Cheryl Corley http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100387&ft=1&f=2100387 Based in NPR's Chicago Bureau, Cheryl Corley travels throughout the Midwest covering issues and events from Ohio to South Dakota as a National Desk reporter. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Cheryl Corley http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100387&ft=1&f=2100387 Losers In Chicago School Closings Target Elected Officials The Chicago school board voted to close dozens of schools, despite community protests that the closings disproportionately affect minority students. Now the teachers union and community activists want to change the system and oust the elected officials who disagreed with them. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186195961/disappointed-by-school-closing-vote-union-targets-elected-officials?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186195961/disappointed-by-school-closing-vote-union-targets-elected-officials?ft=1&f=2100387 The Chicago school board voted to close dozens of schools, despite community protests that the closings disproportionately affect minority students. Now the teachers union and community activists want to change the system and oust the elected officials who disagreed with them.

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]]> Bond For Accused Cleveland Kidnapper Set At $8 Million Just days ago, three women and a child escaped from a Cleveland house they'd been held in for years. On Thursday, accused kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro appeared in court. A judge set bond for Castro at $8 million. Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182656441/bond-for-accused-cleveland-kidnapper-set-at-8-million?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182656441/bond-for-accused-cleveland-kidnapper-set-at-8-million?ft=1&f=2100387 Just days ago, three women and a child escaped from a Cleveland house they'd been held in for years. On Thursday, accused kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro appeared in court. A judge set bond for Castro at $8 million.

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]]> Ariel Castro Faces Kidnapping, Rape Charges In Cleveland Multiple counts of rape and kidnapping charges have been filed against Ariel Castro, the Cleveland man accused of holding three women captive for about a decade. The women held hostage in his house escaped earlier this week. Two are now at home with family while the third remains in the hospital. Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182516885/ariel-castro-faces-kidnapping-rape-charges-in-cleveland?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182516885/ariel-castro-faces-kidnapping-rape-charges-in-cleveland?ft=1&f=2100387 Multiple counts of rape and kidnapping charges have been filed against Ariel Castro, the Cleveland man accused of holding three women captive for about a decade. The women held hostage in his house escaped earlier this week. Two are now at home with family while the third remains in the hospital.

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]]> Kidnapped Ohio Women Return Home To Families Charges are expected Wednesday in Cleveland, where three women who'd been missing for years have been rescued. Wed, 08 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=182337921&ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=182337921&ft=1&f=2100387 Charges are expected Wednesday in Cleveland, where three women who'd been missing for years have been rescued.

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]]> Chicago's Famed Field Museum Struggles To Dig Out Of A Hole The museum, already hard-hit by the economic crash, didn't meet projected fundraising and attendance numbers, and now must make up a $5 million budget deficit. The shortfall forced it to sell some items in its renowned collection. Mon, 06 May 2013 03:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/180855132/cash-crunch-prompts-controversial-sales-at-chicagos-field-museum?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/180855132/cash-crunch-prompts-controversial-sales-at-chicagos-field-museum?ft=1&f=2100387 The museum, already hard-hit by the economic crash, didn't meet projected fundraising and attendance numbers, and now must make up a $5 million budget deficit. The shortfall forced it to sell some items in its renowned collection.

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]]> Critics Up Pressure To Keep Targeted Chicago Schools Open A marathon series of public hearings over school closings in Chicago is over and the city is a step closer to conducting what could be the nation's largest shutdown of schools. Fifty-three elementary and one public high school are on the chopping block. Parents, educators and others say they're not ready to give up the fight. Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/03/180755048/critics-apply-more-pressure-to-keep-targeted-chicago-schools-open?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/03/180755048/critics-apply-more-pressure-to-keep-targeted-chicago-schools-open?ft=1&f=2100387 A marathon series of public hearings over school closings in Chicago is over and the city is a step closer to conducting what could be the nation's largest shutdown of schools. Fifty-three elementary and one public high school are on the chopping block. Parents, educators and others say they're not ready to give up the fight.

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]]> Michelle Obama Steps Into Gun Control Debate The first lady gave a personal and emotional speech in her hometown, two months after attending the funeral of a Chicago teen who was shot and killed earlier this year. Michelle Obama is encouraging business leaders to donate millions of dollars for programs to help at-risk youth. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/10/176822207/michelle-obama-steps-into-gun-control-debate?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/10/176822207/michelle-obama-steps-into-gun-control-debate?ft=1&f=2100387 The first lady gave a personal and emotional speech in her hometown, two months after attending the funeral of a Chicago teen who was shot and killed earlier this year. Michelle Obama is encouraging business leaders to donate millions of dollars for programs to help at-risk youth.

