New census data finds 1 in every 5 Chicagoans identifies as Mexican
Mexican Independence Day celebrations offer a glimpse of the size and growth of the community in the Chicago area.
Race, Class & Communities
The Race, Class & Communities Desk seeks to provide enterprise reporting on broad themes and trends related to race and income in the Chicago metropolitan area and to provide beat coverage of topical issues including housing, immigration, work/opportunity and demographics.
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Chicago’s Mexican Independence Day street closures defended by mayor, criticized by revelers
Supporters say Mexican Independence Day celebrations are no different than St. Patrick’s Day or sports championships.
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A look back at this summer’s block parties
A look at the joys of a closed-down street, passed down from generation to generation.
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As state leaders fight to protect access to books, Chicago-area libraries keep getting threats
Local librarians say the unfounded bomb threats have become almost routine and represent a deeper political and cultural divide.
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Center for Neighborhood Technology names new CEO
The former director of the Chicago Recovery Plan, Nina Idemudia, begins her tenure at the Chicago-based urban resilience nonprofit this week.
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Chicago requires contracts for domestic workers, but thousands don’t have any
House cleaners, nannies and caregivers say it’s been an uphill battle trying to get contracts after the city started mandating them last year.
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Illinois is a haven against book bans, but advocates say the threat to democracy remains
Though the state has anti-censorship protections, residents should remain vigilant and vocal about their support for keeping library books on shelves.
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A year since the first buses of migrants arrived in Chicago, the journey to asylum for Vannessa Olivera, others is just beginning
More than 13,000 immigrants have arrived since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started sending them away on buses — so far 197 of them coming to the Chicago area.
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Migrants deal with lack of food, sweltering heat
Temperatures are rising again today in Chicago. The weather will feel like 115 degrees. The city is opening more cooling centers but for migrants who are arriving here from Texas and other places, but there’s sometimes no escape from the heat.
