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Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago

Mina Bloom is a reporter for Block Club Chicago covering the Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Avondale neighborhoods.

A large rat lurks behind a trash can tire in the 3700 block of North Sawyer Avenue in Irving Park on June 8. (Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago)
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability

Why Chicago is Losing the War on Rats

by Casey Toner and Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago August 31, 2023September 12, 2023

New York has a Rat Czar. Other cities are trying new trapping methods. But the “rattiest city in America” can’t keep up with skyrocketing rodent complaints, data shows.

A rat seen in the West Loop in 2021. Some cities on the East Coast have adopted a high-tech solution to rat control. (Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago)
Posted inSolutions

East Coast Cities Are Zapping Rats With High-Tech Traps

by Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago August 31, 2023September 6, 2023

SMART Boxes shock rats with electricity, collect their carcasses, then share data wirelessly with local officials.

A cyclist rides along the Milwaukee Avenue bike lane in Wicker Park in Nov. 9. (Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago)
Posted inSolutions

City Plan To Ticket Drivers Who Block Bike Lanes Downtown Draws Mixed Reaction From Cycling Advocates

by Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago and Casey Toner February 1, 2023February 22, 2023

Even though it only applies to the Downtown area, some cycling advocates say the pilot program is a step in the right direction. Others say it’s light on details and doesn’t address pressing safety concerns.

A Chicago cyclist rides past a ghost bike on Milwaukee Avenue.
Posted inInvestigations

Life and Death in Chicago’s Most Dangerous Bike Lane

by Casey Toner and Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago November 29, 2022December 1, 2022

In Chicago’s busiest bike lane along Milwaukee Avenue, there have been 50 reported crashes and three deaths since 2020 as cyclists navigate the city’s patchwork approach to safety.

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