Marie Mendoza

Nov 6, 2024 | wbez.org | Lauren Holt |Erin Allen |Susie An |Marie Mendoza

Laura Cripe grew up hiking in LaBagh Woods on Chicago’s North Side. After a storm, she enjoyed walking along the Chicago River to catch snakes and frogs. “I would capture them … much to my mother’s non-delight,” she recalled. Cripe still enjoys spending time in nature, but she’s noticed there aren’t as many frogs around. The last frog she saw in the city was nearly 20 years ago. “I saw one tiny little frog. I don’t know if it was a little spring peeper [frog], and that was in Bucktown,” Cripe said.

Oct 29, 2024 | wbez.org | Susie An |Marie Mendoza |Maggie Sivit |Andrew Gill

On a cool October night in 2018, Larry Arroyo was leading a tour at the Old Joliet Prison in the southwest suburbs. Arroyo has been a tour guide around Chicago for years, but this was his first time leading a group at Joliet. An eerie energy filled the air. Just the night before, he had experienced strange things when he walked the grounds with his fellow tour guides. “As I’m walking through this area, I just get … there’s someone behind me, like an intimidating presence,” he recalled.

Oct 24, 2024 | wbez.org | Marie Mendoza |Maggie Sivit |Andrew Gill |Anna Mason

Editor’s note: This story originally published in 2023. The term “Chicagoland” is part of the region’s DNA. You’ve probably seen it plastered on car dealership billboards or grocery store coupons. Maybe you’ve even heard the weatherman refer to “sunny skies across Chicagoland.”There’s no New York-land or Boston-land, so why does the Chicago metropolitan area have its own unique name? It turns out this has been a question on the minds of many Curious City listeners.

Oct 3, 2024 | wbez.org | Erin Allen |Susie An |Marie Mendoza |Maggie Sivit

As a high school senior in Chicago, I got to tell you, when it comes to Black history, the only people who I really learned about in school were Emmett Till, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Oh, and Harriet Tubman. But if I was teaching history, I’d tell you about Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, or as I like to call her, Dr. B. She was a powerhouse. She helped start the South Side Community Art Center when she was only 23 years old.

Jul 28, 2023 | wbez.org | Marie Mendoza

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter. The term “Chicagoland” is part of the region’s DNA. You’ve probably seen it plastered on car dealership billboards or grocery store coupons. Maybe you’ve even heard the weatherman refer to “sunny skies across Chicagoland.” There’s no New York-land or Boston-land, so why does the Chicago metropolitan area have its own unique name?