Blue Line Access

The CTA built a flashy new Belmont Blue Line station that isn't accessible to people with disabilities. (Photo/Remy Edstrom)

Chicago Kink

Chicago's leather museum documents BDSM's history. (Photo/Faith Berwick)

Rebuilding Chicago

How did the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 influence our city's architecture? (Photo/Wikimedia Commons)

The Red Line Project: Read more about the site.

CTA Crime Maps: Search maps of various crimes near CTA lines and stations.

Chicago Marathon 2013: Full coverage of the 2013 race. (Photo/Brianna Kelly)

Chicago Stumbler: The Tumblr blog features some of the city's worst sidewalks. Story

First Stop: Crime

Experts Tie High Chicago Homicide Rates to Concentrated Poverty

While gun violence is well-documented on the South Side, the West Side – which harbors criminal “hotspots” – sometimes gets overlooked. Both community areas have two predominant sociological factors in common: concentrated poverty and lack of adequate resources, sources say.

Maps: 2017 Chicago homicides | Homicides by community area
Analysis: Handgun-related homicides on the rise in Chicago
Infographics: Homicides 1990-2018 | Homicides by community | Community comparison
Archives: Chicago gun violence, a special report (2013)

Second Stop: Transportation

Chicago's Pothole Plague: How the City is Changing its Approach

The city has seen a 20% increase in pothole complaints from last year. Some haven’t been repaired almost a year after they were reported, which has the city looking at making changes to its process.

Bridges: Chicago's failing bridges | Data; How many are failing?
Pedway: Vision lacking for Chicago's underground walkway
CTA: New Belmont Blue Line station lacks disabled accessibility
Archives: The Chicago Stumbler -- City's bad sidewalks

Third Stop: Neighborhood Issues

Not All Are on Board with Pilsen Gentrification

Historically, Pilsen, a neighborhood in Chicago’s Lower West Side, is known for its rich Latino culture. But gentrification is bringing higher home costs and shifting the neighborhood's demographic, data show.

Culture: Popular Pilsen restaurants filled with history, murals
Real estate: Chicago market turning off many younger buyers
Homeless: Women's shelters healing mind, body, spirit
Archives: Development booming in Logan Square

Fourth Stop: Elections

Where Have All the Chicago Voters Gone?

The Chicago Board of Elections reports that of 1.57 million registered voters in Chicago, only 70.7 percent -- or 1.11 million -- cast a ballot for the 2016 presidential race. Numbers were far worse for the 2018 midterms and turnout for the 2019 Chicago mayoral election flirted with all-time lows. Experts say race, gender and age play a role.