Chicago Public Radio - Special Stories

Myanmar Refugees in Indiana Await Word

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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As aid to the survivors of Myanmar’s cyclone trickles in, many friends and family feel virtually powerless to do anything. The many refugees living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, are among those who are worried and offering prayers.

Worldview Sri Lanka Special

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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Worldview producer Andrea Wenzel hosts a special show on Sri Lanka.

1961: Christmas Memories

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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In 1961, Orator and radio personality Studs Terkel put together a program that broadcast voices from across America and Europe telling stories of childhood and recalling songs of holiday past. The documentary re-aired on

The Annoying Music Holiday Spectacular!

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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Harold Washington: Then and Now

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. Washington died of a massive heart attack while in office. The death and subsequent fight to appoint a successor made national headlines. Chicago Public Radio has been

Special Gasoline Keeps Prices High in Chicago

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Gas prices remain high in Chicago as drivers hit the road during the Labor Day vacation. Ian Savage is from the economics department at Northwestern University. He says Chicago uses a special gasoline during the summer which hikes the price.

SAVAGE: We've noticed a trend where the gas prices seem to start increasing in the spring when we move over to the reformulated gasoline and then stay reasonably high through the summer maybe trending down a bit. And then sort of bottom out around Thanksgiving, first week of December.

Chicagoans also pay high gas taxes compared to the rest of the country. AAA says about 100,000 fewer people will be on the road during the holiday compared to last year because of high gas prices.

New West Nile Stats Buzzing

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

West Nile is buzzing with new statistics this summer. The West Nile virus has been reported in seven Illinois Counties. Three human cases have been identified for 2007. Melaney Arnold is from the Illinois Department of Public Health. She says the findings are unusual.

ARNOLD: Normally we start seeing birds and mosquito batches testing positive for West Nile virus around early mid to late May, so anytime in May. So, yes this is unusual for this year because we've only seen seven counties, but we have seen the human cases earlier.

Getting rid of standing water, wearing insect repellent outside and patching up holes in windows are some of the best ways to prevent attracting mosquitoes. Arnold says mosquitoes carrying West Nile usually come during hot, dry summers. Last year ten deaths from West Nile were reported in Illinois.

Green Living Means Bamboo Floors

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Green living means bamboo floors.

That's just one feature at 340 Randolph St., the first residential LEED- certified building in the Midwest.

LEED is a national system that rates buildings on their energy efficiency.

Elaine Cottey says she's moving in because the 62-story building is committed to the environment.

COTTEY: I think it's a win-win situation that the building is designed and built to be environmentally friendly in a way that makes it easy for the residents. I expect that my utility bills will be that much lower as I'm doing a good thing for the rest of the world.

The bamboo plants used in the floors grow much faster than traditional hardwood trees.

The building will use recycled rainwater and have a shared car to reduce air pollution.

This green living comes at a price.

The two bedroom units are selling upwards of $680,000.

It's Spring. It's Asparagus.

Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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The farmer’s market season in Chicago is underway. And we thought it would be a good time to launch an occasional series on the foods we eat and the stories they tell.

One of the first crops to show up in markets is asparagus. Some claim the green stalks are an aphrodisiac. And they can have a malodorous influence in the bathroom.

But asparagus is also a harbinger of spring and the beginning of a new food season. Chicago Public Radio’s Adriene Hill reports.

Share your favorite asparagus recipes.

Donald Vance v Donald Rumsfeld

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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Donald Vance and Nathan Ertel claim they were held against their will for days on end, without being charged with any crime and without having access to a lawyer. They say it was all because they were trying to blow the whistle on corruption.