Illinois has a bilingual teacher shortage, and despite the state board
of education landing a $4 million grant to help, teachers say it's not enough.
RLP

Rape Kit Backlog: Trauma, the Untested and Advocacy
CPD says the expected wait time for processing kits at a state laboratory is about 270 days, but survivors have been told the wait can be up to two years.

Vandalism Increasing in Chicago Since Start of the Pandemic
Vandalism and petty crimes have increased significantly since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, and crime experts have cited several reasons as to why.

Albany Park Residents Fear Increasing Violence in the Neighborhood
Theft, burglary and aggravated battery crimes have increased in Chicago, and the quiet Northwest side neighborhood of Albany Park is not immune.

Asian Americans Are Facing Unprecedented Difficulties in Chicago
A series of studies were conducted and found that hate crimes targeting the Asian American community have reached some unprecedented levels. What does that mean in Chicago?

Security In Chinatown: What Improvements are Being Made
Residents and the Chicago Police Department say they're concerned about the increase in crime in Chicago's normally peaceful Chinatown neighborhood.

Uptown Concerned Over Weiss Hospital’s Potential New Owner
Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown is undergoing two major real estate shifts this year, which has drawn the attention and ire of many in the neighborhood.

Chicago Carjackings Continue to Rise During the Pandemic
Chicago had a 31% increase in carjackings in just one year following the start of the pandemic, between 2020 and 2021. The city's numbers are higher than every other large city.

Carjackings in Chicago: Who is Impacted and How You Can Help
From Jan. 1, 2021 to April 14, 2022 there have been 2,296 carjackings in Chicago. Jeep Grand Cherokees and Toyota Camrys have been targeted the most by carjackers, data show.

Wicker Park Carjackings: The Fear of Going for a Ride
Wicker Park carjackings have spiked tremendously in the past year, with four carjackings happening in the span of less than a week. Residents are concerned.

How is Illinois Handling All of the Bilingual Teacher Vacancies?
The Illinois State Board of Education is offering $4 million in response to bilingual teacher vacancies. It's a temporary solution, and teachers say there’s more that can be done.

CTA Continues Struggle Making El Stations Accessible
Forty-two CTA rail stations are non-accessible to those with mobility disabilities, lacking elevators and other amenities. Some stations were last updated in the 1930s.

COVID-19 Has Put More Chicagoans at Risk for Homelessness
More than 58,700 Chicagoans experienced some form of homelessness in 2019, and the pandemic's financial uncertainty has left more at risk.
Special Projects

Army Spc. Angel Laureano holds a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
COVID-19
- COVID-19 Has Put More Chicagoans at Risk for Homelessness
- Chicago Small Businesses Slowly Regaining Steam