SPECIAL REPORT: If Marconi closes, students will have to walk past drug dealers on way to Tilton

If Marconi Community Academy is approved Wednesday to be closed, its students will be sent to Tilton Elementary School, just half a mile away but across one of West Garfield Park’s open-air drug markets. What exactly may children have to walk through to school? The Rev. Marshall E. Hatch Sr. leads the tour. “When it comes to a drug-sale corner, the buyers need to be able to find you all the time. I’m just very surprised that could happen right across the street from a public school,” Hatch says. “I don’t know that it has been well-thought through . .

• Red Line reroute ‘smooth sailing’ on Sunday, but true test comes Monday

  

  In 17 years of riding the Red Line South to her job downtown, Stephanie Williams can count on the number of times she has been late for work. “I’m giving myself a whole bunch of grace time,” said Williams, 45, as she headed to work Sunday morning. She got a pleasant surprise: Her new route took only 10 minutes longer — and the shuttle bus and train ride were free.

   MAP: Red Line alternatives [PDF]

   

  Keep track of work on Red Alert

  • South Siders savor last Red Line ride before 5-month shutdown
  • Red Line’s ‘big fix’ officially begins with promise of faster commute
• WATCHDOGS: Metra cops ride overtime express with 45% increase since 2009
  Updated: 2013-05-20 02:08:00
• Navy Pier staffer’s 48-hour Ferris wheel ride breaks Guinness record
• Police, prosecutors differ on charging driver in alleged incident outside Aurora clinic
• 5 dead, 15 wounded in city gun violence
• 2 adults, 10 teens charged in Saturday disturbance in North Michigan Avenue area