@mack_liederman

Reporting fellow @NYTimes

nytimes.com/by/mack-liederman
Joined January 2020
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I'm honored to be joining @Nytimes in June as a reporting fellow! Thankful for 5 great years in Chicago, where @BlockClubCHI took a chance on me. I covered a bit of everything and found a city full of colorful people with unmatched pride for their communities. You'll be missed.
NYTimes Communications
@NYTimesPRMar 31
We’re pleased to introduce the 2026-27 @nytimes fellowship class. nytco.com/press/introducing-…
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My last story for Block Club is about the city's oldest bowling alley — in the basement of a Northwest Side catholic school. Immaculate Conception's alley has survived 102 years with students as pinsetters and a Monday league still chasing a perfect game. blockclubchicago.org/2026/05…

Chicago’s Oldest Bowling Alley Is In The Basement Of A Northwest Side Catholic School

Immaculate Conception School's 102-year-old alley has survived with students serving as pinsetters and a Monday night league still chasing an elusive perfect game.

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Mack Liederman retweeted
Gregory Royal Pratt@royalprattMay 8
Cheese Grater Guy salutes @mack_liederman at his @BlockClubCHI going away party
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Jared Rutecki@JaredRuteckiMay 4
Chicago Tonight | Week in Review: Illinois Commission Releases ‘Midway Blitz’ Report; Government Shutdown Ends, with @HeatherCherone @monicaeng @mack_liederman @JakeSheridan_ & host @ndblumberg news.wttw.com/2026/05/01/wee…

Week in Review: Illinois Commission Releases ‘Midway Blitz’ Report; Government Shutdown Ends

A state commission says federal immigration agents were violent and lawless during “Operation Midway Blitz.” And Democrats weigh a response after the U.S. Supreme Court further hobbles the Voting...

news.wttw.com
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Skyway Lanes, the city's last Black-owned bowling alley, survived for a year after a viral fundraiser. On Sunday its bowlers left with pins — and without a place to play. Sights and sounds from Skyway's last day w/ @colinbphoto: blockclubchicago.org/2026/04…

As Skyway Lanes Closes, Hundreds Say Goodbye To City's Last Black-Owned Bowling Alley

The Far South Side alley survived for a year after a viral fundraiser. On Sunday, its bowlers left with pins — and without a place to play.

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Former Chicago mobster Frank Calabrese wore a wire against his father. Now he's selling Cameos for $15 and speaking 4x a day at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas. As the mob retreats, a few "celebrity gangsters" like Calabrese are stepping into full-time jobs: blockclubchicago.org/2026/04…

Former Chicago Mobster Finds 'Straight And Narrow' As Daily Speaker At Vegas Museum

Frank Calabrese Jr. has only had one taker for his $15 Cameo videos — but he's turned a lifetime of gangster stories into a second act.

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I talked shop with @JacobyCochran @JustinKaufmann about Bears stadium moves, CTA security and where the Bulls go from here for @CityCastChicago podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

How Close Are Bears to New Stadium? Plus, Bulls Clean House

Podcast Episode · City Cast Chicago · April 24 · 39m

podcasts.apple.com
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Cubs on Wrigley Rat: “As an open venue in a big city, rodent abatement is something we do year-round. We understand how important it is for our fans to have a positive experience and keeping our ballpark clean and safe is always a top priority.” blockclubchicago.org/2026/04…

Wrigley Field Rat With 'Cocky Attitude' Delights Cubs Fans

It's not the first time a rat was spotted at the Friendly Confines — but this one might have been the boldest yet.

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Comedian @Tompapa on seeing the Wrigley Rat from his seats in Section 14: “Everyone was very excited. It was like a Mickey Mouse sighting at Disney Land.”
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South Side icon Filbert's Root Beer is turning 100 years old. The third-generation business started during Prohibition but dates back further to milk deliveries via horse and buggy. Ron Filbert still bottles soda on a 1920s-era machine in McKinley Park. blockclubchicago.org/2026/04…

For 100 Years, Filbert’s Has Made Root Beer The 'Old Time' Way: 'Do It Well And Right'

The family-owned soda business took off during Prohibition in McKinley Park and has survived the advent of mass-market drinks in plastic bottles.

