WBEZ News

Snow. Tornadoes. 70-degree days. Chicagoland has seen it all this winter. Reporter: Lauren Frost; Host: Melba Lara

The have been 248 grievances lodged by migrants staying in more than two dozen city-run shelters between June 2023 and January. WBEZ obtained the grievances through a public records request with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Thousands of migrants — most from Venezuela — have been sent here from southern border states, primarily by the Texas governor, creating an ongoing humanitarian and financial crisis in Chicago. The city opened the shelters specifically to house the influx of migrants.

A Cook County judge has ruled that Donald Trump should be kicked off the Illinois ballot for the March 19th primary.
 
 The former president is vowing to appeal that decision.
 
 This all comes as we wait for a ruling from the U-S Supreme Court over Trump’s removal from the Colorado ballot.
 
 WBEZ politics reporter Dave McKinney spoke with Morning Edition host Mary Dixon.

There is a lot of hand wringing in Chicago about declining enrollment at neighborhood high schools.
 
 But in a few communities, demand is off the charts for spots in high performing schools.
 
 To make sure students are entitled to a seat, one South Side school says it visits the home of every incoming neighborhood student to check that they live in the attendance boundary.
 
 WBEZ reporter Courtney Kueppers told Lisa Labuz that some parents say the process is intrusive and isn’t evenly applied to all families. Host: Mary Dixon

The soundtrack of Palestinian solidarity is being created in Chicago. 
 
 
 The album The Art of War is a genre-mixing work featuring the voices of young Palestinian artists from around the globe …
 
 
 Including local artists Norhan, El Theeb, and Amira Jazeera.
 
 
 WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves spoke with music engineer Bodhi Zee about his experience working with the artists.

A Cook County judge ruled the ballot question is invalid. But advocates and opponents say voters should still weigh in on the referendum. Reporter: Tessa Weinberg; Host: Melba Lara

Students, instructors and community members came together at Kennedy-King College in Englewood yesterday to celebrate Chicago’s soul food scene.
 
 The event was part of the school’s celebration of Black History Month.
 
 WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip stopped by to hear – and taste – the proceedings. Host: Mary Dixon

Chicago residents can support monarch populations by planting milkweed and reducing pesticide use, experts say. Reporter: Lauren Frost; Host: Melba Lara

Voting ends in the Democratic primary to replace Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx three weeks from tomorrow, 3/19.
 
 The candidates are university lecturer Clayton Harris the 3rd and former state appellate judge Eileen O’Neill Burke.
 
 There’s a good chance you hadn’t heard of either of them before this race started. 
 
 To help voters decide, WBEZ reporter Chip Mitchell pressed both candidates for yes-or-no answers on five key policy questions.
 
 He spoke with Morning Edition host Mary Dixon.

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is making an expensive push to unseat one of three people elected to check his work.
 
 Kaegi is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars from his own pocket to help defeat county Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers Junior in next month’s Democratic primary.
 
 WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos reports. Host: Mary Dixon

Chicago Alderperson Raymond Lopez is the rare Democrat from Chicago who often appears on right-wing cable news channels to criticize his own party. But he’s had a hard time seeking higher office. Through the end of last year, Lopez had raised less than 50-thousand dollars for his campaign to unseat progressive Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia in next month’s primary election. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg

The Chicago Board of Education has approved a measure calling for police officers to be pulled out of schools next year.
 
 It’s a reversal of a decision the board made four years ago.
 
 WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports.
 Host: Mary Dixon

The governor wants to put more money toward education and child welfare while continuing to care for the influx of migrants.

During her two terms as Cook County state’s attorney, Kim Foxx attracted controversy and criticism. 
 
 She also won elections in landslides.
 
 Foxx is not seeking re-election.
 
 Now the man the Democratic party has tapped to succeed her has to decide how closely he wants to align himself with Foxx’s legacy.
 
 WBEZ’s Michael Puente reports. Host: Mary Dixon

Persistent gun violence. A fear of carjackings and armed robberies. 
 
 They are several of the MANY problems Cook County’s next top prosecutor will face.
 
 Among those running to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is Eileen O’Neill Burke:
 
 A former prosecutor, defense attorney and judge who has spent decades in and around the county court system. 
 
 WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko has more. Host: Mary Dixon

Deep below the surface of the earth could be an answer to power homes more efficiently – and fight climate change. Reporter: Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco; Host: Mary Dixon

A new law allowed gun owners to keep assault weapons if they disclosed them. Illinois county registration rates ranged from 0.5% to 1.8%. Reporters: Amy Qin and Mawa Iqbal; Host: Justin Bull

Gov. JB Pritzker commuted Johnny Pippins’s sentence. Now he’s adjusting to campus life in Iowa — and educating his classmates in the process. Reporter: Charlotte West; Host: Justin Bull

Davis’s Democratic challengers say it’s time for the incumbent congressman to step aside. But Davis says he has valuable seniority. Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Alvin Green’s wife urged him to combine his love of cookies with his love of his son and his friends in employing young adults with special needs.
 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

The launch of the revamped federal student aid form, known as FAFSA, was supposed to make getting help paying for college easier. 
 
 But for many students from immigrant families, it’s shut them out. 
 
 They’re all U.S. citizens but their parents are not. 
 
 And an error bars parents without social security numbers from completing their part of the form.
 
 The Department of Education says they are working to correct the problem.
 
 WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip spoke to three Chicago area high school seniors who fear the issue may jeopardize their ability to afford college. Host: Mary Dixon

Ever since Chicago enacted fines for unannounced buses dropping off migrants in the city, some area suburbs have been receiving busloads of migrants. Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang; Host: Claire Lane

A bill filed last week would allow qualified individuals, not medical professionals, to self-administer a medication to end their lives. Reporter: Alex Degman; Host: Claire Lane

From Coffee Meets Bagel to eHarmony to Tinder… there is a wide selection of dating apps people can use to find love.
 
 But some religious people find the most popular secular apps don’t help them connect with others who share their deepest values. 
 
 Ahead of Valentine’s Day, WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde interviewed several folks about the pros and cons of turning to religious dating apps instead.
 Host: Mary Dixon

Midwest tribal leaders are challenging a pipeline that pumps a million gallons of oil daily beneath a gap between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Reporter: Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco; Host: Claire Lane

Today is Fat Tuesday – a day of excess marked by feasting on decadent cakes and pastries. 
 
 Some celebrate with King Cakes and Paczki … but in Sweden, the Semlar bun is the pastry of choice.
 
 WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves visited the Swedish American Museum in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood to see how the sweet treats are made….
 Host: Mary Dixon

Chicagoans have a big choice to make in the upcoming March primary election — 
 
 Whether to support an increase to a one-time tax when properties over $1 million dollars are sold, in order to fund homelessness prevention. 
 
 Progressive organizers with the support of Mayor Brandon Johnson are facing stiff opposition from real estate groups and commercial property owners. 
 
 WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel reports. 
 Host: Mary Dixon

Mayor Brandon Johnson campaigned on a promise to remake the Chicago Public Schools. 
 
 And nine months into his term as mayor, his appointed school board is moving forward with making those changes a reality.
 
 But he’s facing pushback and financial constraints. 
 
 WBEZ’s Sarah Karp and Nader Issa from the Sun-Time are here with more details.

The family of two Palestinian American brothers in Gaza says the pair were taken by Israeli soldiers in a raid on their shelter. Reporter: Nader Issa; Host: Lisa Labuz

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is starting to roll out an ambitious education plan.
 
 As a former organizer for the ultra progressive teachers union, this is where Johnson
 wants to leave his mark.
 
 He envisions a system where there are no losers. It’s a radical idea in an under-resourced district where some kids are relegated to schools of last resort. 
 
 And he’s putting Springfield on notice — he wants the state of Illinois to pay for it. 
 
 Reporters from WBEZ and the Sun Times sat down with Johnson on the fifth floor of City Hall.
 Reporter: Sarah Karp; Host: Mary Dixon

Federal data shows more than 40-million Americans have started college and then dropped out.
 
 And economists say the number of good-paying jobs that require a degree is only going up.
 
 That makes finishing school an important step towards earning a living wage. 
 
 But there’s one big hurdle many people face when trying to re-enroll.
 
 WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip has more. Host: Mary Dixon

Sheriff Tom Dart cites pay hikes for corrections employees and the expense of managing detainees with addiction or health issues. We analyzed the numbers. Reporter: Chip Mitchell; Host: Melba Lara

With the CTA planning to extend the Red Line out to 130th street, residents of Chicago’s Far South Side have been invited to their share of official planning meetings.
 
 Recently a group of middle schoolers turned the tables, laying out for city planning officials what they want in their community.
 
 WBEZ’s Sarah Karp was there. 
 Host: Melba Lara

In far southern Illinois – a conservative congressman like incumbent Mike Bost would ordinarily be a shoo-in for reelection.
 
 But he faces a serious challenge in the March 19th primary from a fellow Republican who says Bost’s voting record isn’t good enough – even though Bost was in line with former President Donald Trump 94 percent of the time.
 
 WBEZ’s Alex Degman reports. Host: Mary Dixon

A state of Illinois scholarship that sent thousands of students to private schools over the last five years is coming to an end this June.
 
 It’s left the families that relied on it worried about paying higher tuition costs come fall… 
 
 … and people divided over taxpayer support for private schools. 
 
 WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko visited Saint Frances of Rome, a Catholic school in the west suburbs that has been deeply affected by the cuts. 
 Host: Mary Dixon

Migrants living in Chicago shelters are under pressure to find a permanent place to live.
 
