The Daily Southtown (formerly SouthtownStar ) is a newspaper of the Chicago, Illinois, United States, metropolitan area that covers the south suburbs and the South Side neighborhoods of the city – a wide region known as the Chicago Southland . Its popular slogan is "People Up North Just Don't Get It" (a pun ). It is published by the Chicago Tribune Media Group.
46-666: Founded on September 11, 1906, the Southtown celebrated its 100th year as a paper in 2006. Originally called the Englewood Economist , it was retitled the Southtown Economist in 1924 and began publishing twice weekly. The newspaper relocated from Chicago's Englewood community to the west end of the city in Garfield Ridge in 1968. The company started publishing a six-day a week edition called
92-547: A Manhattan Project lab at the University of Chicago were carelessly exposed to the toxic metal beryllium, then for 45 years intentionally kept in the dark about the potentially deadly health consequences. Cornelia Grumman, a 2003 Pulitzer Prize winning editorial writer at the Chicago Tribune for her death penalty editorials, was a reporter at the Southtown . Cathleen Falsani, author of The God Factor and now
138-450: A $ 133 million reconstruction project was announced which improved operations by replacing the diamond crossing between Metra and NS with an overpass for Metra. The project proposed by Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) was completed in 2014. Englewood is host to numerous publicly-operated educational institutions. Primary and secondary schools are operated by Chicago Public Schools , while
184-534: A 2012 mental health impact assessment, Englewood faces various social and economic challenges, including high crime rates and limited access to public services, directly impacting residents' mental health. Community engagement in the MHIA pilot has helped gather input from the community. The findings and recommendations are presented in a policy letter to the Chicago City Council. The proposed amendment to
230-538: A Presidential Unit Citation for its service. Polk also performed duty as a "volunteer" dive bomber and reconnaissance pilot. He was wounded, suffered from malaria and was hospitalized for almost a year. On Sunday May 16, 1948, Polk was found dead near the Port of Thessaloniki , shot at point-blank range in the back of the head, with his hands and feet tied. Polk had been covering the Greek Civil War between
276-501: A baffling silence from journalists that greeted his charges. On October 5, 2007, the United States Postal Service announced that it would honor five journalists of the 20th century with first-class rate postage stamps , to be issued on Tuesday, April 22, 2008: Martha Gellhorn , John Hersey , George Polk, Rubén Salazar , and Eric Sevareid . Postmaster General Jack Potter announced the stamp series at
322-593: A collection of smaller merchants. In 1999, Mayor Richard M. Daley announced a $ 256 million revitalization plan for the area. The keystone of the program is the relocation of Kennedy–King College to the former site of the Englewood Shopping Center. Shortly thereafter the city began an aggressive buyout and relocation program for mall merchants. The campus includes the Washburne Culinary Institute. Groundbreaking for
368-481: A corrupt school superintendent, which resulted in a prison sentence. In 2004, Lutton won the Studs Terkel award as well, for her writings on housing, education, crime and public safety, culture and politics. The newspaper also featured sports columnist Bill Gleason. Gleason was known for his ever-present cigar and willingness to criticize anyone in the field of sports. Englewood, Chicago Englewood
414-503: A daily column for two decades. In 2002, he won the Studs Terkel Award for journalistic excellence for writing from a grassroots perspective, and has received several Peter Lisagor Awards for commentary. Of his most recent Lisagor win in 2006, the judges wrote: "His writing is absolutely clean. ... No personal vanity, and eyes open to the world and the ordinary people who are so extraordinary in it." Paul Ladewski served as
460-599: A group of American journalists created the George Polk Awards for outstanding radio or television journalism. These awards were modeled after the Pulitzer Prize which is awarded for outstanding print journalism in newspapers. Polk married Kay Phillips in 1939. Polk married Rea Coccins (also known as Rhea Kokkonis), a Greek national and ex- stewardess , seven months prior to his death. They had no children. After being allegedly harassed and threatened by
506-595: A large pedestrian mall. The City, social services, and mall management worked with community leaders and groups to integrate the mall with the community. It was the site of numerous community events, parades, outdoor concerts, live radio broadcasts and the like. This was spearheaded by the Englewood Business Men's Association and its director, Richard Drew; after Drew's death in 1978 the Center lost its major anchor tenants, including Sears Roebuck , and became
