WBEZ News

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

The Chicago Tribune looked into the city’s new deputy mayor for public safety and his voting record on the police board. Host: Melba Lara; Guest: Gregory Pratt

Medical student Keven Stonewall Jr. got his start working in a lab, but he also learned a lot from his dad, Keven Sr., who drove him to and from the internship each day. Producer: Billy Healy

As CPS CEO Janice Jackson prepares to step down, she urges the next CEO to focus on academics and not get distracted by the “silly stuff.” Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Sarah Karp

WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana talks with NPR’s Senior Washington Editor, Ron Elving about covering politics on radio from the 90s to now. Producer: Cianna Greaves

As National Public Radio continues to celebrate 50 years on the air, we hear from NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli about her decades of public radio reporting. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

An article from ProPublica examines how the pandemic has contributed to delays in detecting and treating cancer, sometimes with heartbreaking consequences. Host: Melba Lara; Guest: Duaa Eldeib

The U.S. Drought Monitor lists Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will counties all in a state of Moderate Drought, as of last week. Illinois State Climatologist, Dr. Trent Ford, shares what that means for us in this week’s climate conversation. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

CEO Janice Jackson is resigning after more than three years on on the job. She joins other top CPS leaders who recently announced their departures. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Freelance reporter Gabriel Thompson found one McDonalds on Chicago’s South West side where workers weren’t given face masks and social distancing policies weren’t enforced. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

Dr. Mia Taromina, an infectious disease expert with the DuPage Medical Group, says your chances of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19 after vaccination are 1 in a million. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/VaccineFAQ

A new report details a lack of leadership and communication in response to an outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home in which 36 residents died. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Tony Arnold

Immigrants with a lawyer are 11 times more likely to win removal cases but, in Illinois, 44% of immigrants face deportation without one. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

Summer in Chicago means food on sticks, bobbing to loud music, craft beer and art. Will the city reopen fast enough? Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

As Chicago grapples with the release of another video from a fatal police shooting, the investigation into the police killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo is ongoing. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Anthony Alvarez was shot and killed on March 31 during a foot chase. Videos show he was armed, but had his back turned. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Patrick Smith

This spring, people are emerging from their pandemic hibernation to shop, but experts say it likely won’t be enough to save some Chicago area malls. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Confidential documents show the inspector general is looking into “allegedly toxic and dangerous” work environments at beaches and pools. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Longtime Chicagoans know that “spring” is sometimes more myth than reality. Dr. Scott Collis, an atmospheric scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, helps explain the big variations we tend to see in spring weather. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Chicago didn’t prioritize Chinatown for COVID-19 vaccines. So community leaders set up clinics themselves. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

If you want a vaccine in Chicago, you can get one today. Chicago’s Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, says now that demand is down appointments aren’t booked up within seconds. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/COVID

Lisa Doi is an organizer with Tsuru for Solidarity, a group of Japanese Americans using the folding of paper origami cranes as a way to spark changes to U.S. immigration policy. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Bill Healy