Chicago Election 2019
High turnover of aldermen stymies development in Chicago’s 7th Ward
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Candidates for the South Side ward agree on community needs, but will the next alderman stick around long enough to see them through? History says no.
Criminal Justice
Misinformation impedes voting rights of Illinois’ formerly incarcerated
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Illinois is among the few states where formerly incarcerated regain their voting rights after release, but many are misinformed and unaware.
Economic Development
Alternative energy scams hit poor blacks and Latinos the hardest, complaints show
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Thousands are misled into switching suppliers in the hopes of saving money but instead see their utility bills spike, sometimes driving them into debt.
Employment and Labor
Worker cooperatives face particular challenges in Illinois
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Worker-owned businesses, or co-ops, can create jobs with better wages and working conditions, but remain limited by state law and a lack of support in Illinois, advocates say.
16 Shots
Reacting to Van Dyke conviction, Chicagoans take to the streets
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While some celebrated the conviction and others protested the political system that tried to cover up the murder of Laquan McDonald, both groups seem to agree that in the city of Chicago and for people of color, justice remains a work in progress.
Beyond 95th Street
Instead of extending the Red Line, some see promise in the Metra Electric
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Converting the Metra Electric District main line into rapid transit could be a quicker, cheaper way to improve transit on the South Side than building more Red Line stations, advocates say.
Criminal Justice
Voting could soon be easier at all Illinois jails
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A proposed bill would create a uniform process for those awaiting trial behind bars to register and vote at county jails, where many detainees lack access to the ballot.
Policy & Finance
Currency exchange rate hike to hit the unbanked with more fees
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The impending increase will disproportionately impact lower-income blacks and Latinos who have been driven out of mainstream banking in Illinois.
Beyond 95th Street
New Red Line extension plan would uproot fewer Far South Side homes
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The Chicago Transit Authority’s hybrid proposal lowers the number of privately owned properties that would need to be acquired, but residents still have mixed feelings on how the project could affect them economically.
Criminal Justice
Ability to vote compromised for thousands behind bars
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Ambiguous state law means the voting rights of inmates varies widely between jails, disproportionately affecting poor blacks and Latinos awaiting trial in Illinois.