How we covered a press conference that brought national policy to our doorstep

19.07.2025 13:30

Chicago Sun-Times

After the House joined the Senate in approving $9 billion in federal spending cuts, including over $1 billion from public broadcasting, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a news conference at the Chicago Public Media offices on Navy Pier on Friday to discuss the impact on Illinois public media outlets, such as WBEZ and WTTW.

Durbin was joined by Heather Norman, president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council, who shared a story from Macomb, where public media informs residents of weather emergencies and even played a role in reporting an active shooter event.

It brought national policy directly to our workplace, where WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times operate. Covering a story like this shows how it touches every aspect of our newsroom:

This story's lead photo is by Ashlee Rezin. The online version has audio produced by Emilie Syberg, a digital and print story by Tina Sfondeles, a sit-down interview with WBEZ Reset's Sasha-Ann Simons and recorded video and livestream by Brian Ernst.

Plus, dozens of producers, editors, engineers and designers aided along the way.

And we covered much more. Here are 18 more photos from this week in news.

Sgt. Diego Noguez and Sgt. Alexander Schoner, who are with the Illinois Army National Guard, fold an American flag during a ceremony Thursday at Homewood Memorial Gardens in Homewood honoring World War II veteran Emilio Aguirre, who died in the 1995 heat wave in Chicago.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Veteran George R. Gandara carries out a traditional Native American blessing for “a fallen warrior and an elder” around the headstone of Emilio Aguirre, a World War II veteran who died in the 1995 heat wave in Chicago, during a ceremony Thursday honoring Aguirre at Homewood Memorial Gardens in Homewood.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The demolition of Building 4 on the south end of the Damen Silos property at 2900 S. Damen Ave. on the South Side on Tuesday. The silos, originally constructed as grain elevators in the early 1900s, have sat vacant since 1977.

Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times

Hundreds attend a “Good Troubles Lives On” protest and rally at Daley Plaza on Thursday.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Riley Green performs at the Windy City Smokeout, outside of the United Center at 1901 W. Madison St., on Sunday.

Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Dr. Wing Sun Lau, left, and Sabdi Martinez, community medicine coordinator at PAWS Chicago, examine an 11-week-old puppy rescued from Texas flooding, named Brooke, on Wednesday, shortly after she and eight other puppies arrived at the shelter’s medical center in Little Village on the Southwest Side.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Crispy pork belly tacos are made at Green Street Smoked Meats, at the Windy City Smokeout, outside of the United Center at 1901 W. Madison St. on Sunday.

Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Monday after being sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Two people walk across a parking lot lined with tire marks on Tuesday at Ford City Mall at 7601 S. Cicero Ave. in West Lawn.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Rocio Lasso, mother of former police officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso, who was killed in the line of duty in March 2023 , walks Tuesday with family and supporters to the trial of Steven Montano, who is accused of the killing.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

A slight haze hangs over Chicago’s downtown from the Canadian wildfires on Monday.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Kate-Lynn, 26, wipes away a tear during a news conference Wednesday as she speaks about being sexually abused. Attorneys announced that more than 900 cases have now been filed arising from child sexual abuse at state-operated Illinois Youth Centers and the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

A pedestrian walks on an island surrounded by flood water on LaSalle Street and North DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Lincoln Park on July 11.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) walks back to his seat after he speaks about his time as the 27th Ward alderman during a City Council meeting at City Hall on Wednesday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Members of Pe Erre Domino Club play dominoes during the 25th Barrio Arts Festival outside the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Humboldt Park on Saturday.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza speaks about her political future during a news conference at Los Comales Restaurant at in Little Village on Wednesday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

A Chicago police evidence technician places evidence markers Tuesday next to shell casings at the crime scene where an 11-year-old boy was shot in the arm in the 7200 block of South Lowe Avenue in Englewood.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Bill Dugan, former owner of The Fish Guy Market, stands outside the Albany Park business he recently sold.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

This story was reported, written and edited by members of the Chicago Public Media editorial staff. Under CPM’s protocol, no CPM corporate official or executive leader external to the newsroom reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.