Stories by Nick Blumberg
Uproar After DePaul University Bans Conservative Speaker
| Nick Blumberg
Students across the political spectrum are angry with DePaul University's decision not to allow a conservative writer and commentator to speak at an on-campus event.
Alligator Gar Not Effective Weapon Against Asian Carp, Says Biologist
| Evan Garcia
Despite a spate of recent reports, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says that reintroducing alligator gar into Illinois' waterways will not prevent Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan.
Chicago-Area Man Aims to Be Full-Time Pokemon Trainer
| Hunter Clauss
The smartphone game has taken Chicago by storm. We hunt down and follow some of the area’s most dedicated players, including one who hopes to turn his hobby into a career.
Obama Pushes Support for TPP, Critics Fear Another NAFTA
| Paul Caine
President Barack Obama reiterates his support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. But the trade deal has strong opposition. What's at the core of the agreement that could shape U.S. trade relations in the 21st century?
New Bronzeville Community Center Offers Much-Needed Gathering Place
| Eddie Arruza
After years of waiting, Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood gets a spectacular and much needed arts and recreation center.
Old Main Post Office: Troubled Giant on Brink of Transformation
| Dan Andries
The building that thousands of cars drive under every day will be turned into commercial office space. Looking at the future of a building that's been empty since 1997.
Solutions for the State’s Perplexing Pension Gordian Knot
| Alexandra Silets
Can state lawmakers craft a constitutional fix for the Illinois public pension problem? We talk with one man who has a plan.
Hedy Weiss Reviews: ‘War Paint,’ ‘The Grapes of Wrath,’ More
| Marc Vitali
The Chicago Sun-Times theater critic reviews a Pulitzer prize-winning play at Steppenwolf Theatre, a pair of one-man shows and two Tony award-winning actresses.
Northwestern, Lurie Children’s Hospitals Named Best Hospitals in US
| Kristen Thometz
Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago rank among the top hospitals in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of hospitals.
STEM Competition Aims to Inspire Teen Girls
| Matt Masterson
Dozens of teenage girls from the Chicago area are getting a unique, hands-on STEM experience as they transform recycled refrigerators into solar-powered race cars in the ComED Icebox Derby.
Black Lives Matter Coalition Releases 1st Official Platform
| Reuben Unrau
Just days before the two-year anniversary of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, that sparked protests nationwide, the Movement for Black Lives has released an official platform that outlines its demands.
Looking Back at Republican, Democratic Conventions for Insight Ahead
| Alexandra Silets
The fallout continues from the political conventions. We hear from several reporters who spent two weeks on the ground at both the Republican and Democratic conventions.
FOP President Dean Angelo on Shooting of Paul O’Neal, Labor Day Weekend Staffing
| Brandis Friedman
In a phone call late Monday afternoon, Fraternal Order of Police President Dean Angelo spoke about the recent police-involved shooting of Paul O’Neal and the union’s call for police officers to reject Labor Day weekend overtime.
Community Activists Share Expectations for Obama Library
| Dan Andries
The site for the Obama Presidential library has been chosen and now community activists tell us what they expect as the project moves forward.
Chicago’s Plastic Bag Ban Extended to Smaller Chain Stores
| Evan Garcia
As of Monday, chain stores that are 10,000 square feet or less must comply with the city's plastic bag ban originally enacted a year ago.
Cartoonists of the Gilded Age on Display at Driehaus Museum
| Dan Andries
Revisit the wry cartoons of the turn of the century satirical magazine, Puck.
Frustrated Top Cop Calls for Tougher Gun Laws
| Brandis Friedman
Superintendent Eddie Johnson says his department has so far made 1,900 gun arrests in 2016, a 7-percent increase over the first seven months of 2015.
Uptown Restaurant with Mission to Help Homeless Closes
| Hunter Clauss
Inspiration Kitchens had been a fixture of the Uptown neighborhood for 11 years. But owners of the restaurant say a loss of federal funding and the state's historic budget impasse made it difficult to maintain a financial foothold.
Tips for Midsummer Gardens, from Planting to Pruning to Harvesting
| Dan Andries
The WTTW organic garden is growing at an astonishing pace, with sweet corn towering over the plot and many vegetables ready for the grill. But if your own garden–like ours–is looking a little too lush, not to worry: There are easy ways to tame it, says Jeanne Nolan, the Organic Gardener.
Section of Lakefront Trail on North Side Reopens with Improvements
| Reuben Unrau
As part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to improve Chicago parks, a revamped section of the lakefront trail was opened to the public Friday.
The Week in Review: Clinton Makes History as Democrats Strive for Unity
| Nick Blumberg
Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to be nominated by a major party in the U.S. Meanwhile, Mayor Rahm Emanuel takes a hit at the Democratic National Convention and Illinois Democratic delegates focus on finding a challenger to Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018.
Original Chicago Cocktail: Crooked Cowboy
| Erica Gunderson
William Hale “Big Bill” Thompson was arguably the most corrupt politician Chicago has ever seen. He inspires a bourbon-based cocktail topped off with a taste of Chicago.
Photos: Democratic National Convention 2016, Day 4
| Evan Garcia
Hillary Clinton formally accepted her party's presidential nomination on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
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