City to redesign public safety responses to mental health crises
Ella Lee, Print Managing Editor
October 25, 2020
In response to a summer of high crime and daily protests of police violence, the City of Chicago has said it plans to redesign the way the city responds to mental health crises. Mayor Lori Lightfoot released the city’s “first-ever” comprehensive violence reduction plan, called “Our City, O...
Lightfoot, CPD reject community suggestions regarding policing
Sonal Soni, Staff Writer
October 25, 2020
On Oct. 15, the Use of Force Community Working Group published an open letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot demanding that she enforce their demands regarding “Recommendations to reduce the ongoing CPD violence and harm inflicted on the people of Chicago.” The group went to CPD directly but CPD only...
Boystown to be renamed following petition for inclusivity
Ava O'Malley, Contributing Writer
October 18, 2020
A petition demanding for the name change of Chicago’s popular LGBTQ+ neighborhood, Boystown, concluded on Sept. 15. The petition, organized by non-binary activist Devlyn Camp, called out the exclusionary nature of the neighborhood’s well-known nickname. On Sept. 24, the Northalsted Business Allian...
43rd Ward public safety forum tackles crime reduction
Jason Grapenthin, Contributing Writer
October 4, 2020
Public safety in the city of Chicago has been a hotbed for conversation as civil unrest has gripped the city — and nation. Discussions regarding Covid-19, police reform and redistribution, methods of contacting law enforcement and the logistics of criminal sentencing are growing in importance. F...
City council bans flavored products, proposes further resolution to end youth usage
Cailey Gleeson, News Editor
September 20, 2020
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance banning the sale of all flavored e-cigarette products in the city in an attempt to curb youth tobacco usage, effective Oct. 7, per a Sept. 9 press release. “With flavors like candy and chocolate, these products are designed to entice youth, and we as a city have a responsibility to do everything we can to prevent that from...
Farmers market across city implement guidelines to protect patrons and staff
Corey Schmidt, Staff Writer
September 20, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial hardships for many small businesses. At a time when people may feel uncomfortable going into busy shops, farmers markets have made an impact on local businesses. “The sales [at Green City Market] helped us open our first shop,” Paula Haney of Hoosier ...
Cultural institutions across Chicago see effects of the pandemic
Nadia Hernandez and Cailey Gleeson
September 20, 2020
Since Covid-19 forced varying degrees of lockdown and travel restrictions around the globe, the streets of Chicago have been empty without tourists filling iconic spots. Prior to the halt of normalcy imposed by the pandemic, Illinois tourism saw its ninth consecutive year of record-breaking numbe...
Family members, community residents demand answers and justice for Miguel Vega
Maria Guerrero, La DePaulia Managing Editor
September 7, 2020
Family members and community residents demand answers and the release of body cam footage after the shooting and killing of 26-year-old Miguel Vega by a CPD undercover police officer. On Saturday evening at the corner of 18th Street and Blue Island Avenue, relatives of Vega and community leaders...
Organizers call for Lightfoot to de-escalate police department
Cailey Gleeson and Nika Schoonover
September 4, 2020
Leaders from over 25 community and faith-based organizations — including Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli — wrote an open letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot criticizing her response to months of civil unrest and increasing escalation of force at such demonstrations by the Chicago Police Departmen...
Free COVID-19, HIV tests offered in Pilsen
Nadia Hernandez, Assistant News Editor
July 14, 2020
The National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), CALOR, and Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) are partnering to offer free COVID-19 and HIV testing Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NMMA location in Pilsen. Patients aren’t required to bring ID or proof of insurance, and no criteria are requir...
Petition calls for DePaul to cut ties with Chicago Police Department
Ryan Gilroy, Copy Editor
June 10, 2020
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a response from Interim Provost Salma Ghanem. An online petition created by students and faculty at DePaul is calling for the university to end their relationship with the Chicago Police Department. The request is directly in response to DePaul’s s...
Lori Lightfoot lifts 9 p.m. curfew, fully reopens Loop access
June 7, 2020
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday lifted the city’s 9 p.m. curfew as the city reopened subway stations in the city’s central business and commercial district and allowed bus service to resume in the area. Lightfoot imposed the curfew on May 30, after widespread looting and vandalism got underway...
