WBEZ News

Juan González is senior fellow at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. He says U.S. foreign policy is key to understanding why migrants flee to the city. Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang; Host: Melba Lara

Chicago Public School leaders say, in the coming year, they want classrooms to be laser-focused on math improvement. 
 
 
 
 State test scores show students are struggling to catch up to where they were before the pandemic. 
 
 
 
 WBEZ’s Sarah Karp went to one school on Chicago’s South Side that district officials say is poised to make strides. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Sarah Karp

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of three institutions at the center of a dispute over art that was allegedly stolen during the holocaust. 
 
 Investigators in New York seized artworks by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele from museums in Chicago, Pittsburg, and Ohio. 
 
 The pieces were part of a larger collection owned by Fritz Grünbaum, an Austrian Jewish art collector who was murdered at the Dachau concentration camp in 19-41. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

He’s Mayor Brandon Johnson’s nominee to be the next police superintendent. Snelling’s CPD career spans three decades, including years at the training academy teaching new hires about things like when to use force. Reporter: Chip Mitchell; Host: Melba Lara

To address the migrant crisis, Chicago area advocates and Democratic lawmakers have been pushing the federal government to grant work permits.
 
 Now the Biden Administration has granted temporary protected status for 14 thousand local Venezuelan migrants.
 
 Ere Rendón leads immigrant justice initiatives at The Resurrection Project and joins us now. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves, Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Swedish Hospital this summer laid off some midwives while others quit as the medical center made big changes.
 
 Many pregnant patients were outraged. In some cases, they had long headed to Swedish just for the hands-on care the midwives were known for. 
 
 Research shows midwives could help reduce the maternal mortality rate gripping the nation, while increasing choices for patients.
 
 And yet hospitals across the Chicago area are not investing in midwives much — or at all. 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Lawrence Hall - a nonprofit organization in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood – recently opened a first-of-its-kind foster home for LGBTQ youth. 
 
 The program was created to provide specialized care for people between the ages of 17 and 21 who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer. 
 
 WBEZ contributor Michael Gerstein recently spent time at the new house that is run by Lawrence Hall. 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Illinois is the first state in the U.S. to abolish cash bail. The historic change took effect on Monday, prompting confusion and long days. Reporters: Chip Mitchell, Mawa Iqbal and Will Bauer; Host: Mary Dixon

There have been almost 4-thousand block parties all across the city this summer, according to a WBEZ analysis of street closure permits. It’s the most in any year since before the pandemic. We visited three block parties this month, where Chicagoans confirmed that the city’s block party tradition is still going strong. Reporter: Claire Kurgan; Host: Mary Dixon

Instead there were first appearances and detention hearings.
 
 It’s one of many changes prompted by Illinois’ historic decision to outlaw the use of cash bail across the state.
 
 Matthew Hendrickson is a reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times. He covers the Cook County courts.
 
 Today, he’s been watching closely as court actors figure out a whole new process of making pretrial decisions.
 Reporter: Matthew Hendrickson

Chicagoans can now book appointments to get a new COVID-19 booster shot aimed at protecting against the latest subvariants. 
 
 The vaccine’s arrival comes as COVID cases are on the rise locally and nationally. 
 
 But only about 20 percent of Cook County residents got a booster shot last year.
 
 WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko asked several Chicagoans if they’ll sign up to get the shot this time around. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Anna Savchenko

Today marks the end of cash bail, and officials from a rural county in Central Illinois are worried about how that will impact their drug problem. Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn says that while they hope to have more treatment options in the area, jail is the best way to wean people off of drugs. However, criminal justice advocates say jail should not be part of a person’s treatment journey. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal

Today is the first day of Riot Fest.
 
 The Foo Fighters, The Cure and Kim Gordon are among the artists performing at the three-day punk rock festival at Douglass Park. 
 
 Festival owner and co-founder Mike Petryshyn joins us now with more… Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is considering setting up a city-owned grocery store to address food access issues in South and West side neighborhoods.
 
 The first step is studying how to do this with input from experts and community leaders.
 
 One of those leaders is Anton Seals Junior, who is the lead steward of Grow Greater Englewood, a food justice organization. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Neighborhoods on Chicago’s West and Northwest sides have experienced the biggest increases. Citywide numbers are still lower than 10 years ago. Reporter: Anna Savchenko; Host: Melba Lara

Black Restaurant Week is underway here in Chicago. 
 
 The annual celebration of Black culinary traditions also highlights Black-owned businesses.
 
 WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves spoke with organizer Derek Robinson about this year’s campaign.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Local, regional transportation is contending with a lot ... including low ridership and a massive budget shortfall. 
 
 The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning -- or CMAP – has spent the better part of a year trying to come up with solutions. 
 
 Their goal is to make operations sustainable for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and the suburban bus system Pace. Reporter: Claudia Morell; Host: Melba Lara

Migrants living in Chicago shelters and police stations have little or no access to health care. A local group of medical students is stepping up to help. WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves spoke with Sara Izquierdo. She’s one of the founders of the Mobile Migrant Health Team, a group of volunteer medical students providing critical care for migrants housed at police stations. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Migrants living in Chicago shelters and police stations have little or no access to health care. 
 
 A local group of medical students is stepping up to help. 
 
 WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves spoke with Sara Izquierdo.
 She’s one of the founders of the Mobile Migrant Health Team, a group of volunteer medical students providing critical care for migrants housed at police stations. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

The fall semester is underway in Chicago – even though it’s technically still summer.
 
 This is the earliest start date for Chicago Public Schools in recent memory.
 
 But the weather – even today’s 80 degree heat – doesn’t seem to impact how students dress.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

Chicago is the largest U-S city requiring contracts for domestic workers. 
 
 That means employers must provide written contracts with hours, wages and other information for house cleaners, nannies and caregivers who work in the city. 
 
 The point is to protect workers and professionalize the industry. But workers rights advocates say very few domestic workers have gotten contracts. And employers still don’t know about the requirement. 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Chicago Public Schools’ new board president is a 33 year old Chinese American who worked as a teacher and ran a parent advocacy organization.
 Jianan Shi was appointed for a 15-month term. Then, the district will transition to a partially elected board. 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Government wiretaps are proving pivotal in a string of political corruption trials going through Chicago’s federal courthouse. That happened last week with the perjury and obstruction conviction of Timothy Mapes, a one-time aide to former Illinois House Speaker Madigan. And secret recordings figure to play a prominent role in the upcoming bribery and racketeering trials of former Chicago Alderman Edward Burke and of Madigan himself.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

There are more than six thousand elderly people behind bars in Illinois.
 
 Many require intensive, round-the-clock medical care. 
 
 It’s care prisons can’t provide … there are reports of sick and elderly patients left sitting in their own waste.
 
 Some have died. 
 
 And even the inadequate care is expensive.
 
 A new law that took effect last year is supposed to relieve some of the strain on the prison system by releasing people who are near death or seriously disabled.
 
 But an investigation by WBEZ and Injustice Watch has found that only about 50 people have been released.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan, Carlos Ballesteros

A federal jury took barely five hours to reach a verdict in the perjury and obstruction of justice trial of an aide to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
 
 The conviction of Timothy Mapes today represented more dismantling of Madigan’s once-powerful political machine that ran Springfield with an iron fist for decades. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dave McKinney and Noah Jennings

You can add another music festival to Chicago’s vibrant scene: the one day Pool Party today at the Salt Shed.
 It’s being organized by the leader of the Chicago band Beach Bunny, Lili Trifilio.
 You might know their songs “Cloud Nine” and the TikTok viral “Prom Queen”. Lili Trifilio is here to tell us more about her Pool Party. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mary Dixon, Cianna Greaves

Temperatures are rising again today in Chicago. 
 
 The weather will feel like 115 degrees.
 
 The city is opening more cooling centers but for migrants who are arriving here from Texas and other places, but there’s sometimes no escape from the heat.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente

Chicago Public Schools has welcomed thousands of immigrants from Central and South America over the last year.
 Many started classes for the first time yesterday.
 WBEZ’s Nereida Moreno followed one Venezuelan family living at a city-run shelter on the North Side. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

Today is Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 100th day in office.
 This mayor has placed less emphasis on the marker – instead painting his approach to governance as deliberate and long-term.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is marking a milestone this week: 100 days in office. 
 He won by running a progressive campaign but has worked to build bridges with former opponents in his quest to be a mayor quote- “for all of Chicago.”
 
 Johnson has taken a slower approach to building out his cabinet and to pursuing legislative goals than previous administrations. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporters: Tessa Weinberg, Mariah Woelfel

As the double strike against Hollywood production companies wears on, actors and writers in the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America have been speaking out about their realities. For the vast majority of these artists, it’s not all about red carpets and hefty paychecks. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Pilot Herb Hunter became the main announcer of the Chicago Air and Water Show back in 1988. He joins WBEZ’s Melba Lara to talk about the impromptu audition that got him the gig, and what he loves about it. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will for the first time welcome hundreds of thousands of students to school on Monday. 
 Johnson’s newly-seated, hand-picked board members have said they want to hit the ground running and transform the school district.
 What does this mean for families and children?Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp, Cianna Greaves

For nearly a year, thousands of migrants have been transported to Chicago by bus from border states like Texas. 
 A lack of adequate housing and services in the city has left these individuals and families susceptible to dangers, including abuse and exploitation. 
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

With expressway construction backing up drivers and post-pandemic troubles plaguing Chicago’s buses and trains, Metra — the region’s commuter rail — is undeniably having a moment. Ridership is cresting, its users are loyal. But even it can’t shake a looming fiscal cliff faced by transit agencies everywhere and the reality that worklife, and commuting habits, are indelibly altered in COVID’s wake. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Courtney Kueppers

Chicago’s City Council is in its 100th year under its 50-ward structure.
 But some alderpersons and good government advocates say there are reforms that are still needed to make it a legislative branch that’s truly independent from the mayor.
 Proposals include everything from altering the council’s structure to creating a constitution for the city.
 Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg

Dr. Allison Arwady was fired abruptly last week after four years leading the Chicago Department of Public Health. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Some Illinois lawmakers are planning legislation to require a lawyer for all children under police interrogation. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Coming into this school year, Chicago’s mayor and public school leaders say a top priority is to transform the city’s long troubled special education system. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Larry Snelling is CPD’s counterterrorism chief. Johnson selected him from three candidates chosen by a new panel called the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

This college application season, rising high school seniors have a new stressor on the brain: the Supreme Court. That’s because the Justices ruled in June that colleges could no longer consider a students’ race in the admissions process. As universities adjust to this new reality, teens of color around the Chicago area are sorting out what the decision means for them. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson has selected the department’s Counterterrorism Chief Larry Snelling to succeed interim Superintendent Fred Waller. Snelling was one of three finalists chosen by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The Illinois Supreme Court is upholding the state’s ban on assault weapons. The ruling came down Friday, rejecting the argument that the law violates the state constitution. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal

Bally’s Casino has promised thousands of jobs for Chicago-area residents. Since April, the company has sponsored four months of what they call “dealer school.” All students needed was a high school diploma, and they got free training to be blackjack, roulette and craps dealers. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Summer is nearly over for thousands of students in the Chicago area. WBEZ’s Nereida Moreno stopped by a back-to-school event on Chicago’s Northwest Side to hear what kids are thinking about as the first day approaches. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

For nearly a decade, Bernard Lilly Sr. has shepherded kids from Chicago’s West Side to and through college. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

The most decorated gymnast ever came to the Chicago area this weekend to end a two-year break from competition. Simone Biles not only dominated the meet, she packed the arena with pre-teen gymnasts who recognize her as more than an athletic superstar. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Another insider from the world of former House Speaker Michael Madigan goes on trial Monday. The perjury and obstruction of justice case against former Madigan aide Timothy Mapes is sure to focus on his loyalty to the boss and, possibly, more wiretaps. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

While some hot-sauce hounds are splashing the cash to get their hands on Huy Fong sriracha, WBEZ found some local alternatives. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Chicago Public Media is examining the defining issues facing our democracy and reforms proposed to strengthen it. One of those reforms has been bubbling in Chicago for more than a decade, but has yet to scale up in a way advocates crave. It’s called participatory budgeting – a process that aims to make government spending more transparent by allowing residents to vote on how to spend money in their communities. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel