WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

First in a two-part seriesThe tipping point for major change is often tragedy.

Yale University Law School is an intense place, and its library is no joke: It has soaring vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows and giant chandeliers that hang from chains.

Chicago has the country's third-largest school system with more than 400,000 students including preschoolers.

Youth violence rates around the country have been decreasing in recent years, but violent crimes are still most concentrated in poorer, urban neighborhoods.

Actor Charlie Sheen has been making headlines lately for a series of angry appearances on various radio and TV outlets.

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The tight economy has governments cutting back where they can, and that has many Chicago residents worried the social safety net is getting frayed.