In all the attempts to dissect the Leopold and Loeb story, one mystery remains unsolved: What happened to the vast bird collection that Nathan Leopold had in his Chicago home when he went to prison?
Stories by jay shefsky
Photographer Donates His Talents to Help Dogs Get Adopted
Nov 15, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
More than 6,000 dogs were taken in by the city’s animal shelter last year. How one local animal lover is focusing his lens on the challenge of finding them permanent homes.
Hats and ‘Bracelets’ Gone Berserk: The Wildly Creative Wares of John Koch
Nov 13, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
He’s been making hats and gloves for 45 years, but they’re not designed to keep us warm. Meet the man behind some eye-catching creations.
Discovery of Political Buttons at NEIU Offers Glimpse Into Past
Nov 6, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
A newly discovered collection of old political buttons may tell us something about the voters of an earlier era.
Nearly 50 Years Later, Highwood Bocce Club Members Still Having a Ball
Oct 17, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
You may know it as bocce ball, bocci or bocce. But however you say it (or spell it) this ancient Italian sport is gaining in popularity with U.S. players. We visit north suburban Highwood for a look – and a lesson.
Photographer Donates His Talents to Help Dogs Get Adopted
Oct 10, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
More than 6,000 dogs were taken in by the city’s animal shelter last year. How one local animal lover is focusing his lens on the challenge of finding them permanent homes.
Chicago Punk Rock Musicians with Unexpected Day Jobs
Oct 3, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
The story of one local punk band whose members’ lives have gone in some surprising directions.
Pilsen Photographer Sebastian Hidalgo Focuses on Longtime Residents
Sep 27, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Meet a photographer who captures a “culture under threat” in an area recently named by Forbes magazine as one of the 12 coolest neighborhoods in the world.
Nearly 50 Years Later, Highwood Bocce Club Members Still Having a Ball
Sep 26, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
You may know it as bocce ball, bocci or bocce. But however you say it (or spell it) this ancient Italian sport is gaining in popularity with U.S. players. We visit north suburban Highwood for a look – and a lesson.
Live Bait Shop at Montrose Harbor a Relic of Chicago’s Fishing Heyday
Sep 20, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Once upon a time in Chicago, so many people fished to feed their families that there were bait shops up and down the lakefront. The oldest one has been owned by the same family for 60 years.
Black Sailors in Chicago Chart a New Course
Sep 17, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Sailing is a mostly white, male sport. On the eve of the Race to Mackinac, we visit one crew that bucks both of those trends.
Behind the Scenes at Vienna Beef on its 125th Birthday
Aug 29, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
The company started by two Viennese immigrants in 1893 makes more than 100 million sausages each year at its Chicago plant. We take a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the sausage is made.
Chicago Sailing Camp Sets Sights on Diversifying Sport
Aug 13, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
This summer, a local sailing camp has tried to break down economic barriers with a scholarship program for a majority of its campers.
The Power of Scuba Diving for People with Disabilities
Aug 9, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
We visit a local nonprofit that offers free scuba training to adults and children with special needs.
Live Bait Shop at Montrose Harbor a Relic of Chicago’s Fishing Heyday
Aug 2, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Once upon a time in Chicago, so many people fished to feed their families that there were bait shops up and down the lakefront. The oldest one has been owned by the same family for 60 years.
Making Baby Walleye in Cook County
Jul 25, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Though not a terribly romantic process, walleye breeding at the Cook County Forest Preserve District produces thousands of young fish for county lakes. We take a closer look.
Black Sailors in Chicago Chart a New Course
Jul 19, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Sailing is a mostly white, male sport. On the eve of the Race to Mackinac, we visit one crew that bucks both of those trends.
Pilsen Photographer Sebastian Hidalgo Focuses on Longtime Residents
Jul 16, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Meet a photographer who captures a “culture under threat” in an area named last month by Forbes magazine as one of the 12 coolest neighborhoods in the world.
The Power of Scuba Diving for People with Disabilities
Jul 9, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
We visit a local nonprofit that offers free scuba training to adults and children with special needs.
Behind the Scenes at Vienna Beef on its 125th Birthday
Jun 27, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
The company started by two Viennese immigrants in 1893 makes more than 100 million sausages each year at its Chicago plant. We take a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the sausage is made.
Making Baby Walleye in Cook County
Jun 19, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Though not a terribly romantic process, walleye breeding at the Cook County Forest Preserve District produces thousands of young fish for county lakes. We take a closer look.
Archive: John Callaway Interviews Elizabeth Brackett
Jun 18, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
As an interviewer, Elizabeth Brackett was known for her excellent preparation and probing questions. In late April 2009, the tables were turned when longtime “Chicago Tonight” host John Callaway directed the questions at her.
Former Fashion Photographer Finds Beauty in Nature
May 10, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
After 20 years in the fashion industry, Owen Deutsch wasn’t planning on getting back into photography. But then he discovered a new subject: birds.
For Giant Globes Founder, Business is a Global Endeavor
May 7, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Matt Binns is equal parts artist, inventor and businessman. We visit his workshop to see how his company’s custom-made globes are constructed.
Together for Decades, 5 Men Aim for Independence
Apr 18, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
How independently can adults with intellectual disabilities live as they age? We visit a group of men who have shared a home for decades.
Chicago Bird Sanctuary is Best Place in State to See Spring Migration
Apr 11, 2018 | Jay Shefsky
Here’s something that might surprise you: The best place in the entire state of Illinois to see birds during their spring migration is in the city of Chicago.