Kristen Schorsch

Previously, she covered health care, government, crime, courts, higher education and news of the weird (think coffin parties) for Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Southtown and the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
Kristen has won more than a dozen local and national awards for her work. Her stories have sparked policy changes and spurred investigations.
Kristen is a former longtime board member of the Chicago Headline Club and helps organize the club’s annual FOIAFest about public information and transparency. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and is a proud Daily Illini alumna.
Stories by Kristen Schorsch
With Roe v. Wade overturned, Chicago area residents share their perspectives on abortion
A teen abortion opponent. A woman not ready for children. Eight people’s stories about abortion, told in their own words.
During election season, Toni Preckwinkle touts no new taxes or layoffs in 2023
The Cook County Board President says she’s expecting an $18.2 million budget hole next year, the smallest gap since she took office.
Illinois collects data about who gets abortions. But it keeps race and ethnicity hidden.
The data that could help illuminate disparities has never been public here. After a WBEZ inquiry, the state is evaluating whether that should change.
Health care workers burned out during the pandemic. That could impact Illinois’ abortion care.
Tens of thousands more people may seek abortions in Illinois. Hospitals and clinics worry they won’t have enough staff to treat them.
What to know about Illinois law if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade
If the landmark abortion case is overturned, Illinois could be seen as even more of an “oasis” across the nation for those seeking an abortion.
Life expectancy of Chicagoans dropped by two years during the first year of the pandemic
New data show Latinos suffered the biggest drop in life expectancy — about three years. And Black Chicagoans’ life expectancy is now below 70, the lowest in nearly two decades.
Some uninsured patients face massive hospital bills from private doctors
One low-income patient got a 100% discount on her hospital bill. But then came more than $8,000 in bills from the independent doctors who treated her.
Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller is out of a job
Miller had overseen the hospital when it was accused of mishandling COVID-19 vaccines and financial mismanagement.
Illinois’ top doctor Ngozi Ezike is being wooed to lead a Chicago health system
Sinai Chicago’s board has been authorized to negotiate an offer with Dr. Ezike, who helped lead Illinois through the pandemic and is leaving her job.
Thousands more people would get access to Medicaid under a proposed Illinois law
The proposal includes adding low-income undocumented people who are 19 to 54 years old to the state’s Medicaid health insurance program.