Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Data: CTA Sees Major Shift in Ridership from 2023 to 2024

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 26

Data: CTA bus ridership recovering quicker than train ridership post-pandemic: redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/d...

#uicdigital

CTA ridership is still at pre-pandemic lows. But bus ridership is recovering much faster than train ridership. Bus ridership also saw a slower decline during the pandemic.

Data: Crime Rates See Drop in 2024 but Still High Overall

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 26

Data: Chicago crime rates dropping but still remain high overall. Homicides continue to decrease.

redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/c...

#uicdigital

homicides fell by almost 8% compared to last year, reaching its lowest point since 2019. Shootings also declined by 7%, with fewer victims than in 2023.

Opinion: AI’s Impact on the Environment — the Good, Bad and the Ugly

1 4

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 26

AI's impact on the environment, and what we can do about it: redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/o...

#uicdigital

Powering AI takes a lot of energy and it's draining Earth's resources at an unsustainable rate. What can be done about this issue?

Opinion: The Ethical Implications of AI in Journalism

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 25

The ethical implication of #AI in journalism: redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/t...

#uicdigital

The essay explores the ethical concerns surrounding AI in journalism, focusing on transparency, accountability, and bias in AI-generated content and images.

Opinion: AI’s Transformation of Journalism: Navigating Trust and Bias

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 25

#AI is transforming journalism, but how do we negotiate the trust and bias issues?

redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/o...

@commuic #uicdigital

In this opinion-driven research piece, Lorena Mendez explores how journalism is balancing trust and bias in using AI tools.

Opinion: How AI and Deepfakes Manipulate Journalism and Impact Politics

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 25

How is #GenAI manipulating journalism and impacting politics?

redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/o...

@commuic #uicdigital

AI and deepfake technology have reshaped political journalism, introducing misinformation, ethical dilemmas, and public skepticism.

Opinion: Generative AI’s Profound Impact on the Music Industry

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Mar 25

#GenAI is transforming the #music industry. See how: redlineproject.news/2025/03/20/o...

@commuic #uicdigital

From AI DJs to music production to live performances, generative AI has impacted the music industry as much as any. What are the benefits and drawbacks?

UIC comm students cover news and urban issues in Chicago neighborhoods

1 1

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 31

Happy New Year from all of us at The Red Line Project!

redlineproject.news

The Red Line Project

Ticketed by Design: The Unequal Toll of Chicago’s Speed Camera Program

2

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

Ticketed by design: The unequal tool of #Chicago's speed camera program: buff.ly/41ED4gf

Now a decade since it launched, Chicago's speed camera program has issued over nine million tickets, generating $879 million in revenue. That’s more than three tickets for every Chicago resident.

Chicago’s Response to the Migrant Influx and What to Do Next

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

How has Chicago handled the influx of migrants so far?

And what needs to be done next? Our reporters find some answers:

redlineproject.news/2024/12/15/c...

Since 2022, Chicago has welcomed over 51,000 migrants from southern states. Those numbers have tested Chicago’s resources in unprecedented ways.

Chicago Residents Raise Concerns Over Setbacks in CTA Accessibility

1 3

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

Chicago residents raise concerns over setbacks in CTA accessibility. Read the story, check the map of El stop locations lacking accessibility, photos of some of the stations and more: buff.ly/3ZMP4Ke

Of Chicago’s 146 CTA stations, only 104 are fully accessible, leaving 42 stations without the necessary accommodations for people with disabilities. What's being done about it?

Chicago’s Response to the Migrant Influx and What to Do Next

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

Stories produced using #GenAI from our student reporters this semester: redlineproject.news/category/ai-...

*-Students used the tools to create multimedia, research and edit their writing. They didn't use AI to write them

UIC comm students cover news and urban issues in Chicago neighborhoods

How is Cycling Moving Forward in Chicago?

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

How is cycling moving forward in Chicago? We talk to some city planners and cyclists about efforts to improve safety and reduce cycling injuries and deaths: buff.ly/4foqGUI

Cycling on Chicago streets has more than doubled in the last four years, and the average of nine cyclist deaths a year between 2020 and 2023 is 30 percent more than the previous decade's average.

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 18

Analysis: The CTA and the lack of transportation equity around the city: buff.ly/3P1HEh1

What’s the Future of Public Transportation in Chicago?

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 14

Starter pack of Chicago journalists. We'll update it on a regular basis.

go.bsky.app/CfjhM1J

1 5 8

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 20

What kind? And then we judge!

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

What's the future of public transportation in Chicago? Sean Carlin takes a closer look in this Gen AI-assisted reporting project: buff.ly/3ZINkkU

Experts weigh in on ways Chicago can improve its transportation system: trains, buses and more bike lines could better connect our neighborhoods.

2 3

Reposted by The Red Line Project

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

A Bluesky starter pack of Chicago journalists and media outlets to follow! Please share this and follow them!

go.bsky.app/CfjhM1J

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 18

Analysis: The CTA and the lack of transportation equity around the city: buff.ly/3P1HEh1

Chicago Bears Facing Pushbacks and Anticipation as They Seek New Stadium

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 18

Where will the Bears build their new stadium? We look at the options with a story and map, and also at the history of their current and past stadiums.

buff.ly/3VGx42P

In a season of controversies for the Bears, among their biggest is which of the three proposals to pick for a new stadium.

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

A Bluesky starter pack of Chicago journalists and media outlets to follow! Please share this and follow them!

go.bsky.app/CfjhM1J

What’s the Future of Public Transportation in Chicago?

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

What's the future of public transportation in Chicago? Sean Carlin takes a closer look in this Gen AI-assisted reporting project: buff.ly/3ZINkkU

Experts weigh in on ways Chicago can improve its transportation system: trains, buses and more bike lines could better connect our neighborhoods.

How is Cycling Moving Forward in Chicago?

2 3

The Red Line Project @redlineproject.bsky.social · Dec 17

How is cycling moving forward in Chicago? We talk to some city planners and cyclists about efforts to improve safety and reduce cycling injuries and deaths: buff.ly/4foqGUI

Cycling on Chicago streets has more than doubled in the last four years, and the average of nine cyclist deaths a year between 2020 and 2023 is 30 percent more than the previous decade's average.