Cheryl Corley

Disappointed By School Closing Vote, Union Targets Elected Officials

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:38:00 +0000

A day after school officials approved shutting down 50 schools, the Chicago Teachers Union and community activists say they'll hold a voter registration and education campaign. The union is agitated that Mayor Rahm Emanuel, school board members and some lawmakers failed to listen to parents, teachers and others who called for the schools to remain open.

Before they voted yes on the sweeping school closure plan, school board members faced a torrent of criticism Wednesday.

Bond For Accused Cleveland Kidnapper Set At $8 Million

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:03:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

In Cleveland today, Ariel Castro appeared in court; his hands bound, head lowered. He is accused of kidnapping three women and a child, and of raping the three women who escaped Monday from the house where they'd been held for roughly a decade. A judge set bond at $8 million, and an Ohio prosecutor says he will pursue additional charges and may seek the death penalty.

Kidnapped Ohio Women Return Home To Families

Cheryl Corley — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Charges are expected Wednesday in Cleveland, where three women who'd been missing for years have been rescued.

Cash Crunch Prompts Controversial Sales At Chicago's Field Museum

Cheryl Corley — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:45:00 +0000

The economy may be on the rebound, but many cultural institutions are still struggling to regain their financial footing. That's especially true for one of the country's most recognized museums — the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Known internationally for its research as well as its exhibits, the Field Museum must pay off millions in bond debt — and toe an ethical line as it does.

The first thing you see when you enter the main hall of the Field Museum is Sue, the largest specimen of Tyrannosaurus rex around.

Michelle Obama Steps Into Gun Control Debate

Cheryl Corley — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:17:00 +0000

First lady Michelle Obama gave a personal and emotional speech Wednesday in Chicago as she stepped into the debate over gun control.

"Right now, my husband is fighting as hard as he can and engaging as many people as he can to pass common-sense reforms to protect our children from gun violence," she said.

The first lady was in her hometown to encourage business leaders to donate millions of dollars to programs for at-risk youth.

It was just two months ago that Obama returned home to attend the funeral of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago teenager who performed with her band members

For Pulitzer Winner Critic Roger Ebert, Films Were A Journey

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:17:00 +0000

He won a Pulitzer Prize for his writing, but just as influential as his print essays were his "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" movie reviews. Film critic Roger Ebert died Thursday after struggling for years with cancer. He was 70 years old.

His thumb may have made him famous on TV, but Ebert was first and foremost a print journalist. He worked on newspapers in grade school, high school and college.

Discord Grows Over Chicago's Planned School Closings

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:31:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. Good morning. I'm David Greene.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

And I'm Linda Wertheimer.

The city of Chicago wants to close dozens of public schools, claiming that money could be better spent. But protests are growing.

Chicago To Close 54 Public Schools

Cheryl Corley — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:38:00 +0000

In Chicago, officials have released a long-feared list that places more than 50 schools on the chopping block. The public school district faces a $1 billion shortfall, and the mayor says many of the city's school buildings are half empty. Some angry parents and teachers say the plan will harm children and they'll fight to keep the schools open.

There were protests all day Thursday against the proposed school closings, including one outside the home of the Chicago school board president.

Game Of Change: Pivotal Matchup Helped End Segregated Hoops

Cheryl Corley — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:12:00 +0000

During the March Madness of 1963, playing was infused with politics. The NCAA matchup between Loyola University of Chicago and Mississippi State helped put an end to segregated basketball. Loyola's win 50 years ago became known as the "game of change."

At the time, college basketball was still predominantly white, with usually no more than two or three black players appearing on the floor at any one time. But in '63, the Loyola Ramblers' starting lineup featured four black players.

During the opening round of the NCAA tournament, the Ramblers blew past their opponent.

August Wilson's Words Get New Life In Monologue Contest

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:13:00 +0000

When the stage lights go up at Chicago's Goodman Theatre on Monday evening, more than 20 high school students will each have a moment to step into the spotlight and perform a monologue from one of the plays written by the late August Wilson. Chicago's contest is one of several regional finals that strives to introduce students to the Pulitzer Prize winner's work.

An Oprah-less Chicago Tries To Keep Talk Show Spirit Alive

Cheryl Corley — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:30:00 +0000

It's been nearly two years since Oprah ended her daily show, and Chicago's been adjusting to the loss of the daytime talk queen. Although she left a huge void, there's no need to write an obituary for the TV talk genre in Chicago.

In the lobby of Chicago's NBC Towers, the crowd of excited fans gathered for a TV taping is reminiscent of the Oprah days of old. But instead of Oprah, they're lined up to see veteran comedian Steve Harvey's show.

"I like Steve's energy. I like his shows. He's funny. He covers all topics," says fan Deloris Neal.

And its Harvey's style that Tom Eugling likes.

Obama To Push State Of The Union Messages In Chicago

Cheryl Corley — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:41:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

The president will leave the sequester debate behind this afternoon when he travels to Chicago. He's expected to talk about the gun violence that plagues his home town.

Fifteen-year-old Hadiya Pendleton became a symbol of the problem after she was murdered last month in a park about a mile from the president's Chicago home.

