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Socialized Electricity? Alderman Floats Government Takeover of ComEd
| Paris Schutz
The self-styled democratic socialist members of Chicago’s City Council – led by Veteran 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa – want the city to explore true socialist policy.
Summer Reading List 2019: New and Old Books to Explore
| Nicole Cardos
Summer in Chicago: There never seems to be enough of it, especially with so many things to do – and read. Need a good recommendation? Here are 15 wide-ranging options from three Chicago authors.
Self-Focusing Glasses and Other News from the World of Science
| Paul Caine
Could futuristic-looking headware ultimately lead to self-focusing glasses? Rabiah Mayas returns with a roundup of the latest science news.
City Council Caucus Chairs on Chicago’s Future
| Nick Blumberg
The different caucuses of aldermen that make up the council play a big role in shaping its direction. Their leaders join us for a conversation about their priorities and vision for Chicago.
Gery Chico’s New Challenge: Uplifting Underserved Neighborhoods
| Nick Blumberg
The former mayoral candidate and onetime Chicago school board president is taking on a new job as board chair of Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago. He tells us about his new role.
In ‘Ada and the Engine,’ a Woman Far Ahead of Her Time
| Hedy Weiss
A wonderfully imagined riff on the Ada Lovelace story, Lauren Gunderson’s fascinating, emotionally feverish play is now receiving a vividly realized Chicago premiere production by The Artistic Home.
Boeing to Pay $100 Million to Crash Families, Communities
| Associated Press
Boeing said Wednesday that it will provide an “initial investment” of $100 million over several years to help families and communities affected by two crashes of its 737 Max plane that killed 346 people.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: July 4-7
| Kristen Thometz
Music fests, hot air balloons, finger-licking ribs and an art fair usher in the holiday weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Like ‘Biting into a Band-Aid’: Malort Returns to Chicago
| Evan Garcia
Malort, the Chicago-born liquor both praised (and panned) for its bracing bitterness, is made in Chicago once more. We visit Chicago’s CH Distillery to see what everyone’s wincing about.
Deep Frydays: Take a Pizza My Heart
| Erica Gunderson
In honor of the Fourth of July, we deep-fry what is perhaps Chicago’s greatest culinary contribution to America – and the globe: deep-dish pizza.
Search: Chicago Property Tax Increases and Decreases by Ward
| Nicole Cardos
Property taxes are on the rise in many parts of the city, and homeowners will soon get specifics on those hikes in the mail. See ward-by-ward changes for single-family homes across Chicago.
2020 Hopeful Buttigieg Pitches Plan to Fight Systemic Racism
| Associated Press
Looking to improve his standing with black voters, Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg pitched a plan Tuesday to tackle “systemic racism” he said exists in housing, health care, education, policing and other aspects of American life.
US Customs Agents Seize Rat Meat at O’Hare Airport
| Associated Press
Customs spokesman Steve Bansbach said Tuesday that the man declared the 32 pounds of meat on June 26 when his flight arrived from the Ivory Coast. The meat was confiscated and destroyed.
Health Official Urges Caution if Handling Fireworks This 4th of July
| Kristen Thometz
Fireworks are synonymous with the Fourth of July. But too often, celebrations can end with a trip to the hospital if fireworks are mishandled and proper precautions aren’t taken.
Illinois Taxes Goods. But What About Services?
| Amanda Vinicky
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been upfront recently that city residents should expect to pay more in taxes to help fill persistent budget holes. One she’s eyeing? A tax on services.
Ask Geoffrey: Did a Crosstown Baseball Series in 1901 Actually Happen?
| Quinn Myers
Geoffrey Baer investigates an early attempt at a Chicago baseball crosstown classic – that may or may not have actually happened.
Electric Scooters Are Popular in Chicago, but Safety Concerns Linger
| Quinn Myers
For the past two weeks, electric scooters have been zipping around Chicago’s West Side. An update on how the pilot program is going.
Supreme Court Gives Green Light to Gerrymandering. Now What?
| Paul Caine
As states prepare to draw new election boundaries after the 2020 census, what can be done to ensure those maps give equal weight to all votes? Behind the practice of gerrymandering and the movement to curb it.
Judge Pallmeyer Breaks Glass Ceiling at Chicago’s Federal Court
| Alexandra Silets
Meet Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, the first woman in the 200-year history of Chicago’s federal court to become chief judge.
Acclaimed Photographer Recalls Learning His Trade in Chicago 70 Years Ago
| Marc Vitali
We visit a career-spanning show of work by Marvin E. Newman, a still-working photographer who captured Chicago and its people in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Pathogen That Causes Tree-Killing Disease Found In Illinois
| Alex Ruppenthal
The disease known as sudden oak death has killed large numbers of oak trees and native plant species in California, Oregon and Europe. The pathogen behind it has now been identified in Illinois.
AAA: Friday After July 4th Will be Worst Day for Travel in Chicago
| Kristen Thometz
If you plan on hitting the road Friday afternoon, be warned: it’s projected to be the worst time for travelers in Chicago, according to AAA, with delays as much as two times the normal commute.
Brendt Christensen Defense Team Wants Evidence Tossed or Sentencing Delayed
| Matt Masterson
Federal defenders are seeking a four-week delay to review and translate videos of Yingying Zhang and her family if that evidence is allowed at sentencing.
Preserving Musical History With a Rarely Revived Operetta
| Hedy Weiss
For all it’s polish and ambition I can’t say the show has turned me into a fan of the operetta style. But “The Flower of Hawaii” is unquestionably an artifact of musical theater interest, and this might just be the only chance you will ever have to experience it.
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