Charmaine Runes

An area line chart on graph paper showing a significant drop in cases over time and a large question mark where the drop occurs. There is text that reads: where did the data go?

Environment & Public Health

What happens when data on the COVID-19 pandemic goes missing?

By Amy Qin and Charmaine Runes

Runners start the Chicago Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Chicago.

Arts & Culture

I ran the Chicago Marathon. One world major marathon down, five to go.

By Charmaine Runes

Water pools around a car at Argyle Street and Winchester Avenue on Sunday. Chicago recorded its most serious flooding in over two years.

Environment & Public Health

Another thing that was flooded after Sunday’s massive rainstorm? The city’s 311 help line.

By Charmaine Runes and Amy Qin

Collage of picket signs and union posters

Arts & Culture

Chicago is (still) a union town

By Amy Qin and Charmaine Runes

Travelers walk through Terminal 1 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago

Chicago

One in four inbound flights to Chicago were delayed this summer. But we’ve had it worse.

By Charmaine Runes

Uptown Theater sign

Race, Class & Communities

Uptown is one of the highest ranked areas for rich-poor friendships, a new study finds

By Charmaine Runes

A large crowd watches Alex Honnold boulder in a climbing gym

Arts & Culture

The antidote for burned-out millennials? It's the climbing gym.

By Charmaine Runes

People watch as a firework goes off at a Fourth of July block party in the Pilsen neighborhood, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Chicago.

Environment & Public Health

Chicagoans breathe the most polluted air of the year on July 4

By Dillon Bergin and Charmaine Runes

A semi truck drives down 31st Street in Little Village

Chicago

Zonas críticas de contaminación atmosférica en Chicago: Nueva Red de sensores revela disparidades en la calidad del aire entre vecindarios.

By Smarth Gupta , Dillon Bergin , and 3 more

Illustration of baby clothes on a clothesline

Arts & Culture

Noah, meet Olivia, the other most popular baby name of 2021 in Illinois

By Charmaine Runes

A semi truck drives down 31st Street in Little Village

Environment & Public Health

Chicagoans who live near heavy-traffic corridors are breathing the most polluted air

By Smarth Gupta , Dillon Bergin , and 3 more

Unknown person polaroid illustration with Chicago flag background

Politics

We ranked City Council members by meeting attendance. Check your alderman’s score.

By Charmaine Runes , Jason Mcgregor , and 4 more

Mirachelle Anselmo prepares her ube croissant dough for shaping

Arts & Culture

This chemist-turned-baker created an ube croissant that's totally worth the trip

By Charmaine Runes

Customers shop at a grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill.

Meat cost 13% more than a year ago in the Chicago area. Produce isn’t far behind.

By Charmaine Runes

Line chart of COVID-19 deaths

Coronavirus in Illinois: Today’s case count and death toll

By Charmaine Runes , Jesse Howe , and 1 more

Dozens of people enjoy a beer and a meal both inside and outside of a restuarant

Arts & Culture

Desperate to dine out? Here’s where you can raise a fork at a sidewalk cafe.

By Charmaine Runes

Gas price is seen at a Mobil gas station in Vernon Hills, Ill.

Money

Chicago gas prices are up more than a dollar per gallon. It could get worse.

By Charmaine Runes

An illustration of a COVID-19 chart on a spiral-bound notebook surrounded by school supplies

Education

Tracking COVID-19 in schools: Your guide to the official data for Chicago and Illinois

By Charmaine Runes and Matt Kiefer