WBEZ News

The doctor-patient relationship requires trust. What happens when a patient feels like a doctor hasn’t upheld professional responsibility? Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Reporter: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

Rohini Dey, owner of the Indian-Chinese restaurant Vermillion in River North speaks about gender disparities in the industry and her new organization ‘Let’s Talk Women’. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Stephanie Quintana transferred to Northeastern Illinois University because it is structured to support non-traditional students. Now, graduation is in sight. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

Professors at Northeastern Illinois University say they are fighting for the existence and soul of their institution. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

Federal prosecutors are expected to finish presenting their evidence this week in the ComEd bribery trial. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Faculty at three public regional universities in Illinois are striking or on the verge of striking following years of declining state investment. WBEZ’s Lisa Philip spoke to Ralph Martire, director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, about the link between dwindling state funding and today’s labor strife. Host: Melba Lara

WBEZ speaks with Johnson about the whirlwind of the past 24 hours, how he will try to reduce crime in the city, and how he’ll select his administration. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Mariah Woelfel and Lauren Frost

We break down how Brandon Johnson proved victorious in his campaign for Chicago mayor. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Nine months after a court appointed monitor made the allegations, there is no evidence the corrections department investigated. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

In the April 4 runoff between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson, voter turnout may be what decides the outcome. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Amy Qin

The young women started a nonprofit to introduce chess to more girls. So far they’ve reached 550 students with free lessons, a podcast and more. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

Pastor Don Abram believes the Black Church exists to uplift those on the margins. Now, he's helping them welcome LGBTQ+ folks. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adora Namigadde

The Cubs and White Sox play their first games today. WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye Stout talks about whether this is gonna be the year for either Chicago team. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporters: Cianna Greaves and Cheryl Raye Stout

Liesl Olson started as director at The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum earlier this month. She joins WBEZ to talk about her future plans for this landmark of Chicago history. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

CPCs are accused of deception — and steering patients away from abortions despite an Illinois law requiring facilities to refer patients for services they don’t provide themselves. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal

Federal prosecutors in Chicago played some damaging undercover recordings in their criminal case against four former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Paul Vallas plans changes to CPS’ structure and to prioritize testing while Brandon Johnson wants to guarantee a baseline of resources for each school. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

The middle child of 10 and a pastor for a father, Johnson chose public service instead of church leadership, and his faith guides that path still. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg

Throughout Chicago’s mayoral race, candidate Paul Vallas has said CPD retirees are low-hanging fruit for replenishing sworn police ranks. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

How much snow did we get this winter? And how much rain should we expect this spring? We’re talking Chicago weather in this week’s climate conversation. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

After losing a bid for a legal injunction that would let them stay, some vendors bounced between packing up and making last-minute sales. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente

In his years in the public limelight, Paul Vallas has developed a reputation for accessibility — and wonk. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporters: Mariah Woelfel

Four former ComEd executives and lobbyists are on trial for allegedly bribing House Speaker Michael Madigan to advance legislation that steered hundreds of millions more profit to the power company. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Dave McKinney and Lauren Frost

All 18 of Cook County’s public housing developments will soon have mental health workers on site. Officials say it’s the first such initiative in the U.S. and part of an effort to help residents recover from the pandemic. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Lauren Frost

A report says US police departments face a three-fold crisis: an erosion of community trust, a violent-crime surge, and dwindling police staffing. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Chicago Chinatown leaders fought for representation in City Council but two candidates face off in the 11th Ward runoff — one Asian and one white. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Chicago and Northwest Indiana rank high on a list of places with the worst air pollution in the U-S. We talk to a reporter from The Guardian U-S who worked on the ranking. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

Michael McClain was speaking as an ‘agent’ of Michael Madigan. Recommends to Lou Lang to resign from the Illinois General Assembly.

Federal prosecutors are giving jurors a lesson in Illinois politics, as they make their case against four former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Lauren Frost and Dave McKinney

Some residents have raised concerns about a proposed biofuel plant in Northwest Indiana. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Michael Puente

Supt. Tony Sanders sees an “ever-widening gap between the left and the right … I think public education is squarely in the middle of that fight.” Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Susie An

In pleading for leniency Alex Banta said he took a job as a prison guard at 23 and had no idea how it would change him. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Shannon Heffernan and Lauren Frost

For 25 years, Jeff Schoep recruited young people for one of the most active hate groups in the U.S. Now, he’s discussing forgiveness and tolerance at Clemente High School. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

One educator compared the learning disruption caused by the pandemic to water freezing in cracked pavement, deepening the divide. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Susie An

Jollof rice is an iconic West African rice dish, filled with meat, vegetables, and intense spice. It’s gone from relative obscurity to global superstardom in the past 10 years. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Outreach workers say fewer shelter beds and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recent crackdown on people sleeping at O’Hare has forced more unhoused people onto trains and buses. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Anna Savchenko

By dosing teenage lab rats with THC, Kuei Tseng can see the impact of weed on brain development. The bottom line: There’s more the public needs to know. Host: Lisa Labuz: Reporters: Cianna Greaves, Zachary Nauth

From property taxes to paying the pensions, the two candidates for Chicago mayor are approaching finances in two completely different ways. Host: Susie An; Reporter: Tessa Weinberg, Mariah Woelfel

A big political corruption trial begins Tuesday. The case involves former Commonwealth Edison officials accused of bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Ice is usually a common winter sight on the Great Lakes. But this season, ice cover on the lakes has been distinctly low. Host: Clare Lane; Guest: Andrea Vander Woude

Several thousand people lined Western Avenue in Beverly for the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday. The parade featured floats, traditional Irish dancers, and bagpipes. The parade began in 1979 and is considered the largest community-based St. Patrick’s Day parade outside of Dublin. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente

Illinois’ first Black independently owned cannabis dispensary wants to change the way you think about weed. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Alex Degman

A Northwestern professor is writing a book about the history of the policy in higher education and spoke with WBEZ about his findings. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Lisa Philip

A WBEZ investigation finds that the state’s solution is buckling under the demand among low-income children for urgent mental health services. Reporters: Sarah Karp and Kristen Schorsch

SASS is state program that is supposed to connect low-income children experiencing a mental health crisis with treatment. One mother explains why mental health services are so hard to get. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporters: Kristen Schorsch and Sarah Karp

This week WBEZ is bringing you an investigation into a state program that is meant to link Illinois’ most vulnerable children with treatment during a mental health crisis. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

The new Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natalie Phelps Finnie, tells us how climate change intersects with her work. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Lauren Frost, Melba Laura

A new WBEZ investigation finds Illinois’ safety net for suicidal kids is riddled with holes. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Despite a critical deadline extension, Illinois craft cannabis businesses are still worried they’ll fail before getting a chance to even start. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

We’ll hear how a gallery-owner in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood is helping newly arrived asylum-seekers find necessities they can’t get from the city. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Char Daston