Richard Requena

Richard Requena is a former Pioneer Press reporter.

Highland Elementary School received an "exemplary" rating and Devonshire Elementary received a "targeted rating" in the 2025 Illinois Report Card. Pictured are school buses parked in the Skokie School District 68 parking lot in January 2019. (Pioneer Press)

One Skokie D68 school falls to ‘targeted’ while another rises in Illinois Report Card ratings

November 21, 2025 at 5:20 a.m.

One Skokie school in D68 is performing in the top 10% of the state, while a sister school has been downgraded to a "targeted" rating.

Officers face protesters after several people were detained earlier in the day at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Nov. 14, 2025. Two Evanston pastors were arrested and charged with misdemeanors. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Evanston pastors arrested, charged with misdemeanors at Broadview ICE protest

November 19, 2025 at 4:03 p.m.

Two pastors of Evanston churches were among 21 arrested on Nov. 14 outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Broadview processing facility. One said he was beaten, bruised and had...

After backing off closing two schools at its Nov. 17 meeting, the Board of Education for Evanston/Skokie School District 65 will considering closing Lincolnwood School at a special meeting on Nov. 20. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

Tie vote, trustee resignation prevent Evanston D65 from closing schools; new vote Thursday

November 18, 2025 at 1:42 p.m.

After months of public meetings in which Evanston/Skokie School District 65 administrators braced the community to prepare for up to four school closures at the end of the school year,...

Skokie residents pray together at a rally to push the Skokie Village Board to ban federal immigration agents from village-owned property. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

Skokie bans ICE from village property following rally outside Village Hall

November 18, 2025 at 3:58 a.m.

Skokie's Village Board banned federal immigration agents from village property at their Nov. 3 Board meeting.

Evanston Deputy Fire Chief William "Bill" Muno is retiring after 39 years of service to the fire department. Muno served under nine fire chiefs, eight city managers and five mayors, by his count. (City of Evanston)

Evanston Deputy Fire Chief Muno retires after 39 years

November 16, 2025 at 8:27 a.m.

Paul Muno, Evanston's Deputy Fire Chief of nearly 40 years, retired from his post.

Evanston City Council gave its final OK on Nov. 10, 2025 to an apartment tower destined to become the city’s tallest building. (City of Evanston)

Evanston OKs 29-story tower that would be suburbs’ tallest residential building

November 14, 2025 at 5:21 p.m.

The Evanston City Council gave final approval for a 29-story, 419 unit residential tower in Downtown Evanston.

Evanston resident Jennifer Moriarty poses for a photo in her backyard on Nov. 7, 2025. Moriarty, a U.S. citizen, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents after a violent altercation near her home on Oct. 31, 2025. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

‘They’re more afraid of us than we are of them,’ citizen says of immigration agents after hours in their car

November 11, 2025 at 4:10 p.m.

A U.S. citizen spoke about being detained by Customs and Border Protection officials after filming them in Evanston on Oct. 31, 2025.

Veterans attend a Veterans Day ceremony at Evanston’s Fountain Square on Nov. 11, 2025. From left, Commander Christina Candelario of American Legion Post 42, Commander Brian Beatty of VFW Post 7186, VFW chaplain Charles Spivey and American Legion Post 42 chaplain Greg Wilson. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

Veterans reflect on their purpose at Evanston ceremony

November 11, 2025 at 3:33 p.m.

Evanston veterans braved the cold to celebrate Veterans Day at Fountain Square on Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, 2025.

The 2025 Illinois Report Card showed two Evanston/Skokie School District 65 schools, Kingsley and Dr. Bessie Rhodes, drop a rating level from "commendable" to "targeted." Shown is another school, Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center in Evanston. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

Two Evanston-Skokie D65 schools fall to ‘targeted’ in Illinois Report Card

November 12, 2025 at 9:57 a.m.

Two Evanston-Skokie D65 schools fell in the ratings in the Illinois State Board of Education's 2025 Illinois Report Card.

Near Oakton and Asbury in Evanston, federal immigration agents had a standoff with local residents after a car crash. A federal agent kneels on a man's back apparently punching him on the side of the head while residents shout, "He can't breathe!" This image was taken by a bystander on Oct. 31, 2025. Three Evanston residents added witness statements to a Chicago Headline Club lawsuit saying DHS used excessive force. (Lindsey Rose)

Evanston residents join complaint accusing agents of excessive force

November 11, 2025 at 5:33 p.m.

Three Evanston residents who witnessed a violent altercation between federal immigration agents and local residents in Evanston on Halloween are adding their first-person observations to a lawsuit being brought by...

All Stories