 The city has set another deadline to start evicting people. Now it’s mid-March.
 
 But not having a job or steady income makes it nearly impossible for these newcomers to find an apartment. 
 
 WBEZ’s immigration reporter Adriana Cardona Maguigad explains why. Host: Mary Dixon

Brookfield Zoo in Chicago’s western suburbs says for a donation, they will name a cockroach after your ex for Valentine’s Day. Reporter: Lauren Frost

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra this week wrapped a three-week international tour.
 
 It was the orchestra’s first major overseas showcase since the pandemic. 
 
 This was also the final tour with retiring maestro Riccardo Muti, who has had a sizable impact on the sound of the CSO. 
 
 Chicago-raised flutist Emma Gerstein was hired by Muti in 2017. 
 
 She filed this audio diary from tour, in Vienna and Budapest. 
 Reporter: Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Elly Fishman

Five doctors with the Chicago-based aid organization MedGlobal recently returned home to the U.S. after volunteering in Gaza for 15 days.
 
 WBEZ reporter Adora Namigadde spoke with MedGlobal President Doctor Zaher Sahloul about his time in Gaza. Host: Mary Dixon

The previous farm bill, which governs a huge range of food and land programs, was extended but expires this fall. Reporter: Lauren Frost; Host: Melba Lara

For months, Chicago’s City Council has been arguing about how to weigh in on an international crisis that it may have little power over, but that many residents are deeply affected by.
 
 And the tense debate over the war between Israel and Hamas is expected to continue in council chambers today (wed), but this time – an actual vote on a cease-fire resolution is expected. 
 
 WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel has more about the mounting pressure on city council to act. 
 Host: Mary Dixon

Election officials say the stakes couldn’t be higher to find poll workers as we head into a presidential election.
 
 But low pay and long hours can make it a challenging position to fill – meaning they need to find new ways to recruit tens of thousands of people to staff the polls ahead of Illinois’ March 19th primary.
 
 As part of the Democracy Solutions Project, WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg reports on the search for poll workers. 
 Host: Mary Dixon

A new sober music series debuted Tuesday at The Empty Bottle in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. 
 
 The first Nothing/Assumed night featured local acts along with non-alcoholic cocktails. 
 
 Barworkers and musicians say it's a welcome lifeline in an industry known for excess. 
 
 Lillie West is an indie rock musician and songwriter. 
 
 We spoke earlier about how recovery has changed the way she approaches her art. 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Thousands of migrants living in Chicago are trying to figure out where to get help with their pending immigration cases or work permit applications. 
 
 Some migrants living in city shelters are getting help from government officials and local agencies. 
 
 So far about 1,000 people have received work permits through those efforts. 
 
 But many more living outside shelters are trying to figure out how and where to seek help. 
 
 WBEZ’s immigration reporter Adriana Cardona Maguigad is here to talk about it. Host: Mary Dixon

Charter schools in Chicago face a reckoning.
 
 Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago Board of Education is highly skeptical of these privately run, but publicly funded, schools. These board members get their first chance to put charter schools on a tighter leash. They will consider contract renewals for 49 charters, serving 28,000 students.
 
 WBEZ’s Sarah Karp explains the ongoing debate behind this vote. Host: Mary Dixon

A night out at Silent Book Club, where everyone’s a bibliophile

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to build a billion dollar, high-tech barricade on the Des Plaines River. The goal is to deter invasive carp from traveling farther up Illinois’ waterways and reaching Lake Michigan. 
 
 Scientists worry that there is increasingly an opportunity for the carp to make it through and turn the lake upside down. Reporter: JuanPablo Franco Ramirez; Host: Mary Dixon

South Suburban Ford Heights hasn’t had a library in about 30 years. 
 
 But residents are still taxed for library services.
 
 Where the money goes … is a mystery.
 
 WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde set out to find some answers and discovered the village has collected more than 100-thousand dollars in taxpayer money over the last decade, but no one will answer for it.

At her graduation last month, Jenin Alharithi walked onto stage and unfurled a banner with a message for University of Illinois leaders: Divest from genocide. 
 
 Alharithi s one of thousands of students across the country demanding their universities stop investing in companies doing business with Israel because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
 
 It’s a controversial ask – some supporters of Israel find the whole concept offensive.
 
 But it got W-B-E-Z higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip thinking: What do universities invest in, and why? Host: Mary Dixon

Illinois has a program that provides free or affordable childcare to low-income families, including at home-based daycares. 
 
 More than 15 thousand of those providers are currently in contract negotiations with the state. They’re bargaining over pay and retirement, as more and more workers leave the field because of low wages – and lack of benefits.
 
 WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang takes a look at what advocates call “the workforce behind the workforce.” Host: Mary Dixon