It's the economy, but not just the economy. Eligibility has expanded, states have increased participation rates, and food stamps have replaced other forms of the social safety net. Read more
Rayid Ghani left Accenture to lead Obama for America's data analytics team. Now he's going to the University of Chicago to change how cities, nonprofits, and governments use information. Read more
Scientists are asking why foaming pig manure, once a rare event, has recently blown up so many Midwestern barns. The only cure? Medical-grade cow antacid. Read more
Chicago inventor Leonard Reiffel worked with Carl Sagan to see what would happen if an atomic bomb hit the moon. Valuable research! But a bit of a PR risk. Read more
The state House looked at a restrictive shall-issue law; that failed. It looked at a very restrictive may-issue law; that failed badly. The end game could be a compromise, or a compromise by default. Read more
A new study looks at how proximity to trauma care affects gunshot victims in the city. It's a different take on a surprisingly divisive medical subject. Read more
Chicago entered the modern era by reversing nature to rid the city of filth. After seven generations of epic, semi-effective engineering, the future may require a return to the city's swampy self. Read more