Airport Suites Offer Travelers A Place To Nap On The Fly

Cheryl Corley — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:34:00 +0000

When there's a big snowstorm or a plane has mechanical problems, airports often turn into uncomfortable holding pens, with people scrunched in chairs, lying on floors, filling up restaurants and otherwise trying to find something to do.

That's actually good news for one company. Minute Suites is building tiny airport retreats across the country. The suites are already operating in Atlanta and Philadelphia.

First Lady Among Mourners At Funeral For Slain Chicago Teen

Cheryl Corley — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:07:00 +0000

Hundreds of mourners, including first lady Michelle Obama, turned out Saturday for the funeral of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago girl who was shot to death just days after she and her high school band performed at inauguration events in Washington.

Her killing has catapulted her into the nation's debate over gun violence.

The first lady did not speak during Pendleton's funeral, but met privately with the family, and with her classmates and friends before the services.

New York City Mayor Takes Anti-Gun Campaign To Illinois

Cheryl Corley — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:06:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is taking his anti-gun campaign to Illinois and its 2nd congressional district. There, no less than 22 candidates hope to replace former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Gun violence plagued some of the Chicago neighborhoods that are part of the district. And as NPR's Cheryl Corley reports, guns have become a key issue in the race.

CHERYL CORLEY, BYLINE: The 30-second television ad for Michael Bloomberg's Independence U.S.A.

Gun Violence Robs Chicago Mother Of Remaining Child

Cheryl Corley — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:07:00 +0000

The gun violence that scars some Chicago neighborhoods has been a plague for one woman. Shirley Chambers first lost a child to gunfire in the mid 1990s. In 2000, a daughter and a son were shot to death just months apart. On Monday, Chambers buried her last child.

Nearly 500 people filled the pews, the choir lofts and hallways of St. Luke Church of God in Christ for the funeral of 33-year-old Ronnie Chambers, an aspiring music producer who died Jan. 26.

When his mother walked up to the casket, she collapsed.

Violence-Riddled Chicago Hopes Gun Proposals Will Help Shield It

Cheryl Corley — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:26:00 +0000

As President Obama unveiled his gun control proposals Wednesday, he highlighted mass shootings at schools in Colorado, Virginia and Connecticut. He also mentioned another group of children, not in school — the ones on the street corners of Chicago.

Chicagoan Annette Holt was at the White House during Obama's address.

Mystery Surrounding Death Of Lottery Winner Could Lead To His Exhumation

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:59:00 +0000

Authorities in Chicago on Friday will seek permission to exhume the body of a million-dollar lottery winner who ended up dead before he could cash in his winnings.

Forensic pathologists first ruled that Urooj Khan, 46, died last summer of natural causes but after further investigation, that ruling was changed to death by cyanide poisoning.

Jimmy Gorell, the owner of a 7-Eleven in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, says Khan was a regular for a couple of years. Khan immigrated from India to the U.S. in 1989. He worked at a dry cleaners and ended up with three stores of his own.

A Vision For Chicago Public Housing, Stymied And Contested

Cheryl Corley — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:20:00 +0000

Chicago's $1.6 billion "Plan for Transformation" envisioned public housing in a way that would deconstruct an image of the city's poor all concentrated in huge housing silos.

The idea was to mix public-housing residents with market-rate condos and subsidized rentals or homes, with one-third of each in these new communities.

But after more than a decade in the works, one of the country's most closely watched public housing experiments has been hampered by the flailing economy.

Ill. At The Frontlines Of Fight For U.S. House Control

Cheryl Corley — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:39:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Now to the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans currently have the majority, and Democrats need to flip at least 25 seats to change that. Though most political observers say that's a long shot, Democrats are fighting hard to make it happen.

Chicago Mayor Emanuel To Present Proposed Budget

Cheryl Corley — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:41:00 +0000

Chicago continues to wrestle with a massive budget gap and severely underfunded pensions. Fresh off a negotiating tussle with the city's teachers and a school strike, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday presents his proposed 2013 budget to the City Council.

Jesse Jackson Jr., MIA From The Campaign Trail

Cheryl Corley — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:13:00 +0000

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is still running for office but has been out of sight for months. He is being treated for a bipolar disorder, and his wife says he will return to work when he gets his physician's permission. Three other candidates are campaigning for the seat.

Chick-Fil-A, Chicago Alderman Moreno Reach Deal

Cheryl Corley — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:14:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And Chick-fil-A fast food restaurants became the focus a few weeks ago of protests and counter-protests, after the CEO of the restaurant chain said he opposed same-sex marriage. Now, after a change in policy the chain, a Chicago alderman says he will no longer stand in the way of Chick-fil-A opening in his neighborhood.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports.

CHERYL CORLEY, BYLINE: There's just one Chick-fil-A restaurant in Chicago. The second will be located here, on Chicago's northwest side.

GOP Looks To Amp African-American Support

Cheryl Corley — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 22:37:00 +0000

Barack Obama won more than 95 percent of the black vote in the last presidential election, and Democrats are expected to have a huge advantage this November.

RNC's Program Aimed At Luring More Latino Voters

Cheryl Corley — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:39:00 +0000

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Melissa Block.

As they leave the convention in Tampa, Republican Party leaders are hoping their efforts in Florida will win over more Latino voters. Hispanic lawmakers were given high-profile speaking roles, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who introduced Mitt Romney last night.