What Chicago’s Major Taylor Trail Could Be
Marshall Taylor was a cycling legend. Residents say the trail that bears his name is an asset in need of investment.
The Fight Against Chicago’s Largest Warehouse Isn’t Over
On Chicago's southwest side, activists say a massive new distribution center needs to benefit the community.
Jessica Hopper’s Regional Sensibility
The Chicago writer's "no bullshit" approach shines through in the revised edition of "The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic."
There Is This We
Portraits and reflections on the legacy of Black women artists and arts workers in Chicago.
Riding the Fort Wayne Line
A proposed Amtrak route would restore passenger service between Chicago, Fort Wayne, Columbus, and Pittsburgh. Can new federal investment make it happen?
The Legend of Baby Huey
After fifty years and hundreds of hip hop samples, the iconic Chicago musician’s only record remains urgent and imperative listening.
Climate Emergency and Environmental Justice in the Rust Belt
Stories on climate change, industrial legacies, and planning for a just future.
Black Freedom, Black Joy: A Juneteenth Reading List
Honoring Black joy and freedom struggles in the Rust Belt.
Around Lake Michigan on the Circle Tour
Sixty years ago, my parents took us on a driving tour of Lake Michigan, the quintessential Midwest road trip.
Worker-Owned Cooperatives and the Future of Rust Belt Labor
Amid declining union power and attacks on organized labor, some Rust Belt workers are turning to worker-owned cooperatives.
The Most Dangerous People in the Country
In 2018, a West Virginia teacher’s secret Facebook group sparked a "union renaissance” in the tradition of Mother Jones.
From Wasteland to Wildlife Habitat
A former Chicago dumping ground finds new life with restoration efforts.