Two years into Chicago’s surge in gun violence, WBEZ asks: What’s being tried, is it working, and what’s next?

Every Other Hour

What Will It Take To Roll Back Chicago’s Gun Violence?

Aaron Taylor's life was almost derailed for having a gun. But his story doesn't end with him sitting in prison.

When The Rigid Justice System Gives A Bit

It’s not big trafficking rings. Mostly, it’s through little guys — and authorities will go far to stop them. Read the full story.

How Chicago Gets Its Guns

Research finds young women often play central roles in gangs. One teenager reveals how the possibility of power drew her in.

Power, Protection And Identity: Why Girls Join Gangs

In Chicago, more than 2,300 people have been shot so far this year. But teens in one summer jobs program say fixing dilapidated school auditoriums helps keep them safe. See and hear the full story here. 

CPS Gets Renovated Auditoriums, Students Get Summer Safety

This summer, we’re pairing a WBEZ reporter with a photographer and a poet to document the emotional weight of Chicago’s gun violence.

In Verse: Man Shot During Argument In West Englewood

For 18-year-old DaQuan Mosely, the funeral home offers a career path — and refuge from violence.

In Funerals, One Englewood Teen Sees A Future

A 19-year-old man was shot in the arm while playing outside with a group of teens Saturday night in a part of Englewood where more than 80 people have been shot in the past five years, police and neighbors said.

In Verse: ‘The Streets Are Marked With The Children’s Blood’

Officials say jobs are key to reducing violence, but they’re not talking about the size an employment program would have to be — or how much it would cost. So WBEZ took a crack at the calculations.

Making A Big Dent In Chicago's Violence Could Take Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs

The decision to carry a concealed gun is personal — and it’s a topic that can be pretty uncomfortable to bring up in a city shaken by gun violence. Especially if you’re a Chicago politician.“Do I look like I’m packing?” Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th Ward) quipped before a recent City Council meeting, her eyes widening at the question.WBEZ asked every one of Chicago’s 50 aldermen if they carry a concealed weapon, as part of a project on Chicago violence that looks at who picks up a gun and why. 

'Do I Look Like I'm Packing?' Chicago’s 50 Aldermen On Whether They Carry A Gun

Programs offering therapy and job help to young men are sparse, but experts say this age group is at the center of Chicago’s gun violence.

The Guidance Gap: Why Support For Young Men Leaving Jail Is Sparse

When a man burst through her back door after being shot, Journey Jamison was able to help, because of a training program called UMedics.

Making Our Own Heroes: Chicagoans Teach First Aid For Gunshot Wounds

The first time Reed opened fire on a rival gang member, he says he got hooked on shooting. “It’s like an adrenalin boost. Like ... I’m da man!” he says. “You know, I enjoyed it.”

When Shooting Feels ‘Like A Drug’

In Chicago, more than 80 percent of homicide victims are black.

In Chicago, A Stark Racial Disparity In Gun Violence

When Chicago cops find a gun at a crime scene, they ask the feds where it came from. How much can the ATF really help?WBEZ's Natalie Moore has the story.

Barely A Trace

Last year in Chicago, there was a person shot about every other hour. So who picks up a gun, and why? Stories from a yearlong WBEZ project.

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Every Other Hour

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