WBEZ News

A WBEZ review of Chicago Public Schools records shows long delays at some schools between when paint was identified and when it was removed. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

Catholic doulas navigate between religious belief and their commitment to maternal reproductive health, including abortion care. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal

The “Magic Lobbyist List” included former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s preferred lobbyists. They still represent some big clients. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Kendi is a National Book Award-winning author and wrote the New York Times bestselling book “How to be an Antiracist.” He is in Chicago this week for the American Library Association’s national conference. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The need for rental help in Chicago grows with an influx of asylum seekers. But finding landlords and money to help is hard. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg

Cash pilots give Chicago area residents $500 a month. Researchers say they are a cushion but not meant to propel households to the middle class. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation unveils child care's impact on job stability in Illinois: 15% of families face employment challenges due to scarce and costly options. Illinois ranks 23rd in economic well-being, 8th in education, 23rd in health, and 26th in family and community. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Guest: Katelyn Jones

In this case, the defendant was James T. Weiss, a clout-heavy businessman who was convicted of bribing two Illinois lawmakers to promote gambling legislation. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Jon Seidel

Meet Logan and James Garcia, who are taking advantage of the Hope Chicago scholarship program, for all graduates and one parent at five Chicago public high schools. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

Four years ago, Chicago tried an alternative to just closing under-enrolled schools. Is this a path forward as the city’s enrollment continues to drop? Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

A year after Roe v. Wade fell, Illinois Democrat and GOP lawmakers fight for legislation. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal

Mayor Mayor Brandon Johnson says he opposes closing schools and our investigation shows they didn’t help students or communities. We explore the alternatives. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Associate U.S. Attorney General Vanita Gupta was on Chicago’s West Side Thursday to learn more about violence prevention efforts in the city. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Rob and Vernell’s story is an excerpt from the most recent season of WBEZ’s Motive podcast. The podcast follows anti-violence workers in Chicago over the course of a year.

Asian American college applicants have been cast as victims of affirmative action, often unwillingly, a researcher and activist tells WBEZ. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Phillip

Proposed federal legislation would require cars to have AM radio. It comes as some auto companies plan to phase it out in electric vehicles. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: David Roeder

We find out what happened to schools that absorbed students from the 50 schools that Chicago closed in 2013 as part of an on-going investigation by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

It’s graduation season in Chicago. Over the weekend, families and friends gathered at Malcolm X College on the Near West Side to celebrate a set of unconventional high school grads. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg

The influx of asylum-seekers is putting additional strain on a system that is under-resourced and unreliable, WBEZ analysis shows. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Anna Savchenko, Amy Qin and Cianna Greaves

Asylum-seekers dwell in 10 temporary shelters operated by the city of Chicago. Half the shelters are in higher-income neighborhoods. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Indira Khera

Over 50 were shot this past holiday weekend in Chicago according to police. That's about the city's average for Memorial Day weekend. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

Jontae Adams just wanted to be a good dad and take his daughter to McDonald’s. He continues to struggle with the guilt of putting her at risk. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The county is treating an influx of migrants while preparing for a wave of low-income patients to lose Medicaid health insurance. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

A WBEZ/Sun-Time analysis shows the academic outcomes for students affected by school closures ten years ago. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

It's summer festival season. Go for the headliners, but stay for these local up-and-comers worthy of their own spotlight. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Andrew Meriwether and Cianna Greaves

The recoveries and years of data sharing are helping to shed light on who is doing the carjacking and why, but arrest rates are still low. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

With the budget up for debate, lawmakers are returning to Springfield after missing a self-imposed deadline. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman and Cianna Greaves

While the measure is expected to pass, aldermen are debating prioritizing funding for migrant aid before investments for neighborhoods. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg
 and Mariah Woelfel

The mayor promised the 46 buildings left would get a second life. The Sun-Times and WBEZ visited every building and community to see what happened. Host: Mary Dixon; Sarah Karp

The Supreme Court is expected to ban race-conscious admissions, raising questions about legacy admissions policies that disadvantage underrepresented students. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

A team of WBEZ and Chicago-Sun Times reporters ventured onto the river this week to catch their own glimpse of the hefty turtle, nicknamed “Chonkosaurus.” Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Indira Khera

The company wouldn’t divulge how much it has paid and maintains that no ratepayer dollars are being used for the expense. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

For at least three years, a data error has caused chaos in the lives of people who were promised a clean record if they did probation. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

Five Chicago Police officers are accused of violating department policy on social media. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

As Johnson begins his term as Chicago mayor, he faces two immediate issues: an influx of migrants and potential summer violence. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

We speak with a mom who is new to the U.S. and new to parenting for our new series First 12 weeks. Host: Araceli Gomez; Reporter: Araceli Gomez

As America’s largest newspaper chain continues closing small newspaper offices around the country, a startup in western Illinois is filling the void. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Alex Degman

We hear from new mother Kristal Acuña Pitts. She shared her experience with an intimate audio diary that begins with an early morning feeding. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Araceli Gomez

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson pledged to reopen mental health clinics. But now that approach is “yet to be determined.” Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg

In a new series, we talk to some of the city’s unsung heroes: people who make schools run. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

After a tumultuous and historic four years in office, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is bidding farewell to residents. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves and Mariah Woelfel

The National Weather Service office in suburban Romeoville issued its first-ever dust storm warnings. The State Climatologist joins us to explain. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

The data analyst spoke at length about deliberations in the high-profile trial and how she perceives the once-powerful former House speaker. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Illinois lawmakers are debating a measure to reimburse benefits skimmed from people who need financial help buying food. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott continues to send asylum-seekers crossing the border, many from Venezuela, by bus or plane to Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson today named his selection to head the Chicago Police Department as the city searches for a permanent leader. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Chip Mitchel

The convictions could impact the bribery trial next year of one-time House Speaker Michael Madigan, but could also ignite new ethics reforms and questions about how politicians are lobbied. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Professors at Chicago State University striked for two weeks last month to fight for fair salaries and workloads. Many students supported their professors. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

Four former executives and lobbyists at ComEd were convicted on every count they faced related to a wide-ranging bribery scheme. WBEZ’s Dave McKinney recaps the scene. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

In an Oct. 25 scuffle, a sergeant claimed that a detainee in a wheelchair tried to break his wrist using handcuffs. Body cam videos don’t back that up. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith