WBEZ News

State Rep. Delia Ramirez and Chicago Ald. Gilbert Villegas have name recognition on their side in the heated, four-candidate race for the newly created district. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

In a May 20 Chicago Teachers Union leadership election, teachers will choose whether to focus more on classic concerns such as pay, prep time and pensions. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Census Bureau director Robert Santos tells WBEZ how the agency is rebuilding public trust after 2020. Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Tens of thousands more people may seek abortions in Illinois. Hospitals and clinics worry they won’t have enough staff to treat them. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Chicago's alderman have been at odds for months on remapping the city's 50 wards. WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel breaks down their 11-hour deal and what it means for voters. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford talks about this week’s hot temperatures and why they should be a cause for caution. Host: Melba Lara, Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Producer: Lauren Frost

The Archdiocese of Chicago’s "Renew My Church" reorganization wraps up later this month. Catholics in the area are feeling hope and despair as the project proceeds. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Adora Namigadde

Northwestern University sociologist Andrew Papachristos details a new analysis of public data about CPD members. The study finds that their misconduct, often portrayed as a matter of “bad apples,” is a group phenomenon and inflicts outsized harm in minority communities. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

A new racial equity study underscores frustration among students and staff, and the ways in which school leaders have failed to tackle these issues. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Sarah Karp; Producer: Lauren Frost

Illinois has long been an oasis for those seeking abortions, as neighboring states have restricted access. Kristen Schorsch explains what's ahead for the state if the U.S. Supreme Court finalizes a recently leaked draft decision. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Chicago historian Shermann Dilla Thomas talks about Chinatown’s history of appointing an unofficial Mayor to represent their community. Host: Mary Dixon, Lisa Labuz; Producer: Cianna Greaves

In the last couple of weeks, Illinois has seen a high number of days with precipitation. Illinois State Climatologist, Doctor Trent Ford shares how this spring stacks up so far. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The featured artists belonged to the South Side Community Art Center and their artwork spans from the center’s founding in 1940 through the 1980s. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Natalie Moore; Guest: Zakkiyyah Najeebah

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown talks about the initiative and the department’s efforts to improve its murder clearance rate. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The parents say the boy was relentlessly bullied but Latin didn’t inform them or investigate, as required by law. Latin strongly denies wrongdoing. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Susie An

The City of Chicago is examining how city governments around the world are using housing policies to promote wealth building in communities where a majority of residents are people of color. Professor Robert Chaskin on the research team shares specifics behind the study. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Police have blamed young people seeking joyrides for the uptick, but Professor Robert Vargas, director of the UChicago Justice Project, points to perpetrators with economic motivations. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Kenner, 65, has become synonymous with Whitney Young Magnet High School over her 32 years at the highly prestigious selective enrollment school. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

On Earth Day last Friday, dozens of people gathered in downtown Chicago to push for more green policies at Chicago Public Schools. We talk to Jelena Collins, a senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School and leader of the Chicago Climate Youth Coalition. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The funds, part of the federal government’s response to the pandemic, were budgeted for anti-violence efforts, but have not yet been spent. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Jennifer Soble, executive director of the Illinois Prison Project, suggest the department of corrections bears some of the blame for the convictions. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Picture it: “Golden Girls” lovers wearing swag, meeting former writers and producers and a giant wicker purse in honor of character Sophia. Host: Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Reporter: Natalie Moore

In some South and West side neighborhoods, as many as 60% of adults could be eligible for the program, shows a WBEZ analysis. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

The Biden administration plans to lift a Trump-era immigration policy used to turn away migrants at the border, including those seeking asylum. Fasika Alem, program director with the United African Organization, provides the latest. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

The number of vacated convictions tied to former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts is now 213. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

The Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago’s traditional ‘pysanka’ egg-painting class is growing in popularity amid the war abroad. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adora Namigadde

In our new series, "Kids Ask," we hear from a 6-year-old who had a question about war. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

In a surprise move, Lightfoot granted interviews only to reporters of color for a single day in 2021. But several local journalists say access to the mayor ended just as abruptly. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

A personnel hemorrhage since late 2020 has cut the size of Chicago’s Law Department by a quarter, a WBEZ analysis of city data finds. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Chip Mitchell; Producer: Lauren Frost

Urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas looks back at Mayor Harold Washington's legacy, on what would have been his 100th birthday. Host: Mary Dixon, Lisa Labuz; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Professor Robert Jackson, an environmental scientist at Stanford University, helps us answer a question about the effect of gas stoves on the climate. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Rob Wildeboer, part of the WBEZ team working on our investigative podcast "Motive," provides an update from the trial of two Illinois prison guards accused of beating a person who died. part of the WBEZ team working on our investigative podcast "Motive," provides an update from the trial of two Illinois prison guards accused of beating a person who died. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Data show the South and West sides of Chicago are the hardest hit. "We’re all struggling to keep up. There’s still a huge need." Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Jane Vaughan

One low-income patient got a 100% discount on her hospital bill. But then came more than $8,000 in bills from the independent doctors who treated her. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

As Illinois school districts fill gaps with $7.9 billion in federal relief money, the spending reveals the depths of chronic underfunding. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

Parents and community members say the reduction in resources will hurt students already struggling with the effects of the pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

All across Chicago, teachers are trying to help students recover from the impacts of the pandemic. A recent class was brought to Morgan Park High School by the Special Olympics. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Springs are warming in Illinois, but plants are still in danger of the “spring freeze.” State Climatologist, Doctor Trent Ford, explains the changing patterns we’re seeing in Illinois. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

Members of the General Assembly also said yes to a handful of anti-crime measures backed by Democrats, in an attempt to water down calls from Republicans saying they’re soft on crime. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

A wave of new City Council members campaigned against incumbents by citing their low attendance at meetings. Now, the freshmen are outperforming the veterans. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Claudia Morell

The Chinese American Service League has launched and effort to collect disaggregated data, to better inform policymakers about the unmet needs of specific Asian American Pacific Islanders , or AAPI, populations. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang; Producer: Lauren Frost

A Chicagoan who emigrated from Mexico is organizing a humanitarian mission to Ukraine, to help feed refugees fleeing the war. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Anna Savchenko

Horacio Mendez, president and chief executive officer of the Woodstock Institute, discusses fair lending, wealth creation and financial reform. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Jennifer Garross, a social worker responding to 911 calls, says she hasn’t yet needed a cop’s presence but she can imagine situations in which she would. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

The allegations in a newly unsealed whistleblower lawsuit target Brian Hynes, a lawyer with close ties to disgraced ex-Ald. Danny Solis. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos, Dave McKinney

WBEZ contributor Shermann "Dilla" Thomas and Lisa Labuz discuss the legacy of Chicago's longest-serving First Lady, Maggie Daley. Producer: Cianna Greaves

Shannon Heffernan details reporting around two mental health workers, who say they observed troubling behavior from other staff. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Water from the Great Lakes could soon become a hot commodity. Dave Dempsey, author of "Great Lakes for Sale," talks about water commercialization in our weekly climate conversation. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Each year, Trans Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate transgender and non-binary people. But this year’s celebration in Chicago turned somber as participants mourned the recent deaths of two Black trans women. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

In the Beverly neighborhood, an unlikely duo of nuns attend a weekly class that's like a cross between dance aerobics and strolling. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore