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Cheryl Corley Cheryl Corley is a Chicago-based NPR correspondent who works for the National Desk. She primarily covers criminal justice issues as well as breaking news in the Midwest and across the country.
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Cheryl Corley

National

Illinois, Chicago Residents Sue Over Refinery Soot

The oil-refinery residue known as 'pet coke' may have a funny nickname, but few residents are laughing about open-air storage practices. They've filed a class-action lawsuit against companies involved in storing pet coke, saying the substance is blowing into and contaminating their neighborhoods. The state's attorney general has also filed suit against one company.

Illinois, Chicago Residents Sue Over Refinery Soot

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National

Chicago Public Schools Safety Program's Working, But For How Long?

In Chicago, the mayor and school officials say they're making good on a promise to keep students safe after closing down nearly 50 schools over the summer. When the closures were announced, parents worried about children having to cross rival gang territories to attend new schools. Now, two months into the school year, the district says its program called Safe Passage is working.

Chicago Public Schools Safety Program's Working, But For How Long?

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Remembering Chef Charlie Trotter, Chicago Fine-Dining Visionary

Charlie Trotter at his restaurant in Chicago in 2012. Sitthixay Ditthavong/AP Photo hide caption

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Sitthixay Ditthavong/AP Photo

The Salt

Remembering Chef Charlie Trotter, Chicago Fine-Dining Visionary

Charlie Trotter was one of the country's most influential chefs. His death comes just a year after he closed his namesake restaurant in Chicago. Authorities plan to conduct an autopsy on Wednesday.

Remembering Chef Charlie Trotter, Chicago Fine-Dining Visionary

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One Way For An Indie Bookstore To Last? Put Women 'First'

The owners of Women and Children First, Chicago's famed feminist bookstore, are looking to sell. Kevin Zolkiewicz/Flickr.com hide caption

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Kevin Zolkiewicz/Flickr.com

Arts & Life

One Way For An Indie Bookstore To Last? Put Women 'First'

Women and Children First has weathered more than three decades of competition from chain stores and online booksellers to become one of the largest feminist bookstores in the U.S. Now, the Chicago store is among the few of its kind left standing — and it's on the hunt for new ownership.

One Way For An Indie Bookstore To Last? Put Women 'First'

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Proposed Minimum Sentencing Law In Illinois Faces Scrutiny

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says police have at least 108 examples of shootings or murders in 2013 alone that would not have happened if the proposed mandatory minimum sentencing law was in effect. M. Spencer Green/AP hide caption

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M. Spencer Green/AP

National

Proposed Minimum Sentencing Law In Illinois Faces Scrutiny

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is the force behind a proposed state law that would require mandatory prison time for a firearm offense. The arguments over mandatory minimum prison terms center on whether mandatory sentences actually deter people from committing crimes or take away judicial discretion and further overcrowd prisons.

Proposed Minimum Sentencing Law In Illinois Faces Scrutiny

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Wisconsin Prisons Incarcerate Most Black Men In U.S.

Researchers say that in Milwaukee County, more than half of all black men in their 30s and 40s had been incarcerated at some point. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

Code Switch

Wisconsin Prisons Incarcerate Most Black Men In U.S.

The U.S. prison population is still the world's highest — with more than 1.5 million people behind bars. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee looked at that state's incarceration rates and found they were the highest in the country for black men.

Wisconsin Prisons Incarcerate Most Black Men In U.S.

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Health Care

Ill. Governor Touts Health Exchange Legislature Rejected

On the first day of the new health care marketplaces opening Tuesday, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is touting the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. This, even though he couldn't manage to convince his legislature that the state should run its own exchange, leaving Illinois to partner with the federal government.

Ill. Governor Touts Health Exchange Legislature Rejected

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Politics

States Face Language Barriers To Health Exchange Sign Up

Polling shows that many Americans aren't quite sure how the Affordable Care Act will affect them, and it may be even more confusing for immigrants and people who don't speak English as their first language. Illinois has a large immigrant population, and the state has been working to resolve language barriers as it gets ready to launch its insurance marketplace.

States Face Language Barriers To Health Exchange Sign Up

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National

Chicago Shootings Spur Renewed Call For Tougher Gun Laws

In Chicago, a late-night shooting Thursday left 13 people wounded, including a 3-year-old boy. The city has been struggling to curtail the city's gun violence, which plagues some neighborhoods on the south and west sides. This latest incident has the Chicago Police Superintendent once again calling for tougher gun laws.

Chicago Shootings Spur Renewed Call For Tougher Gun Laws

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Minneapolis Courts Chicago's Same-Sex Couples

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak took to a Chicago rooftop on Thursday to attract the city's gay and lesbian community to spend their wedding dollars in Minnesota. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

National

Minneapolis Courts Chicago's Same-Sex Couples

Same-sex marriage is legal in Minnesota, but not in Illinois. That has Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak on a mission to attract gays and lesbians to spend their wedding dollars in his city.

Minneapolis Courts Chicago's Same-Sex Couples

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National

Syrian-Americans Encourage U.S. Strike Against Assad Regime

The recent chemical attack on civilians in Syria galvanized international condemnation against the supposed perpetrator, Bashar al-Assad's regime. The U.S. is expected to take some sort of military action. But what should be the goals of the U.S. and its allies? Experts, diplomats, world leaders are weighing in — but, perhaps, nowhere else are these questions felt more deeply than among those in Syrian-American community.

Syrian-Americans Encourage U.S. Strike Against Assad Regime

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Education

Chicago School Closures Send Kids Through Dangerous Areas

Chicago is preparing for the first day of school, which has extra challenges this year. The city closed about 50 schools recently, so some children will have to walk through dangerous neighborhoods to get to class. The city is expanding its "Safe Passage" program, training workers who will be stationed on school routes to protect students.

Chicago School Closures Send Kids Through Dangerous Areas

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Bayard Rustin: The Man Who Organized The March On Washington

Activist Bayard Rustin points to a map during a press conference four days ahead of the March on Washington in August 1963. AP hide caption

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AP

Code Switch

Bayard Rustin: The Man Who Organized The March On Washington

The strategist behind the 1963 march will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year. As a gay man, his position in the movement was questioned. But now he is considered "an amazing role model" for activists of color who are also gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Bayard Rustin: The Man Who Organized The March On Washington

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National

Former Chicago Mayor Lends A Hand To Ailing Gary, Ind.

After more than 20 years as Chicago's Mayor, Richard Daley is working with the new Mayor of Gary, Ind., to try to revitalize that rust belt city. Daley is a senior fellow at the University of Chicago and his students are also helping in the transformation effort.

Former Chicago Mayor Lends A Hand To Ailing Gary, Ind.

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National

'Bat Cave' Road In Chicago Accessible To Only A Few

In Chicago, there's a 2.5 mile roadway that the city's mayor calls the "Bat Cave." It's been around for more than a decade but it's more secret than public. The mini-highway was designed to ferry conventioneers to Chicago's massive McCormick Place convention hall. It's also a favorite of politicians with just the right amount of clout. Now, some want taxis to have access too.

'Bat Cave' Road In Chicago Accessible To Only A Few

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