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Somer Van Benton on Muck Rack

Somer Van Benton

(She/Her)
Chicago
As seen in: NPR, Chicago Sun-Times, La Voz Chicago, WBEZ-FM (Chicago, IL)
Covers:  Art, Culture, Community, Black History, Entertainment
finding inspo in everyday life

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Somer Van Benton’s Biography

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Somer Van Benton is an award-winning journalist covering culture, community, and entertainment. Her reporting explores how individuals, institutions, and cultural moments shape one another, with a particular focus on Black communities and the broader forces that influence everyday life.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Howard University and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School. Her work has appeared on WBEZ Chicago and N…

Somer Van Benton’s Journalist Portfolio

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'A ray of sunshine with basketballs': WNBA All-Star Weekend lights up Chicago

'A ray of sunshine with basketballs': WNBA All-Star Weekend lights up Chicago

The WNBA host the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend events in Chicago.

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What to know about diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis in Illinois

What to know about diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis in Illinois

Illinois reports 309 cases of the intestinal infection that causes "explosive diarrhea." Taylor Farms volunta…

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South and West sides have highest rates of infant sleep deaths in Cook County

South and West sides have highest rates of infant sleep deaths in Cook County

Researchers found 208 sudden and unexpected infant deaths in Cook County from 2019 to 2023, with many concent…

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Forever Mine Festival brings Y2K nostalgia and Chicago house culture to Union Park

Forever Mine Festival brings Y2K nostalgia and Chicago house culture to Union Park

Day 1 of the inaugural festival was a celebration of house music, 2000s R&B and the city's Black and brown cu…

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As Red Line expands, South and West Siders run along 103rd Street to imagine something new

As Red Line expands, South and West Siders run along 103rd Street to imagine something new

Hundreds of Chicagoans gathered Saturday for the inaugural 103rd Street 5K Peace Walk/Run and sparked a conve…

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Women in Illinois prisons reclaim their beauty with limited resources

Women in Illinois prisons reclaim their beauty with limited resources

Some people locked up in prison in Illinois say personal appearance takes on a whole new significance behind …

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Articles

Rubber duck race helps Special Olympics pay the bills Original

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By Somer Van Benton
| Chicago Sun-Times Verified
More than 90,000 rubber ducks raced/floated/bobbed haphazardly toward the finish line near the Columbus Drive Bridge Thursday morning as thousands of spectators lined the Riverwalk to cheer them on. It was all part of what has become an annual tradition to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois. Since 2005, the Chicago Ducky Derby has invited people to adopt rubber ducks starting at $10 each, with bigger sponsor packs available.
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Lo que debes saber sobre la ciclosporiasis, infección que está provocando diarrea en Illinois Original

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By Mary Norkol Verified, Elijah James, Somer Van Benton
| La Voz Chicago Verified
El mejor lugar para cobertura de noticias y cultura latina en Chicago. En Illinois se han confirmado 995 casos de la enfermedad que causa diarrea, ciclosporiasis, confirmó el martes el Departamento de Salud Pública del estado. La ciclosporiasis no se considera mortal y es en casos raros, una molestia que puede presentar complicaciones, aseguró la Dra. Emily Landon, especialista en enfermedades infecciosas de University of Chicago Medicine.
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