Economic and racial inequality in Chicago damage all aspects of life for those it touches, an investigation released Oct. 25 reveals.The Chicago Tribune published its investigation of water rates, showing that predominantly black and low-income communities pay more than wealthier, whiter communities for Lake Michigan water. Poor infrastructure and lack of accountability from public officials contribute to these disparities,...

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Oct. 4 memo to the U.S. Department of Justice promotes a policy that will greatly challenge transgender people in courtrooms and hinder progress in stopping workplace discrimination. The memo announced that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act—which prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sex and other protected classes—does not apply to gender identity, and the law...

Puerto Rico is struggling with the aftermath of a violent hurricane, a debilitating debt crisis and a long history as a colonized community. Moreover, Puerto Ricans are barely acknowledged as U.S. citizens. Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico on Sept. 20. Massive flooding caused extensive damage and evacuations, and the storm’s powerful winds flattened buildings. Aid couldn’t reach victims because of limited gasoline and...

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos confirmed that her department seemingly has no interest in preventing sexual assault on college campuses. She announced Sept. 7 that the Department of Education is rescinding former President Barack Obama administration’s guidelines on sexual assault in higher education institutions. The guidelines use the agency’s authority under Title IX—an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that ext...