Stories by Jay Shefsky

Much has been said about the ways President Donald Trump is changing the presidency. On this Presidents Day, we look back at the ways the presidency evolved before Trump moved into the White House. 

Taking a break from alcohol after the holidays has become known as the “dry January” trend. But now that January is over, some people are extending their sobriety, trying out a social life that’s not dependent on alcohol.

A year after the start of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, we talk with a Chicago reporter returning from a border town. 

Journalism, we often hear, is a “first draft of history.” That makes old newspaper photos an excellent window into the past. We get a peek.

In just a few weeks, there’s a very good chance you’ll have fruit bats in your pocket. The United State Mint will release a quarter on Feb. 3 featuring the National Park of American Samoa, which is home to giant bats.

Illinois is one of 22 states that does not require high school students to take a financial literacy course, but a new high school curriculum is now being used in Illinois and nine other states. We learn about finEDge.

University of Chicago linguist Jason Riggle discusses some of the top words of 2019, including “they,” “existential” and “climate emergency.”

Chicago has a thriving live music scene today, but many of the city’s legendary venues are long gone. A new book from Neal Samors and Bob Dauber remembers many of those 20th century nightspots.

With Christmas behind us, it’s beginning to look a lot like tax season. We get year-end tips from David Henderson, a CPA at the firm of Duggan Bertsch in Chicago.

As part of WTTW’s new documentary series “Firsthand: Gun Violence,” five experts offer big ideas in “Firsthand Talks” sessions for addressing gun violence in Chicago. Four of those experts join us in discussion.

As the city and the Chicago Teachers Union try to hammer out a contract agreement, we explore common strategies and pitfalls in any negotiation with professional mediator Teresa Frisbie.

It’s been one year since former Chicago Police Office Jason Van Dyke was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. We discuss issues related to police misconduct and accountability.

Ticks are so good at transmitting potentially dangerous illnesses like Lyme disease that we’re wise to give them our attention now and then. And in Illinois, ticks are now carrying a relatively new disease called Heartland Virus.

The Pilsen neighborhood has been at the center of battles over gentrification. Now the longtime Mexican American community is facing a new twist involving old buildings.

Alds. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward), Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) and Jason Ervin (28th Ward) discuss casino locations and other pressing City Council news.

As the popularity of a photo-transforming app has skyrocketed, so has new concern over privacy. Derek Eder of Chicago-based company DataMade weighs in.

You’re not crazy. A local expert says people are seeing “substantially more flashing activity in the evening.” He tells us why there are so many of our favorite summertime bug – and why they light up.

Bungalows have served Chicago families for a hundred years. Could this new design by Greg Tamborino be the bungalow of the future? Blair Kamin weighs in.

In her book, “Bring the War Home,” Kathleen Belew argues that the white power movement is more organized than previously thought.

Earlier this month the North Atlantic Treaty Organization turned 70. A recent report says the alliance is in “crisis,” and a former U.S. ambassador to NATO says the biggest threat to the alliance may be the U.S. itself.

With more and more alternatives to cable television, is it time for you to cut the cord?

From the murder of Fred Hampton to the Jon Burge torture ring, a new book by attorney Flint Taylor recounts the fight for justice in the face of racism and police misconduct in Chicago.

What do seniors want from Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot? A new survey offers her a wish list.

The push for nonpartisan elections began after the 1983 election of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. What it means for elections today.

Some robocalls are helpful, but most – representing politicians or telemarketers – have become an annoying fact of life. We speak with the author of a new guide aimed at preventing those automated calls.

A new book takes a close look at the murder of Emmett Till, and suggests that our memories of the horrific crime can sometimes deceive us.