Stories by Abena Bediako

“We can make them feel that they’re inside the main character’s head,” Make-Believe Association founder Jeremy McCarter said. “And I just thought, well, if we can do that, what would be a more interesting head to be inside than Hamlet’s?”

Latin America is in the midst of a crucial election year in countries including Venezuela, whose ruling party claimed another win last month amid opposition boycotts. Advocates say last month’s results could further roil the country’s political landscape.

Chicago State University hired its first-ever head football coach, Bobby Rome II. Rome is tasked with building the school’s new Division I football program from the ground up. The university doesn’t have a stadium, equipment or players just yet.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, editor, columnist, PBS NewsHour political analyst and MSNBC host lays it all bare in his new book.

Laura Gardner, owner of Local Style Potato Chips, set out to combine her love of potato chips and Chicago foods to make the ultimate snack.

Dozens and dozens of companies are dropping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives they loudly launched five years ago.

Sunny day, sweepin’ the clouds away... that’s how Sonia Manzano spent her career for more than four decades. The actress hung out with Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and the whole “Sesame Street” gang when she played Maria on the beloved program.

The project aims to turn a disused rail line into a path for walking, biking and gathering. Organizers hope to honor the area’s cultural significance and help improve the community’s health outcomes and opportunities.

For decades, conservatives and liberals have fiercely debated what drives the nation’s gun violence epidemic. But a new book called “Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence” says neither side has it right — and suggests a new pathway to stop these acts of violence before they start.

“It’s definitely a tradition we don’t want to lose but with this administration, it’s better to keep our people safe,” said Hector Escobar, president of Casa Puebla and the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce.

In a speech last week, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed kids with autism will “never pay taxes, hold a job,” play sports or participate in the arts.

After 10 years as the 35th Ward alderperson, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is moving to a different office: superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District.

New research shows the rate of women dying from pregnancy-related medical conditions has worsened in recent years. And Black women are three times as likely to die of such an illness as White women.

According to the American Library Association, more than 77% of rural public libraries are the only source of free public access to computers and the internet in their communities.

Last month, Monica Gordon marked 100 days in office. In that time, she said, she’s seen an increase in requests for records like birth certificates and marriage licenses.

State officials say the Trump administration is pulling back $477 million aimed at preventing infectious disease and treating mental health and substance abuse issues.

The first of the boycotts happened last month, with more scheduled in the coming weeks. The effort includes boycotts of various companies and retailers during different time periods.

In his executive order in January, the president wrote that being transgender “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful and disciplined lifestyle” and is harmful to military readiness.

Andrea Kersten recently resigned as chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, known as COPA. The move happened after the city’s police oversight board issued a letter to Kersten saying it was planning to take a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

It’s one more Hail Mary attempt to keep the Chicago Bears in the city and have them ditch their suburban plans.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 7 million people across the globe have died from COVID-19 since the virus was first declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

“Chicago is the steppin’ capital of the world.” That’s a phrase coined by local DJ Sam Chatman, also known as the Godfather of Steppin’. And though the dance craze’s popularity has spread far and wide, no one can do it quite like the hometown originators.

Peacekeepers across the city play an important role in interrupting and preventing violent crime in neighborhoods. These leaders are strategizing and organizing in their communities every day to improve safety and make a difference.

Fears are heightening over the potential of a new trade war and its possible impact across the country. President Donald Trump has agreed to a temporary pause on the 25% tariffs he is proposing on goods from Mexico and Canada — the country’s two largest trading partners.

Backers of Trump’s decision say DEI practices were discriminatory and promoted inequity. But advocates argue social equity initiatives are essential to create a fair and balanced society.

Increased immigration raids have been reported across the country. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, confirmed nearly 1,200 arrests on Sunday. Approximately 100 people have been detained by federal officials in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Police Department.