Award-Winning Health Journalism

Dangerous Air

A map of the United States shows degrees of air quality over the country.

Wildfires push Chicago air quality to unhealthy levels Chicago experienced some of the worst air quality in the world last week as wildfire smoke from multiple wildfires drifted over the area, prompting health alerts and urging residents to limit outdoor activities. By late Thursday afternoon, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) — the federal government’s […]

Air Alert

Looking north from the I-94 expressway toward Chicago, the skyline barely visible in a haze of wildfire smoke

Who’s at risk when poor air quality spikes, and what can people do to protect their air? Chicagoans who gazed out their windows on a day in late June discovered an orange haze blurring their view. When they opened their front doors, the smell of smoke enveloped them. And as dusk approached, many marveled at […]