Manny Ramos

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📢 DREAM JOB ALERT: @blockclubchi.bsky.social is hiring an Investigative Editor to help lead our award-winning investigative team, The Watch.

Deadline: 6/27 Learn how to apply here: blockclubchicago.org/were-hiring-...

Revealed: UnitedHealth secretly paid nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers A Guardian investigation finds insurer quietly paid facilities that helped it gain Medicare enrollees and reduce hospitalizations. Whistleblowers allege harm to residents

UnitedHealth Group paid nursing home thousands to stop transferring ailing patients to hospitals to save the company millions. One former worker described the practice as "Well, they’re medically frail, and no one lives for ever.”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

As Chicago’s Domestic Violence Crisis Deepens, Victims Suffer In Silence DeMarie' Williams didn't seek help from authorities before her boyfriend beat her to death, prosecutors say. As essential services for domestic violence victims are threatened by funding cuts, advocat...

A heart-wrenching story about the domestic violence crisis in Chicago as victims often suffer in silence. Read @minabloom.bsky.social recount the tragic story of DeMarie' Williams and how her story is sadly too common.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/05/20/a...

Block Club Chicago Finalist For Driehaus Foundation Investigative Reporting Award Reporter Manny Ramos' investigative series "CTA In Crisis" is nominated for the Driehaus Foundation Awards, which highlight the imperative impact and importance of investigative reporting in the state...

Incredibly proud of @blockclubchi.bsky.social investigative reporter @mannyramos.bsky.social, who is a finalist for the Driehaus Foundation Investigative Reporting Award for his series “CTA In Crisis."

blockclubchicago.org/2025/05/15/b...

Here's Kevin Jackson, who did 23 years & was rejected twice by the CIU, though the evidence against him consisted of statements witnesses recanted before trial. A cop in his case married a prosecutor in the unit. Footage by Abel Uribe, editing by @msivit.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwr8...

Desperate For Answers, Logan Square Assault Survivors Urge Neighbors To Pack Upcoming Police Meeting With no updates from police, several victims of sexual and physical attacks have banded together to speak out about their assaults, which date back to at least 2022 and remain unsolved.

With no updates from police, Logan Square victims of sexual and physical attacks have banded together to speak out about their assaults, which date back to at least 2022 and remain unsolved. They're encouraging the community turn out for a CAPS meeting next week. blockclubchi.co/416NPG5

Trump moves to stop congestion pricing tolls in New York City The tolling program launched on Jan. 5 after years of delays.

So, if in fact terminated, MTA won't get that critical funding to upgrade its deteriorating transit system.
gothamist.com/news/trump-m...

City crews removed tents at the Gompers Park tent encampment on one of the coldest mornings of the year. https://buff.ly/3D19RSL

Read this close look at the tenant organizing efforts and how they were told on Christmas Eve they will need to find a new home from @arielparrella.bsky.social

As Another Logan Square Apartment Building Goes Luxury, Longtime Renters Fight To Stay New building owners plan to rehab each apartment and raise rents to bring them up to market value for the neighborhood, but tenants worry the common practice will displace more working-class families.

New landlord says he is being "nice" by kicking long-time tenants out or raising the rent by 25% so they can stay a few months longer before they're kicked out so he can build luxury apartments. But hey, they can come back if they can afford the $2,400 rent.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/23/a...

Sun-Times owner seeks voluntary buyouts from the newsroom The reductions shape up as the most severe since the publication joined with WBEZ in 2022, a pioneering move aimed at sustaining local journalism.

Sun-Times owner seeks voluntary buyouts from the newsroom chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...

Evacuated Albany Park Building Had No Smoke Or Carbon Monoxide Alarms, Officials Say City inspectors also found a malfunctioning boiler among 11 building violations at the property.

City inspectors also found a malfunctioning boiler among 11 building violations at the Albany Park property. blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/14/e... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

As CTA Boss Dorval Carter Steps Down, 10 Investigations You Should Read Block Club Chicago's reporting uncovered mismanagement and a lack of accountability from leadership of the Chicago Transit Authority, with far-reaching consequences for riders and the agency's employe...

These are just a few stories we covered over the past few years. While Carter is on to greener pastures we remain committed to looking at the agency through an accountability lens. Please send us your tips and your feedback. It only helps us. blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/14/a...

The CTA’s Oversight Board Is Filled With Political Insiders, Not Transit Experts As the CTA struggles to recover from the pandemic, the mayor and governor won’t explain how they pick people for the agency’s board.

We also looked at the CTA governing board and found it has been packed historically with political insiders rather than transit experts. The board, which has power over the CTA, served more as a rubber stamp than an oversight body. blockclubchicago.org/2024/03/06/t...

