Michael Liptrot

Gun Violence Down On West Side, But Prevention Groups Say Success Is Threatened By Trump Cuts The city's major decrease in murders and shootings in 2025 was led by a small group of community areas primarily on the West and South sides. New efforts helped violence prevention groups achieve that...

"Much of the decrease in shootings and homicides can be attributed to a small cluster of community areas, with seven of them accounting for 35 percent of the total citywide drop in gun violence..."

✍🏽 @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/09/g...

I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss this story on WVON with Atiba Buchanan and La Donna Raeh
www.facebook.com/share/v/17kU...

Chicago Opens Its 1st Food Pantry Inside A Public Library Legler Regional Library's food pantry will be open Thursdays and Sundays, offering protein, produce, dairy and other food items, as well as household items and toiletries.

Despite the cold days recently, it has been heartwarming to see such love for this story and greater efforts to address West Side food disparities
blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/23/c...

Week in Review: Judge Temporarily Blocks Troops in Chicago; Government Shutdown Leads to Delays Federal courts block the deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. And a judge bans ICE from using tear gas against protesters and reporters.

Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review: Judge Temporarily Blocks Troops in Chicago; Government Shutdown Leads to Delays, with @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social @vimiller.bsky.social @aliceyin.bsky.social & host @ndblumberg.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/10/10/w...

Riot Fest Closes With ‘Riot Fest Day’ Mayoral Proclamation, Green Day And Chicago-Area Bands
via @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social / @blockclubchi.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/22/r...

West Side Elementary School Expands After-School Arts Programs Through Local Nonprofit New grant-funded programs starting this week at Nash Elementary School of Fine & Performing Arts include graffiti and African dance.

As CPS cuts after-school art programs, a local nonprofit has stepped up to provide a West Side elementary school with programming that combines art, social-emotional learning and violence prevention.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/15/w...

Southwest Siders Plead For Help After Latest Round Of Flooding: 'It's A Disaster'
City leaders are calling for state & fed funding so they can prevent flooding on the SW Side — an issue rooted in decades of disinvestment.
w/ @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/08/20/s...

Why Is It So Expensive To Build Affordable Housing In Chicago? One recent West Side development clocked in at $884,000 per unit. While the city says it's working to address red tape that drives up expenses, advocates say more must be done to rein in "crazy" costs...

Impact for Equity Director of Housing @danielkayhertz.bsky.social recently spoke to @blockclubchi.bsky.social's @arielparrella.bsky.social and @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social about the costs of building affordable housing: blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/28/w...

Why Is It So Expensive To Build Affordable Housing In Chicago? One recent West Side development clocked in at $884,000 per unit. While the city says it's working to address red tape that drives up expenses, advocates say more must be done to rein in "crazy" costs...

Why Is It So Expensive To Build Affordable Housing In Chicago?

For @blockclubchi.bsky.social with @arielparrella.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/28/w...

Jussie Smollett Claims Netflix Doc Footage Will Show Attack Wasn't Staged: 'It'll Make Sense When Ya'll Watch It' The actor announced the Netflix documentary while touring West and South side organizations to which he’s donated, telling Block Club the film will clear the hate crime hoax controversy that’s followe...

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jussie Smollett Claims Netflix Doc Footage Will Show Attack Wasn’t Staged

I spent the Monday with Smollett as he toured organizations he donated to as part of his settlement with the city. blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/22/j...

Adult spelling bee takes over Wicker Park and other top stories from Block Club Chicago Michael Liptrot from Block Club Chicago talks us through some of their most-read stories.

Had fun this morning recapping @blockclubchi.bsky.social’s top neighborhood stories of the week for Good Day Chicago on Fox 32 with Anthony Ponce!
www.fox32chicago.com/video/1667381

'Expect Vogue' At The Start Of This Year's Pride Parade As West Side Group Tapped To Lead TaskForce Prevention & Community Services is the first-ever community group to lead the parade and plans to highlight their dedication to LGBTQ+ young people — and their Vogue School.

Meet the West Side group leading this year’s Pride Parade. blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/12/e...

After Seeing West Side Kids Miss Out On Art Opportunities, Teacher Launches Gallery For Their Work CPS will change how it selects art for exhibits after hearing from South and West side teachers about a lack of representation. The issue highlights years of racial disparity in access to quality arts...

CPS officials told me they are working to include equity in the selection process for the district’s top student art showcase. Meanwhile, this Austin teacher is making sure her students are acknowledged regardless.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/05/28/a...

Big news at the intersection of community and local journalism on the South Side.

Build Coffee is inside Experimental Station, home to South Side Weekly, Hyde Park Herald and Invisible Institute, plus the cafe will now be co-owned by a co-founder of City Bureau.

Excited for this space.

George Ryan’s legacy, Gov. Pritzker’s call to action, Mayor Johnson’s Springfield wishlist and more with the fantastic Rachel Hinton @lkpwrites.bsky.social @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social & @heathercherone.bsky.social — 7pm on @wttw.bsky.social and streaming online!

Amarion Champ, a fifth grade student, holds the hoop while Jeff Jenkins performs with pitbulls Rickie and Bobbie during a Canines 4 Kindness demonstration at Laura S. Ward Elementary School, 646 N. Lawndale Ave., in East Garfield Park on April 22, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Tiana Sykes prepares Bobbie the pitbull to receive a treat during a Canines 4 Kindness demonstration at Laura S. Ward Elementary School, 646 N. Lawndale Ave., in East Garfield Park on April 22, 2025.

Tyler Pernell pets Bobbie the pitbull during a Canines 4 Kindness demonstration at Laura S. Ward Elementary School, 646 N. Lawndale Ave., in East Garfield Park on April 22, 2025.

Darion Person pets Bobbie the pitbull during a Canines 4 Kindness demonstration at Laura S. Ward Elementary School, 646 N. Lawndale Ave., in East Garfield Park on April 22, 2025.

West Side Students Learn How To Safely Interact With Dogs Thanks To Canines 4 Kindness
The program teaches kids how to interact w/pitbulls & other large dogs, + it is working to change the narrative around so-called aggressive breeds.
@michaeljliptrot.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/29/w...

WTTW | Chicago’s PBS station streaming News, Kids, Drama, and Documentaries WTTW is Chicago’s PBS station featuring Chicago and Midwest award-winning news and journalism, local history and neighborhood tours with Geoffrey Baer, dining and restaurant reviews, popular drama and...

Tune into @wttw.bsky.social on Friday to see me on Chicago Tonight’s Week In Review at 5:30! wttw.com

Lincoln Square extends car-free zone and other top stories from Block Club Chicago Our friends over at Block Club Chicago are back this morning with details on three local stories people are talking about.

This morning I was proud to recap @blockclubchi.bsky.social’s top neighborhood stories of the week for Good Day Chicago on FOX 32 with Anita Blanton! www.fox32chicago.com/video/1632711

Rescued dogs & inspired kids.Thx @blockclubchi.bsky.social @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social @colinbphoto.bsky.social

STORY: Fire Capt. David Meyer Honored As 'Legendary Firefighter, A True Friend' At Funeral via @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social / @blockclubchi.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/29/f...

The funeral for fallen Chicago Fire Department Captain David Meyer at Saint John Brebeuf Parish in Niles, Ill. this morning.

#OnAssignment for @blockclubchi.bsky.social with @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social

Riot Fest Staying In Douglass Park After Organizers Agree To Increase Park Payments The multi-year agreement keeps the festival in North Lawndale through 2027, with an option to extend the deal through 2029, organizers said in a release.

Riot Fest is staying in Douglass Park, inking a multi-year deal with the Chicago Park District that triples investments in the park. blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/09/r...

What happened this week? Well, a lot! Get caught up on @wttw.bsky.social at 7 tonight and streaming online with the fantastic @beckyvevea.bsky.social @vimiller.bsky.social @bloomberg.com’s Shruti Singh & @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social

Jessica Thurmond, a student at North Lawndale College Prep, curls her classmate Jada Ervin’s hair at school on March 18, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Jessica Thurmond, a student at North Lawndale College Prep, curls her classmate Jada Ervin’s hair at school on March 18, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Jessica Thurmond, a student at North Lawndale College Prep, curls her classmate Jada Ervin’s hair at school on March 18, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Jessica Thurmond, a student at North Lawndale College Prep, curls her classmate Jada Ervin’s hair at school on March 18, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

West Side Teen Went Viral For Salon In Her School Bathroom — And Now Wants To Turn It Into A Business

A fantastic story with @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social / @blockclubchi.bsky.social!
blockclubchicago.org/2025/03/21/w...

On The West Side, Grandmothers Are Helping Girls Navigate The Stresses Of Middle School The Grandparent Circle program connects students at four CPS schools with “wise women” mentors for journaling and book club conversations.

Want to read about joy? Meet the grandmothers who are helping girls navigate the stress of middle school, via
@michaeljliptrot.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/4x2n3mue

Colin’s photography has elevated my reporting with pictures worth well over a thousand words. Excited to see you grow in this role!

Fresh Off Grammy Win, Matt B Returns Home To Headline DuSable Museum Anniversary Celebration Ahead of his Sunday performance, Matt B talked with Block Club about how Black identity and his upbringing inspires his music. He won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album earlier this month.

Recent Grammy award winner and Chicago native Matt B will be at the Dusable Black History Museum this Sunday for the museums’s 64th anniversary. I spoke with the artist about his upbringing on the South Side and journey to finding his African roots. blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/14/g...

Chicago Conducts Annual Homeless Count As City Begins Combined Shelter System Staff and volunteers hit the frigid streets Thursday night for the city's annual Point-in-Time count, a snapshot of people experiencing homelessness and living without shelter.

Reports from Lower Lower Wacker Drive around 11 p.m. on Thursday, with @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social / @blockclubchi.bsky.social:

STORY: Chicago Conducts Annual Homeless Count As City Begins Combined Shelter System blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/24/c...

Week in Review: Madigan Takes the Stand; Johnson Floats a Congestion Tax Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan takes the stand in his own defense. And a battle over hemp regulation has the mayor and governor on opposing sides.

Chicago Tonight | The Week in Review @wttw.bsky.social: Michael Madigan Takes the Stand; Brandon Johnson Floats a Congestion Tax, w/ @quinnmyers.bsky.social @raylongchicago.bsky.social @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social @shiakapos.bsky.social & host @amandavinicky.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/01/10/w...

I had a great time covering Joakim Noah’s One City Basketball League championship this weekend alongside @colinbphoto.bsky.social/ @blockclubchi.bsky.social!

STORY: How Former Bull Joakim Noah Is Building Community — And Preventing Violence — Through Basketball blockclubchicago.org/2024/12/09/h...