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Current Issue

Police misconduct

The city’s effort to stem police misconduct is falling short, leaving abusive officers to operate with near impunity.

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Minority Contracts

July/August 2011

Despite an Illinois program to steer state contracts to diverse businesses, minorities, women and people with a disability still struggle to get their share.

Table of Contents

Empty jackpot

Megan Cottrell

Illinois celebrates its program to steer state contracts to businesses owned by minorities, women and people with a disability. But a closer look shows the state may not be fulfilling its goals.

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Less shelter, more opportunity

Caitlin Huston

State money marked for disabled business owners is going elsewhere.

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The need for networking

Caitlin Huston

Group serves as a matchmaker for minority-owned businesses.

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Premio vacío

Megan Cottrell

Illinois celebra su programa para llevar contratos estatales a negocios con minorías, mujeres y gente con discapacidades como dueños. Pero una examinación más profunda muestra que es posible que el estado no esté realizando sus metas.

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Inside Stories

Summer slam

Extra police are headed to black neighborhoods this summer where youth are already buried under misdemeanor arrests.

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Spin Offs

‘Anchors’ missing from neighborhoods

The news: In April, then-Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel announced that he supports the Chicago residency rule, saying public servants like firefighters and police officers should be “anchors” in the community.

Behind the news: Of the 64 ZIP codes in Chicago,...

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Spin Offs

Refinances needed, few given

The news: Less than a year after its launch, the Federal Housing Administration’s Short Refinance program has come under attack in recent months by Republicans looking to tighten the federal budget by slashing the program.

Behind the news: Many...

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Spin Offs

Black boys bear the brunt of gun charges

The news: A Chicago Reporter investigation found that minors in Cook County are routinely sentenced to hard time for adult felony gun crimes even though court records show many were never implicated  as a gunman.

Behind the news: A new...

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Spin Offs

Some areas see drop in crime

The news: Crime in the city is down 7.1 percent in the first three months of this year.

Behind the news: The most significant reductions took place in two notoriously high-crime districts. From January through March compared with the same period last year,...

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New Voices

A feminine front

An active group of women bands together to take back the community.

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Editor's Note

Illinois’ slice for contractors

Perhaps if more minorities got state contracts, there would be fewer minorities out of work.

That’s a stretch, but perhaps it’s partly true. In The Chicago Reporter’s current cover story “Empty jackpot,” reporter Megan Cottrell tallied how many businesses benefitted from a state...

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Reporter Impact

Reporter News - July/August 2011

Kimbriell Kelly and Alden Loury participated in Chicago Public Media’s coverage of the Global Activism Expo on April 30. The broadcast was simulcast on WBEZ, 91.5 FM, and Vocalo, 89.5 FM. The two-hour broadcast featured interviews and commentary from...

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