Stories by Jay Shefsky
For Giant Globes Founder, Business is a Global Endeavor
| Jay Shefsky
Matt Binns is equal parts artist, inventor and businessman. We visit his workshop to see how his company’s custom-made globes are constructed.
3 Charged for Allegedly Conspiring to Sell Synthetic Marijuana in Chicago
| Kristen Thometz
The U.S. attorney’s office charged three people Monday with federal drug offenses for allegedly conspiring to sell synthetic cannabinoids at a West Side convenience store.
Reporting the Story: Gymnastics Coach Accused of Sexual Abuse
| WTTW News
Chicago Tonight reporter Alex Ruppenthal talks about his investigation into allegations of sexual abuse surrounding a Chicago-area coach who was banned by USA Gymnastics in November 2017.
‘Native American Woven Arts’ Explores Methods, Meaning Behind Artistry
| Marc Vitali
Weaving function and design at a local museum dedicated to Native American art and culture.
Loyola Ramblers: What’s Next After Team’s Final Four Run
| Amanda Vinicky
Loyola’s Cinderella story came to an end Saturday when the men’s basketball team was bested by Michigan, but that doesn’t mean the competition is over.
China’s First Space Station Crashes Back to Earth
| Paul Caine
Rabiah Mayas, one of our favorite explainers of all things scientific, shares some of the latest top science news from Chicago and around the world.
Faces, Places from a Chicago Photographer Now 90 Years Old
| Marc Vitali
She’s been photographing Chicago for nearly 70 years. Meet artist Barbara Crane.
If Atlanta Got Crippled by a Cyberattack, How Safe Are You?
| Evan Garcia
Atlanta is still in the throes of a major cyberattack. How vulnerable are cities like Chicago to hackers using ransomware?
‘Smart People’ a Searing, Steroid-Fueled Riff on Race, Sex and Super-Achievers
| Hedy Weiss
In her brilliant play “Smart People,” Lydia R. Diamond creates an impossibly thorny and twisted verbal, emotional and intellectual maze of race, sex and “super-achieverdom.”
Chicago Top Cop Stands by Letter in LeGrier Investigation
| Matt Masterson
“At the end of the day I don’t have the luxury of basing my decisions on public pressure, political pressure,” CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson said, explaining why he rejected COPA findings in the death of Quintonio LeGrier.
2 Illinois Deaths Linked to Use of Synthetic Marijuana
| Kristen Thometz
Two people have died in Illinois, including one in the Chicago area, after experiencing severe bleeding related to the use of synthetic cannabinoids, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Chicago Crime Drops for 13th Straight Month
| Matt Masterson
There have been 22 percent fewer homicides and 25 percent fewer shootings citywide in 2018 over the same period last year, according to Chicago Police Department data.
Gymnastics Coach Accused of Sexual Abuse Remained in Chicago-Area Gyms for Decades
| Alex Ruppenthal
A young suburban gymnast goes to the police in 1997, accusing her coach of sexual abuse, but charges are never filed. Now she is sharing her story. “Everything that happened to me I think people should know,” she said.
Loyola Ramblers: Where to Watch Saturday’s Final Four Game
| Crystin Immel
The underdog Ramblers take on the 3rd-seeded Michigan Wolverines on Saturday evening. Where to watch the game in and around Chicago.
The Week in Review: Emanuel Deposed in Fatal Police-Involved Shooting
| Alexandra Silets
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is deposed in a 2015 fatal police-involved shooting and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is forced to release a secret letter calling the shooting “justified.” Meanwhile, the Loyola Ramblers hope to continue their NCAA Cinderella story.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: Cook County Sues Facebook
| Alexandra Silets
Paris Schutz and guests discuss Cook County’s lawsuit against Facebook, and the governor’s race in Illinois.
CPS: Most Incoming Freshmen Matched With Top 3 High School Choices
| Matt Masterson
Eighth graders in Chicago Public Schools will find out Friday afternoon what high schools they’ve been matched with as part of the district’s new online application system.
Motion-Triggered Camera Captures Flying Squirrel in Chicago
| Alex Ruppenthal
A camera set up near Rosehill Cemetery captured an unusual photo of a flying squirrel last fall, but the image was only recently discovered.
‘Heart is a Shifting Sea’ an Intimate Portrait of Marriage in India
| Paul Caine
A new book on changing attitudes towards love and marriage in India from an author with a local connection.
Aviation Official Ginger Evans on $8.5 Billion O’Hare Expansion Plan
| Paul Caine
What the massive O’Hare expansion project will mean for passengers and taxpayers.
The Dark Side of Social Media: Is Your Data Safe?
| Evan Garcia
Facebook is facing backlash in the wake of a data privacy scandal. University of Chicago computer science professor Ben Zhao shares his perspective.
2020 Census Citizenship Question ‘Politically Motivated,’ Say Officials
| Kristen Thometz
The United States Census is not often a hot-button issue, but it’s recently been thrust into the center of controversy.
Bryan Adams: ‘Pretty Woman’ Collaboration ‘A Magical Thing’
| Marc Vitali
Songwriter Bryan Adams and other members of the creative team behind “Pretty Woman: The Musical” talk about the intersection of pop music, movies and musicals.
Rare ‘Head of Christ’ Originals Found in Chicago Thrift Store Sell for $135K
| Matt Masterson
Two years after finding a pair of rare artworks in a Chicago thrift store, Paul Beaty has sold them for a combined $135,000 to an author in Colorado. The two connected after seeing a Chicago Tonight story in February about the discovery.
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