Domestic Violence and Abuse in Chicago During COVID-19 — After the Pandemic struck last year, domestic violence and abuse rates increased dramatically as individuals faced stay at home orders trapping them with their abusers. By Jean Serrano and Sarita Cavazos Editor’s note: The domestic survivors’ names have been changed to surnames for this story. When the stay-at-home orders were announced in March 2020, many families and partners shuttered themselves away in safety from the COVID-19 virus through the summer. …

The historically progressive budget promises record numbers of funding, but the current affordable housing locations and initiatives could indicate how much of the City’s promise is actually likely to come into fruition — The $16.7 billion budget promises to be the “most progressive” in Chicago history, with an impressive $157.4 million allocated to Affordable Housing — an especially essential resource in wake of the pandemic. …

The controversial Texas abortion law, S.B. 8, went into effect September 1, banning most abortions after six weeks. …

Sarita Cavazos | June 9, 2021 A year after the pandemic began, updates on statistics and facts concerning the virus are crucial in the battle for ending COVID-19. With the introduction of the vaccine, 64% percent of adults in the United States have received one dose of the vaccine. …

After the peak of COVID-19’s toll on America’s Unemployment Rate, some states see recovering numbers — A comparison of unemployment rates between April of 2020 and April of 2021 shows the American unemployment levels have significantly lowered, signaling a recovery from COVID-19 impacts. Some states, like Nebraska and Massachusetts, experienced remarkable declines in their unemployment rates since last year. But others, such as Wyoming and…

Sarita Cavazos | May 30, 2021 In response to a 45% spike in traffic accident fatalities in 2020, the City of Chicago began enforcing stricter penalties for speeding violations on March 1, 2021. Drivers will now face tickets of $35 for driving 6 to 10 mph over the…

Elon Musk’s Hosting of Saturday Night Live on May 8 lead to a spike in Google Searches around Asperger’s — Musk’s May 8 hosting of Saturday Night Live quickly went viral on social media two weeks ago, when he delivered a rather awkward monologue at the beginning of the show. Musk claimed in his monologue that he was the first person with Asperger’s to host SNL ”I don’t always have…

The CDC’s update on mask mandates for vaccinated individuals triggered spikes in searches including the terms “Mask” and “CDC” — by Sarita Cavazos | 16 May 2021 According to an analysis of Google search data “CDC” “Mask” and “Vaccine” al experienced a significant spike in google searches on May 13. On May 13 the CDC announced that fully vaccinated adults could go without masks in both indoors and outdoors possibly triggering the spike in Google searches including the terms “CDC” and “Mask” with the term “Vaccine” following similar spikes.