In 1906, the Chicago Tribune encouraged Christmas shoppers to begin the shopping season early, so that "the condition of the tired and overworked shopgirl should be taken into account." Read more
Across the city, most public school children are eligible for free or reduced lunches—an 85 percent average across the city, showing distinct geographical patterns, and 30 percent higher than the state average. The highest eligibility? It can't get any higher than in East Saint Louis. Read more
One semi-silver lining for the Great Recession, as it's been for most American recessions in recent years, is that people obtain more education (at, on average, a modest increase in lifetime earnings). But the benefit to the economy doesn't compare to what was lost. Read more
In 2011, Chicagoans spent $600 million playing the state lottery, out of $2.3 billion statewide. Here's a map that shows which areas of the city are the biggest spenders. Read more
Even in the era of No Child Left Behind, it's surprisingly hard to get good data on school truancy across the country. To the extent that it exists, other urban districts seem to share our problems. Read more
As Chicagoland struggles with education reform, it faces a stiff headwind from income-based educational-achievement gaps that have been growing since the 1970s. What happened? Wealthier parents may have learned a great deal from programs targeted at very poor children. Read more
A hand-built electric-train model of the CTA—with homemade model two-flats, laser-cut El railings, and vintage El cars—takes shape; the Peotone airport continues to plod along, even without Jesse Jr.; and will Chicago drivers be ok with BRT? Read more
The stat geek's FiveThirtyEight site is a must-read during campaign season. But interest can turn into addiction, and addiction into abuse. Consume his work in moderation, as part of a healthy information diet, and be wary of people who call it deadly or a miracle drug. Read more
Years ago, Mayor Daley offered to shell out about a million and a half bucks a year to the Gary/Chicago International Airport to keep the state from taking control of O'Hare and Midway. Years later, the subsidy still exists. Read more