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#1732790522611552-608: A letter to The Guardian March 19, 2007. He pointed out that Frank did not discuss a single article Polk ever wrote and that his military record is amply substantiated in a range of military documents, including a picture of Polk being decorated by Vice-Admiral John McCain on November 30, 1943, on behalf of the "Airplane Cruiser Detachment ... for their heroic role during the Battle for the Solomons ." In April 2007, Frank responded to William Polk's letters and to what he considered
598-402: A low-income African-American community, has a high rate of foreclosed properties due to its population drop. Before 1850, Englewood was an oak forest with much swampland. In 1852 several railroad lines crossed at what became known as Junction Grove, stimulating the beginning of what we know today as Englewood. The Union Stock Yard provided employment to early residents. In 1868 Henry B. Lewis,
644-632: A new school year. The Englewood Back To School Parade is held annually every 3rd Saturday in August. The parade was founded by Willie Pittman in 1961. https://englewoodparade.org/ . Mr. Pittman is also known as the first black Plumber to be licensed in the City of Chicago and Pittman Plumbing still exists today. In 2000, Englewood had a poverty rate of 44%, substantially higher than the overall poverty rate in Chicago of 20%. Based on census data collected by
690-550: A wool merchant in the Loop and Board of Education member, suggested a new name from his association with Englewood, New Jersey . In 1865, Junction Grove was annexed to the Town of Lake and to Chicago in 1889. The World's Columbian Exposition at nearby Jackson Park in 1893 led to real estate speculation and expansion of the community. The Englewood community was largely defined by the Englewood Shopping Center at 63rd & Halsted,
736-526: Is a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood. Both the Red Line (stopping at Garfield and 63rd ) and Green Line (stopping at Halsted ) run through Englewood, as does the Dan Ryan Expressway ( I-90 and I-94 ). The railroad junction at Englewood, where Metra (the former Rock Island ) crosses Norfolk Southern (the former Pennsylvania ) has long been a cause of delay. In March 2010
782-470: Is a neighborhood and community area located on the South Side of Chicago , Illinois , United States. It is also the 68th of the 77 community areas in the city . At its peak population in 1960, over 97,000 people lived in its approximately 3 square miles (7.8 km ), but the neighborhood's population has since dropped dramatically. In 2000, it had a population of approximately 40,000 inhabitants, and
828-511: Is a terrific newspaper – its spot-news coverage is both broad and deep, and its feature stories are as good as those of the country's best newspapers. The newspaper puts a lot of effort into providing value to readers – and it shows." The paper also won the Illinois Associated Press Award for General Excellence in 2006, the national Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting , and
874-416: The 2016 presidential election , Englewood cast 8,646 votes for Hillary Clinton and cast 141 votes for Donald Trump (97.11% to 1.58%). In the 2012 presidential election , Englewood cast 12,344 votes for Barack Obama and cast 45 votes for Mitt Romney (99.53% to 0.36%). In 2018, Australian film director George Gittoes made a documentary about Englewood. The 2019 TV show South Side takes place in
920-777: The American Publishing Company . The paper relocated to suburban Tinley Park in 1997. On November 18, 2007, the twice-weekly neighborhood newspaper, The Star was merged into the Daily Southtown to create the SouthtownStar , which is circulated daily with a special Neighborhood Star pull-out section on Thursdays and Sundays. In 2014, the SouthtownStar was purchased by the Chicago Tribune Media Group along with
966-484: The Daily Southtown on February 26, 1978. While the launch of the new publication was already being planned, the launch date was moved up when the Chicago Daily News announced it would publish its last edition March 4, 1978. The company continued to publish its weekly and bi-weekly publications for some time. In 1986, the Daily Southtown was purchased by Pulitzer Publishing ; who sold the paper in 1994 to
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#17327905226111012-739: The Virginia Military Institute from 1930-1933, but withdrew prior to receiving a degree. In 1933, Polk began working as a salesman. Five years later, in 1938, he completed his undergraduate degree in English at the University of Alaska Fairbanks , and had begun writing for the Fort Worth Press . After graduating, he lived in Asia , where he joined the Shanghai Evening Post . In 1940, he returned to
1058-482: The 2010 census indicated that its population has further declined to approximately 30,000. Englewood is bordered by Garfield Boulevard to the north, 75th Street to the south, Racine Avenue to the west, and an irregular border that wends along the Metra Railroad Tracks to the east. On the southwest side of Chicago lies West Englewood , which is generally lumped in with Englewood by Chicagoans. Englewood,
