Here you will find samples of my writing from my time in Illinois. For additional stories, please click here.

Winnetka’s bluff regulations advance to final vote – The lakefront has always been a hotly-debated topic on Chicago’s North Shore. And Winnetka spent much of 2023 trying to figure out what they should do to regulate lakefront construction, especially after residents raised concerns about a large development. In early 2024, the Village adopted new regulations, but lakefront property owners spoke out in opposition to the Village’s plans. The Winnetka lakefront regulations also share a connection to another story I’ve followed, that of the Winnetka Park District’s plans to refurbish two beaches. At one point the plans included a controversial property-exchange agreement, which is now considered “dormant.”

Spirited crowd welcomes back Avoca’s beloved diversity celebration – Occasionally I have the chance to write on topics that I’m very familiar with. One of those is Avoca District 37, where I attended elementary and middle school. In 2022, I had the opportunity to visit Marie Murphy, the junior high, to cover a beloved community event; the annual Intercultural Dinner and Talent Show. I spoke with school administrators, event planners, and took photos of some very talented students putting on a variety of performances. This was the first time since the pandemic the school held the Intercultural Dinner and Talent Show, which saw 500 people sign up to be a part of it.

Board meeting unravels as Northfield residents continue calls for answers, change – Residents often demand a lot of their local elected leaders, and in 2023, Northfield residents wanted answers that they felt they weren’t getting. That year, the Village president was the subject of a police investigation, the longtime Village manager was reassigned, and community members felt they were being ignored. The tension boiled over during what was expected to be an uneventful meeting when multiple residents demanded change from their officials. This included one speaker making a 22-minute public comment.

Happy Cheesy Sock Day benefits homeless and foster children – One organization I featured in The Lake Forest Leader was Fill A Heart 4 Kids. The local nonprofit supports both foster and homeless children throughout Lake County. I was alerted to them through an email, and I thought this organization would be one worth covering. Upon meeting the Fill a Heart staff, I realized how dedicated these people were to making sure these kids got everything they needed. This may have been the first time I featured Fill a Heart 4 Kids, but it was not the last.

Principal’s absence leaves DPM staff, parents with more questions than answers – Just a few months into my tenure as editor of The Lake Forest Leader, I received a tip that something was happening at Deer Path Middle School in Lake Forest. The principal was on leave for reasons that weren’t entirely clear. This story was my first time reporting on the situation, which only seemed to become more confusing as each day went by. Every story I wrote seemed to lead to more questions than answers, and it culminated with the principal’s resignation in the middle of the year. To this day, the circumstances behind his leave and departure are a mystery.