Stories by Nick Blumberg

“I am committed to making Cook County a healthy, accessible, and safe place to live,” writes Alma Anaya. Learn more about this candidate.

“It is long past time that you had a representative on the County Board that works as hard as you do,” writes Frank McPartlin. Learn more about this candidate.

“I’ve been a strong voice against raising taxes on the County Board,” writes Peter Silvestri. Learn more about this candidate.

“During my time as a commissioner, I have championed policies that benefit working families across Cook County,” writes Bridget Gainer. Learn more about this candidate.

“In order to make government accountable to our residents and pensioners, we demand fiscal policies which reduce government spending,” writes Carl Segvich. Learn more about this candidate.

“The Democratic Party should stop punishing success and rewarding voters with tax payer money,” writes Steven S. Graves. Learn more about this candidate.

“During my time as your commissioner, I have worked and succeeded in advancing a progressive agenda that my constituents want and deserve,” writes John Fritchey. Learn more about this candidate.

“I think it’s time for a change on the County board, and based on the 7,000 doors I’ve knocked in this district since September, many people agree,” writes Bridget Degnen. Learn more about this candidate.

“We are running a campaign on purity politics and positive messaging and don’t need to bring any of the other candidates down,” writes Bushra Amiwala. Learn more about this candidate.

“I have conducted over 150 community meetings to help thousands of home owners appeal and get reductions on real estate property tax assessments,” writes Larry Suffredin. Learn more about this candidate.

“I’m running for the Cook County Board of Commissioners because I care deeply about ending the era of mass incarceration,” writes Daniel Foster. Learn more about this candidate.

“I have made the commitment to serve on the County Board and to fearlessly and constantly promote efficiency in government, seeking solutions to our tax problems by budget changes, not tax increases,” writes Chris Hanusiak. Learn more about this candidate.

“I became involved in public service in order to foster progressive values in my community,” writes Scott Britton. Learn more about this candidate.

“I want to steer us away from financial collapse, and in a direction that no longer places the entire burden on the backs of our working and middle class families,” writes Kevin Morrison. Learn more about this candidate.

“I fight hard for small business owners, because if they are forced to leave, the residents have to pick up their share,” writes Timothy Schneider. Learn more about this candidate.

“Voters deserve someone who’ll fight for working and middle class families and small businesses, not the billionaires and the politically connected,” writes Abdelnasser Rashid. Learn more about this candidate.

“I bring a small business owner’s pragmatic perspective to the Cook County Board where I have consistently advocated for fiscal responsibility, innovative reform measures and pro‐growth economic policies,” writes Sean Morrison. Learn more about this candidate.

Amanda Lucidon talks about finding candid moments in formal settings. In her new book, she gathers some of her favorite images of then-first lady Michelle Obama.

The new White House budget doesn’t match President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to save Medicaid and Medicare “without cuts.” We discuss the proposed reforms.

Considering homeownership? How to decide if it’s the right time to buy—and how to avoid common mistakes. A discussion with real estate and personal finance author Ilyce Glink.

A long out-of-print book tells the stories of African-Americans who knew and worked for Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. 

Oscar nominations came out earlier this week, and the “Frontline” documentary “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” garnered a nod in the best documentary feature category. It was made by the Chicago team at Kartemquin Films. 

The political debate over immigration has come to the fore yet again as a government shutdown looms, with the standoff due in large part to failed immigration reform negotiations.

After a public call for Apple to make its smartphones less habit-forming, we take a look at internet addiction in a digital age.

Gov. Bruce Rauner used his veto pen this week to rewrite a bill making minor technical changes to the state’s new and much-debated school funding formula. State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith joins us.

As lawmakers spar over a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a veterans home in Quincy, we take a closer look at how the illness spreads and is treated.