1104-666: The Chicago Headline Club's Watchdog Award for Reporting in the Public Interest. In 2010 photo editor Larry Ruehl and staff photographer Matt Marton received the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for feature photography. The Southtown has produced a number of noteworthy journalists in its history. Among its resident writers is Phil Kadner, who has written
1150-555: The Greek government and communists trying to seize control of the country. His intention was to meet and interview Markos Vafeiadis , a communist military leader. In Polk's articles, he alleged that several officials in the Greek government embezzled $ 250,000 in foreign aid ($ 2.5 million in 2016 dollars) from the Truman administration , a charge that was never proved. Polk, sympathetic to
1196-580: The Greek government, Rea fled to the U.S. where she was debriefed by Donovan's law firm. She became friendly with Barbara Colby, the wife of William Colby , a former OSS officer attached to Donovan's firm, who later would become director of the CIA . In February 2007, Polk's "status as a symbol of journalistic integrity" was challenged by historian Richard Frank , who concluded that Polk made false claims about his service record in World War II. Frank examined
1242-528: The Newsmen's Commission was formed. Members included Ernest Hemingway , William Polk (George Polk's brother), William A. Price (Polk's cousin), and Homer Bigart . This was soon eclipsed in media coverage by the Lippmann Committee, including mostly Washington, D.C. -based journalists, including Walter Lippmann as chairman and James Reston of The New York Times . Within months of his death,
1288-652: The United States, working then for the Herald Tribune and teaching at New York University . During World War II , Polk enlisted with a Naval Construction Battalion . After the invasion of Guadalcanal , the first element of Construction Unit Base 1 (CUB-1), an advance fuel and supply base, landed on August 16, 1942. This element was commanded by Ensign George W. Polk, USNR , and consisted of five officers and 118 enlisted personnel, all navy petty officers of aviation support ratings. CUB-1 later received
1334-579: The Vacant Buildings Ordinance was passed, indicating the successful integration of mental health considerations into policy decisions. George Polk George Washington Polk Jr. (October 17, 1913 – May 1948) was an American journalist for CBS who was murdered during the Greek Civil War in 1948. Polk was born in Fort Worth, Texas , the son of lawyer George Washington Polk Sr. and librarian Adalaide Roe. He studied at
1380-406: The area of Englewood. The Mental Health Impact Assessment (MHIA) emphasizes mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and substance abuse. Vacant foreclosed properties often lead to criminal activity, and the amendment aimed to hold banks accountable for security and painting such properties, reducing crime and improving the mental health of affected communities. According to
1426-428: The city of Chicago in 2008–2012, the poverty rate for Englewood is 46.6% of households below poverty and 28% of people 16 years of age and older are unemployed. In 1960, Englewood had 67,216 African American residents who made up about 69% of its population. At the time most African Americans resided around 63rd Street. At the time the median income of Englewood was $ 5,579 ($ 57,459.31 adjusted for inflation). By 1980,
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1472-593: The claim, repeated by Edward R. Murrow , that Polk had commanded a unit of 119 marines on Guadalcanal, flew a fighter plane that shot down 11 Japanese aircraft and was awarded a Purple Heart . He concluded that it is not consistent with the available documentation. Frank said that "the inescapable conclusion is that George Polk did not simply verbally recount false tales of his wartime exploits to his family and to his journalist colleagues, he actually forged documents to buttress his stories." George Polk's brother, William, replied to this attack, which he called slanderous, in
1518-568: The communists, was outspoken in his criticism of the Truman administration's unqualified support for resistance by the "rightist authoritarian regime" in Greece to the communist attempt to seize power. In the late 1970s, details on how American Mission for Aid to Greece authorities helped the Greek Police frame two young communists for his murder. A communist journalist, Gregorios Staktopoulos,
1564-620: The community has post-secondary educational needs met at the Kennedy–King College , which was relocated to Englewood in 2005 as part of revitalization efforts in the neighborhood. A public high school, Englewood STEM High School , was opened in September 2019 to serve students in the surrounding area. The Englewood community area has supported the Democratic Party in recent presidential elections by overwhelming margins. In
1610-559: The dial to 870 kHz. When Insull's fortune began to disappear, he sold the licenses of both radio stations to National Broadcasting Company in 1931. The two were officially merged with WBCN leaving the air in early 1933. In 2006, the Southtown was named Newspaper of the Year among the nation's large circulation suburban dailies by Suburban Newspapers of America and the American Press Institute. The judges said: "This
