Reversing the Chicago River

Jan. 2, 2012
In case you hadn't noticed, the Chicago River flows backwards. It's been doing this for over a hundred years.Like any normal river, the Chicago River used to flow into a larger body of water--namely, Lake Michigan. This became a problem in the middle of the 19th Century.

The heyday of the Chicago bowling alley

Dec. 27, 2011
Not so long ago, Chicago had more than a hundred bowling alleys. Now there are fewer than twenty.

Dr. King comes to Marquette Park

Aug. 5, 2011
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was bringing the civil rights movement to the cities of the North. In January 1966 he'd rented an apartment on the West Side of Chicago.

Why is William McKinley at Archer and Western?

Aug. 3, 2011
Unless you're a historian or a pigeon, you might not pay much attention to the statues that decorate our city and suburbs. But like our street names, each one has a story to tell.The William McKinley statue stands near the southeast corner of Archer and Western.

Hospital steps up breastfeeding efforts

Aug. 2, 2011
A Southwest Side hospital with the Chicago area’s lowest newborn breastfeeding rate is trying to step up its game.

EPA: Lead levels too high in Pilsen air

Jun. 16, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday said the air in a swath of Chicago’s Southwest Side does not meet federal standards for lead.

Youths push for control of Latino station

May. 20, 2011
Some young radio producers are organizing for control of the Chicago area’s only noncommercial Latino broadcast outlet.They’re upset about plans by the National Museum of Mexican Art to sell the building and license of WRTE-FM Chicago (90.5), a youth-run station known as Radio Arte that airs music a

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