CTA Boss Spent More Time Traveling World Than Visiting Chicago Transit Stations, Schedule Shows While CTA riders coped with dirty and delayed trains and buses, Dorval Carter spent more than three months traveling to other transit systems around the world. A yearlong snapshot of his schedule show...

We examined Carter's schedule, after the agency delayed getting us the records, and found he spent more time "jet-setting across the globe" than he had scheduled site visits of CTA bus terminals or train stations.
blockclubchicago.org/2024/08/28/c...

Does CTA Boss Dorval Carter Use Public Transit? Records Show He Swiped Pass Once In 2021 CHICAGO — Embattled CTA President Dorval Carter has repeatedly vowed to fix a transit system Chicagoans have called unsafe, unsanitary and unreliable as

In these stories, we showed how CTA leadership rarely rode the system they were in charge of managing. Carter, for example, swiped his card just 12 days during a two year period. One executive never swiped their card during that time. blockclubchicago.org/2023/05/01/d...

Death Behind The Wheel: How The CTA Failed A Driver In Crisis Antia Lyons passed out on her bus and later died — and no one noticed for nearly an hour. Her death raises questions about the safety of the CTA's workforce.

I spent time with Antia Lyons' family around the Thanksgiving break. They released balloons for her birthday and it's clear there still isn't any closure. In this story we examined her death, how she missed 50 scheduled stops and no flags were raised. blockclubchicago.org/2024/04/17/d...

As CTA Boss Dorval Carter Steps Down, 10 Investigations You Should Read Block Club Chicago's reporting uncovered mismanagement and a lack of accountability from leadership of the Chicago Transit Authority, with far-reaching consequences for riders and the agency's employe...

With Dorval Carter retiring I want to highlight some of our reporting coming out of the pandemic. We were accused of having an axe to grind with CTA leadership, but our position was always about accountability. Here are some stories worth revisiting. blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/14/a...

CTA Boss Dorval Carter Retires After Years Of Mounting Pressure Over Struggling Transit Service CTA President Dorval Carter's retirement comes as the agency has reeled in substantial federal funding and after numerous Block Club Chicago investigations put a spotlight on how the system's leaders ...

CTA Boss Dorval Carter Retires After Years Of Mounting Pressure Over Struggling Transit Service
blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/13/c...

Martinez has been fired without cause. His contract requires that he continue serving with pay during a six-month transition period. @wttw.bsky.social

Advocates push for at least $20M in city’s 2025 budget for housing measures Chicago tenant advocates are asking for at least $20 million in the city’s 2025 budget to help tenants fight against what they say are unfair evictions,

NEW: Advocates push for at least $20M in city’s 2025 budget for housing measures to help tenants facing eviction & those being displaced near the Obama Presidential Center. They’d address inequities documented in Injustice Watch’s August investigation
www.injusticewatch.org/project/tena...

I‘ve begun putting together a starter pack of Chicago’s alternative, independent and community media. We have one of the richest media ecosystems anywhere around! go.bsky.app/Rn9XDbg

Man Arrested In North Center Shooting, SWAT Standoff Released Without Charges Police continue to look for two shooters who wounded a retired 74-year-old Chicago police sergeant in the Monday morning shooting.

The man arrested following a North Center road rage shooting and SWAT standoff Monday has been released without charges, according to police. blockclubchicago.org/2024/11/20/m... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

Trump’s Transportation Pick Could Make Travel More Dangerous Sean Duffy, a former representative-turned-airline industry lobbyist and reality TV star, could now oversee the industry he wants to deregulate.

Great background here on Trump’s Transportation pick that goes beyond “reality TV star.” His background lobbying for deregulation in the airline industry (among other issues) could make travel more dangerous via @katyaaaa.bsky.social @lucydeanstockton.bsky.social

www.levernews.com/trumps-trans...

New to Bluesky? We've got you covered! ⭐

Follow Block Club's team on here to stay in the know about all things Chicago. We'll keep adding to the list as more members of our team join. go.bsky.app/BpnBAMv

I know. This is the society we live in and it's better they are prepared for whatever happens. But can't help the feeling.

What made me feel most uneasy was how nonchalant she was. With a smile. The same smile she has when she earns a sticker in class.

My daughter told me today her Pre-K class "practiced" on what to do if their school had an active shooter. She then showed me what she learned — crouching, facing the wall, with her hand over her head. I don't know how to feel other than a sudden rush of dread.

She's 4.

XChange Tech Training Hub Lands Chicago's 211 Hotline As New Tenant The call center will move its existing operations into the tech training hub, which is set to open in Greater Grand Crossing next year.

The 211 Metro Chicago hotline plans to move into the South Side's XChange tech training hub, which is set to open next year.

(I deleted an earlier post, in which XChange reps said the move would create a "feeder system" for 211 employees seeking tech careers.) blockclubchicago.org/2024/11/19/x...