1656-552: The first Daily Southtown sports editor, and he went on to become a Lisagor Award-winner as well as the 2005 Illinois Sports Columnist of the Year. He was the only full-time beat writer to cover the Michael Jordan era in Chicago from start to finish. As a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, in the wake of the steroids controversy, Ladewski touched off a nationwide debate and raised awareness with
1702-528: The frequency with radio station WENR, then owned by the All-American Radio Company. By the next year, both stations had moved to 1040 kHz, still retaining their time-sharing agreement. By 1927, Chicago financial magnate Samuel Insull had become interested in both WBCN and WENR. Insull, who had been a founder of station KYW , sold his interest in the station. His newly formed Great Lakes Broadcasting bought them both, and moved them on
1748-494: The murder and cover it up. Kellis worked on contract for the Wall Street law firm of William 'Wild Bill' Donovan , the former head of OSS, who was hired by journalist Walter Lippman to investigate the case. Following Kellis' conclusion that it was more likely Polk had been murdered by right-wing groups within or affiliated to the Greek government, the investigation was halted and Kellis was recalled to Washington, D.C. At
1794-480: The new, 40-acre (16 ha) campus occurred on November 9, 2005, and it opened in 2007. Digital images of Englewood can be found in Explore Chicago Collections, a digital repository made available by Chicago Collections archives, libraries and other cultural institutions in the city. Englewood has a community parade every year, which is geared towards preparing it's deserving youth for
1840-644: The only known blank ballot in the 2007 National Baseball Hall of Fame election. In all, he covered more than 3,000 MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL games as a beat reporter or columnist. Kevin Carmody, environment reporter, won a 1999 George Polk Award, one of the nation's most prestigious prizes in journalism, for his stories on the official cover-up of the illness and death of employees exposed to toxic metals decades ago in A-bomb factories. His series "Deadly Silence" revealed how hundreds of scientists, tradesmen and secretaries at
1886-475: The other Wrapports Chicago suburban papers. The name was changed back to the Daily Southtown . The paper maintains bureaus in Chicago city hall and the city's federal courts building. Like its larger counterparts, the newspaper also entered into the broadcasting business in 1925 with a license to operate radio station WBCN. WBCN started broadcasting on 1130 kHz from the paper's offices at 65th and Halsted. They soon entered into an agreement of time-sharing of
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1932-582: The religion reporter for the Sun-Times , got her start in newspapers as the religion beat writer for the Southtown . Other writers who cut their teeth on the news business at the Southtown include Mark Konkol 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner for the Chicago Sun-Times and now writer-at-large for DNAInfo.com, author-blogger-columnist Allison Hantschel and David Heinzmann of the Chicago Tribune . Former education reporter Linda Lutton helped bring down
1978-552: The time, the U.S. government was financially supporting the Greek government to prevent a communist take-over of the country. The British government supported the Greek government during World War II , but this became financially impossible for the British government following the war's end. Reporters in New York City started a fundraising project to send an independent investigation committee to Greece. From this effort,
2024-520: The total population was 62,069, a loss of about 30,000 people in two decades; 99% of the people were black, and the white population was down to 818. Edward McClelland of NBC Chicago stated "Not even ethnic cleansing in the Balkans achieved the levels of turnover that white flight in Chicago did." These communities have among the highest incidents of adolescent violence in the city, creating serious safety and public health concerns. Halsted Street
2070-407: Was later revealed that Mouzenidis had arrived at Salonica, where he was allegedly introduced to Polk, two days after Polk's murder, and Vasvanas was not in Greece at the time. An investigation by James G. M. Kellis (also known as Killis), a former OSS officer with knowledge of Greek political circles and power brokers, concluded that Greek communist circles lacked the power and influence to commit
2116-498: Was tried and convicted of helping Vaggelis Vasvanas and Adam Mouzenidis, members of the illegal communist army, commit the murder. The communist guerilla radio station said that Adam Mouzenidis was already dead, having been killed during aerial bombing by the Hellenic Air Force , when Polk was murdered. Staktopoulos himself maintained that the confession that led to his conviction was obtained through torture . In fact, it
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