features
Linda Lenz: A Pioneer in Journalism Who Championed Education Transparency and Reform in Chicago
On April 28, 2023, the city of Chicago lost one of its most influential voices in education reform, Linda Lenz. Lenz may not be a household name, but her work resonates deeply in Chicago, and her impact on education and social reform cannot be overstated. As the visionary behind Catalyst, a magazine specializing in education…
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Wealth Inequality and the Racial Wealth Gap: New study shows Cook County residents wealth disparity, and the problem is far worse for the Black and Latinx population
Cook County residents experience high financial stress at more than twice the national rate, a new study by Financial Health Network finds. Published in January, the study looked at eight measures of financial health and vulnerability for Cook County residents across all racial and ethnic groups. The findings show that although white Cook County…
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Featured Series : The Warehouse Archipelago
The Warehouse Archipelago pt.1
As many as four million workers labor in clusters of warehouses scattered across the United States. Many are mislabeled as ‘temps’; all are poorly paid, and on-the-job injuries are high. In the article “The Warehouse Archipelago”, John Lippert and Stephen Franklin investigate the current state of staffing in the warehouse industry. Part One of the Chicago Reporter series published every Monday provides insights into the plight of workers suffering from “wage theft, discrimination, and unhealthy and hazardous conditions.”…
Employment and labor
Report: Amazon workers’ injuries spike during holiday season at Illinois facility
Safety records obtained by the Warehouse Workers for Justice build on recent reporting by Reveal finding that warehouse injury rates climb with automation.
Study: Restaurant industry thrives in cities that have eliminated subminimum wage
As Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Council members debate changes to how Chicago’s tipped workers are paid, a new report highlights how other cities have fared after eliminating the subminimum wage.
Economic Development
TCR Weekly Briefs: COVID Concerns, Internet Access For All, Emmett Till & Mother Honored
Mask Advisory Likely As COVID-19 Cases Rise As Chicago inches closer to being declared a high risk for getting the coronavirus, Mayor Lori Lightfoot urges people to get vaccinated and boosted. “If you haven’t had the COVID-19 vaccine since Labor Day, you’re not up to date,” Lightfoot said at a Thursday news conference. Lightfoot also…
Study Finds Investment Inequality In Black & Brown Neighborhoods
Urban Institute’s public and private investment analysis found that access to a relatively healthy stream of capital is not spread equally across Chicago neighborhoods. The nonprofit research organization analyzed investment trends from 2010 to 2020 and found that the larger the share of Black residents in a neighborhood, the less investment occurred. For example, over the decade,…
Health
Blacks & Latinos Are Most At Risk From Respiratory Viruses
CHICAGO| Chicago’s Black and Latino communities are expected to be most affected by a surge of what health experts call a “tridemic.” It is a triple threat from the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Here in Illinois, like across many parts of the country, hospitals are seeing a dramatic rise in patients with…
Culture Is Key In Treating Mental Health Concerns
Publisher’s Note: Mental health concerns dominate people’s minds, even as the pandemic eases, according to a new survey conducted by the newsroom collaborative, Solving for Chicago. The Chicago Reporter is one of the 23 newsrooms working cooperatively to cover pressing issues facing the public in the Chicago region. This story is based on your responses to the survey…