WBEZ News

For generations, hip-hop music has been blamed for violence and other social ills. Rapper and scholar A.D. Carson give us a brief history of the scapegoating of rap music. Host: Mary Dixon, Bekoe; Producer: Cianna Greaves

A Chicago bakery had to throw away more than 2,000 croissants because an unusual dry season had changed the flour the bakery was using. Aimee Levitt reported on this incident for Eater Chicago, and about how climate change is making its way into bakeries. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Johnny Pippins has already completed a master’s degree while in prison for murder. Now he’s seeking clemency so he can continue his education. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Charlotte West

The Illinois governor said he wouldn’t oppose President Joe Biden, and he lacks the name recognition of other potential candidates. But he’s hitting the national circuits. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Reporter: Dave McKinney

The $2 million paid out in June is the first down payment on a pledge to spend $250 million in federal funds on violence prevention. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Survivors and family members have a long recovery ahead following the shooting in Highland Park. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

The findings from the Webb telescope will help researchers understand the far-flung galaxies of our universe. Host: Lisa Labuz

The arrest brings relief to a family that couldn’t understand why police didn’t make an arrest quickly when the evidence was handed to them. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is once again being litigated in court. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

Historian and WBEZ contributor Shermann 'Dilla' Thomas discusses the history of Chicago hosting political conventions. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cianna Greaves

Several parts of Illinois, including Will and Kankakee counties, are experiencing moderate drought right now. Host: Melba Lara; Guest: Dr. Trent Ford

As the city of Chicago continues to suffer from gun violence, we hear from a survivor of gun violence. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

WBEZ is exploring the challenging questions young children ask. Today, a six-year-old wants to know how it all began. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

A ProPublica investigation estimates how much money Illinois’ ultra-wealthy residents saved when a proposed graduated state income tax failed. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mick Dumke

Has a free college education changed how students think about next steps? For some students, the answer is yes. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

The high school in Highland Park is now serving a bleak new purpose: it is a resource center for those traumatized by the mass shooting that shook the town on Monday. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

A library in neighboring Highwood is offering bilingual services to people impacted by the Highland Park shooting. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Susie An

Authorities say Robert Crimo III was responsible for killing seven people and wounding dozens more with a high-powered rifle. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The victims of the Highland Park mass shooting range in age from 35 to 88 years old. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

The latest update out of Highland Park, where a mass shooting Monday has left seven people dead and dozens injured. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

We hear the latest update out of Highland Park, where a mass shooting Monday has left seven people dead and dozens injured. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Multiple people were killed and many others wounded when a gunman started shooting 10 minutes after the Highland Park Fourth of July parade kicked off Monday morning, authorities said. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Six people are confirmed dead and more than two dozen people have been taken to the hospital with injuries after today’s mass shooting at the 4th of July Parade in Highland Park. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Sarah Karp

This week, Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker signed new legislation protecting against hair-based discrimination. Host: Clare Lane; Guest: Senator Mike Simmons

Indiana is in line to impose bans on abortion. Democrats are vastly outnumbered so they are calling on Hoosiers – red or blue – to fight back. Reporter: Michael Puente

A WBEZ investigation finds one of the school district’s most high profile charter schools is in serious financial trouble. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Illinois’ Congressional races could take center stage this fall. Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau Chief Lynn Sweet breaks it down for us. Host: Melba Lara

Darren Bailey wins the Republican nomination for governor, plus results in the race for Secretary of State and Attorney General. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Congresswoman Mary Miller handily defeats fellow incumbent Rodney Davis in downstate Illinois’ 15th congressional district. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

The Jackson family dynasty is likely to return to the U.S. Congress. The son of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. beat 16 other Democrats. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Three different mega-donors are spending tens of millions of dollars to try to influence the outcome of the Republican primary for Illinois governor in Tuesday's election. Reporter: Dave McKinney

Climate change poses a threat to toxic sites close to Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Host: Melba Lara; Guest: Howard Lerner

Leading Illinois GOP U.S. Senate candidate protested at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Reporter: Dave McKinney

Chicago Board of Ed members will be considering a controversial proposal to build a new high school today. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Three republicans are running in next week’s primary election for Illinois attorney general. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Baby formula is becoming harder to find. We look at how Chicago families and non-profit organizations are coping with the frustration of finding baby formula. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

A new WBEZ analysis shows the youth organization that Chicago mayoral candidate Kam Buckner was tasked to lead slowly diminished in the four years it was under his watch. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Chicago Public Schools has limited the role of police in schools, hear what happened next. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

A study by cardiologists at Northwestern University looks at the reasons behind disparities in heart disease between Black and white patients. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Illinois teens are taking matters in their own hands to push the needle on mental health services in schools. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

Donald Trump’s endorsement could end up being a big factor in the bitter primary fight for reelection between Miller and Davis. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

A WBEZ and ProPublica investigation found that guards in the Illinois Department of Corrections remained on staff, even after the department found they had committed serious wrongdoing. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

On the 10th anniversary of DACA, we hear from an undocumented academic and activist on how the program has shaped his life. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Anna Savchenko

New polling by the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ shows Illinois Republicans like downstate Senator Darren Bailey and former President Donald Trump. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Oak Woods Cemetery is one of the most historically important cemeteries on Chicago's South Side. Urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas joins WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz to tell us more about the historic resting place.

In our weekly climate conversation, we compare climate goals from the last couple of Chicago mayors. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Monica Eng

CPS grads recount their school year through comedy. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

Conversations about gun regulations have been top of mind lately as the country, and even our region, has been experiencing gun violence. Reporter: Michael Puente

WBEZ asked three Chicago Public Schools graduates to look back on their time in school through comedy. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter; Susie An

In Chicago's Little Village neighborhood this week, a beautiful food pantry opened in a revamped corner store. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore