Grantland “Outs” Inventor of Magical Putter

Grantland writer, Caleb Hannan, under heavy fire after his profile on Essay Anne Vanderbilt reached readers across the United States.

 

Hannan began research on Dr. V’s magical putter 8 months prior to publishing it on Grantland’s website. But the story that began as a simple evaluation of golf equipment, started to take an interesting turn when Hannan began to investigate further into the life of Dr. V herself.

 

Although upon contact, Dr. V made it abundantly clear that for Hannan to write an article about her putter, it must “focus on the science and not the scientist.” Amongst many glowing credentials, such as a graduate from MIT, Dr. V perplexingly, yet sternly, refused to answer questions about herself no matter how hard Hannan tried.

 

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CTA Riders and Employees Discuss Issues with Ventra

Ventra cards ready for purchase
(Photo/Nicole Capone)

By Nicole Capone and Jaclyn Driscoll

Chicago Transit Authority users are on the fence concerning the new fare system, Ventra. With difficulties still surrounding the transition from previous fare options, the CTA attempts to resolve lingering issues regarding Ventra.

Recently the CTA suspended switch over deadlines due to the increasing problems from the $454 million Ventra system. Issues range from the riders having difficulty obtaining their Ventra cards to card readers failing to recognize the card, in which case the CTA employees allow riders to board the trains and busses for free.

Danny Papovic, a 26-year-old visual effect major at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, said he relies on the CTA for traveling to work and school everyday. Papovic said he switched to the Ventra card after his school made it mandatory, but admits to being bothered by tedious errors that come with the new system in comparison to the previous CTA pass.

“I’m not necessarily partial to either one,” Papovic said. “The only thing that really bothers me about the Ventra card is that I have to swipe it about four times before it actually lets me onto the train. With the CTA card there was never a problem. The Ventra card you have to swipe it multiple times.”

CTA employee Tomica Goodwin, who assists riders at the Jackson Red Line stop, said she prefers the Ventra cards and thinks the new system is more convenient for riders.

Ventra Problems Continue

Ventra Problems Continue

Chicago Transit Authority riders and commuters rant about about the new Ventra fare system as problems continue.

CTA Fare System Preference Poll

 

Female Veterans Face Continuous Challenges

By Jaclyn Driscoll
A leading researcher says transitioning back into civilian life can be difficult for all veterans, but the growing population of female veterans face additional challenges.

Lindy Carrow leads all research on veterans’ issues for the Social Impact Research Center, a nonprofit organization. Her team gathers information on current veterans in Illinois from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The non-profit uses that data to implement its programs. Carrow focused a large part of research on the increasing female veteran population.

“Back in the Cold War, female vets only made up 8% of the population,” said Carrow. “But now they are all the way up to 17-18%.”

North Dakota Church Parishioners Help End Antioch Manhunt

(Photo/Williams County Sheriff’s Office)

Billy Varner, wanted for questioning in the deaths of his wife and mother, is now in custody after a week long manhunt. Varner, 54, robbed a Catholic church and was arrested nearly 1,000 miles away from Antioch just outside of Williston, N.D. on Saturday. “He walked in with a shotgun during the mass,” said Police Chief Craig Somerville at a press conference. “The parishioners in the church chased him out and gave a good description… The suspect fled the scene and several church goers followed and it ended without incident,” he said.

Antioch Manhunt Storify

2013 Chicago Marathon: Volunteers of Aid Station Four

A glimpse of what it’s like to be a volunteer at the Chicago Marathon. (Video/Jaclyn Driscoll and Allan Simon)

Illinois Warrior to Warrior Assists Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans

Franzese and Perez discuss Illinois Warrior to Warrior Project to a DePaul University Graduate class on September 23, 2013
(Photo credit/ Mike Reilley)

By Jaclyn Driscoll

Delays in services for returning soldiers of Afghanistan and Iraqi wars cause stress for veterans, while evolving grassroots organizations such as Illinois Warrior to Warrior help bridge that gap.

Joe Franzese, Warrior to Warrior program coordinator and Iraq war veteran, said some veterans wait up to 500 days to get their benefits and services from a system he described as a “bureaucratic mess.”

Quinn emphasizes importance of MAP Grants

Gov. Quinn addresses DePaul community about MAP Grants.
(Photo/Josclynn Brandon)

By Angelica Robinson

Gov. Pat Quinn visited DePaul University’s Loop campus on Wednesday to discuss how pension reform is harming the Monetary Award Program (MAP) college scholarships and access to higher education in Illinois.

“This is so important to our state, not only in the past, but certainly now and in the future,” Quinn said.
“We want everyone to have the opportunity to go to college that has the ability to go to college.”

MAP grants are need-based college scholarships that allow merit students who are in need across the state and do not need to be repaid by the student. Quinn said that due to cutbacks and having to pay more money in the pension amount, almost 18,000 students lost their MAP grant scholarships this year.