A Downstate Illinois Dictionary
South of Chicago, Illinoisans speak with a distinctive Midland accent and a lexicon all their own. Visit armed with the local lingo.
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Searching for Eugene Williams
His killing catalyzed Chicago’s 1919 race riot, but little else is known about the teenager’s life on the South Side.
Four Free Ideas for a New Illinois Flag
Nearly everyone agrees: Our 104-year-old state flag is a mess. Seriously, what is this thing? Photo: Public Domain To address the issue, we asked four local designers to mock up alternatives. Behold: JNL Graphic Design “Our proposed redesign comes from the abbreviation ‘IL,’ contracted into a graphic form that alludes to both the railroad tracks that … Read more
O’Hare’s Billions In Broken Promises
For more than 50 years, the airport has been plagued by corruption and costly delays. The politically connected cash in. Meanwhile, passengers trudge through a transit hub that persistently underperforms.
O’Hare’s History of Connection and Corruption
This story was co-published with the Better Government Association. RELATED: O’Hare’s Billions In Broken Promises TopNext 1946 City acquires Orchard Field, which later becomes O’Hare International Airport, from the federal government. The city obtains the property at no cost. News clipping: Chicago Tribune 1955 O’Hare Airport opens for domestic commercial traffic. The new airport is … Read more
What Was Promised vs. What O’Hare Got
As O’Hare International Airport grew to one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world, it has left in its wake a track record of costly delays, billions in spending, and decades of broken promises.
A New Documentary Revisits the Eastland Disaster
The “blue-collar Titanic” was the deadliest maritime tragedy in the history of the Great Lakes. So why isn’t it talked about more often?
RIP Juneway Beach, 1959–2019
As lake levels hit unprecedented highs, Chicago is losing its northern beaches.
Not Another Chicago Cliché!
If you’ve seen one of these 10 tropes Hollywood keeps trotting out about our city, you’ve seen them all.
Okay, the Scooters Are Good
They may be goofy, but there’s a serious role for e-scooters to play in Chicago’s expanding transportation grid.