Mariah Rush
@mariahrush.bsky.social
money desk reporter @chicago.suntimes.com
Curtis Berry didn't want to give up his dog, Seven. But Seven had a severe ear infection that would cost $1K to treat, and Berry couldn't afford the bill.
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
Pet owner surrender rates are up, overwhelming Chicago shelters
More people have been giving up their dogs and cats, citing a tough economy and housing restrictions. The surge is putting a strain on pet shelters and rescue centers.
chicago.suntimes.com
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Curtis Berry didn't want to give up his dog, Seven. But Seven had a severe ear infection that would cost $1K to treat, and Berry couldn't afford the bill.
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Sad sign of the times: More pet owners are giving up their dogs and cats because they can’t afford their care or high pet fees from their landlord.
Great reporting by @mariahrush.bsky.social
Reminder: Still no paywall at the nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times!
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
Great reporting by @mariahrush.bsky.social
Reminder: Still no paywall at the nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times!
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
Pet owner surrender rates are up, overwhelming Chicago shelters
More people have been giving up their dogs and cats, citing a tough economy and housing restrictions. The surge is putting a strain on pet shelters and rescue centers.
chicago.suntimes.com
July 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Sad sign of the times: More pet owners are giving up their dogs and cats because they can’t afford their care or high pet fees from their landlord.
Great reporting by @mariahrush.bsky.social
Reminder: Still no paywall at the nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times!
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
Great reporting by @mariahrush.bsky.social
Reminder: Still no paywall at the nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times!
chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023. He's determined to create apartments while maintaining the Gothic and art deco architecture.
Chicago landmark Pittsfield Building went viral on TikTok. Meet the guy who made it happen.
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has racked up millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023.
buff.ly
May 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023. He's determined to create apartments while maintaining the Gothic and art deco architecture.
Once the tallest skyscraper in Chicago, the Pittsfield Building has drawn in millions of views on social media. “Tom the Skyscraper Guy” tells us how and why he’s turned the building into viral content: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
Chicago landmark Pittsfield Building went viral on TikTok. Meet the guy who made it happen.
Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has racked up millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023.
chicago.suntimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Once the tallest skyscraper in Chicago, the Pittsfield Building has drawn in millions of views on social media. “Tom the Skyscraper Guy” tells us how and why he’s turned the building into viral content: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
Bucktown's newest exclusive social club includes a co-working lounge with craft brews on tap, a hair and nail salon + outdoor patios with a firepit. But its main focus is on dogs.
More about Pup Social, for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
More about Pup Social, for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
Members-only club for dog owners opening in Bucktown
Founder Aly Udartseva created Pup Social because she wanted a place offering amenities to dogs and their owners from an off-leash supervised dog park to a nail and hair salon for their owners.
chicago.suntimes.com
May 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Bucktown's newest exclusive social club includes a co-working lounge with craft brews on tap, a hair and nail salon + outdoor patios with a firepit. But its main focus is on dogs.
More about Pup Social, for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
More about Pup Social, for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
Western apparel shops around Chicago have seen a boost in sales since the BeyHive came to town.
"God bless Beyoncé," said Alcala's co-owner:
chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
"God bless Beyoncé," said Alcala's co-owner:
chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala's Western Wear
The singer was in town performing at Soldier Field as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, and it meant concertgoers were looking to don their best western gear.
chicago.suntimes.com
May 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Western apparel shops around Chicago have seen a boost in sales since the BeyHive came to town.
"God bless Beyoncé," said Alcala's co-owner:
chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
"God bless Beyoncé," said Alcala's co-owner:
chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts at Soldier Field fueled a sales frenzy by her fans at Alcala's Western Wear, doubling their usual best weekend revenue.
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala's Western Wear
The singer was in town performing at Soldier Field as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, and it meant concertgoers were looking to don their best western gear.
buff.ly
May 19, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Beyoncé's Chicago concerts at Soldier Field fueled a sales frenzy by her fans at Alcala's Western Wear, doubling their usual best weekend revenue.
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits. Contractors — including a Latina-owned painting company in Chicago — have filed liens to get paid. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits
While residents in neighborhoods like West Lawn waited years for the promised stores, the owners of Yellow Banana were racking up business and personal problems.
chicago.suntimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits. Contractors — including a Latina-owned painting company in Chicago — have filed liens to get paid. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Our series on several odd, shocking, unprovoked attacks in downtown Chicago has finally posted in full on this landing page:
(Note: the Chicago Sun-Times has no paywall.)
(1/9)
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
(Note: the Chicago Sun-Times has no paywall.)
(1/9)
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
How the failures of a mental health system can have deadly consequences
An investigation into how the failures of a mental health system can have deadly consequences.
chicago.suntimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Our series on several odd, shocking, unprovoked attacks in downtown Chicago has finally posted in full on this landing page:
(Note: the Chicago Sun-Times has no paywall.)
(1/9)
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
(Note: the Chicago Sun-Times has no paywall.)
(1/9)
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
#ICYMI: Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts//Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support. chicago.suntimes.com/education/20...
Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts
Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support.
chicago.suntimes.com
April 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
#ICYMI: Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts//Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support. chicago.suntimes.com/education/20...
“People who wore the uniform shouldn’t be living in shelters and shouldn’t be living on the street,” said Doyle, founder of Veteran Roasters, which employs only homeless, at-risk veterans.
chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/04...
chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/04...
