WBEZ News

The outgoing state’s attorney says she still has wounds from breaking the glass ceiling, but she’s proud of her choices.

The fitting prize for a competition to see who looks most like the star of “The Bear?” Fifty bucks and a pack of Marlboro Red cigarettes.

With a residency at Dorian’s and a Lollapalooza debut in her recent rearview mirror, the Chicago singer reflects on what it takes to feel good in what she wears.

This fall, twenty-six-year-old Chicago saxophonist Isaiah Collier 
 and his band released a new album called THE WORLD IS ON FIRE. 
 
 The title says it all. Collier [CALL-ee-er] feels like the past few years have been apocalyptic. 
 
 Between sets at the Jazz Showcase, the musician spoke with WBEZ contributor Hannah Edgar about the inspirations for his most blistering music yet. 
 HOST: DIXON

Chicago’s Southeast side is home to the city’s largest industrial corridor. In recent years, environmental justice activists there have successfully pushed back NEW industrial development.
 
 But now their tactics are under threat… Just as President Trump prepares to settle back into the White House.
 
 WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco has the story. 
 HOST: LARA

Wanna get away? Then you might be jealous of Ellery Jones. 
 
 The Sun-Times journalist traveled to Miami this week on Amtrak's temporary Floridian route. 
 
 She spent two days riding the rails ... and joins us now to break down her journey. 
 
 HOST: DIXON

The Pitchfork Music Festival announced yesterday that the 2025 edition won’t be held in Chicago.
 
 This comes as a big surprise to Chicago’s music scene, as Pitchfork has called the city home for the past 19 years
 
 Here to break this move down is WBEZ contributor Mark Guarino. Mark, thanks for joining us.
 HOST: LARA

President-elect Donald Trump has been light on details for his housing agenda. 
 
 But his former housing secretary Ben Carson wrote the housing portion of Project 2025 – from the right wing Heritage Foundation.
 
 To understand what THAT plan could mean for Chicago and Illinois… WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang sat down with Daniel Kay Hertz. 
 
 He’s the director of housing for Chicago-based think tank Impact for Equity. 
 HOST: DIXON

Local actor Jon Michael Hill has had a busy year. 
 
 This spring, he appeared in the Netflix series A Man in Full and starred 
 
 in Steppenwolf’s Broadway-bound play, Purpose.
 
 Now he’s back on stage at Steppenwolf in the world premiere, Leroy and Lucy, by playwright Ngozi Anyanwu [N-guh-zee Aye-ahn-woo]. It draws inspiration from the myth of Blues legend Robert Johnson.
 
 WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis visited Hill at rehearsal and filed this audio postcard. 
 
 HOST: DIXON

In last week’s general election, president-elect Donald Trump won more votes from Latinos than he did in 2020. 
 
 And that includes Latinos here in Chicago. 
 
 Laura Rodriguez Presa is a reporter with the Chicago Tribune. 
 
 She went to the heart of the city's Latino population -- in Little Village and Pilsen -- and talked to voters.
 
 HOST: PUENTE

This week concluded with dramatic testimony from a government informant who wore a wire and made many secret recordings that were played at trial.
 
 WBEZ’s Dave McKinney has been at the Dirksen Federal Building, and he’s here today to bring us up to speed on this historic trial.
 
 HOST: LARA

Ahead of Tuesday’s election, it wasn’t clear if Chicago’s just appointed school board members could stay on past January. 
 
 That’s when a new, partly appointed, partly elected board will be seated.
 
 Turns out, all six members that the mayor just appointed in October after his other board resigned en masse are eligible to stay.
 
 That’s the latest development shaping Chicago’s first-ever elected school board.
 WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp is here to tell us more about what to expect from Chicago’s new school board.
 HOST: LARA

That’s Joel Davis.
 
 He spent more than three decades in Illinois prisons, where he lost his right to vote.
 
 But he was released this year.
 
 And on Tuesday, WBEZ producer Lauren Frost tagged along as he cast his ballot… experiencing the joy AND the challenges of voting for the first time. HOST: LARA

Ahead of a second Trump term, lawmakers, attorneys and organizers aim to preserve Chicago’s sanctuary status and protect immigrant rights. Reporter: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad; Host: Melba Lara

Lots of people had to wait in some pretty long lines to cast their ballots in this week’s election.
 
 But one south suburban man has been waiting to vote … for nearly four decades.
 
 That’s how long Stanley Howard spent in Illinois prisons after being convicted of a murder he didn’t commit.
 
 He’s now free, and WBEZ’s Alex Keefe tagged along as he voted for the first time.
 
 HOST: DIXON

Soprano Karen Slack is kicking off her residency at Chicago’s Lyric opera with a full recital.
 
 She will perform Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice on Tuesday. Which she says has renewed relevance given the results of this week’s presidential election.
 
 WBEZ arts reporter Courtney Kueppers sat down with Slack backstage at the Lyric Opera House in October and has this audio postcard. 
 HOST: DIXON

So much of what we hear about life in Gaza comes second hand. 
 
 A deal with student protestors could change that for members of the Northwestern University community.
 
 The agreement that ended the pro-Palestinian encampment last spring is bringing two professors and five students from Gaza to the Evanston campus.
 
 WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip has the story of one of the professors.
 He arrived a month ago after leaving his entire life behind. 
 HOST: DIXON

For the first time, Chicagoans voted for the first-ever Chicago Public School Elected School Board. 
 
 I spoke with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp this morning about the outcome of yesterday’s inaugural election.

A new opera draws inspiration from the infamous Chicago murder trial a century ago of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. The grisly killing of 14-year-old Bobby Franks by two University of Chicago students shocked the nation. HindSight is a joint production of Chicago Fringe Opera and Kor Productions. It runs through Saturday at Chicago Dramatists. WBEZ contributor Hannah Edgar reports from the rehearsal room. 
 HOST: DIXON

The Democrats dominate Illinois.
 
 But there are some strong Donald Trump supporters in the Chicago area, too.
 
 And one especially big Trump fan here goes to work each day - right in the middle of a diverse strip mall in the suburbs.
 
 WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos takes us there.
 HOST: PUENTE

Today is Chicago Housing Authority CEO Tracey Scott’s last day at the agency. 
 
 Her departure was announced earlier this week. 
 
 WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang went out to see what current residents and advocates want to see in the next leader. 
 HOST: LANE

Next week, voters will choose her successor. 
 
 Foxx announced months ago she would not be seeking re-election.
 
 She came into office in 2016 with a surge of so-called progressive prosecutors.
 
 Her tenure has been marked by almost constant criticism…but it also marked a historic shift in Cook County’s approach to crime and justice.
 
 WBEZ criminal justice editor Patrick Smith covered Foxx throughout her time in office and joins me now.
 HOST: DIXON

Thousands of migrants have come to Chicago in the last two years seeking asylum in the United States. 
 
 For many of those newcomers, the deadline to apply is just around the corner. 
 
 But free or low cost immigration clinics are overwhelmed. 
 
 WBEZ’s Adriana Cardona Maguigad recently visited volunteers trying to fill the service gap.
 
 HOST: DIXON

He’s now proposing to raise property taxes to help close a nearly $1billion dollar budget gap and avoid layoffs and deep cuts.
 
 He unveiled his $17-point-3 billion dollar budget plan today [WED] for next year.
 
 Here to provide a breakdown of what in the proposal is WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg from City Hall.

A new documentary called The Last Republican follows conservative Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger as he tries to hold Donald Trump accountable for the January 6 Capitol riots. Filmmaker Steve Pink premiered the movie at the Toronto and Chicago International Film Festivals, but it has not been picked up yet for wider distribution. 
 HOST: DIXON

He’s now proposing to raise property taxes to help close a nearly $1-billion dollar budget gap and avoid layoffs and deep cuts.
 
 He unveiled his $17-point-3 billion dollar budget plan today for next year.
 
 Here to provide a breakdown of what in the proposal is WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg from City Hall.
 HOST: LABUZ

Thousands of community members recently gathered outside Foreman College and Career Academy on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
 
 They were celebrating Halloween at an annual Trunk or Treat put on by local volunteers. 
 
 WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana was there. 
 HOST: DIXON

For undocumented students with college dreams, Illinois is one of the better states to be.
 
 It’s one of 19 where they can get state funding and pay in-state tuition rates for higher education. 
 
 Just as important are the adults here working overtime to help students navigate a maze of paperwork and find a campus where they can succeed.
 
 WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip takes us to Mansueto High School in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood to meet some of them.
 HOST: DIXON

Illinois has a highly competitive congressional race this year that covers a large part of northwestern, western, and central Illinois.
 
 WBEZ’s Alex Degman reports on the race for Illinois’ 17th Congressional District.
 HOST: LABUZ

Psychedelic soul and R-and-B singer Manasseh is known for his breathtaking vocals and myriad collaborations.
 
 But the Chicagoan has also earned a reputation for his memorable outfits. 
 
 In a new fashion series from WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo, the songwriter and performer dishes on the origins of his distinct style.
 
 Morgan Ciocca filed this audio postcard.
 HOST: DIXON

Democrats hold every statewide constitutional office - from the Governor to the Comptroller.
 
 And the House and Senate at the state capitol are overwhelmingly blue. 
 
 Every seat in the Illinois State House is up for election this year. 
 
 And as November fifth draws near, Democratic leaders are hoping to not only hold on to their supermajority, but also grow it.
 
 WBEZ’s Mawa Iqbal has more. 
 
 HOST: DIXON

Chicago’s Lyric Opera has a new general director. 
 
 John Mangum took the reins earlier this month. He’s only the fifth person to run the internationally renowned company … and hails not from the opera, but the symphony. 
 
 WBEZ arts and culture reporter Courtney Kueppers visited Mangum at Lyric Opera House to talk about his plans.
 HOST: DIXON

The federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan finally got underway this week.
 
 Jurors heard witnesses describe how Madigan would use his enormous power in the House.
 
 WBEZ’s Dave McKinney covered Madigan for decades at the statehouse and has been in the federal court building in Chicago all week. 
 
 Dave joins me now to catch us up to speed on this momentous trial.
 HOST: LABUZ

Big pharma is throwing a lot of campaign money at IL congressional members as we approach the election. 
 
 All 17 Illinois incumbents are up for re-election, and some have received thousands in contributions from pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer.
 
 Chicago Sun-Times reporter Robert Herguth has been following the money, he’s here with me now. 
 
 Good Morning, Robert. 
 HOST: DIXON

Illinois lawmakers introduce thousands of bills every year – and sometimes one of them seems really popular.
 
 People flood the capitol in support chanting and carrying signs, lawmakers are hashing it out with each other and meeting with constituents. It’s getting a lot of media coverage.
 
 But even if the momentum seems there, sometimes the bill just dies – for any number of reasons. 
 
 WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman gives us one example of how a bill moves and, sometimes, doesn't… as part of our Democracy Solutions Project. 
 HOST: DIXON

Refracted Theater moved from New York City to Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic….
 
 and has since made its name as a theater that challenges conventional ideas.
 
 The group’s latest play, Coronation, imagines a United States where women create a monarchy.
 
 As WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis found on opening night, the play is equal parts edgy and funny. 
 HOST: DIXON

Death is the great equalizer …. AND it can be a taboo topic. One Chicago artist wants to bring conversations about death and dying out of the shadows. 
 
 WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers has more on how artist Anders Zanichkowsky is putting a twist on an ancient practice of weaving burial blankets. 
 HOST: DIXON

Landlords in the Chicago area are using real estate software made by RealPage, a tech company that may be engaging in an illegal price-fixing scheme to drive up rents, according to an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and a class-action lawsuit filed by 12 former tenants.
 
 The company’s own report in May confirms that their rent-pricing algorithm is used in metro Chicago.
 
 
 
 Good morning, Amy. Good morning, Andjela. 
 HOST: DIXON

Non-standard auto insurers – they’re known for covering drivers with bad records or those struggling financially.
 
 But a Sun-Times analysis finds these insurance companies have far higher rates of complaints than the more well-known, bigger name insurers.
 
 I’m joined now by Sun-Times Consumer Investigations reporter Stephanie Zimmermann to discuss this trend… Stephanie, welcome.
 HOST: LARA

In the fight against climate change, one technology aims to inject carbon emissions deep underground.
 
 And Illinois is on the forefront of what’s become a booming business.
 But in recent months, residents have learned of leaks at the country’s first commercial carbon sequestration facility, in central Illinois. 
 
 Now, they’re demanding more guardrails.
 
 WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco recently traveled to Decatur, Illinois and has the story. 
 HOST: DIXON

With Vice President Kamala Harris expected to win Illinois, hundreds of Democratic volunteers from the Chicago area are spending their weekends carpooling to swing states. 
 
 They’re knocking on doors of potential voters in Wisconsin and Michigan, where the race for president is tight.
 
 Many volunteers have issues they want to talk to voters about, like abortion rights. 
 
 WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch tagged along one day. 
 HOST: DIXON

One of Chicago’s most buzzed about new cultural venues isn’t a fancy theater or mega arena. 
 
 It’s a tiny hidden performance room in the Loop. 
 
 WBEZ reporter Mike Davis went on the hunt to find Guarneri Hall.
 HOST: DIXON

This fall, the racial demographics of first year students at selective colleges are under the microscope.
 
 Last year, the Supreme Court all but banned universities from considering the race of applicants in order to diversify their campuses. 
 
 Now - enrollment numbers are coming in for the first freshman class admitted under the new legal precedent - and people are poring over the data to gauge its impact.
 
 WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip talked with the policy director of the nonprofit Education Reform Now, James Murphy, about what he sees in the numbers … and the pitfalls of reading too much into them. 
 
 HOST: DIXON

Former President Donald Trump has historically had a rocky relationship with Chicago. 
 
 But he got a warmer reception today - when Trump spoke downtown at the Economic Club of Chicago.
 
 WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos covered the speech and joins me now.
 
 HOST: LARA

Chicago’s largest tent encampment is in Humboldt Park.
 
 Until recently, that Northwest Side greenspace had about a hundred inhabitants. 
 
 The number is headed down as the city provides rent-free apartments to some of them.
 
 But there aren’t enough units for all the park’s unhoused people.
 
 And city officials say, apartment or not, everyone will have to leave the park.
 
 A former leader of a street gang tells WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell he won’t settle for a shelter bed.
 HOST: DIXON

Between 10 and 20% of pregnancies in the U.S. end in miscarriage. 
 
 In the two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, women across the country have been feeling the impact of restrictions to reproductive healthcare. 
 
 In their new book, I'm Sorry for My Loss, two journalists and life-long friends from Chicago examine the grief of pregnancy loss and how we as a culture address it. 
 
 Rebecca Little and Colleen Long sat down with WBEZ host, Lisa Labuz.
 HOST: DIXON

Girls flag football is on the rise in Illinois. 
 
 This fall, over a hundred and fifty teams are competing for the sport’s first ever state championship. 
 
 WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko brings you this story from the Taft High School stadium on the Northwest Side.

The Nobel prize in economics has been awarded to James Robinson of the University of Chicago and two economists from MIT – Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson. 
 
 They’re honored for “demonstrating the importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity.”
 
 They found that societies with poor rule of law and exploitative institutions do NOT generate sustainable growth.
 
 Professor Robinson spoke with WBEZ’s Morning Edition host, Mary Dixon.

Ahead of next month’s election – Illinois election officials say misinformation poses the biggest threat to undermining the integrity of the vote.
 
 The last two presidential elections were marked by Russian interference and false claims of voter fraud.
 
 As part of the Democracy Solutions Project - WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg has more on how election officials are trying to restore voters’ trust.
 HOST: DIXON

A new housing policy aimed at slowing gentrification and displacement in some of Chicago’s hottest real estate markets went into effect this week. 
 
 So what does the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance mean – for residents, property owners and developers? And will the ordinance accomplish what it aims to do? 
 
 WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang sat down with University of Chicago Assistant Professor Robin Bartram to discuss the new policy. 
 HOST: LARA