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Two maps showing how Chicago's middle class has decreased, while low income and high income areas increase

WBEZ News

The Middle Class Is Shrinking Everywhere — In Chicago It’s Almost Gone

Half of Chicago’s census tracts were considered middle income in 1970. Today, that’s down to 16 percent.
Lincoln Yards artist’s rendering (Courtesy Sterling Bay)

WBEZ News

Lincoln Yards Developers Reveal Plans For Diversity In Contracts

If the proposed development is approved, Lincoln Yards could yield more than $1.5 billion in contracts for minority- and women-owned firms.
City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado addresses the board of trustees in February. The board is expected to vote on a proposed tuition increase at their next board meeting in March.

WBEZ News

City Colleges Of Chicago Wants To Hike Tuition

The Board of Trustees will vote in March on a proposal to increase tuition by 2 percent every year for four consecutive years.
A man prays at a makeshift memorial on Feb. 17, 2019, in Aurora, Ill., near Henry Pratt Co. manufacturing company where several were killed on Friday. Authorities say an initial background check five years ago failed to flag an out-of-state felony conviction that would have prevented a man from buying the gun he used in the mass shooting in Aurora. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

WBEZ News

In Illinois, Most Revoked Gun Licenses Go Unaccounted For

Illinois State Police revoked more than 10,000 gun permits in 2018, but most of the time revocations only resulted in unanswered letters.
Vershawn Sanders-Ward, artistic director of Red Clay Dance, performs an excerpt of the piece “Say Her Name,” which looks at women who are incarcerated. Her organization runs a program called “Making the Art of This” at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center and is a part of the Envisioning Justice grant program.

WBEZ News

Chicago Artists Explore The Impact Of Mass Incarceration

Illinois Humanities commissioned seven artists to work in the neighborhoods it says are most affected by mass incarceration.
Jennifer Blagg

Morning Shift

Jason Van Dyke’s Attorneys Challenge State’s Request For New Prison Sentence

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Special Prosecutor Joseph McMahon say they believe the judge overseeing the case misinterpreted...

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WBEZ News

Chicago’s Elections Are Feb. 26. Here’s Your Crib Sheet

In addition to the mayoral race, all city-wide officials and 50 aldermanic seats will be on the ballot. These are the races to watch.
Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts answers questions during a news conference at a spring training baseball workout Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz.

WBEZ News

Chicago Cubs And Muslim Civil Rights Group Agree To Anti-Bigotry Plan

The Cubs plan to fight Islamophobia includes having notable Muslims throw out the first pitch and sing during the seventh-inning stretch.
Aurora Victims

WBEZ News

The 5 Lives Lost In The Aurora Shooting

These were the five men gunned down by a coworker Friday at Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora.
Marijuana Cannabis Leaf Hash Flora Pot

WBEZ News

Researchers Question Plan To Swap Cannabis For Opioids

The commentary piece in a prestigious medical journal said cannabis needs to be held to medical standards.
Charter school strike ending

WBEZ News

Nine Day Chicago Charter Teacher Walkout Ends

A tentative contract agreement was hammered out early Monday morning, ending Chicago’s second and longest charter school teachers walkout.
Ken Nordine

WBEZ News

‘Word Jazz’ Creator Ken Nordine Remembered

Nordine died Saturday at the age of 98. His unparalleled baritone voice guided WBEZ listeners through "Word Jazz" for more than 40 years.
Jussie Smollett

WBEZ News

Chicago Police Seek Follow-Up Interview With Jussie Smollett

A police spokesman said the investigation "shifted" after detectives questioned two brothers about the attack and released them.
Write Ins Thumbnail

Curious City

From Mickey Mouse To Oprah: What Chicagoans Write In On Election Day

Election judges don’t usually count votes for cartoon mice or celebrities, but there was one exception. We took a peek.
Rod Blagojevich phone call

Public Official A

Part 4: The Tapes

The FBI recorded Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's phone calls for almost six weeks. What they heard shocked them.
A graphic of an anonymous face with question marks underneath

WBEZ News

Which Chicago Mayoral Candidate Do You Agree With Most?

We sent the candidates yes or no questions. Now, you can answer them too — and compare the results.

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