“Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” host Joanna Hernandez spoke to those working directly with Chicago’s unhoused population to understand what work is being done, the barriers to finding help and some possible solutions.
Stories by Emily Soto
Chicago Group Gets Kids on the Ice With ‘Figure Skating on Your Block’
Feb 22, 2024 | Emily Soto
The Chicago Youth Foundation offers a new program to introduce figure skating to diverse neighborhoods across the city.
Rapper and Activist Vic Mensa on His Chicago Roots, Work to Support South Side Neighborhoods
Feb 22, 2024 | Emily Soto
Vic Mensa has taken on many different roles over the years — rapper, organizer, actor and more. Most recently, he partnered with the “Feed the Block, Warm the Block” initiative to bring food and clothing to the city’s unhoused population.
Public Guardian Raises Concerns About DCFS Care for Kids Awaiting Placement: ‘It’s Devastating’
Feb 14, 2024 | Emily Soto
The person who advocates in court for children who’ve been abused or neglected said the state’s Department of Children and Family Services is not only failing to meet the needs of kids in its care — but that the situation is getting worse.
New Proposal Would Change How Minimum Wage Works For Tipped Workers in Illinois
Feb 12, 2024 | Emily Soto
Under a new proposal introduced last week in Springfield, all tipped workers in the state would have to be paid the equivalent of the Illinois’ regular minimum wage through a combination of wages and tips. If the tips fall short, their employers would have to make up the difference.
What Warm February Temperatures Could Mean for Chicago
Feb 8, 2024 | Emily Soto
Temperatures reached a high of 57 degrees in Chicago on Thursday. As the city experiences an El Nino year, 2024 is seeing temperatures about 1 to 3 degrees above average.
Deadline Approaches for Controversial ShotSpotter Renewal
Feb 8, 2024 | Emily Soto
Supporters say the ShotSpotter system is a useful tool that helps Chicago police officers get to crime scenes faster. But critics say the technology is unreliable and contributes to over policing in communities of color.
Chicago City Council Members Debate Approach to Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution After Narrow Passage
Feb 5, 2024 | Emily Soto
The emotional debate was over a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Chicago became the largest city to pass such a resolution after Mayor Brandon Johnson cast a tie-breaking vote.
New Book Helps First-Generation Latinos Navigate Finances, Cultural Expectations
Feb 2, 2024 | Emily Soto
For first-generation individuals, building wealth can be intimidating. And while learning how to navigate finances can be challenging, it is possible. Giovanna González has made it her life’s mission to teach others how to tackle their finances while unpacking cultural and systemic barriers.
Sports Columnist Rick Telander Focuses His Pen on Children’s Poetry in New Book
Jan 29, 2024 | Emily Soto
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander certainly waxes poetic when lamenting the fates of our oft-underperforming sports franchises. But now he’s turned his literary and wordsmith abilities to poetry in a new book called “Sweet Dreams: Poems and Paintings for the Child Abed.”
CTU Calls for Federal Funding for More Bilingual Teachers, Services for Migrant Students
Jan 25, 2024 | Emily Soto
More than 5,000 English learners have enrolled in Chicago Public Schools over the course of the year, many of whom are the children of migrant families. The influx is shining a spotlight on the shortage of bilingual instructors and services at schools.
La Josie Serving Up Modern Mexican Fare for Chicago Restaurant Week
Jan 25, 2024 | Emily Soto
Chicago Restaurant Week is dishing out examples of the city’s diverse and delicious culinary scene. The 17-day celebration invites diners to get out and try new eateries, with specialized menus at more than 400 restaurants across the city.