Coffee roastery and cafe staffed by military vets has big plans for South Side expansion
Veteran Roasters, a nonprofit with cafes in the Loop and at O'Hare, is getting ready to open a 16,000 square-foot brewpub and cafe in Pullman.
chicago.suntimes.com
April 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
“People who wore the uniform shouldn’t be living in shelters and shouldn’t be living on the street,” said Doyle, founder of Veteran Roasters, which employs only homeless, at-risk veterans.
chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/04...
chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/04...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children’s Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?”
Museum founder Peggy Montes established Women's History Month in Chicago — and still is a 'lady in motion'
Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children's Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?"
buff.ly
March 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children’s Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?”
Happy Women's History Month! Peggy Montes, now 88, helped elect our first Black mayor Harold Washington, and led the charge to celebrate Women's History Month for the first time in Chicago. For @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...
Peggy Montes helped establish Chicago's Women's History Month — and still is a 'lady in motion'
Peggy Montes started the Bronzeville Children's Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and seeks to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?"
chicago.suntimes.com
March 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Happy Women's History Month! Peggy Montes, now 88, helped elect our first Black mayor Harold Washington, and led the charge to celebrate Women's History Month for the first time in Chicago. For @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
We’re the Chicago Sun-Times Guild, a union that’s been around for decades to protect the future of the Sun-Times newsroom and our dozens of members who have kept it running.
We’ve already seen many colleagues head out the door in the past few weeks. And we’re worried that more could soon follow.
We’ve already seen many colleagues head out the door in the past few weeks. And we’re worried that more could soon follow.
March 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
We’re the Chicago Sun-Times Guild, a union that’s been around for decades to protect the future of the Sun-Times newsroom and our dozens of members who have kept it running.
We’ve already seen many colleagues head out the door in the past few weeks. And we’re worried that more could soon follow.
We’ve already seen many colleagues head out the door in the past few weeks. And we’re worried that more could soon follow.
my dog turned a very bratty 14, so we made her a cake and had grand ol time.
March 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
my dog turned a very bratty 14, so we made her a cake and had grand ol time.
very belatedly, here goes an intro post: I'm a @chicago.suntimes.com reporter writing about the South and West sides on our race, class and communities team! My author page currently reflects an obsession with business + some healthcare but I write a lil bit of everything, so pls email me any tips!
March 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
very belatedly, here goes an intro post: I'm a @chicago.suntimes.com reporter writing about the South and West sides on our race, class and communities team! My author page currently reflects an obsession with business + some healthcare but I write a lil bit of everything, so pls email me any tips!
Reposted by Mariah Rush
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her // Seems the partnerships w local businesses that Yellow Banana promised didn't pan out so well, not for I Love My Coffee Black @mariahrush.bsky.social and I report chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her
Yellow Banana, which got a $20 million city contract to renovate grocery stores on the South and West sides, also promised it would partner with several community-based and Black-owned businesses, inc...
chicago.suntimes.com
March 3, 2025 at 4:40 PM
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her // Seems the partnerships w local businesses that Yellow Banana promised didn't pan out so well, not for I Love My Coffee Black @mariahrush.bsky.social and I report chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
another one w/@bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: 'She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her' chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her
Yellow Banana, which got a $20 million city contract to renovate grocery stores on the South and West sides, also promised it would partner with several community-based and Black-owned businesses, inc...
chicago.suntimes.com
March 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
another one w/@bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: 'She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her' chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which closes on Wednesday, is one of five closings in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 over three years. trib.al/PNwvowg
Walgreens set to close in Bronzeville: 'It's gonna hurt'
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which shuts Wednesday, joins five total closing in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 stores over...
trib.al
February 26, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which closes on Wednesday, is one of five closings in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 over three years. trib.al/PNwvowg
A Walgreens in Bronzeville closes today, leaving residents — many of them seniors — w/out a nearby pharmacy chain: chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
Walgreens set to close in Bronzeville: 'It's gonna hurt'
The Bronzeville Walgreens, which shuts Wednesday, joins five total closing in Chicago, all on the South and West sides of the city. The stores are part of the company’s plan to close 1,200 stores over...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
A Walgreens in Bronzeville closes today, leaving residents — many of them seniors — w/out a nearby pharmacy chain: chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...
“The 2020 surge felt like guilt-shopping after George Floyd. Real support means consistency — not just buying Black when it’s trending,” said Courtney Woods, co-owner of Da Book Joint in South Shore. chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
Black bookstores saw a spike in interest after 2020's social justice movement. But that support has waned, they say, and with the economic downturn since the pandemic and competition from online retai...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
“The 2020 surge felt like guilt-shopping after George Floyd. Real support means consistency — not just buying Black when it’s trending,” said Courtney Woods, co-owner of Da Book Joint in South Shore. chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...
Reposted by Mariah Rush
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle now after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0... by @mariahrush.bsky.social
chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0... by @mariahrush.bsky.social
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
Black bookstores saw a spike in interest after 2020's social justice movement. But that support has waned, they say, and with the economic downturn since the pandemic and competition from online retai...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle now after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0... by @mariahrush.bsky.social
chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0... by @mariahrush.bsky.social
NEW today w/ @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: Save A Lot owner struggles with city expectations, owing $1.7M to contractors and $47K in fines/bills. The new West Garfield Park store has been cited several times for overflowing dumpsters and rodent issues.
February 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
NEW today w/ @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: Save A Lot owner struggles with city expectations, owing $1.7M to contractors and $47K in fines/bills. The new West Garfield Park store has been cited several times for overflowing dumpsters and rodent issues.