WBEZ

Questions come from the community
You vote for your favorites
WBEZ investigates, posting updates in real time
Followers help shape the investigation
We discover the answers together!

What's at the bottom of the Chicago River?

Asked by Mike Mittermann | Reported by Jennifer Brandel

Are the tops of skyscrapers still being planted with green space and what have the benefits been?

Asked by Jenn | Reported by Anthony Martinez

I heard that salt is mined from underneath Chicago and below the lake bed of Lake Michigan - is this true? And if so, how does this work?

Asked by Martin | Reported by Dan Weissmann

How has Chicago's coastline changed over the decades?

Asked by Miriam | Reported by Robin Amer

What would it take to have fish safe enough to eat from Lake Michigan?

Asked by steve ediger | Reported by Chris Bentley

Which is more important to Chicago (historically and today), Lake Michigan or Chicago River?

Asked by Devon Neff | Reported by Chris Bentley and Jennifer Brandel

All | Chicago Architecture Foundation | Economy | Education | Environment | Governance | History | How we live | Pacyga | Urban Planning | What's it like to...

← Previous 1 2 3 4 Next →

How does Chicago sort their garbage and recycling. Does what I designate as recycling actually get recycled?? (I'm curious about the proces...

Asked by Anonymous

What's at the bottom of the Chicago River?

Asked by Mike Mittermann

There is a listing in the 'Global Shark Accident File' which claims that in 1955 a man named George Lawson was attacked by a bull shark whil...

Asked by Adam

What part of the city has the most biodiversity (plant, animal, bird species)?

Asked by Anonymous

What happens to all the plants and flowers in the downtown planters when they are changed out for a new season?

Asked by Anonymous

How does water work in the city? How does it come in and go out, and what are the current threats and concerns?

Asked by Neal Groothuis

Are the tops of skyscrapers still being planted with green space and what have the benefits been?

Asked by Jenn

I heard that salt is mined from underneath Chicago and below the lake bed of Lake Michigan - is this true? And if so, how does this work?

Asked by Martin

How has Chicago's coastline changed over the decades?

Asked by Miriam

Why is there an aviary full of birds on the grounds of O'Hare? Are they capturing nuisance birds? Are these birds under quarantine? Were t...

Asked by Steve Brockway

Along Cermak Road between Halsted and Ashland are several metallic columns capped with a solar panel and having some spinning blue-ish turbi...

Asked by Rick Kieltyka

Just how many bats live in the Loop? What are their favorite hangouts?

Asked by Rory Keane

What happened to stinky alewife die-offs in Lake Michigan? In the '80s, every year or two there were weeks you couldn't get near the beach f...

Asked by Elliott Mason

What parts of Chicago were commercially farmed and what was raised, just before becoming residential?

Asked by Barb Carney

The first sustained nuclear chain reaction occurred under the stands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago. Is that site still radioac...

Asked by Mark Eifert

How much of Chicago's power comes from natural gas produced through fracking?

Asked by Anonymous

Setting the pedigree of 'windy city' nickname aside....is chicago windier than US average?

Asked by Brad Jayhan-Little

Many Chicago neighborhoods have a familiar aroma: Logan Square often smells like burnt toast or coffee, and when the wind is right, Bridgepo...

Asked by Juliet Martinez

With the rumored closing of the Indian Boundary Zoo, I was wondering about the history of that unusual neighborhood zoo and wondering what o...

Asked by John Lillig

Where do our recycled goods go after they are processed at Chicago recycling plants? What happens to recycling bins if there is too much non...

Asked by Amanda Cornish

What would it take to have fish safe enough to eat from Lake Michigan?

Asked by steve ediger

What would the land Chicago is built on look like naturally, as if humans never changed it?

Asked by Jeremy Cox

Why do we have temporary bacteria warnings that prevent us from swimming in Lake Michigan?

Asked by Clay

what's at the bottom of the chicago river?

Asked by steven kispetik

What is the highest point, geographically, in Chicago?

Asked by Elizabeth

What is the historical trend of Lake Michigan's water level declining & what are the contributing factors? When we be at the tipping point?\...

Asked by Anonymous

Does the wild onion from which Chicago got it's name still grow in the region? Does the onion truly smell bad?

Asked by Doug Morris

Will the Pullman neighborhood ever be revitalized?

Asked by Hannah

Which is more important to Chicago (historically and today), Lake Michigan or Chicago River?

Asked by Devon Neff

Why does 'steam' (?) constantly pour out of the ground on the S side of Diversey, E of the river, making it look all film noir all the time?

Asked by Melissa McNeal

← Previous 1 2 3 4 Next →

Displaying questions 1 - 30 of 100 in total