When is the Right Time to Buy a Home? Navigating the Path to Homeownership
Jan 18, 2024 | Emily Soto
With rising home prices, living costs and more, saving for that next step can be intimidating. It’s causing many young adults to delay their purchase. The average age of first-time homebuyers has reached 36, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Volunteers, Faith Leaders Working to Help Unhoused Chicagoans Amid Freezing Temperatures
Jan 17, 2024 | Emily Soto
Most of us can avoid Chicago’s frigid temperatures just by staying home. But for those experiencing homelessness, the solution is not that simple. Local organizations work directly with those individuals, hoping to provide relief and find long-term solutions.
Inside Hyde Park’s 14 Parish Ahead of Chicago Restaurant Week
Jan 17, 2024 | Emily Soto
Chicago Restaurant Week kicks off Friday. But don’t be fooled by the annual event’s name — it’s actually a 17-day celebration of the city’s diverse and delicious culinary scene.
Project Aims to Repair Englewood Homes, Combat Disinvestment Through the Arts
Jan 15, 2024 | Emily Soto
Artist Tonika Lewis Johnson is highlighting historical injustices while working to revitalize vacant lots in Englewood. It’s part of her latest project, “unBlocked Englewood.”
As Migrants Sit for Hours on Buses at City Landing Zone, Volunteers Call for More Communication
Jan 12, 2024 | Emily Soto
Of the more than 30,000 migrants that have been sent to Chicago from the southern border, more than 200 were living at the city’s landing zone in the West Loop as of Thursday — using CTA buses as temporary shelters.
Director of UChicago’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression on Campus Controversy and University Presidents
Jan 9, 2024 | Emily Soto
“Those schools, the presidents that were up there testifying, while they were saying, ‘oh you know we preserve freedom of speech, we value freedom of speech,’ they in fact do have records of suppressing speech,” says Tom Ginsburg of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression.
Latinos Are Growing Demographic of Homebuyers in US, Census Data Shows
Jan 4, 2024 | Emily Soto
Interest rates saw record highs last year, reaching almost 8% and raising concerns for first-time buyers looking to get into the market. This was until 2023 saw a slight decline beginning in November. The trend is expected to continue, sparking interest again for that group.
Black-Owned Retail Businesses Look to Build on Holiday Season Momentum
Dec 27, 2023 | Emily Soto
There was some good news this year. According to Mastercard Spending Pulse, retail shopping was up about 3% this holiday season compared to last year.
Advocates Concerned About Migrants’ Health Amid Reports of Illness, Overcrowding at Chicago Shelters
Dec 22, 2023 | Emily Soto
Elected officials and community leaders are demanding federal aid to help address the needs of Chicago’s migrants. This plea follows the death of 5-year-old Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero — who was living at a migrant shelter in Pilsen.
What Workers, Employers Are Seeking in an Evolving Labor Landscape
Dec 20, 2023 | Emily Soto
Remote working. A four-day workweek. Quiet quitting. A resurgent labor movement. These are just a few of the changes workers and employers have been grappling with over the last few years.
United, American Airlines Push Back Against Rising Costs of O’Hare Airport Expansion
Dec 18, 2023 | Emily Soto
Originally budgeted at $8.5 billion, the expansion is now reaching $12 billion. The most extensive part of the project is the 2.2 million-square-foot O’Hare Global Terminal, replacing what is now Terminal 2.
Deputy Mayor on Chicago’s New Plan for Public Safety Aiming to Take Holistic Approach to Crime
Dec 15, 2023 | Emily Soto
While views on how to address public safety are divided, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his new plan Thursday, which he says will address the root causes of crime.
Civic Federation Taps Former City Inspector General Joe Ferguson as Next President
Dec 12, 2023 | Emily Soto
Joe Ferguson spent 12 years as the corruption-busting watchdog of Chicago government — proving to be a thorn in the side of both the Emanuel and Lightfoot administrations.
Research Shows Benefits of Using Restorative Practices in Chicago Public Schools
Dec 6, 2023 | Emily Soto
A study from the University of Chicago Education Lab showed using restorative practices led to an 18% reduction in suspensions, along with 35% fewer arrests at school and a 15% decrease in out-of-school arrests.