Carrie Shepherd

Chicago

I'm a Chicago reporter for @axios. Before: Lead Producer @CityCastChicago and many things @WBEZ. Love this beautiful damn city. https://t.co/deEcZbXYBH

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Articles

Ferris Bueller's iconic vest hits the auction block

1 day ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

Ferris' vest. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's. A famous piece of Chicago film history is for sale. The big picture: International auction house Sotheby's is sellingthesweater vest Matthew Broderick wore as the titular character in John Hughes' classic "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."Driving the news: Bidding started Thursday for an online auction that includes other movie momentos as well. Reality check: Sotheby's has placed a pre-sale estimate of $300,000 to $600,000 for the vest.
Illinois gets big boost on Fortune 500 list

1 day ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd |Alex Fitzpatrick

Data: Fortune; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/AxiosIllinois ranks in the top 5 when it comes to the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state, according to the magazine's annual list. Why it matters: U.S. companies are staying put in Illinois even as Republicans claim Gov. Pritzker and the Democrats are taxing them out of town. State of play: The $55 billion budget that passed last week didn't hit business as hard as some groups feared.
Chicago is getting more places to watch women's sports

2 days ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd |Travis Meier

Reproduced from Untapped ; Map: Axios VisualsChicago is joining a national trend of new bars centered on women's sports. Women's sports bars are springing up in multiple cities, growing from one to 12 in just three years. Why it matters: With viewership and attendance for women's sports soaring, fans are building new hubs that are about creating community while watching their favorite athletes. Driving the news: Babe's Sports Bar in Logan Square is expected to open later this summer.
Guess where in Chicago our reporters are

3 days ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

Justin, Moyo, Carrie and Monica. Photo: Monica Eng/AxiosWe regularly ask you to guess where in the (Chicago) world we're located. This time, it's all of us! Can you guess where Justin, Carrie, Moyo and Monica are? Here's a hint:This spot is known for its breakfast fare;With pastries large enough to share. The longtime owner was a political nameWhose first and last initials are the same. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago. More Chicago stories
Illinois passes $55B budget, but leaves some legislation unfinished

4 days ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/AxiosIn addition to passing a $55 billion state budget, the Illinois General Assembly passed and punted on various legislation during the session that wrapped Saturday. The big picture: The budget headed to Gov. Pritzker's desk has so-called "sin tax" increases. Pritzker used his budget press conference to take aim at President Trump for slashing federal funding, affecting Illinois and other states.
Illinois would be hit hard by Trump halting student visas

4 days ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd |Alex Fitzpatrick

Data: NAFSA; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/AxiosThe Trump administration is halting student visa interviews and revoking visas for Chinese students amid a political pressure campaign against colleges and universities and a broader immigration crackdown. Why it matters: Illinois is one of the top states for international college students. International students contribute about $2.4 billion to the state economy and more than 23,000 jobs, according to data from NAFSA, an international education nonprofit.
Chicago transit budget crisis continues as funding stalls in Springfield

5 days ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

CTA trains in the Loop in 2024. Photo: Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAfter months of grave warnings by Chicago-area transit leaders, unions and commuters, the Illinois General Assembly passed a $55 billion budget without the funding and reform agencies hoped for. Why it matters: Leaders warned they need $1.5 billion to prevent service cuts and layoffs at CTA, Metra and Pace.
Mapped: What families pay for child care in each state

1 week ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

Data: Childcare Aware; Map: Axios VisualsA new report finds that child care prices in the U.S. rose nearly 30% from 2020 to 2024, outpacing . Why it matters: Rising child care costs put a huge financial strain on families, forcing some parents — typically women — to either ratchet back their working hours or leave the labor force entirely, Axios' Emily Peck reports. For single parents, it can be even more burdensome. It's also a drag on economic growth overall.
Five years later: Where Black Lives Matter murals are now

1 week ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

A mural at the Sounding Boards Garden in North Lawndale. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/AxiosBlack Lives Matter murals and public art were all over Chicago after George Floyd's murder in 2020, but five years later, it can be difficult to find some of those works. Why it matters: The protests against police brutality were an inflection point in a city with a complicated history of policing.
2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee: Meet Chicago and Illinois spellers

1 week ago | axios.com | Carrie Shepherd

Beatriz Lucille Whiteford-Rodriguez, 14, of Chicago on May 27 in National Harbor, Maryland. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty ImagesThe Scripps National Spelling Bee is celebrating 100 years in 2025 with 243 spellers from across the U.S.The big picture: This year, 13 spellers came from Illinois, stretching from Winnebago and McHenry counties to Whiteside County. One speller is from Chicago — Beatriz Whitford-Rodríguez, who attends Skinner North.