David Schaper
David Schaper is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk, based in Chicago, primarily covering transportation and infrastructure, as well as breaking news in Chicago and the Midwest.
In this role, Schaper covers aviation and airlines, railroads, the trucking and freight industries, highways, transit, and new means of mobility such as ride hailing apps, car sharing, and shared bikes and scooters. In addition, he reports on important transportation safety issues, as well as the politics behind transportation and infrastructure policy and funding.
Since joining NPR in 2002, Schaper has covered some of the nation's most important news stories, including the Sandy Hook school shooting and other mass shootings, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, California wildfires, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and numerous other disasters. David has also reported on presidential campaigns in Iowa and elsewhere, on key races for U.S. Senate and House, governorships, and other offices in the Midwest, and he reported on the rise of Barack Obama from relative political obscurity in Chicago to the White House. Along the way, he's brought listeners and online readers many colorful stories about Chicago politics, including the corruption trials and convictions of two former Illinois governors.
But none of that compares to the joy of covering his beloved Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016, and three Stanley Cup Championships for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
Prior to joining NPR, Schaper spent almost a decade working as an award-winning reporter and editor for WBEZ/Chicago Public Media, NPR's Member station in Chicago. For three years he covered education issues, reporting in-depth on the problems and progress — financial, educational and otherwise — in Chicago's public schools.
Schaper also served as WBEZ's Assistant Managing Editor of News, managing the station's daily news coverage and editing the reporting staff while often still reporting himself. He later served as WBEZ's political editor and reporter; he was a frequent fill-in news anchor and talk show host. Additionally, he has been an occasional contributor guest panelist on Chicago public television station WTTW's news program, Chicago Tonight.
Schaper began his journalism career in La Crosse, Wisconsin, as a reporter and anchor at Wisconsin Public Radio's WLSU-FM. He has since worked in both public and commercial radio news, including stints at WBBM NewsRadio in Chicago, WXRT-FM in Chicago, WDCB-FM in suburban Chicago, WUIS-FM in Springfield, Illinois, WMAY-AM in Springfield, Illinois, and WIZM-AM and FM in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Schaper earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications and history at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master's degree in public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois-Springfield. He lives in Chicago with his wife, a Chicago Public School teacher, and they have three adult children.
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The number of people traveling by air has plummeted more than 90% since the beginning of March. More than half of the employees losing their jobs are being laid off involuntarily. -
The airlines have lost billions of dollars in revenue with virtually no demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Now they are seeing more bookings despite concern from passengers. -
Los Angeles, D.C. And Chicago Still Seeing Plateau, Not Decline In New COVID-19 CasesThe White House says coronavirus indicators are trending down across most of the U.S., but are a concern in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles. City health officials say progress is being made.
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The Department of Transportation received some 25,000 consumer complaints in March and April, up from about 1,500 a month. DOT will also allow airlines to stop serving some cities with little demand. -
Planes are carrying medical personnel, essential workers and people returning from abroad or visiting critically ill relatives. Airlines are blocking middle seats and taking other safety measures. -
Customers will have to wear masks in stations, on trains and on Thruway buses. Amtrak is booking only half of each train's normal capacity, making it easier for passengers to sit farther apart. -
The new reality of social distancing conflicts with tightly packed airplanes. For now, airlines are blocking out middle seats and taking other measures. What happens when more travelers come back?
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Planes are still flying, but most are nearly empty. Some passengers are medical personnel and essential workers — others are people trying to return from abroad or visit critically-ill relatives.
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Southwest, Alaska, American, Delta and United Airlines are joining JetBlue and Frontier in requiring face coverings amid growing pressure from Congress and their own employees. -
Few industries have been as hard hit by the pandemic as airlines, as the number of air travelers has plummeted.
