For more than 30 years, Stivers Coffee has used a large, gas-driven machine to roast coffee beans from all over the world for Chicago’s restaurants, offices, farmers markets and more. We go for a look.
Stories by evan garcia
The Week in Review: Eddie Johnson Out
Dec 6, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Mayor Lori Lightfoot fires top cop Eddie Johnson weeks before his retirement. Are the feds eyeing House Speaker Michael Madigan? Legal pot hits a roadblock. And Mitchell Trubisky shines in a Bears win over Dallas.
Preservationists Rally Around Thompson Center as Pritzker Prepares for Sale
Dec 3, 2019 | Evan Garcia
The state says the building is too expensive to maintain and repair, but architectural activists are determined to highlight its unique features and its role in the city’s past, present and future.
Trump Impeachment Inquiry: House Dems, GOP Trade Barbs on Day 1
Nov 13, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Analysis of Wednesday’s public impeachment hearings from three local legal minds: Renato Mariotti, Martin Redish and Christine Svenson.
‘OK Boomer’: Behind the Meme Making Waves on Social Media
Nov 11, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Whether it’s used comically or in connection with serious topics, a new internet meme may be underscoring deeper generational divides.
The Week in Review: Top Cop to Retire, Former LAPD Chief to Step In
Nov 8, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Eddie Johnson will make way for interim Superintendent Charlie Beck at the end of the year. Lawmakers talk up lobbying reforms amid a ComEd investigation. And can the Bears salvage their season?
What Some Companies Are Doing with Your ‘Secret’ Consumer Score
Nov 5, 2019 | Evan Garcia
When you send messages to an Airbnb host or order food through Yelp, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about where else that information goes – or who it goes to. But that data has the potential to affect you in surprising ways.
There’s Plenty of Time for Play at Arcade-Themed Rescue The Catcade
Nov 4, 2019 | Evan Garcia
In Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, there’s an animal shelter with a twist. We visit an arcade-themed cat rescue and lounge that’s helping foster feline friendships.
Growing Giant Pumpkins ‘A Tough Hobby’ for Illinois Enthusiasts
Oct 29, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Inside a barn about 60 miles southwest of Chicago, six giant pumpkins are hoisted by forklift onto an industrial scale and weighed, one by one, so their growers can claim cash prizes for the heaviest – and bragging rights.
Congress Grills Zuckerberg on Facebook’s Digital Currency Plans
Oct 23, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced tough questions Wednesday from members of Congress about his social media platform’s digital currency project. We discuss the billionaire tech entrepreneur’s plans for Libra.
How Parents of CPS Students Are Coping With Canceled Classes
Oct 21, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Parents across the city again have to figure out what to do with their children who attend Chicago Public Schools. We check in with four parents of CPS students who joined us last week ahead of the expected strike.
The Story of Mold-A-Rama, Chicago’s Very Own Souvenir Machine
Oct 21, 2019 | Evan Garcia
For more than 50 years, vending machines scattered throughout Chicago-area zoos and museums have sold visitors souvenirs made of melted plastic. Meet the man keeping the vintage technology alive.
The Week in Review: Chicago’s Teachers on Strike
Oct 18, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Chicago teachers take to the picket lines. Will the city delay the start of legal pot sales? A federal probe into ComEd widens. And the Bears try to bounce back against the Saints.
Parents of CPS Students Sound Off on Teachers Strike
Oct 16, 2019 | Evan Garcia
“Chicago Tonight” speaks with four parents of CPS students who have different opinions about the negotiations between the city and its teachers union.
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day? Chicago Groups Weigh In
Oct 14, 2019 | Evan Garcia
In the wake of criticism directed at Columbus and his treatment of indigenous people, a movement to supplant Columbus Day with another holiday – Indigenous Peoples Day – has emerged.
The Week in Review: Teachers Strike Looms, McDonald Records Released
Oct 11, 2019 | Evan Garcia
A teachers strike could be just days away. Illinois Republicans break from President Trump over Syria. New details on federal raids of the suburbs. And the Bears lick their wounds after a loss in London.
The Cases for and Against Horse-Drawn Carriages in Chicago
Oct 8, 2019 | Evan Garcia
A debate in Chicago over horse-drawn carriages has raged between animal activists and industry professionals for years. We hear both sides of the debate.
The Week in Review: Lightfoot Gets Blowback for Pot Plan
Sep 20, 2019 | Evan Garcia
The mayor proposes to exclude marijuana sales in the Loop. A proposed ban on e-cigarettes leads to a testy debate in City Council. Climate change prompts a massive walkout. And the Cubs’ playoff hopes are on life support.
Should Chicago Increase Its Minimum Wage to $15 by 2021?
Sep 17, 2019 | Evan Garcia
At a City Council hearing on Tuesday, committee members discussed a proposal to raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021. Activists say it’s long overdue. But could it hurt small businesses? We debate the issue.
After Nearly 100 Years, Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band Marches On
Sep 10, 2019 | Evan Garcia
As pipe major of the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band, Matt McKee carries on the tradition of a pipe band that started nearly 100 years ago. We go for a look, and a listen, as the band competes at a Wisconsin festival.
The Week in Review: Lightfoot Identifies Chicago’s Massive Budget Shortfall
Aug 30, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Mayor Lightfoot unveils an $838 million budget gap. Chicago Public Schools approves its budget despite threats of a teachers strike. The Bears begin the countdown to opening night against the Packers.
Remember Chicago’s Last Waterfall? It Looks Much Different Now
Aug 28, 2019 | Evan Garcia
On Chicago’s Northwest Side, a gently sloping riverbed occupies the former site of a small but historically important dam. We visit a popular fishing spot – for humans and birds alike – at River Park.
The Week in Review: Report Cites Harassment, Bullying in Madigan’s Office
Aug 23, 2019 | Evan Garcia
A sexual harassment report puts new scrutiny on Springfield. Bombastic former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh mulls taking on Trump. A teachers union trip to Venezuela causes uproar. And the Cubs close an otherwise strong week with a blowout loss.
Bald Eagles, Owls and Other Birds Rehabilitated at Illinois Raptor Center
Aug 21, 2019 | Evan Garcia
About 180 miles southwest of Chicago, a wildlife conservation facility cares for hundreds of injured, sick or orphaned raptors. We go for a look and meet some of these incredible birds of prey.
Meet the YouTube Botanist with a Thick Chicago Accent and Foul Mouth
Aug 8, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Joey Santore isn’t your typical plant expert, but his colorful style and depth of knowledge have proved popular. We go for a stroll through Wolf Road Prairie, an 80-acre nature preserve in Chicago’s western suburbs.
Social Media Sans Metrics: One Artist’s Quest to Hide ‘Likes’
Aug 5, 2019 | Evan Garcia
Could you imagine life without the “like” button? Ben Grosser, an arts and design professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, tells us about “demetrication.”