WBEZ News

Writer Stan Engelsen's emergency room experience brought back memories of losing a loved one to AIDS in the 1980s. Producer: Mariah Woelfel

The first jury trial in Cook County began on Monday, more than a year after the court mostly shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter; Patrick Smith

Author Jian Ping added winter swims to her routine, and it has been magical. Producer: Becky Vevea

The Illinois Department of Corrections halted in-person visits last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But a year later, there’s still no plan to allow families to reconnect. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

More vaccinators - not just more vaccines - are helping get people get inoculated more quickly. Host: Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Reporter: Becky Vevea

Evanston resident Susannah Pratt reading her essay about the monotony of her new life working from home each day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

One year since coronavirus changed life as we know it in Chicago, WBEZ’s Claudia Morell spoke with Mayor Lori Lightfoot about her efforts to take charge during this once in a generation pandemic. Host: Melba Lara

Undergraduate student enrollment at many Illinois colleges and universities is down this year. Some students say they needed a break to reflect and realign their goals. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

There’s some relief in the local baseball economy now that a limited number of Cubs and Sox fans can attend home games starting next month. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Michael Puente

Chicago Public Schools is diving into hybrid learning where students get a blend of remote and in-person instruction. Even with remote learning going well, Olga Contreras wants her students back in class. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

The board of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge has 28 members. Not a single one is Black. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

The latest in WBEZ’s series of essays marking one year of COVID-19 comes from 9-year-old Ellis Curry. Producer: Mariah Woelfel

WBEZ has been asking you to share essays on how this pandemic impacted your life. Jorge Valdivia, a graduate student from the Southside of Chicago, discusses the loss, and the growth, he’s experienced this past year. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

Pritzker spoke with WBEZ about his optimism about vaccinations, struggles with the mask mandate and thoughts about Republican criticism of his pandemic response. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tony Arnold

Bare grocery shelves and lockdowns during the pandemic triggered painful traumas for some refugees of war-torn countries now in Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Odette Yousef

The Noble charter school network is one of many charters nationally backing away from punitive discipline policies aimed at students of color. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

WBEZ has been asking listeners to share stories about how this past pandemic year has impacted their lives. Chicago teacher Mel Georgiou remembers packing up at her South Side school for what most thought would be a few weeks of shutdown.

Stephanie Thompson and her coworker Pamela Fairley talk about breaking stigmas associated with poverty. Producer: Bill Healy

According to Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, the city’s health department is providing vaccine to homeless shelters around Chicago. The city funds more than 3,000 beds at 50 homeless shelters. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/VaccineFAQ

The Greater Chicago Food Depository serves Cook County, stocking 450 food pantries in the city and the suburbs. CEO Kate Maehr believes it’ll be many years before hunger returns even to pre-pandemic levels. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Odette Yousef

Alexa James, the CEO of the Chicago chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is joining the department after working for years in partnership with the Chicago Police. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The city has established a Chicago Monuments Project to grapple with a complicated history and think of new ways to develop public art for the future. WBEZ’s race, class and communities team brings perspectives from the project's advisory committee. Host: Lisa Labuz

The U.S. House will vote today on $1.9 trillion in relief funding for extended unemployment benefits, direct payments for families and individuals, and help for local government and schools. Host: Mary Dixon; Guest: J. B. Pritzker, Raja Krishnamoorthi

After first allowing front-line health care workers and long-term care facility residents access, the state of Indiana has been increasing who’s eligible based on their age. Find all of our coverage at WBEZ.org/VaccineFAQ

While people with serious underlying health conditions can get vaccinated in most of Illinois, those the most at-risk to any infection say life won’t get back to “normal.” Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Vivian McCall

Three people who took part in a one-month hunger strike are among the activists fighting to block a new shredding plant on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Reporter: Linda Lutton; Speakers: Yesenia Chavez, Oscar Sanchez, Chuck Stark

