Stories by Nick Blumberg
The Week in Review: Chicago Area Students Join in Gun Control Protests
| Nick Blumberg
Local students join in nationwide protests over access to gun control. House Speaker Michael Madigan grapples with the #MeToo movement. And a new milestone in the race for governor.
In ‘The Wolves,’ the Tensions Beneath a Fierce Team Spirit
| Hedy Weiss
Talk about timing: The Chicago premiere of Sarah DeLappe’s tour de force mix of verbal and physical athletics and teen angst comes as the U.S. women’s ice hockey team wins the 2018 Olympic gold medal.
CPS Watchdog: ‘Pervasive Problem’ with Enrollment at Some District Schools
| Matt Masterson
A new report from the CPS inspector general uncovers loopholes and opaque rules that led to thousands of improper admissions made at district elementary schools during the 2016-17 school year.
Rare Mummy Portraits Offer Peek into the Past at Block Museum
| Marc Vitali
Portraits of mummies greet visitors at a new exhibition where art, science and history intersect.
Madigan Under Fire for Handling of Harassment Claims
| Erica Gunderson
Should House Speaker Michael Madigan step aside? The latest on the fallout from allegations of sexual harassment in his political offices.
Illinois Democrats Pushing for State Licensing for Gun Stores
| Paul Caine
As President Donald Trump indicates his desire to work on gun safety measures, Democrats in Springfield are aiming to tighten controls on gun dealers.
Controversial Reader Cover Raises Questions About Newsroom Diversity
| Evan Garcia
A controversial political cartoon sparks a leadership change – and questions. Can cartoons go too far? And what is the state of diversity in newsrooms? We speak with journalist Adeshina Emmanuel and editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis.
Study: Chicago Could See 80,000 Electric Cars by 2030
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago could see a significant increase in electric cars by the end of the next decade, but drivers will need the city to install thousands of new charging stations to keep those cars on the road.
New Type of Wearable Electronics Could Boost Stroke Patients’ Recovery
| Kristen Thometz
While inpatient settings help stroke victims recover, their progress tends to decline when they return home. Researchers are hoping that a new breed of wearable electronics could curb that drop-off in recovery.
Emanuel on Arming Teachers: ‘Absurd Any Way You Look at It’
Mayor fires back at Trump’s idea to allow some teachers to carry firearms in class
| Matt Masterson
We don’t need more guns in schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday, “we need more teachers in schools, more students who are not scared so they can be focused not on their fears, but their studies.”
CPS Named as College Board’s AP District of the Year
| Matt Masterson
Chicago Public Schools is now the first district of any size to earn the honor twice. Since 2011 – the first year it was named AP District of the Year – the number of CPS students taking the exams has jumped by 44 percent.
2018 Voters’ Guide to the Cook County Primary
| Nick Blumberg
WTTW’s 2018 Voters’ Guide to the Cook County Primary is an online resource designed to inform voters about the candidates running for office in the March 20 election. Learn more.
John P. Daley: Candidate for Cook County Commissioner, 11th District
| Nick Blumberg
“I believe it is my duty as Commissioner to be responsive to the ideas of my constituents,” writes John P. Daley. Learn more about this candidate.
Do Stingrays Like Being Touched? New Research Says ‘Maybe’
| Alex Ruppenthal
A first-of-its-kind study involving nearly 60 stingrays at Shedd Aquarium indicates that the animals do not suffer from their interactions with humans – and might even enjoy it.
2 Running for Cook County Assessor, Yet 3 on the Ballot
| Paris Schutz
The Cook County Electoral Board has ruled that it is supposed to be a two-person race between Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios and challenger Fritz Kaegi. So why will a third person be on the ballot?
From Pyeongchang to ‘Heart and Seoul,’ Exhibit Highlights Korean Culture
| Amanda Vinicky
The Winter Olympics will soon come to an end, but at the Chicago Children’s Museum, kids can continue to experience elements of the Korean culture they’re seeing glimpses of on TV.
Mix of Heavy Rain, Melting Snow Puts McCook Reservoir to the Test
| Elizabeth Brackett
The newly opened McCook Reservoir kept untreated sewage out of the lake, but not out of local rivers.
Billy Graham, ‘America’s Pastor,’ Got His Start in the Chicago Area
| Evan Garcia
Evangelist Billy Graham, whose sermons reached audiences around the world, died Wednesday at his home in North Carolina. He was 99 years old. We discuss Graham’s legacy and his Chicago-area roots.
Heartland Alliance Uses Medication to Make Progress with Opioid Addicts
| Brandis Friedman
Overcoming heroin addiction is a Herculean task. How a local program is helping former addicts recover with medication.
Sen. Dick Durbin Demands Action on Gun Control After Florida Massacre
| Paul Caine
Democrats remain committed to pushing for meaningful gun control, the U.S. Senator says. We discuss gun control, the Mueller investigation and efforts to get a deal for Dreamers.
Ask Geoffrey: The Fascinating Story of Antoinette Rich
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer has the keys to the story of a symphony orchestra made up of all pianos – and all women. And: The story behind a colonial-inspired park district field house in the Austin community.
Andrea Raila: Candidate for Cook County Assessor
| Nick Blumberg
“We can make the property tax system fair and equitable for property owners from all communities regardless of economic background or housing stock,” Andrea Raila writes. Learn more about this candidate.
Naperville Man Acquitted in Retrial 22 Years After Arson Murder Conviction
| Matt Masterson
Bill Amor spent two decades behind bars for a murder he says he didn’t commit. On Wednesday, a DuPage County judge agreed – and acquitted him in a retrial of a 1995 arson case.
Stage Adaptation of Bellow’s ‘Augie March’ Coming to Court Theatre
| Hedy Weiss
Court Theatre’s newly announced 2018-2019 season includes a world premiere stage adaptation of Saul Bellow’s “The Adventures of Augie March” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn (“Proof”).
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
Cook County Announces $20M for Community Violence Intervention Services
Chicago’s Sidewalks Aren’t Accessible for People With Mobility Challenges, Lawsuit Argues. The City Wants the Case Dismissed
Chicago US Attorney’s Office Reviewing Past Grand Jury Proceedings After Another Case Tied to ‘Broadview Six’ Prosecutor Falls Apart
Chicago Advocates Call for New Gun Violence Prevention Efforts After Mass Shooting, Trump Response
Alpha-Gal Syndrome Poses Threat to Southern Illinoisans as Tick Population Surges
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter