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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Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was President George W. Bush's labor secretary and served in top transportation jobs in the first Bush and Reagan administrations. -
United Airlines will offer extra low fares to passengers willing to board last and carry only one bag that fits under the seat. Critics say this "basic economy" class could worsen flying for everyone. -
The Federal Railroad Administration says many railroads are behind schedule in installing technology that could prevent crashes. It would slow or stop a train if the human operator failed to do so. -
Last year, Americans logged more than 3.1 trillion miles and 35,092 people died on the nation's roadways. Now, there's a plan to eliminate traffic fatalities within 30 years. -
The White House is announcing proposed rules intended to address common passenger complaints about airline customer service. -
The city is hiring nearly 1,000 thousand police officers over the next two years. Mayor Rahm Emanuel will outline a broader effort to try to reduce gun violence in a speech Thursday night.
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Federal officials implemented rules to allow for commercial operations of the small, unmanned aircraft. The rules will also impact on how the media can use drones in news and documentary coverage.
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American Airlines is urging pilots and crews to fly faster and take shorter routes to decrease delays. The pilot union says this "pilot pushing," as they call it, will thin the margins of safety. -
Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled after a power outage in Atlanta that affected the whole computer system. The airline hasn't said what caused the outage.
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Chicago has a bad rat problem, and it gets worse when old buildings are demolished. Residents of a Chicago neighborhood decided to counter the rat invasion with natural enemies — feral cats.
