WBEZ News

Increasingly, police are seizing ‘switches’ that convert handguns into illegal machine guns that can fire 20 shots in about a second. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchel

According to Chicago’s Public Health Department, the number of HIV diagnoses reported in 2020 was the lowest total since 1987. But, that's not the full story. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters; Lauren Frost and Natalie Moore

Members of City Council clashed with the mayor and voted down her appointment to lead the city’s education committee. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Aldermen spent the last two weeks grilling department leaders about their spending priorities. A vote on the budget is scheduled for early November. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporters: Mariah Woelfel and Cianna Greaves

Chicago aldermen discuss the city’s proposed $2 billion police budget for next year. Host: Melba Lara, Reporter: Chip Mitchell and Lauren Frost

If you’re a Jewel or Mariano’s shopper, you may be wondering how this merge would affect your pantry and your pocket. Reporter: Araceli Gomez-Aldana, Host: Mary Dixon

Lauren Bennett, who was shot twice, is among a group suing a gunmaker over the shooting. “Anything that could help prevent this,” she said. Reporter: Anna Savchenko; Host: Mary Dixon

The national unemployment rate for this population stands at about 27%. State lawmakers want to help — and say small businesses and communities would benefit, too. Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang; Host: Mary Dixon

With Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion has been a hot-button issue in races up and down the state’s ballot, from governor to legislators to the Illinois Supreme Court. Reporter: Kristen Schorsch; Host: Mary Dixon

Some 37% of downstate voters polled viewed Pritzker favorably — that’s higher than Bailey’s downstate favorability numbers. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Dave McKinney and Lauren Frost

In this week’s climate conversation, we’ll hear about what’s happening to the birds in our region and how climate change is playing a role. Host: Melba Lara, Reporter: Lauren Frost

The utility has also entered into a so-called deferred-prosecution agreement with U.S. Attorney John Lausch’s office, similar to the deal cut by ComEd when the feds charged it with bribery more than two years ago. Host: Clare Lane; Reporters: Dan Mihalopoulos and Lauren Frost

Chicago’s urban farms provide fresh produce to local communities and create green spaces across the city. But recently, they’ve started to feel the impacts of climate change. Host: Susie An; Reporter: Indira Khera

Chicago’s Board of Elections is reducing the number of voting precincts by 40 percent. What does this mean for voters? Host: Susie An; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel and Cianna Greaves

Schools across the state are required to teach a unit of Asian American history. That’s thanks to a new law called the TEAACH Act. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

The first-term incumbent senator for Illinois and GOP challenger Kathy Salvi are far apart on gun control, abortion and immigration policy. Host: Mary Dixon: Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Animal Care and Control talked budget with City Council. From poop pick-up to wandering deer – aldermen raised a slew of animal-related complaints. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

The winner will have a lot of discretion responding to a legal landscape being dramatically changed by a conservative U.S. Supreme Court. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Dan Brady square off to replace the politically popular Jesse White, who is retiring. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal

Last year, the federal government gifted the city around $2 billion in COVID-19 relief money. Now, that money is trickling down to our most vulnerable. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, speaks about the racial reckoning happening in her profession. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang, Lauren Frost

Urban farms grow fruits, vegetables and flowers all over Chicago. They produce food, offer educational opportunities, and they can have an impact on our climate. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Indira Khera, Lauren Frost

Illinois is allowing the use of food stamps at a handful of restaurants. The program is designed for people who are elderly, experiencing homelessness or are disabled. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

It’s the final week of the Chicago International Latino Theater's Destinos Festival. It's the first festival since the death of the theater alliance's co-founder, Myrna Salazar. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Guest: Sara Carranza

We’re airing poems about Chicago all this week on WBEZ. Today’s poem is about finding solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Laura Frost

The Metropolitan Planning Council and the Latino Policy Forum offers a glimpse at some obstacles facing Latino workers and some solutions. Host: Mary Dixon, Reporter: Natalie Moore; Cianna Greaves

We’re airing poems about Chicago all this week on WBEZ. Today we are hearing from two poets. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

Some candidates are hoping divisive national issues — such as access to reproductive healthcare — will galvanize Illinois voters. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

We’re airing poems about Chicago all this week on WBEZ. Today’s poem is based on a memory from a West Side liquor store. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

A question before voters in Illinois asks whether protections for collective bargaining rights should be expanded and added to the constitution. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

We’re airing poems about Chicago all this week on WBEZ. Today’s poem is a celebration of the Quincy “L” station. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

Chicago’s mayor proposed her election-year spending plan as a “stability” budget, and it includes more spending on police and progressive programming. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

An atmospheric scientist explains the connection between hurricanes like Ian and our weather in Illinois. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

We’re airing poems about Chicago all this week on WBEZ. Today’s poem is an ode to the Humboldt Park community. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

We break down the records of the two candidates for Illinois governor — incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker and Republican State Senator Darren Bailey. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporters: Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold

An independent expert who has monitored the mental health care was terminated reducing the transparency around an often failing system. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan, Lauren Frost

The guidelines call for preserving the façade while including affordable housing, green infrastructure, open space and public art. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

The number of teams has more than doubled in the league’s second year. “This isn’t a boys sport. Girls can play too,” one coach said. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Nereida Moreno

Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam says his son tested high for lead levels. We talk to him about what needs to be done about this citywide problem. Host: Clare Lane; Producer: Lauren Frost

The Chicago Board of Education will likely move forward this week with plans for a new high school on the Near South Side. School district leaders say the 120-million dollar school is needed for Black and Asian students who travel far outside the area for school. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporters: Sarah Karp, Natalie Moore

Former members say Covenant Fellowship Church has reneged on its vows to investigate allegations of sexual and spiritual abuse. Host: Melba Lara; Reporters: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang, Susie An

There’s only one incumbent Republican on the 17-member board running for re-election. Will Democrats take full control? Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Researchers plan to look at how the climate will evolve in our region, even at the street level. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Lauren Frost

A new law banning most abortions went into effect yesterday, but it’s unlikely to end the debate over reproductive rights in Indiana. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Michael Puente

COVID-era deaths, journeys and a DIY disco light inspired the Chicago musicians to cut through malaise and make an album that shimmers with joy. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mary Dixon and Cianna Greaves

It took 11 hours for jurors in the R&B star’s trial to reach their decision, finding Kelly guilty on six of 13 counts. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan and Cianna Greaves

Teenagers on Chicago’s West Side are getting trained up in the non-violence principles embraced by Martin Luther King. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

“The Color Is” by brothers Nick and Jack Cave is a tribute to the Emerald City Sequence in the 1978 movie version of “The Wiz.” Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

A lucrative street business is sparking some of the violence in Chicago's Police Beat 1112. But it’s not hard drugs — it’s loose cigarettes. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Ahead of Election Day, WBEZ checked in with the Illinois Board of Elections. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your voting registration active. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mawa Iqbal