WBEZ News

A WBEZ analysis shows that Fs spiked and attendance plummeted primarily at high schools serving mostly low-income students. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Despite setbacks and continued resistance, Robin Rue Simmons, a former Evanston alderman who spearheaded a reparations effort in her city, sees progress in the quest for racial justice. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Odette Yousef

Forty years after the tragic death of a 16-year-old in North Beverly, a small group honored their childhood friend by renovating his childhood home. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Bill Healy

Downsizing or new investment? East Chicago wants answers about what’s really happening at St. Catherine Hospital. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente

Nearly a dozen women told WBEZ that supervisors sexually harassed or assaulted them with impunity: “It happened to all of us,” said one woman. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

The problem is worse on Chicago's South and West sides, where many schools see more than half their requests for substitute teachers turned down. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

In the wake of a second mass shooting in just four days, Chicago's mayor says the city is like others in the U.S. dealing with this problem. But a WBEZ analysis finds Chicago has more than twice as many mass shootings as any other U.S. city. Host: Odette Yousef; Guest: Lakeidra Chavis

At an Illinois prison, evidence of abuse in a camera blind spot went ignored for years: “Those officers thought … ‘We can completely get away with this.’ ” Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

At The Admiral at the Lake, residents are emerging from life in lockdown. Fitness classes, choir practice and field trips are all back on as normalcy returns. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Courtney Kueppers

For WBEZ’s weekly climate conversation, atmospheric scientist Scott Collis explains the predictions for an above-normal hurricane season - and how hurricanes affect us here in Chicago. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

Travelers are returning to O'Hare, but the airport's "people mover" is still out of service. Chicago Tribune business reporter Sarah Freishtat details the construction delays plaguing the elevated trains. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Mark LeBien

Chicago and Illinois move to Phase Five reopening on Friday. Dr. Burnett-Zeigler, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences with Northwestern University, details how to handle it all. Host: Araceli Gomez Aldana; Producer: Lauren Frost

Student athletes at Illinois colleges and universities may soon be able to sign endorsement deals. The Student Athlete Endorsement Act passed both the Illinois House and Senate and awaits Governor Pritzker's signature. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Cheryl Rae Stout

A year ago, Chicago activist Xavier Ramey talked to WBEZ about the civil unrest following George Floyd’s murder. Natalie Moore followed up with him to get his thoughts on racial progress, the future of the city and the increase of diversity trainings in the workplace. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to make it easier for businesses to get storefront signs. Under a proposal submitted last month, a permit could be issued without a full City Council vote. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Becky Vevea

Over the weekend, some places in the midwest celebrated National Prairie Day. State Climatologist, Doctor Trent Ford explains the surprising ways Illinois’ grasslands can affect our lives for the better. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

Now that prom is back, many high schools in Chicago are getting creative and using their outdoor space to celebrate. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

In 1958, Cleo Francine Wilson got a scholarship to spend the summer at a prestigious camp in Putney, Vermont. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Bill Healy

The governor touted a stalled green-energy plan in an interview with WBEZ, and touched on an elected Chicago school board and his possible reelection. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

As Chicago’s mayor condemns abuse tied to the late Commander Jon Burge, lawyers for her administration refuse to admit its existence. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Morning host Bekoe with our sister station Vocalo shares his recommendations for music festival season. Host: Araceli Gomez Aldana; Producer: Lauren Frost

CPS bought 170,000 laptops and iPads in the last year. Elated school staff wonder if the tech focus can be sustained. Reporter: Sarah Karp

Doctor Scott Collis, an atmospheric scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, explains how we know what’s ahead for the Earth’s climate and what role the Chicago area plays into those discoveries. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Chicago’s Far South Side has a new community art gallery. The “Block House” Gallery held a grand opening in the historic Pullman neighborhood over the weekend. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Linda Lutton

The Chicago Tribune has a new owner. Tim Franklin of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism talks with WBEZ about the how the controversial sale will impact local journalism. Host: Melba Lara, Lisa Labuz; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Community organizations became true partners with government and big hospitals to fight the pandemic. Now they’re hoping that approach could help solve the city’s long standing health inequities. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Fifteen-year-old Stephon Watts was shot and killed by police during a house call gone horribly wrong in Chicago’s south suburbs. His sister Renee Watts questioned his mom, Danelene Dickens-Powell about his life. Producer: Bill Healy

With the spike in anti-Asian hate over the past year, advocates hope education will help combat violence and misinformation. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

As the Illinois legislative session comes to a close, we take a look at where the fight over an elected school board for Chicago stands, and who’s on each side. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Chicago’s Inspector General’s Office is blasting Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal to create a database of complaints against Chicago police officers. Deputy Inspector General Deborah Witzburg pushed for the database to be created. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

A WBEZ analysis of COVID-19 vaccination data found that Chicago’s efforts to target neighborhoods hit hardest by the pandemic improved vaccination rates for Black and Latino residents. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Becky Vevea

WBEZ investigates how race plays a role in how home appraisals. Black neighborhoods are historically undervalued. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Women’s participation in the workforce is at its lowest level since 1988. But some women leaders in Chicago are optimistic about the future. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Odette Yousef

It’s the peak time for tornadoes in Illinois. State Climatologist, Doctor Trent Ford, shares what impact a major twister could have on the city of Chicago. Host: Odette Yousef; Producer: Lauren Frost

A vote this week could see whether hedge fund Alden Global Capital takes complete control over Tribune Publishing. Host: Lisa Labuz; Guest: Greg Pratt

Two thousand students from Chicago’s Noble Network of Charter Schools were donning their finest gowns or suits (plus masks) for a pandemic-safe prom. Host: Araceli Gomez Aldana; Reporter: Linda Lutton

Mask mandates do remain in effect in a lot of public spaces, so even vaccinated people might want to carry their masks with them when they go out. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/VaccineFAQ

The bill would require the release of all records related to COINTELPRO, which targeted numerous civil rights leaders and organizations. Jeffrey Haas, a lawyer who defended the panthers, shares more on how bill that would open up secret FBI files to the public. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Tens of thousands of emails from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s staff were posted online. Experts weigh in on what should happen next. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Former president Barack Obama tells WBEZ that society needs to broaden its definition of masculinity. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Aarti Shahani

Reporter Adriana Cardona Maguigad follows a high school principal on Chicago’s Northwest Side as she tries to connect with students who are falling behind academically. Host: Mary Dixon

The City of Gary is celebrating the opening of Northwest Indiana’s first and only land-based casino on Friday. While there’s much excitement, some worry of a future casino in Chicago, which could draw away customers. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Michael Puente

Dr. Emily Talen, professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago, shares how the pandemic might impact cities' ability to adapt to a post-COVID world. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

The player filed a lawsuit May 7 alleging the team's then-video coach harassed and assaulted him in 2010 and that the team did nothing. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tony Arnold

Superintendent Tony Sanders of Elgin School District shares options for parents who are weighing their child’s educational and social needs over the summer. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Katie O'Connell

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently updated its so-called “Climate Normals,” finding the new, average temperature for the lower 48-states in the U.S. is half a degree hotter than before. Host: Melba Lara; Guest: Dr. Scott Collis

After a Naperville school district seminar, participants got hate mail and threats, reflecting a national backlash against diversity efforts. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

Experts say after months of convincing people why they’re safer with a mask, it’s understandable why some aren’t yet ready to leave the house without them. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

The FDA is expected to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for kids as young as 12 this week. Chicago’s Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady says parents should then be able to book appointments pretty much anywhere Pfizer is offered. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/Vaccine FAQ

As NPR continues to celebrate 50 years on the air, we hear from NPR’s Lulu Garcia Navvaro about her time reporting and now hosting for NPR. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Producer: Cianna Greaves