Taking in the city’s expanse via drone, the special explores Chicago’s famous grid system, its industrial legacy, and the natural areas that weave through the dense urban jungle.
Stories by Quinn Myers
What Joe Biden’s Transportation Agenda Could Mean For Chicago
On the campaign trail, Joe Biden said he’d expand federal investment in America’s infrastructure and transportation systems, at a time when they desperately need it. But will Biden’s rhetoric turn into concrete action?
Ask Geoffrey: The Angles, Names and Numbers of Chicago’s Streets
Angles, curves, one ways and dead ends. Chicago’s street system has long been a source of pride for the city’s residents. Geoffrey Baer has more on the history and quirks of the city’s street system.
What a Biden Administration Could Mean For Environmental Issues In the Midwest
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to make combating climate change a central pillar of his administration. And he campaigned on rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.
How the COVID-19 Surge is Impacting Chicago’s Black Communities
The coronavirus has dealt a blow to the Black community, and the numbers are again on the rise. We discuss the surge with Dr. Doriane Miller, director of the Center for Community Health and Vitality at UChicago Medicine.
How the COVID-19 Surge is Impacting Chicago’s Latino Communities
COVID-19 continues to have a disproportionate impact on Latino communities. We discuss the pandemic with Dr. Marina Del Rios, director of social emergency medicine at the University of Illinois hospital in Chicago.
Congressional Winners: Casten, Davis and Newman on What Lies Ahead
U.S. Reps. Sean Casten and Rodney Davis, and Rep.-elect Marie Newman talk about their respective wins and agendas, and the 2020 presidential election.
What to Make of National, Statewide Polls Ahead of Election Day
National and statewide polls show former Vice President Joe Biden leading President Donald Trump ahead of Election Day. But as we learned in 2016, polls are by no means definitive indicators of victory or defeat.
How Chicago’s Travel Agencies Are Surviving the Pandemic
Airline layoffs, travel bans, quarantine orders – it’s been a calamitous year for the travel and tourism industry. Chicago’s independent travel agencies, scattered in storefronts across the city’s neighborhoods, have been anything but immune.
Ask Geoffrey: The Story of Hyde Park’s Rosalie Villas
A tucked-away street on the city's South Side is a time capsule from the days before the neighborhood was even part of Chicago. Geoffrey Baer explains.
Candidate Forum: Curran, Wilson Outline Visions for US Senate Seat
Sen. Dick Durbin has become one of the most powerful members of the Senate, but challengers say he is the ultimate Washington insider who’s lost sight of what’s best for Illinois. Meet two of those challengers.
Controversy Over the Chicago Police Department’s Use-of-Force Policy
The Chicago Police Department plans to adopt only five changes to its use-of-force policies out of 155 recommended by a community working group. Members of that group are now criticizing the entire process.
An Exit Interview with Barbara West, the Highest-Ranking Black Woman in CPD History
After more than 25 years on the force and 10 months as Chicago’s number three cop, Deputy Superintendent Barbara West is retiring from the Chicago Police Department.
Ask Geoffrey: What to See at This Year’s Reimagined Open House Chicago
Geoffrey Baer takes a look at the redesigned event in the latest Ask Geoffrey.
Injustice Watch Launches Judicial Voting Guide for 2020 Election
It might just seem like names at the end of the ballot, but voting for judges in Cook County has serious consequences. How voters can make educated decisions about the dozens of judges listed on the 2020 ballot.
Ask Geoffrey: Landmarking in Chicago
Geoffrey Baer traces the half-century story that cost at least one preservationist his life, in this week’s Ask Geoffrey.
Little Village Residents, Business Owners Fear Displacement as Discount Mall Redevelopment Looms
After a developer purchased a neighborhood plaza earlier this year, some residents and business owners are concerned the fabric of the community — known as the epicenter of Mexican culture and commerce for the entire Midwest — could be at risk.
Ask Geoffrey: The Gate of Horn
Geoffrey Baer has the story of a Chicago nightclub that helped launch the careers of artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Shel Silverstein, and many more.
Anti-Violence Groups Respond to Lightfoot’s New Safety Plan
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is unveiling a new plan to curb the city’s violence epidemic. But does it go far enough?
Firsthand Gun Violence: Accessing Violence Recovery on Chicago’s South Side
Following one of Chicago’s most violent summers in recent history, officials and advocates are stressing the importance of mental health care for victims of violence and their families — but access to those services can be difficult.
‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Little Village
Little Village on Chicago’s Southwest Side is known for its rich Mexican culture. But some residents and business owners fear a neighborhood staple could be in danger.
As Summer Turns to Fall, Extreme Weather Wracks US
As Chicago gets ready for cooler weather, many parts of the country are being hit by wildfires, hurricanes and the aftermath of last month’s destructive derecho. We learn more with atmospheric scientist Scott Collis.
Ask Geoffrey: Seawall or Railway Tracks?
Geoffrey Baer on a mysterious lakefront structure in this week's Ask Geoffrey.
Gage Park Latinx Council Opens Cultural Center on Southwest Side
How some Gage Park residents are giving back to their community during the pandemic.
Ask Geoffrey: The Fritz Reuter Monument
Two famous Germans take up permanent residence in Chicago, only to witness the evolution of a West Side neighborhood. Geoffrey Baer goes long on two enduring Humboldt Park statues.
Renée Fleming on Virtual Lyric Concert, Performing During COVID-19
The coronavirus has shuttered concert venues around the world, but that hasn’t stopped artists and musicians from finding new ways to share their work. Soprano Renee Fleming tells us about Lyric’s upcoming concert.
