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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Old reports of safety concerns regarding Boeing's scrutinized 737 Max jets are resurfacing and training procedures are getting fresh scrutiny.
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President Trump is nominating Stephen Dickson, a former Delta Airlines exec, to lead the Federal Aviation Administration while it is being sharply criticized for its oversight of plane manufacturers.
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Some U.S. airlines are scrambling to rebook passengers after the FAA announced it was grounding the Boeing 737 Max fleet. Airlines affected include Southwest, American and United. -
The FAA has grounded all Boeing 737 Max aircraft in the U.S. as investigators probe the cause of the crash in Ethiopia. Also, new information suggests the special counsel's investigation is done.
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The jet crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday killing all 157 people on board. It's the second deadly crash of a Boeing 737 Max 8 jet in five months — raising questions about the plane's safety.
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The dynasty of Daley politicians in Chicago appears to be ending — the city's two top mayoral candidates are African-American women. The women will compete in a runoff election next month.
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Voters in Chicago go to the polls Tuesday to select a mayor, and they've got a lot of choices. More than a dozen candidates are running to succeed Rahm Emanuel, who is stepping down after two terms.
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An "operational emergency" is grounding more than 40 planes at Southwest Airlines because of mechanical problems and creating havoc with travelers.
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A gunman who entered the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Ill., on Friday afternoon, armed with a handgun, killed five civilians, officials said. Five police officers were also wounded.
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Congress is moving to keep air traffic controllers and other FAA employees from feeling the effects of another government shutdown. Could that ease the pressure on leaders to avoid future shutdowns?
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Wind chill warnings stretch from the Dakotas into Western Pennsylvania. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights, and the governors of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois have declared emergencies. -
Flight delays were reported at some major East Coast air hubs, because of absent workers at air traffic control facilities, as the government shutdown entered its 35th day.
