October marks 60 years since nearly 250,000 CPS students and their parents flooded the streets of Chicago in what’s known as Freedom Day — a massive protest of segregation in Chicago Public Schools and the superintendent at the time, Benjamin Willis.
Stories by acacia hernandez
Carrera de los Muertos Takes the Pulse of Pilsen for the 16th Year This Saturday Through a Sold-Out 5K
It’s going to be a colorful day in Pilsen on Saturday. More than 6,000 people are expected to come together to honor and remember their late loved ones in a sold-out race ahead of Dia de los Muertos, a well-known Mexican holiday dating back to precolonial times.
Chicago Residents Detail Their Priorities for City’s Next Police Budget
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Police Department say they’re moving into a “new age of policing” while rebuilding the department. They are also asking for more money, patience and time.
Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Persist for Black Women. Here’s How Chicagoans Are Breaking Down Access Barriers
The death rate for breast cancer in the United States dropped 43% between 1989 and 2020, according to the American Cancer Society. Despite this hopeful news, breast cancer mortality rates still remain 40% higher for Black women than White women.
Brighton Park Community Members on ‘Winterized Base Camp,’ Thursday’s Demonstrations
Brighton Park community members rallied Thursday against Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to build a “winterized base camp” for migrants on a vacant, privately owned lot in the area.
Reflecting on the Historic 1963 Chicago Public Schools Boycott 60 Years Later
This Sunday marks 60 years to the day nearly 250,000 Chicago Public Schools students skipped school to boycott CPS. Students and their parents flooded the streets of Chicago in what’s known as Freedom Day, a massive protest of the segregation in CPS and the superintendent at the time, Benjamin Willis.
A Look at the Impact of Student Loan Debt on Illinois Borrowers as Payments Resume
The average student loan debt for Illinoisans is nearly $38,000. Almost 55% of the more than 1 million borrowers in Illinois are under the age of 35, according to the Education Data Initiative.
Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program Set to End This Year. What Advocates, Opponents Are Saying About It
Students at private schools across Illinois are at risk of losing their scholarships if state lawmakers don’t extend the Invest in Kids Act, which is slated to end Dec. 31.
Ald. Robinson to Propose Name Change for Douglas Neighborhood Due to Historic Ties to Slavery
Douglas is currently named after Stephen Douglas, a 19th century political figure in Illinois whose beliefs and actions were deeply intertwined with the history of slavery. He profited from the labor of people enslaved on a plantation inherited by his wife.
Alderman, Residents Push Back on City Plan to House Migrants at Amundsen Park Field House
It marked the latest in a series of contentious community meetings across the city as officials work to find housing for the influx of thousands of migrants being sent from the southern border.
‘Young Love’ Series Portrays West Side Family’s Modern-Day Life in Chicago
Chicago native Matthew A. Cherry expanded on his Academy Award-winning short film “Hair Love” by creating “Young Love,” an animated series featuring a family living on the West Side of Chicago.
Entering the 2024 Primary Election Season: A ‘Latino Voices’ Community Conversation
As Americans enter the primary election season, Latino voters will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the 2024 election.
Chicago Food Pantries Report Stark Increase in Food Insecurity Amid Inflation, Decreased Federal Assistance
With inflation on the rise, and federal pandemic assistance expiring, food pantries and distributors say food insecurity across the city is spiking.
Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Designs Logo to Help Raise Funds for Group Aiding Migrants
For the many volunteers helping migrants living at Chicago police stations, raising funds is essential. One group teamed up with a Venezuelan migrant to design the logo on merchandise being sold to raise money for food, clothes and medicine for asylum seekers.
As Migrants Continue to Arrive in Chicago, Officials Call for Collaboration Across Levels of Government
This week marks one year since the first bus of asylum seekers was sent to Chicago from the southern border. More than 13,500 migrants have arrived in the city to date.
‘Safety Isn’t Just Physical’: CPS, Community Leaders on Back-to-School Safety in ‘A Safer City’ Conversation
With the second week of classes already under way, WTTW News reporter Joanna Hernandez moderated a live virtual conversation on back-to-school safety for children and youth in Chicago as part of the WTTW News: A Safer City initiative.
Why Hospitals Are Being Increasingly Targeted by Cyberattacks
Hacking is a growing concern for hospitals and health institutions. Cyberattacks on hospitals and health systems more than doubled from 2016 to 2021, according to a JAMA report.
Future Health Care Workers Aim to Build Trust Following Historically Racist Medical Experiments
Black and Latino students in health care career paths recently shared their findings on past experiments during a summer internship program at Rush University Medical Center.
Chicago Police Stop-and-Frisk Practices Could Gain Court Oversight, But Activists Say Deal Isn’t Enough
The city of Chicago and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office negotiated an agreement to shift oversight of CPD’s stop-and-frisk practices into a consent decree governing the department.
New Illinois Law That Allows Certain Non-Citizens to Join Law Enforcement Becomes a Flash Point
A new state law will soon allow non-citizens who are both legally eligible to work in the U.S. and authorized to possess firearms under federal law to become police officers and deputy sheriffs.
Chicago-Area Groups Work to Support, Aid Domestic Violence Survivors Amid Surge
An increase in domestic violence reports has not only highlighted the need for better legal protection and laws for survivors, but also the need for creating an improved network of care in cases of abuse. Dozens of organizations in Chicago are working to address those needs.
Parading and Peace: Celebrating 94 Years of the Bud Billiken Parade
Chicago’s historic Bud Billiken parade is the largest African American parade in the U.S., drawing in nearly 300,000 people and spanning almost 3 miles.
Local Officials, Organizers Working to Address Humboldt Park’s Growing Homeless Encampment
According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, more than 65,000 Chicagoans are currently unhoused.
40 to 50 Migrants Arrive to Chicago by Bus Daily, Officials Say
Hundreds of migrant men, women and children continue to sleep on police station floors, despite efforts to move them into shelters.
A ‘Voices’ Community Conversation: Tackling Public Safety in Chicago
Chicago leaders joined “Chicago Tonight” co-host Brandis Friedman in a discussion focused on how residents, policymakers and community groups are working to address the deeply rooted issue of gun violence.
‘Immensely Invisible’ Details Investigation Into Sexual Assault Claims Inside ICE Detention Facilities
PBS NewsHour producer Zeba Warsi has been investigating sexual assault claims in ICE facilities since 2021. She teamed up with Latino USA and Futuro Investigates to tell the stories of three migrant women.
