Courtney Kueppers

Boxes of property assessment appeals are in storage in a Cook County assessor's office warehouse.

The flip side of FOIA: Mountains of paper, small government staffs and — for some — an attitude problem

April 9, 2021 at 3:16 p.m.

Inside a nondescript warehouse on Chicago's Southwest Side, rows of white-and-blue boxes sit below flickering fluorescent lights, holding a vast number of documents belonging to Cook County government. One agency...

A resource used by Pete Czosnyka as he files a Freedom of Information Act request to Chicago's clerk's office, at his home in the Gladstone Park neighborhood of Chicago on March 10, 2021.

7 things people would like to change about FOIA in Illinois

April 9, 2021 at 3:17 p.m.

The promise of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act is that average citizens should be able to receive information about how public agencies are making decisions, simply by asking for...

Pete Czosnyka files a Freedom of Information Act request with the city of Chicago clerk's office requesting the resignation letter of a staff member of Ald. Jim Gardiner from his home in the Gladstone Park neighborhood of Chicago on March 10, 2021.

FOIA for beginners: A state law guarantees access to public records. But it isn’t always that easy.

April 2, 2021 at 7:44 p.m.

When her daughter started kindergarten, Miriam Bhimani was eager to get more context about how decisions were being made at the Chicago elementary school. So she started writing requests to...

Why barefoot running may help prevent common injuries

June 5, 2020 at 7:04 p.m.

If you've been opting for walks and runs lately instead of hitting the gym, here's something you may want to consider: barefoot running. Some experts say it may prevent injuries....

Ways other than diet, exercise to stay healthy while at home

May 4, 2020 at 2:45 p.m.

The coronavirus outbreak has upended a sense of normalcy and daily routines, which may be affecting your typical health and wellness regimen as well. And while health experts say maintaining...

Not liking some vegetables could be in your genes, a new study shows. Some people are what researchers call "supertasters," which means they have a specific genetic makeup that makes some foods taste more bitter.

Hating vegetables could be in your genes, study shows

December 4, 2019 at 4:48 p.m.

Do you hate broccoli? Or, perhaps can't stand the taste of Brussels sprouts? Those preferences may not mean you're just a picky eater. Not liking some vegetables could actually be...

Researchers concluded last year that strength training was the form of physical fitness most likely to help combat depression. But a new study says physical activity in many forms can aid in staving off depressive symptoms.

More proof that working out may help reduce symptoms of depression

November 20, 2019 at 12:21 a.m.

It's estimated that more than 17 million adults in the U.S. have at least one major depressive episode in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health....

A new study finds that increased levels of physical activity can help prevent future episodes of depression, even for those who are genetically predisposed to the condition.

Study links increased physical activity to reducing symptoms of depression

November 11, 2019 at 5:03 p.m.

It's estimated that more than 17 million adults in the United States have at least one major depressive episode in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental...

The trend of inadequate sleep was especially prevalent among workers in the fields of health care and law enforcement, the study found.

Rising number of workers are short on sleep, especially in certain fields

November 14, 2019 at 5:58 p.m.

More than a third of workers in the U.S. report consistently not getting enough sleep, according to a new study. And the trend is especially prevalent in certain fields, researchers...

Facebook is offering a new tool to help remind folks to get health screenings.

Facebook’s new tool will remind users to get health screenings

November 1, 2019 at 5:01 p.m.

Preventative screenings can be key to combating serious health concerns. However, remembering to go in for cancer screenings, checking on your heart health or even getting a flu shot can...

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