All three of the vaccines available in the U.S. have good protection against all of the variants we know of, says Chicago Department of Public Health’s Dr. Allison Arwady. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/VaccineFAQ

Pregnant women were not included in initial trials for vaccines, however they are at a higher risk of getting severe COVID-19. Dr. Lisa Green with Family Christian Health Center says expecting mothers should discuss their options with their doctor. Find all our coverage at WBEZ.org/VaccineFAQ

While some aldermen may complain that her leadership style leaves them out of the discussion, some of Lightfoot's supporters see ongoing conflict as a sign of strength for the mayor. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Claudia Morell

In a WBEZ exclusive interview, Harris promoted the new United Center mass vaccination site and said: “Folks have to take this vaccine when it is their turn.” Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

After months of intense opposition, Mercy’s parent company is in a deal to sell it to a Chicago non-profit affiliated with a Michigan-based biomedical technology company. Host: Odette Yousef; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Counselor and Northwestern teacher Gideon Litherland says quarantining is especially hard on kids and their parents. Many parents tend to focus on their children’s mental health first, sometimes at the expense of their own. Reporter: Patrick Smith

The iconic Ebony magazine is back after a nearly two-year hiatus. Eden Bridgeman Sklenar is the new owner, and she explains the changes made to this giant in Black media. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Michael Puente

Vaccinations offer more hope for the travel industry, but this year may be more of a travelers market than a boon for airlines. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

“We’re going to recapture the magic in our classrooms,” said CPS' CEO. This comes as principals raised concerns about adequate staffing. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Chicago Public Schools is looking to bring back high schoolers before the school year ends. Chicago teens say they want in on the planning. Host: Marie Lane; Reporter: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad

WBEZ is highlighting insights and advice from mental health professionals about how we’re coping after a year of the pandemic. Emma Coate is a licensed clinical social worker, and she says chores are one big issue that comes up for couples living together. Reporter: Patrick Smith

A slew of major banks snubbed Chicago City Councilmembers, after Aldermen asked to talk to the banks directly about deep racial disparities in their mortgage lending. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Linda Lutton

Many Chicagoans have been complaining for months about the postal service, and problems are particularly bad at the Henry McGee office at 46th and Cottage Grove. A report by the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General showed it received some 5,300 inquiries and complaints last year. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Michael Puente

Architect David Gutierrez retired in October, 2020. As part of our StoryCorps Chicago series, his granddaughter Harper, 9, interviewed him about his career. Producer: Bill Healy

Chicago Public Schools and the teachers union are facing off in a heated debate about when it’s appropriate for the district to intervene in the relationship between teachers and parents. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

As we near the one year mark of the pandemic WBEZ is highlighting insights and advice from mental health professionals about how we’re coping. Giulia Casani is a couple’s therapist who says that quarantining is affecting peoples' sex lives. Reporter: Patrick Smith

Restaurant workers are furious that they’re not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as indoor dining expands. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Vivian McCall

Preserving and persevering are the themes of Thursday's virtual Black History Month concert by the Chicago Children's Choir. Host: Mary Dixon; Guest: Judy Hanson, Coda Lewis

Chicago groups are leading bystander intervention trainings to teach people ways to help, like creating a distraction when someone is being harassed. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

From daily student check-ins, in-person learning hubs and a quality-over-quantity mentality, teachers say virtual learning can be improved. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Some Chicagoans who go to get the COVID vaccine are being hit with sticker shock: an administrative charge for a shot that's supposed to be free. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Mental health professionals in Illinois have seen a big increase in demand during the pandemic. John Hughes of Chicago Center for Relational Health shared some tips and insights. Reporter: Patrick Smith

State officials say vaccine providers can charge a fee to administer the vaccine, but should be charging that to insurance companies or the federal government, not customers. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

The local teen started by finding appointments for his grandparents. When word got out, he built a website to help the elderly figure out where to sign up on their own. Host: Marie Lane; Reporter: Edie Rubinowitz