Stories by Maya Miller
10 Things to Do This Weekend: March 30-April 2
| Maya Miller
River tours, film festivals and a whole lotta bacon. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago this weekend.
Preservation Chicago Sounds the Alarm Over ‘Flamingo’ Sculpture
| Erica Gunderson
This week, a significant work by artist Alexander Calder was dismantled from the lobby of the Willis Tower and is being moved into storage. Ward Miller of Preservation Chicago says a second major Calder work may also be in danger of disappearing.
Legislators Propose Alternatives to ‘Grand Bargain’
| Amanda Vinicky
Nearly three months after Senate leaders unveiled a so-called “grand bargain,” the gridlock in Springfield has only intensified. Now, Democrats and Republicans are coming forward with their own alternative platforms.
City Proposes Municipal ID Program
| Paris Schutz
Don't have a drivers’ license or other form of official documentation? Chicago may soon be issuing municipal IDs to provide documentation to undocumented immigrants, ex-offenders and the homeless.
JB Skating: Chicago’s Smoothest Creation
| Jay Shefsky
In 1971, Calvin Small and two friends started roller skating a little differently than everyone around them. It caught on. And now, JB skating is known all over the country.
Illinois’ Chief Information Officer on Cybersecurity
| Nick Blumberg
How Hardik Bhatt wants to protect state agencies from hackers.
Ask Geoffrey: What’s With the Out-of-Order Presidents?
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer investigates why the Loop’s streets honoring presidents don’t honor the order of their terms in this encore edition of “Ask Geoffrey.”
Governor’s Race Heats Up, Emanuel Dodges Questions About Email
| Evan Garcia
Carol Marin discusses the political happenings of Springfield and Chicago with Tina Sfondeles of the Chicago Sun-Times, Lauren Chooljian of WBEZ and Heather Cherone of DNAinfo.
The Surprising Story Behind ‘Whistler’s Mother’
| Marc Vitali
We visit the Art Institute of Chicago to find out more about the 19th century oil painting “Arrangement in Grey and Black, Number One” – commonly known as “Whistler’s Mother.”
Talking Out Gender Equity, Biases Across Chicago
| Maya Miller
More than 100 conversations on gender equity and bias are taking place around the Chicago region this week as part of the Talk It Out initiative.
Shedd Aquarium Celebrates Dolphin Awareness Month
| Alex Ruppenthal
What is it like to touch and work with dolphins? One Shedd trainer said they feel firm, smooth and a little colder than you might expect, according to the aquarium’s dolphin fact list.
Study: Kids in Violent Neighborhoods ‘Strategic’ About Friendships
| Kristen Thometz
Most kids form bonds over shared interests. Kids living in violent, high-poverty Chicago neighborhoods are more strategic about whom they befriend in order to manage the threat of violence, a new study finds.
Paul Vallas and CSU Board Chairman Discuss Struggling School’s Future
| Evan Garcia
Paul Vallas and Chicago State University Board Chairman Marshall Hatch discuss the ongoing search for university leadership and what lies ahead for the beleaguered school.
Traffic Fatalities on the Rise Despite More Car Safety Features
| Paul Caine
With fatalities from motor vehicle crashes on the rise, could driverless cars steer us toward a safer future?
Report: City Misuses Affordable Housing Funds
| Paris Schutz
The city of Chicago has a fund paid for by big developers that helps subsidize low-income residents who need help paying rent. But is all of that money going where it's supposed to?
Plan for Transformation: WBEZ Examines Progress of CHA Redevelopment
| Alexandra Silets
Seventeen years after Mayor Daley launched his plan to transform the Chicago Housing Authority, WBEZ examines promises kept – and broken.
Saul Bellow Archives Reveal ‘Softer Side’ of Nobel Laureate
| Maya Miller
The archives of the award-winning author who spent 30 years teaching at the University of Chicago offer a window into his personal life and creative process.
Brookfield Zoo Addresses Ethics of Animal Captivity
| Alex Ruppenthal
The ethical debate over zoos – and whether animals belong in them – has resurfaced over the past year, and now Brookfield Zoo is joining the discussion.
Viewer Feedback: ‘These Politicians Will be OK’
| Erica Gunderson
Viewers weigh in on Lincoln Park Zoo’s urban wildlife monitoring program, a judge's order to pay Illinois legislators' salaries and state Rep. Will Guzzardi’s proposal to bar financially troubled schools from opening new charter schools.
Field Museum Offers Behind-the-Scenes Look at ‘Encyclopedic’ Collections
| Paul Caine
More than 30 million objects are stored behind the scenes at the Field Museum. A new exhibition addresses how scientists from all over the world are using the vast collections to make new discoveries.
Remembering a Forgotten Photographer of Chicago History
| Marc Vitali
One hundred years ago he took unforgettable photos of Chicago in turbulent times. Exploring the life of Jun Fujita, a Japanese immigrant who captured city history.
Report: Segregation Costs Chicago, Residents Billions Annually
| Maya Miller
Racial and economic segregation across Chicago impacts economic growth, educational attainment and crime rates, according to a report released Tuesday by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Urban Institute.
What’s Next for US Health Care
| Alexandra Silets
A look at what’s next for Obamacare and what happened to the Republican bill to replace it.
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