COVID-19 surges and vaccine eligibility expands. The vice president hits town. Strained relations between Mayor Lightfoot and Gov. Pritzker. And CTU may delay a return to class for high schoolers.
Stories by nick blumberg
Spotlight Politics: Vaccination Rollout Speeding Up
Apr 7, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
President Joe Biden said all adults in the U.S. should be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine by April 19. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will follow suit. Our politics team takes on that story and more in this week’s roundtable.
Amazon Employees Stage Walkout at Distribution Center Over Working Conditions
Apr 7, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
A group of Amazon employees walked out of the mega-retailer’s Gage Park distribution center Wednesday morning, calling on the company to stop understaffing the facility and to provide accommodations for people working a 10.5-hour overnight “megacycle” shift.
Team Overhauling Former Michael Reese Site Aims for Community Connections
Apr 6, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The Chicago Plan Commission approved a $3.8 billion effort earlier this year to overhaul the former Michael Reese Hospital site in Bronzeville, just west of the lakefront on 31st Street. The team behind the development is thinking big and working toward community buy-in.
Pritzker Signs Legislation to Cap High-Interest Payday, Title Loans
Apr 3, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The Illinois Predatory Lending Prevention Act was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The legislation had support from organizations around the state, but critics say the law could shut down the payday lending industry in Illinois, leading to a host of bigger problems.
Amazon Employees in Chicago Demand Accommodations for ‘Brutal’ Shift
Apr 1, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
As workers in Alabama decide whether or not to unionize, Amazon employees in Chicago push for accommodations for a long overnight shift.
New Buyers Step Up to Block Hedge Fund from Control of Tribune Publishing
Mar 29, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Two more investors have stepped forward in a last-ditch effort to prevent hedge fund Alden Global Capital from taking control of Tribune Publishing, which owns the Chicago Tribune and eight other newspapers. We discuss the latest developments.
‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Albany Park
City’s ‘Hidden Gem’ faces down COVID-19, anti-Asian hate
Mar 25, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
For the latest in our reporting series, we visit the diverse Northwest Side community to see how it’s supporting Asian American residents amid a rise in anti-Asian rhetoric and violence.
Chicago Loop Alliance Plans to Close State Street to Traffic on Sundays this Summer
Mar 23, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Sundays on State would shut down the thoroughfare from Lake to Madison streets on Sundays for up to 12 weeks, starting in July. It’s just one part of the Chicago Loop Alliance’s efforts to bring pedestrian traffic and retail dollars back to the city center as Chicago’s COVID-19 recovery continues.
The Week in Review: Vaccine Eligibility Expanding Soon
Mar 19, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Gov. Pritzker’s plans for a full reopen. A West Side hospital in trouble for Trump Tower vaccinations. The Bears’ new quarterback lands with a thud, and Loyola and Illinois tip off the NCAA tourney.
Artists and Audiences Have ‘Cautious Optimism’ About Return of Live Theater
Mar 16, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Chicago is looking forward to live theater again as vaccines roll out and infection rates remain low. Here’s what you can expect — and when.
Local Leaders Talk Violence Prevention, Healing After Mass Shooting
Mar 15, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Calls for accountability and more community resources after a mass shooting early Sunday in Chicago’s Park Manor neighborhood left two people dead and wounded 13 others. Where do we go from here?
CTA Approves $1.75M Settlement With Cyclist Struck by Bus Driver
Mar 10, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The Chicago Transit Authority’s board of directors on Wednesday approved a $1.75 million settlement with Joseph Morgan, who was struck and run over by a CTA bus in June 2019 while riding his bike in River North.
The Pros and Pitfalls of an Increasingly Cashless Society
Mar 9, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The Illinois Tollway last month announced that it would no longer accept cash tolls, making permanent a change it rolled out early in the pandemic. But does a cashless society leave some people out?
Evanston Mayor, Former State Lawmaker Daniel Biss on Tackling National Issues at the Local Level
Feb 25, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
One of Chicago's most populous suburbs is soon to have a leader who’s familiar statewide. Former state legislator and gubernatorial candidate Daniel Biss won the election for mayor of Evanston this week with nearly 74% of the vote.
How One Hospital Chaplain Maintains His Ministry During COVID-19: ‘This is a Very Hopeful Time’
Feb 23, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Hospitals don’t just offer health care. Many offer care for the human spirit as well as the human body. We talk with a chaplain at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park about the challenges of ministering to patients and families during a pandemic.
Hunger Strike Against Southeast Side Metal Scrapper Reaches Eighth Day
Feb 11, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
A group of hunger strikers is protesting metal recycler General Iron opening up on the Southeast Side. We hear from opponents and a company representative.
Metra’s Eye-Popping Practice Keeps Trains Running During Frigid Weather
Feb 8, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The Chicago area saw dangerously cold weather over the weekend, and the week ahead doesn’t appear to offer much relief. But it takes more than a cold snap to bring the city to a standstill.
Ride-Share Drivers Face Carjackings, COVID-19 and Uncertain Income. A Fight Over Employment Status Could Be Next
Feb 4, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Amid a surge in carjackings, drivers for ride-hailing companies have been working in close contact with other people during the pandemic. Meanwhile, those companies are gearing up for a fight over whether gig workers should be classified as employees.
Dangerously Cold Weather Expected to Hit Chicago Area
Feb 2, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
After getting walloped by two big snowstorms, the area is now bracing for bitter cold later this week. We asked Argonne National Laboratory climate scientist Scott Collis what to expect, and what’s driving the arctic chill.
Lakefront Trail Now Continues Over Chicago River; Full Navy Pier Flyover on Track for April Completion
Feb 1, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
After years of work, pedestrians and cyclists can now stay on the lakefront trail as it crosses the Chicago River – though the full Navy Pier flyover isn’t finished just yet.
‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Jefferson Park
Jan 28, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The Northwest Side community of Jefferson Park is known as the gateway to Chicago, in part because it’s a transit hub. The area’s thought of by some as typical “bungalow belt” Chicago. It’s predominantly middle class, but recently there’s been an uptick in homelessness.
CTU Vice President on Negotiations With CPS Over In-Person Learning
Jan 25, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates said as Illinois moves into Phase 1B of vaccinations, a category that includes teachers, city leadership should prioritize staff at Chicago Public Schools.
Distribution Centers Are Growing Fast, But Some Worry About Inequitable Impact
Jan 21, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The number of distribution centers being built in the Chicago area is on the rise. Supporters say they can create jobs in places that have long faced disinvestment and unemployment. But critics say they aren’t always good jobs.
CTA Bypass, Coming Soon, A Major Milestone for Red-Purple Line Overhaul
Jan 11, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
The CTA’s overhaul of the Red and Purple lines is well underway. This month, crews are putting into a place a major piece of that redevelopment effort – and passengers will start to see the benefits of the project later this year.
Bears Face Saints in Wild Card Matchup
Jan 7, 2021 | Nick Blumberg
Former Bears offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams previews the Bears matchup Sunday against the Saints.