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]]> For Pulitzer-Winning Critic Roger Ebert, Films Were A Journey He was a print journalist initially, but Ebert's "thumbs up" TV critiques were just as influential as his essays, and he later carved out a prodigious digital presence. Ebert died Thursday after struggling for years with cancer. He was 70 years old. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176194903/for-pulitzer-winner-critic-roger-ebert-films-were-a-journey?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176194903/for-pulitzer-winner-critic-roger-ebert-films-were-a-journey?ft=1&f=2100387 He was a print journalist initially, but Ebert's "thumbs up" TV critiques were just as influential as his essays, and he later carved out a prodigious digital presence. Ebert died Thursday after struggling for years with cancer. He was 70 years old.

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]]> Chicago's Murder Rate Begins Year Lower The city's murder rate has dropped dramatically over the first three months of the year. The police superintendent says it's not a victory but it is progress. After a year in which murders in the country's third largest city topped more than 500, the homicide rate has declined to a level not seen since 1959. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175997137/chicagos-murder-rate-begins-year-lower?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175997137/chicagos-murder-rate-begins-year-lower?ft=1&f=2100387 The city's murder rate has dropped dramatically over the first three months of the year. The police superintendent says it's not a victory but it is progress. After a year in which murders in the country's third largest city topped more than 500, the homicide rate has declined to a level not seen since 1959.

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]]> Discord Grows Over Chicago's Planned School Closings Hundreds of members of the Chicago teachers union and other labor groups rallied Wednesday in an ongoing protest over a school closure plan that would shut down more than 10 percent of the district's 400 plus elementary schools. This is part of a political showdown with the city that began earlier in the school year when the teachers went on strike. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175550937/chicago-school-closings-widens-gap-between-teachers-city?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175550937/chicago-school-closings-widens-gap-between-teachers-city?ft=1&f=2100387 Hundreds of members of the Chicago teachers union and other labor groups rallied Wednesday in an ongoing protest over a school closure plan that would shut down more than 10 percent of the district's 400 plus elementary schools. This is part of a political showdown with the city that began earlier in the school year when the teachers went on strike.

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]]> Chicago Teachers, Parents Riled By Plan To Close 54 Public Schools The Chicago public school district says closing underutilized facilities would free up resources as it faces a $1 billion shortfall. But parents and the teachers union say the plan will endanger children, and they plan to fight to keep the schools open. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175014378/chicago-to-close-54-public-schools?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175014378/chicago-to-close-54-public-schools?ft=1&f=2100387 The Chicago public school district says closing underutilized facilities would free up resources as it faces a $1 billion shortfall. But parents and the teachers union say the plan will endanger children, and they plan to fight to keep the schools open.

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]]> Game Of Change: Pivotal Matchup Helped End Segregated Hoops Mississippi State University defied its state's unwritten rule of never playing against a team with African-Americans. Its 1963 NCAA tournament match against Loyola University, which had four black players in its starting lineup, became a symbol in the effort to overturn Jim Crow policies. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/15/174304630/game-of-change-pivotal-matchup-helped-end-segregated-hoops?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/15/174304630/game-of-change-pivotal-matchup-helped-end-segregated-hoops?ft=1&f=2100387 Mississippi State University defied its state's unwritten rule of never playing against a team with African-Americans. Its 1963 NCAA tournament match against Loyola University, which had four black players in its starting lineup, became a symbol in the effort to overturn Jim Crow policies.

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]]> August Wilson's Words Get New Life In Monologue Contest The legendary American playwright's words and characters are central to a national monologue contest that gives high school students a chance to discover themselves in the stories of his Century Cycle. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:10:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/173731239/august-wilsons-words-get-new-life-in-monologue-contest?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/173731239/august-wilsons-words-get-new-life-in-monologue-contest?ft=1&f=2100387 The legendary American playwright's words and characters are central to a national monologue contest that gives high school students a chance to discover themselves in the stories of his Century Cycle.

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]]> An Oprah-less Chicago Tries To Keep Talk Show Spirit Alive 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. She left a void, but there's no need to write an obituary for the talk genre in Chicago. The city is still home to two shows, <em>Windy City Live</em> and the <em>Steve Harvey Show</em>. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/25/172724465/an-oprah-less-chicago-tries-to-keep-talk-show-spirit-alive?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/25/172724465/an-oprah-less-chicago-tries-to-keep-talk-show-spirit-alive?ft=1&f=2100387 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. She left a void, but there's no need to write an obituary for the talk genre in Chicago. The city is still home to two shows, Windy City Live and the Steve Harvey Show.

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]]> Obama To Push State Of The Union Messages In Chicago Several anti-violence activists have been calling for President Obama to visit his hometown after a series of deadly incidents involved guns. They want to hear the president's plans to curb a gun problem many consider an epidemic. Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/15/172078617/obama-to-push-state-of-the-union-messages-in-chicago?ft=1&f=2100387 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/15/172078617/obama-to-push-state-of-the-union-messages-in-chicago?ft=1&f=2100387 Several anti-violence activists have been calling for President Obama to visit his hometown after a series of deadly incidents involved guns. They want to hear the president's plans to curb a gun problem many consider an epidemic.

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