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This Week In Photos:
▪️ Loved ones remember Eric Billups
▪️ Piping plovers return and more: blockclubchi.co/3Qfqfp4
Apostle Sandie Norman consoles as loved ones gather for a balloon release for Eric Billups, 16, in Woodlawn on April 16, 2026. Billups was fatally shot at the bus stop at 6300 S. Stony Island Ave. near his school, Hyde Park Academy High School, the day before. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Washington Park community members sit during the Scitopia event at the Fossil Lab in Washington Park on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Credit: Jeremy Battle/Block Club Chicago
Pippin the piping plover bathes in the lake water at Montrose Beach in Uptown on April 14, 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Protesters hold a demonstration outside of Warlord restaurant on Saturday March 14, 2026. Credit: Jim Vondruska for Block Club Chicago
People released dozens of balloons Thursday in Woodlawn to remember Eric Billups, the 3rd Hyde Park Academy student to lose his life this past month.
Here’s what @blockclubchi.bsky.social photographers captured while covering the city’s neighborhoods this week: blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/17/t...
📸 by @colinbphoto.bsky.social @taliaspraguephotography.com Jeremy Battle @arielparrella.bsky.social @jimvondruska.bsky.social Carrie Jackson @thewayoftheid.bsky.social @mollydevore.bsky.social @quinnmyers.bsky.social
Apostle Sandie Norman consoles as loved ones gather for a balloon release for Eric Billups, 16, in Woodlawn on April 16, 2026. Billups was fatally shot at the bus stop at 6300 S. Stony Island Ave. near his school, Hyde Park Academy High School, the day before. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Washington Park community members sit during the Scitopia event at the Fossil Lab in Washington Park on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Credit: Jeremy Battle/Block Club Chicago
Pippin the piping plover bathes in the lake water at Montrose Beach in Uptown on April 14, 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Protesters hold a demonstration outside of Warlord restaurant on Saturday March 14, 2026. Credit: Jim Vondruska for Block Club Chicago
People released dozens of balloons Thursday in Woodlawn to remember Eric Billups, the 3rd Hyde Park Academy student to lose his life this past month.
Here’s what @blockclubchi.bsky.social photographers captured while covering the city’s neighborhoods this week: blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/17/t...
Ford City Mall could be shut down by the city as conditions continue to deteriorate. blockclubchi.co/4mtaIOe
Three small shorebirds called piping plovers in flight.
It's raining plovers! Hallelujah!
Our thanks to Austin St. Peter for notifying us that a 3rd Piping Plover visited Montrose today and for sharing a stunning series of pictures. Our new plover appears to be unbanded, and if so, they are likely from the threatened population of Great Plains PIPL. 1/2
Fathom, a queer cocktail bar from the team behind Dorothy, has opened in Lakeview. blockclubchi.co/4vnxTxL
In defense of this photograph — I have over 200 images of Ald. Ray Lopez filed for Block Club Chicago. This one felt like it embodied so much of his presence when he speaks during a City Council meeting — a lot of motion and emotion, gestures too. It's a long exposure, hence the blur, too.
How Ald. Raymond Lopez became conservative media’s favorite Chicago Democrat: blockclubchi.co/48FJyxV
Piping plovers Pippin and Imani return to Montrose Beach. 🐦 🐦 blockclubchi.co/4sEcj5r
An Uptown school is demanding its own gym after years of delays: "Our bodies are meant to move." blockclubchi.co/41yuJcH
Fathom, a queer cocktail bar from the team behind Dorothy, has opened in Lakeview. blockclubchi.co/4vnxTxL
Welcome home, Pippin! 🤍🟢
Our beloved Pippin has returned. Many will remember he departed last summer with something tangled around his foot. We feared the worst.
Pippin has returned to us with his right foot missing and a limp but otherwise appears well.
📸:Liam Francis Shanley
I spent the last months talking to Julia Suhr, who had one of the most enviable jobs in 2024: hostess at Warlord, the city’s most talked-about dining destination — until Trevor Fleming sexually assaulted her amid a secret sexual relationship, she said. blockclubchi.co/41uuuPW
After former Warlord chef Trevor Fleming's abuse was exposed, an ex-employee is speaking out: "It was assault." blockclubchi.co/41uuuPW
A helicopter delivers parts to a rooftop
A helicopter was delivering parts to an apartment building in Uptown this morning. Always so cool to see!
Immigrants say they are "wasting away" at a for-profit Michigan detention center months after ICE arrests. blockclubchi.co/3QeIcnw
For weeks, I spoke to Chicago-area immigrants held in a Michigan detention center months after they were arrested without warrants ––– or ordered deported.
Inside the center, the conditions are hard to bear, they said.
blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/10/i...
📸 by Arthur Maiorella @colinbphoto.bsky.social Anastasia Busby, Jeremy Battle @michaeljliptrot.bsky.social @afrodip.bsky.social @arielparrella.bsky.social @quinnmyers.bsky.social
Eli Oro, a Gage Park Cyclists member, lights a candle in memory of Damian Gomez in Chicago Lawn on April 8, 2026. Credit: Arthur Maiorella for Block Club Chicago
People take photos with the cherry blossoms at Jackson Park on April 5, 2026, in Hyde Park. Credit: Anastasia Busby for Block Club Chicago
Community members demonstrate during the Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability’s community meeting at Kelly High School on April 2, 2026. Credit: Jeremy Battle/Block Club Chicago
Hundreds of neighbors fill 26th Street during the Via Crucis procession in Little Village on April 3, 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Spring has sprung in the city as Jackson Park’s cherry blossom trees bloomed this weekend. Meanwhile, we have quite the range of stories & photos.
Here’s what @blockclubchi.bsky.social reporters & photogs captured while covering the neighborhoods this week:
blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/10/t...
A student who inspired the city with runs through every neighborhood is being forced to leave the U.S. blockclubchi.co/4bWBNER
Skyway Lanes, Chicago’s last Black-owned bowling alley, is closing after a "surge" of support fades. blockclubchi.co/4ceRx7s
Skyway Lanes, Chicago’s Last Black-Owned Bowling Alley, Closing After 'Surge' Of Support Fades
A sad update to a bittersweet struggle of the last year for this South Side staple.
✍️ Mack Liederman @blockclubchi.bsky.social
blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/31/s...
Details of the rescheduled funeral service for fallen firefighter Michael Altman have been announced. blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/29/p...
Chicago is losing another iconic neon sign. blockclubchi.co/4rUO6HB
. @franciagarciah.bsky.social covers the SW Side, uplifting and informing neighbors. She's worked tirelessly to provide news during immigration operations, including Midway Blitz.
Francia is a finalist for Public Narrative's People's Choice Award. Vote to help her win!: blockclubchi.co/4c6VYkF
📸 by Victor Hilitski @colinbphoto.bsky.social Vincent D. Johnson @arielparrella.bsky.social Jeremy Battle @mollydevore.bsky.social
This Week In Photos: Mourning Sheridan Gorman, ICE At O’Hare And More
Here’s what @blockclubchi.bsky.social reporters and photographers captured while covering the city’s neighborhoods this week:
blockclubchicago.org/2026/03/27/t...
An enormous thank you to the Altman family and the Chicago Fire Department for trusting me to be there as the pool still camera during the visitation yesterday.