Bernie Tafoya
I’m a lifelong Chicagoan and could never see myself living anywhere else (except maybe Hawaii!).
I was born on the North Side in 1958 but have lived all but the first three months of my life on the South Side. That said, thank (or is that curse?) the ’69 Cubs for making me such a die-hard Cubs fan.
I grew up in the projects–the CHA’s Trumbull Park Homes in the South Deering neighborhood. I graduated from O.T. Bright Public School, Mendel Catholic College Prep, and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
I’ve been with WBBM Newsradio 780 since 1986 and think I have one of the best jobs around. I’m a general assignment reporter and cover everything from education and politics (including Democratic National Conventions 1996, 2000 and 2008) to crime and religion (including the Catholic Bishops Conference in Dallas that dealt with the priest sex abuse scandal).
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I’ve reported tragedies and thrills such as the Amtrak train crash in Bourbonnais and how much fun it was to ride for nearly an hour aboard one of the Blue Angels FA-18 fighter jets.
My work has been honored numerous times over the past 25-plus years. Among those honors: Best Reporter awards from the Associated Press and United Press International, Peter Lisagor Awards from the Chicago Headline Club, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Boyden Award from the Chicago Journalists Association.
I love to workout, bicycle and visit major league baseball parks all over the country. I’ve also started taking up golf so be careful if you happen to be near a course. I never quite know where the ball is going.
I live in the Beverly/Morgan Park community on the Southwest Side and have three adult children of whom I’m very proud.
If you have any questions or comments or would like to e-mail a news tip to me, use the links above!
Thanks for listening!
Busy Holiday Weekend To Kick Off Summer Travel Season
The busy summer travel season got underway on Thursday, as many travelers got an early start to the Memorial Day weekend.
Two Hurt When CTA Bus Crashes Into Building In Chicago Lawn
A police officer said someone cut off the bus, and when the bus driver slammed on the brakes, the bus slid on wet heavy metal sheeting on the roadway, then crossed into oncoming traffic, and hit a building.
Illinois Requires Annual Severe Weather Drills At Schools
In case you’re wondering, after seeing the devastation in Oklahoma this week, Illinois schools are required by the State Board of Education to conduct severe weather drills once a year.
Red Line Reconstruction Work Could Force Street Vendors To Move Shop
When the reconstruction of the Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line begins Sunday, it could have a ripple effect on people who make their livings selling items on the street near CTA stations on the South Side.
IDOT Secretary Urges Lawmakers To Reject 70 MPH Highway Speed Limit
The state’s top transportation official would like to slow momentum for a move to increase the top speed limit in Illinois.
State, Local Police To Step Up Enforcement Of Traffic Violations
State and local police say they’re beefing up traffic patrol as we move toward the Memorial Day weekend and the summer travel season, reports WBBM’s Bernie Tafoya.
Supporters, Critics Write Letters To Judge Ahead Of Jacksons’ Sentencing
As former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson, await sentencing on corruption charges, several people have sent in letters in an effort to influence the punishment a federal judge will mete out in July.
Breast Cancer Survivor To Throw Out First Pitch At Cubs Game
Wrigley Field is going to be ‘in the pink” today when the Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals.
Red Cross Opens Expanded Facility On West Side
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago cut the ribbon on its expanded facility this morning at 2220 W. Harrison in the Medical District on the West Side.
CTA Defends Replacing Private Security Guards With Customer Service Reps
CTA President Forrest Claypool said the customer service reps will offer a stable presence at CTA stations, and know the community where they work.
McHenry Task Force Makes 9 Arrests In Harvard Gang Suppression Effort
A special anti-gang unit has set up operations in far northwestern Harvard, and officials say it’s already yielding results.
Commission Miscalculates Financial Aid Money, Reduces Grants For 10K Students
A miscalculation by a state agency could cost several thousand Illinois college students are losing some of their financial aid from the state, though colleges might make up the difference.
Golden Apple Award For Englewood Teacher Who Teaches Shakespearean Trash Talk
A freshman English teacher at a South Side high school has become the first of ten area teachers to be surprised in their schools with Golden Apple Awards.
$1,000 Reward Offered For Info On Shooting Death Of Evanston Man
Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the person who shot to death a 19-year old Evanston man who was standing outside his grandmother’s house last fall.
Hinsdale Might Install Barriers Downtown To Stop Cars From Hitting Buildings
Officials in west suburban Hinsdale are considering installing reinforced posts in the village’s downtown business district, as a way to prevent cars from jumping the curb and hitting buildings.
AAA: Flooding Has Gas Prices Going Back Up, But Temporarily
Chicago area gasoline prices have been on a roller coaster the past few weeks. Right now, they’re on the upswing, but analysts don’t expect the increase to last long.
City To Treat 35,000 Trees To Protect Against Emerald Ash Borer
The city’s war against the tree-killing Emerald Ash Borer was kicked up quite a few notches on Wednesday.
A Tale Of Two Restaurants: Flood Damage Varies Depending On Preparations
Two eateries next door to each other in northwest suburban River Grove were in very different stages of cleanup on Tuesday, as flood waters from the Des Plaines River slowly receded.
Red Cross Providing Shelter For 200 Affected By Floods
The American Red Cross has opened seven shelters to provide relief for nearly 200 people who were forced from their homes this week by flooding in Cook, DuPage, Lake, and DeKalb counties.
Evans Hopes Cook County Courts Can Get Cameras Soon
With a high-profile triple murder trial underway in DuPage County with a camera in the courtroom, Cook County’s chief judge was left wondering when Chicago would be able to follow suit within its own court system.
Most Popular News
- Rev. Jackson: School Closings UndemocraticOpponents of Chicago school closures are vowing to fight on, but they appear to have little chance of reversing the mayor's agenda... unless a federal judge steps in, reports WBBM's Mike Krauser.90
- Mount Prospect Man Falls To Death From Albany Park RoofA Mount Prospect man fell to his death from a roof in Albany Park Friday afternoon.113
- 3 Dead, 8 Hurt In Shootings Since Friday NightThe most recent fatal shooting happened about 1:50 a.m. Saturday in the Hyde Park community, roughly half a mile from President Barack Obama’s home in neighboring Kenwood.198
- Some People You Should Know: The MelodeersIt all began when barbershop patrons started singing while waiting to get their hair cut. A century or so later, the Melodeers chorus is taking the music to a dazzling new height with 140 ladies singing in unaccompanied four-part harmony. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield reports.155
- Mother Of Student Pushed Down School Stairs ‘Enraged’ At Security GuardNew video surfaced Friday that appears to show sophomore Lauren Goodlow being pushed by a male security guard. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports.329
- House Passes Concealed Carry Plan Opposed By Senate LeaderGun owners in the only state still banning concealed weapons would win that right under a plan approved by the Illinois House on Friday, but the governor and other powerful Democrats oppose the plan because it would wipe out local gun ordinances -- including Chicago's ban on assault weapons.220
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Twitter Updates
- Roseland Hospital cuts staff, salaries to keep doors open cbsloc.al/10rLkuW 59 minutes ago
- 3 killed & 8 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago since Friday evening. cbsloc.al/10r9XYS 2 hours ago
