As summer winds down, Illinois continues to see a spike in COVID-19 cases, with more than 3,100 new infections reported by state health officials Thursday. Dr. Susan Bleasdale of UI Health breaks down the latest data and recommendations.
Stories by evan garcia
Alderpeople Address Budget Shortfall, Police Tensions
Aug 11, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Chicago’s revenue remains stunted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, City Council disclosed millions in investments using federal stimulus funds. And tension heightens between the community and police in the wake of Officer Ella French’s killing. Three alderpeople weigh in on these topics and more.
Chicago Record Label Revitalizes Forgotten Artists of the Past
Aug 10, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Survey Examines COVID-19 Misinformation on Facebook
Aug 4, 2021 | Evan Garcia
For many of us, social media is a convenient way to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues. But sharing false information on platforms like Facebook during a global pandemic can have life or death consequences.
COPA’s Interim Leader Looks Forward to Civilian Oversight Board
Jul 21, 2021 | Evan Garcia
The Chicago City Council has approved a measure to create a board of civilians to oversee the Chicago Police Department, the police board and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Andrea Kersten, the interim chief administrator of COPA, shares her thoughts.
Digging into Chicago’s COVID-19 Vaccine Disparity
Jul 3, 2021 | Evan Garcia
A recent South Side Weekly report used city data to show that Chicago’s vaccine disparity is widening between wealthier parts of the city, like the Loop, and areas on the South and West sides with a majority of Black and brown residents.
Riding High and Low: Exploring Chicago’s Vibrant Custom Bike Culture
Jun 21, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Have you ever thrown out a broken bike or any of its spare parts? There’s a chance a local bike club scooped up that trash to make a work of art on wheels. We visit Logan Square to learn about the city’s bustling custom bike culture.
National Museum of Mexican Art Prepares to Reopen Its Doors
Jun 19, 2021 | Evan Garcia
When it reopens its doors July 1, the National Museum of Mexican Art will be kicking off operations with a major financial boost after it received an $8 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Examining the E-Scooter Data of Chicago’s 2020 Program
Jun 15, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Last year’s electric scooter program, which ran from August to December, saw an increase in the number of available scooters but a decline in overall ridership, according to a Chicago Department of Transportation report.
Illinois State Climatologist: This Year’s Spring Driest Since 1934
Jun 14, 2021 | Evan Garcia
What could drier-than-normal weather mean for your garden and the greater climate? A climate change specialist and floral expert weigh in.
Young Skateboarders Gain Their Footing Through New Chicago Program
Jun 3, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Skateboarding has long been considered a sport, an art form and even a lifestyle by its devotees. In Chicago, a new program has helped young people break out of the pandemic blues by learning the basics of skateboarding while picking up valuable life lessons along the way.
‘Live at Mister Kelly’s’ Documentary Details Iconic Chicago Nightclub
May 27, 2021 | Evan Garcia
The Chicago nightclub helped launch the early careers of music and comedy acts like Barbra Streisand and Richard Pryor, while achieving status from established jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, who both recorded live albums at the Rush Street venue.
Higher Education Programs Tackle Latino Issues Domestic and Abroad Amid COVID-19
May 22, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Within university programs dedicated to Latino studies, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and brown communities, as well as tensions surrounding police brutality, are emerging in classroom discussions and curriculum.
Ida B. Wells’ Pioneering Journalism Highlighted in New WTTW Film
May 20, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Journalist and activist Ida B. Wells took great risks to expose the horrors of racism and fight injustice through her investigative writings. Wells’ life and groundbreaking work are the subject of a new WTTW Chicago Stories documentary airing Friday.
WBEZ ‘Reset’ Host Sasha-Ann Simons on Covering Chicago
May 11, 2021 | Evan Garcia
A new WBEZ series examines how Chicago’s institutions interact with its residents. Sasha-Ann Simons, the station’s new host of “Reset,” joins us.
Logan Square Farmers Market Gives Businesses a Boost Amid COVID-19
May 10, 2021 | Evan Garcia
One of Chicago’s only weekly, nearly year-long farmers markets opened on Sunday, just in time to provide some extra help to the farmers, restaurateurs and other food producers selling their goods in the city’s Northwest Side neighborhood. We meet some of this year’s vendors.
Rep. Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia Looks Forward to Open and Inclusive Redistricting Process
May 8, 2021 | Evan Garcia
With a Democratic governor and supermajorities in the state Senate and House, Democrats are in the driver’s seat to redraw the state’s political boundaries. Do Illinois Latinos now warrant more representation in Congress than they currently have?
Internet Cookies May Boost Online Experience But Raise Privacy Concerns
May 4, 2021 | Evan Garcia
As data breaches in recent years have exposed weaknesses in the storage and transfer of personal data, lawmakers in the United States and Europe have expressed concern over the tracking of users online.
Duckworth Pushes $35B Investment in Water Infrastructure
Apr 29, 2021 | Evan Garcia
President Joe Biden made sweeping proposals in his address to Congress on Wednesday. Among them, a pledge to tackle lead in drinking water. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth has proposed $35 billion to update water infrastructure and improve drinking water quality across the country.
Chicago Designer Creates Clothing for Children with Sensory Disorders
Apr 21, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Former real estate agent Dina Lewis moved from New York City to Chicago in 2018. Soon after, she decided to pursue a professional endeavor that was personal to her: designing clothing for kids with special sensory needs. We visited the design studio of Minor Details to learn more.
Chicago Music Venues Try to Stay Afloat Despite Bungled Federal Aid Rollout
Apr 20, 2021 | Evan Garcia
A recent bungled federal aid rollout worth 16 billion dollars for music venues and theaters across the country is adding more strain to a stressful situation.
Photos: Little Village Peace Walk Memorializes 13-Year-Old Adam Toledo
Apr 19, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Several hundred people gathered Sunday evening in Little Village to mourn the death of Adam Toledo and participate in a peace walk through the neighborhood. The 13-year-old was fatally shot by a police officer on March 29.
Providers Combat Vaccine Hesitancy After Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause
Apr 17, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Health officials recommended a pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine this week after six people experienced rare but severe blood clots. We discuss the situation—and concerns about vaccine hesitancy—with Dr. Juanita Mora, an allergist and immunologist at the Chicago Allergy Center.
Photos: Thousands March to Protest Police Killing of 13-Year-Old Adam Toledo
Apr 17, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Thousands of protesters gathered in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood Friday evening to protest the police killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo last month. Toledo was fatally shot by a police officer in the Little Village neighborhood, about 6 miles south of the protest.
Canceling Student Loan Debt an Undue Burden, Critics Say
Apr 13, 2021 | Evan Garcia
Americans owe more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Now, President Joe Biden is facing new calls to cancel $50,000 or more of loan debt per student. But critics say it would put an undue burden on Americans who never went to college.
Who Stormed the US Capitol? New Report Digs Into Demographics of Those Arrested
Apr 7, 2021 | Evan Garcia
A new analysis from the University of Chicago looked at the demographics of the 377 individuals arrested for the Jan. 6 attack. The study’s author said he had expected to discover something about the economic conditions of the rioters but was surprised that the data told a very different story.