. Americans are being introduced to food culture in Yemen, […]

Chicago Street Course provides one-of-a-kind racing experience for drivers

NASCAR

By Jared Ramsey Medill Reports Thousands of people congregated in Grant Park over the holiday weekend, but the draw wasn’t fireworks over Lake Michigan, it was race cars flying around downtown. The first street race in NASCAR’s history took over downtown Chicago this weekend as the world’s best drivers raced on iconic  Chicago streets best […]

Salmonella infections linked to poorer colon cancer outcomes

By Dilpreet Raju Medill Reports Salmonella could pose a much more long-term health risk than just upending weekend plans with food-poisoning symptoms. According to a study published late last year in in part done by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago, salmonella infection is considered an environmental risk factor for colon cancer. Researchers at […]

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. […]

Antisemitic group calls for National Day of Hate: local authorities stress vigilance

By Brenda Ordoñez Medill Reports Local and national Jewish communities and businesses are remaining vigilant this weekend after a neo-Nazi group based in Iowa declared Feb. 25 as the National Day of Hate.     VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: FOLLOWING A STRING OF ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES EARLIER THIS YEAR, LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITIES ARE BACK ON HIGH ALERT AFTER […]