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The infamous "Puffy Coat Bandits" were caught again red-handed last week at a Downtown Cheesecake Factory. Police now believe the theft ring has been going on for five years with at least 10 members. blockclubchicago.org/2026/04…

'Puffy Coat Bandits' Part Of Crime Ring That's Targeted Downtown Diners For Years, Police Say

After gaining infamy in 2023 for a spree of thefts at North Side restaurants, the pickpockets were caught again at a Downtown Cheesecake Factory. Police believe their crime ring includes at least 10...

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Mack Liederman retweeted
Colin Boyle@colinbphotoMar 31
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 blockclubchicago.org/2026/03…

Skyway Lanes, Chicago’s Last Black-Owned Bowling Alley, Closing After 'Surge' Of Support Fades

A fundraiser to save the Far South Side bowling alley drew over $25,000 in donations, but that still wasn't enough for the second-generation owners to fix the alley’s financial problems.

blockclubchicago.org
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After 92 years, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop was sold to a national chain — with its iconic Chicago neon sign quietly hauled away to a restoration warehouse in DeKalb. “We need to figure out how the goal of preservation becomes more important than profiting.” blockclubchicago.org/2026/03…

As Chicago Loses Another Iconic Neon Sign, Preservationists Sound The Alarm

There are about 30 mid-century neon signs remaining in Chicago — but no clear incentives for owners to keep them up when their small businesses close, preservationists said.

blockclubchicago.org
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Waymo is sending cars — with drivers, for now — onto Chicago streets today for mapping and data collection. The company needs Illinois state driving law to change before it can launch self-driving cabs. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02…

Waymo Starts Testing Self-Driving Cars In Chicago — But With Drivers, For Now

The self-driving cars, staged in a Downtown parking lot Tuesday, will hit the roads with the help of drivers Wednesday for "mapping and early data collection," a Waymo spokesperson said.

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Mack Liederman retweeted
Gregory Royal Pratt@royalprattFeb 19
Warlord star chef Trevor Fleming has been sharing sexual photos of women without consent and berating staffers for years, witnesses said. It was an open secret in the industry — and it’s time for accountability, they said. Solid reporting @ArielParrella blockclubchicago.org/2026/02…

Warlord Chef's Abuse Went Unchecked For Years, Women And Ex-Workers Say

Warlord star chef Trevor Fleming has been sharing sexual photos of women without consent and berating staffers for years, witnesses said. It was an open secret in the industry — and it's time for...

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A statue of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini will replace the removed Columbus statue in Little Italy's Arrigo Park. The city held a public vote to pick an Italian-American for the honor. Results: Cabrini: 1,500 votes Enrico Fermi: 648 Antonin Scalia: 597 blockclubchicago.org/2026/02…

Columbus Statue In Little Italy Park To Be Replaced By One Of Mother Cabrini, Park District Says

Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint, easily won a public vote to determine a replacement for the Columbus statue that was controversially removed by the city in 2020.

blockclubchicago.org
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Breaking: Mayor Brandon Johnson uses second veto of his term to block city ban on intoxicating hemp products. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02…

Mayor Vetoes Controversial Ban On Intoxicating Hemp Products

Mayor Brandon Johnson has long backed hemp businesses, pointing to minority operators locked out of the state’s limited legal cannabis rollout. His veto — the second of his term — now puts him at...

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From Jan 2023-Oct 2025, Black drivers received 30k+ traffic tickets across Chicago — 21k+ more than white drivers. Data crunch w/ @BauerJournalism shows Black drivers were over-ticketed 6x their population share in some majority white North Side areas. blockclubchicago.org/2026/02…

Black, Hispanic Drivers Get Majority Of Chicago's Traffic Tickets — Including In Mostly White Areas

The study comes as the Police Department negotiates a new policy around traffic stops, which reform advocates say has been widely abused by officers fishing for evidence of more serious crimes,...

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Block Club Chicago
@BlockClubCHIFeb 11
Facebook removed Chicago’s most popular ICE sighting page. Now, its founder is suing. blockclubchi.co/46K4h2C
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Jon Seidel@SeidelContentFeb 7
This is a great round-up of Operation Midway Blitz cases that have collapsed at Chicago’s federal courthouse. From @CharlesThr47541 and @mack_liederman, via @BlockClubCHI: blockclubchicago.org/2026/02…

Trump’s DOJ Keeps Losing Cases Against Protesters — But Charging Aims To 'Stifle Dissent,' Experts...

The Justice Department's approach to charging protesters and others accused of assaulting or impeding immigration agents is confounding veteran attorneys and judges.

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