WBEZ News

Chicago Public Schools announced the results of votes by elected councils on whether to keep police in schools. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

After more than a year stuck at home during the pandemic, Chicago teens are reemerging and getting to be kids again. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Rosa Escareño has had a front-row seat to Chicago politics for decades, starting work for City Hall right out of high school and quickly moving on to serve in top leadership roles. She's currently overseeing enforcement of the $15 dollar minimum wage, but retires at the end of the month. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Becky Vevea, Lauren Frost

Pastor Donovan Price is the Founder of Solutions and Resources, a non-profit working to provide healing for survivors of gun violence in Chicago. He was also one of the people out trying to help victims’ families this weekend, when Chicago Police say 56 people were shot and 11 were killed in the city. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Urban historian and Tiktok celebrity Shermann "Dilla" Thomas and WBEZ's Lisa Labuz dive into some lesser-known Chicago history. Today: the story of the Jones brothers. Producer: Cianna Greaves

First a pandemic and scrutiny over police brutality. Now, police say long hours are hurting efforts to improve officer mental health. Alexa James, a wellness advisor for the Chicago Police Department, speaks about the challenge of caring for Chicago’s police. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Why does it seem like there are more severe signs of climate change, in our northern hemisphere, in the extreme northern areas like Alaska or the arctic? Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The city of Chicago recently released a food equity agenda. Angela Odoms-Young, a professor at University of Illinois at Chicago and member of the city's food equity council, shares details on what's prioritized. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Natalie Moore

In West Garfield Park residents are hoping a new community plaza will start to turn the tide of gun violence, often concentrated in just a handful of Chicago's poorer, neglected neighborhoods. Reporter: Patrick Smith; Guest: Christyn Freemon

One in 10 CPS high schoolers attend schools for dropouts. That number could grow as students emerge from the pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

What's causing the dangerous heat from Death Valley to the Pacific Northwest? Illinois State Climatologist, Doctor Trent Ford explains, and shares whether it could move toward Illinois. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The Illinois Department of Corrections has been making changes to how it uses solitary confinement, in response to a lawsuit that has been dragging on for 5 years. Alan Mills, a civil rights attorney representing people imprisoned in the state of Illinois, has been working on the lawsuit. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

The far-right politician from Georgia traveled to Effingham, Illinois to headline a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, an downstate Republican. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

The US economy added 850,000 jobs in June, but despite the high number of job openings, labor shortages persist. Martin Eichenbaum, co-director of the Center for International Economics and Development at Northwestern University, discusses what's behind the labor shortage. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Carjackings continue to be a significant crime problem in Chicago, and many of them are committed by minors. Sidnee King details more from a new investigative report by the Better Government Association. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Mark LeBien, Lauren Frost

The highest-vaccinated areas are majority white and affluent; the lowest are majority Black and low-income. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Becky Vevea

100 people were shot in the city of Chicago this weekend, according to Chicago police. Eddie Bocanegra, senior director of the Heartland Alliance program READI Chicago, shares what he thinks is driving these high levels of shootings. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

This week, Chicago enacted a $15 dollar an hour minimum wage. Madeline Talbott, an originator of the Fight for 15 campaign, speaks on this milestone for a labor movement which began over a decade ago. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Odette Yousef

What happened when children told their military veteran father, Sam Guard, they’re ashamed to be Americans. Producer: Bill Healy

A newly released university police report shows a student reported allegations against Brad Aldrich in 2018, at least the sixth recorded allegation against the former coach. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tony Arnold, Dave McKinney

This past weekend alone, police say 74 people were shot and 6 people were murdered. June saw some of highest murder totals for the summer in decades. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Unpredictable times for the Chicago-based Boeing, as it tries to rebound from two 737 MAX plane crashes that killed more than 300 people. Dominic Gates, of the Seattle Times, earned a Pulitzer Prize last year for the newspaper’s coverage of the plane-maker. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost, Mark LeBien

In our weekly climate conversation, we’re talking rain, flooding, and the effects of climate change, with atmospheric scientist Doctor Scott Collis, of Argonne National Laboratory. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

The new law lifts a $1,000 monthly sales cap for home bakers and allows them to sell to customers beyond farmers markets. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

The close of this school year marks the end for Harper High School in the South Side neighborhood of West Englewood. Staff and alumni are begging for a second chance. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Following a year of schooling during the pandemic, parents want their kids to keep learning over break. But they also want them to have some fun again. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

Tornadoes swept through Chicago’s western suburbs on Sunday, damaging homes, knocking down trees and injuring multiple people. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Michael Puente

A police investigative report obtained by WBEZ shows authorities investigated at least two other encounters involving youth. No charges were filed. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Tony Arnold

More than 100 homes in Chicago’s western suburbs were damaged during Sunday night's storms. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford, explains what made these storms different, and how can people prepare for a similar situation. Host: Lisa Labuz, Mary Dixon; Producer: Lauren Frost

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