1. After the Spire
What was supposed to be the second-tallest building on Earth is still a hole. What should we fill it with? Chicago magazine asks the experts.
2. Elderly on West and South Sides Targets of Reverse Mortgage Scheme, Say Advocates
A South Side woman is at risk of losing her home of 40 years, and her case could be “the tip of the iceberg.” The Chicago Reporter outlines the pattern.
3. When Will Chicago Get Its Next Supertall Skyscraper?
A Jeanne Gang-designed, Chinese-financed building in Lakeshore East has been proposed, but it would need special permission due to its height. WBEZ previews our skyline.
4. Art Shay: The Man With the Golden Lens
He shot Algren, Ali, Khrushchev, Hef… and lots of pictures of his beloved wife. Now Art Shay is the latest Chicago photographer the art world is discovering. The Chicago Reader profiles the 92-year-old photojournalist.
5. Rauner Faces Immediate Test as Illinois Runs Out of Day Care Money
The department is $300 million in the hole, and payments to providers will be late. It’s happened before, but not under the new governor’s watch. The Tribune sounds the alarm.
6. The Gacy Files
Almost a quarter of John Wayne Gacy’s victims remain unidentified. One detective is trying to find their identities. Buzzfeed follows Jason Moran’s quest.
7. The History of Dibs: Did It Begin in Chicago?
A product of the automobile age, the practice rears its head after the Blizzard of ’67. DNAInfo traces its roots.
8. Clinic Saves Moms’ Lives by Focusing on Familes
The maternal death rate in the United States is high, for a wealthy country, and rising. A wellness center on the West Side is taking a new approach to the problem. Scientific American visits PCC.
9. The Obama Man Turning Around Chicago’s South Side Isn’t Rahm Emanuel
The University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement is trying to reverse decades of tension between the university and its community. Next City talks with its director, Derek Douglas.
10. Meet the Woman Working to Defeat Rahm Emanuel
As head of We Are Wisconsin, she gave Scott Walker a scare. Her next target is one of the most famous Democrats in America. Chicago introduces Kristen Crowell.