The Hardest-Working Paper in America | 
Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Nina Molina

Samantha Basar and her dog pose at the intersection where they were hit by a car.
Transportation
Car slams into woman walking her puppy in Humboldt Park. Her message to drivers? ‘Just pay attention’
Before the pandemic, the number of pedestrians hit by cars has trended upward since 2014, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
By Nina Molina
 
Kids play in Lake Michigan for a summer camp.
Chicago
‘Summer Kickback Series’ starts for youth on South and West sides
Through the $1.3 million city-based program, 15 participating community groups will hire teens and young adults to promote and host youth-focused activities and vaccine advocacy initiatives.
By Nina Molina
 
Attorney Marni Willenson holds a hefty sheaf of court documents at a news conference Thursday, July 8, 2021, where she discussed the 529 women who are seeking to join a 2017 federal lawsuit. The women are current and former jail correctional officers alleging that nothing was done about their complaints that inmates were sexually harassing them.
News
More than 500 women ask to join sex harassment suit against Cook County Jail, Sheriff Dart’s office
“I’m blown away by their courage,” said Marni Willenson, a civil rights lawyer, of the female correctional officers who signed their names and shared their stories in the lawsuit.
By Nina Molina
 
Co-founders and co-directors of Healing to Action Sheerine Alemzadeh and Karla Altmayer are part of the Fund for New Leadership’s first cohort of fellows.
News
Co-founders of local nonprofit recognized for work helping survivors of sexual violence
Healing to Action will receive $75,000 a year for three years from the Fund for New Leadership, which has recognized the group’s co-founders in its first class of fellows.
By Nina Molina
 
People in line for food at a food truck at West Fest in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, IL on July 6, 2018.
Food and Restaurants
Food Truck Fest returning to Daley Plaza
A rotating lineup of six trucks will serve food Fridays starting July 30 through Oct. 15
By Nina Molina
 
Visitors walk through the gardens.
Chicago
Chicago Botanic Garden to charge ‘per person’ admission beginning in 2022
Ticket prices will range from $9.95 to $25.95 per person, and the parking fee will drop to $8.
By Nina Molina
 
A Future Ties worker helps a student with her homework.
Woodlawn
Parkway Gardens after-school program Future Ties getting a new, bigger space
Founder Jennifer Maddox expects to move into a former Walgreens store before children go back to school after receiving a $1 million donation.
By Nina Molina
 
A woman uses the Uber app on a Samsung smartphone
Transportation
Uber, Lyft riders are paying more and waiting longer
Some drivers aren’t coming back because of an uptick in violent carjackings and a lack of support during the pandemic, says the group Chicago Rideshare Advocates.
By Nina Molina
 
Naseer Jaco-Cartman (left, in yellow stripes), 9, of Bronzeville stands with his brother, 5-year-old Akande Grey-Cartman, as they look at The Obama Portraits, featuring Kehinde Wiley’s painting of former President Barack Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrayal of former First Lady Michelle Obama, on the first day the official portraits are on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, Friday morning, June 18, 2021. The exhibit runs through Aug. 15 in Chicago.
Entertainment and Culture
Chicago embraces the Obama portraits at the Art Institute
The paintings of Barack and Michelle Obama will be on display until Aug. 15.
By Nina Molina