Monday · May 11, 2026
Today
Seven stories in motion. Two needing your eye before the 11am meeting.
R
Desk Editor — Morning Critique
3 stories reviewed overnight · 2 need your attention before publish
LEDE BURIED
Pilsen displacement story · Marisol G.
The actual news doesn't appear until paragraph 4.
Your lede opens with the developer's quote. The newsworthy fact — that 47 families received eviction notices in 72 hours — is buried in paragraph 4. Move it up.
Forty-seven Pilsen families received 30-day eviction notices over a 72-hour stretch last week, the largest single-week displacement in the neighborhood since 2019…
SOURCING
CTA budget piece · Devon W.
Three claims rely on a single anonymous source.
The budget shortfall figures, the contractor allegation, and the timeline claim all come from one source labeled "a CTA official." Each likely needs corroboration before publish.
In motion today
When the L stopped: a year inside the Red Line slow zones
Due today, 4pm
In review
WordPress
MR
Forty-seven families, seventy-two hours
Due today, 5pm
Desk flags
WordPress
MG
CTA budget shortfall: what the numbers actually say
Tomorrow
Drafting
WordPress
DW
Inside the Bridgeport zoning fight
Wed, May 13
Ready
WordPress + Beehiiv
AK
The unbuilt promise of the 79th Street corridor
May 18
Drafting
WordPress
BT
This week's load
14
Stories scheduled
3
Awaiting desk
82%
Capacity used
6
Freelancers
Top this week
"The Loop's quiet office vacancy crisis"
12,408 reads · +340% beat average · Newsletter open rate 47%
"What the new CHA budget hides"
8,212 reads · +180% beat average
From the Desk Editor
"Three of last quarter's top-five stories were Pilsen housing pieces. You have one in the queue this month — consider doubling down on the beat."