First Stop: COVID-19

City, State Reopen as Vaccination Numbers Creep Upward

Illinois and Chicago loosen restrictions June 11 as the number of residents who have received at least one vaccination surpasses 53 percent in Chicago. The city and state still fall short of President Biden's goal of 70 percent vaccinated by July 4.

• Distribution: Data show racial disparities in vaccine distribution
• Vaccinations: Students, marginalized communities targeted
• Vaccine rollout: Impact on Chicagoans | Vaccination centers map | Vaccinations by ZIP code
• COVID-19 issues: Chicago housing crisis | Substance abuse increases | Most vulnerable
• Archives: Outbreak -- COVID-19 and Chicago | The Faces of COVID-19

Photo/Wikimedia Commons

Second Stop: Crime

2020 Carjacking Surge Carrying Over to 2021 

Carjackings in Chicago have grabbed headlines during the pandemic, but the while police say fthe numbers dipped slightly in early 2021, they started to rise again in late April.

• Map: Carjackings as of March 2021
• Crime: Homicide rate increases during pandemic | CPD complaints increase 

Third Stop: The Environment

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Deserts Pose Sustainability Threat

Of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods, 46 have no public electronic vehicle charging stations. An analysis of US Department of Energy data shows that only 26% of the stations are located in the city’s South, West, Southwest, far Southwest and far Southeast sides.  

• Lakefront: Rising waters on Lake Michigan threatens beaches, homes
  
  Photo/courtesy Vanessa Perkins

Fourth Stop: The Economy

Chicago Music Venues Reopening After Year of Cancellations

An analysis of 10 independent music venues throughout Chicago’s North Side, West Side and suburban neighborhoods shows that, comparing scheduled events from April 2019 and April 2020, a 96% decrease.

• Tourism: Chicago seeing slow but steady return of tourists
• Small business: Andersonville businesses struggle and triumph during COVID-19
• Dining: Restaurants recover from pandemic; inspections change, too | Inspections database
• Hunger: Lakeview Pantry gets creative to fill increasing food demand

Photo/Lincoln Hall