WBEZ News

Dr. Philip Skiba is a Sports Medicine Specialist in suburban Park Ridge. He talked about his experience with COVID-19 patents and what he’s seeing when it comes to patients reporting long term effects. Host: Mary Dixon Producer: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

A federal investigation into corruption in Springfield and Commonwealth Edison is taking a huge step closer to one of the biggest players in Illinois politics. Among the four people charged Wednesday was Michael McClain, a close confidante of Illinois House Speaker and Democratic boss Michael Madigan. Host: Lisa Labuz Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

The indictments came down this Wednesday evening, connected to a long-running corruption scandal that implicates Illinois’ most powerful politician – Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Tony Arnold

COVID’s resurgence in Illinois means more residents have had it. That’s shifting some attitudes about the disease. But even within a single family, the takeaways can be profoundly different. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Odette Yousef

Many Catholic schools have been offering in-person learning this fall despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Illinois. Their in-person approach has been closely watched by Chicago Public Schools officials, who are now planning to bring some students back in mid-January. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

"Consistently, between 25% and 30% of the Latino electorate has voted Republican,” says Sylvia Puente of the Latino Policy Forum. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Natalie Moore

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos represents northwest Illinois from Peoria, and the Quad Cities, to Galena and Rockford. She shared her thoughts about the the election, and what’s next in a Biden-Harris administration. Host: Melba Lara, Mary Dixon Producer: Araceli Gomez Aldana

The Miami Marlins have a new general manager - and it’s a historic choice with a Chicago connection. The team announced they’ve hired Kim Ng the first woman and the first Asian-American to be a GM in Major League Baseball. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Cheryl Raye Stout

Billie Riepma’s son Dillon died in 2015, and she donated his organs. Laurie Diagne received his lungs, and formed a special bond with Billie. For StoryCorps, they talked about how loss brought the two women together. Producer: Bill Healy

For eight months now, public officials have asked us to fight the pandemic together by making good individual choices. More about why, and how some doctors and experts are trying to get people to do the right things: wear a mask, keep your distance, stay home. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

As COVID-19 cases rise, schools weigh the risk of in-person learning versus what is lost when students learn remotely. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Two artists-vandals explain how they edited 47 Chicago Park District signs in Douglas Park, and then maintained them for more than a year. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Linda Lutton

During the pandemic many medical providers have expanded access to telehealth, a safe way to meet virtually with a doctor. And thanks to an executive order issued in March by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, insurance companies regulated by the state have to cover telehealth like any office visit. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Vivian McCall

Immigration advocates are shifting gears to lobby for President-elect Joe Biden to rescind many of Trump’s executive orders. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

What tips do teachers have for making remote learning work? One WBEZ reporter (and mom) shares her family’s story. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Just moments after Pennsylvania was called for Democratic president-elect Joe Biden, Chicagoans took their celebration outside. Residents of one northwest side Chicago neighborhood shared their reactions to news of Joe Biden’s win. Host: Marie Lane Reporter: Odette Yousef

WBEZ’s education team has been following teachers and students during this semester of the coronavirus pandemic. While a lot of activities high school students look forward to during the year have been sidelined, that’s not stopping some kids from enjoying milestones of teenage life. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Workers at the Midwest branch of the Environmental Protection Agency have a heightened interest in this year's presidential election results. They say the Trump administration has made detrimental changes to their workplace and their ability to protect the public. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Jerome McDonnell

The $4.5 million settlement comes more than six years after agents raided the suburban offices of Concept Schools Inc. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos, Sarah Karp

Criminal justice reformers are cheering the re-election of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Foxx beat back a law-and-order challenge from former judge and prosecutor Pat O’Brien. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Patrick Smith

Election Day has come and gone in Chicago. And given the worries about a global pandemic, potential unrest related to a heated presidential race, and the worry of poll staffing and lines things went very smoothly. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Claudia Morell

Voters all around the country and here in Chicagoland are waking up to uncertainty. Several of the key races we’ve been watching leading up to Tuesday's election are still too close to call.
 
 Host: Mary Dixon
 Reporter: Dave McKinney

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights partnered with dozens of community organizations to push for pro-immigrant policies and candidates. During this election cycle, immigration advocates have made over 1.3 million calls and sent hundreds of thousands of text messages to potential voters. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Maria Ines Zamudio

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, many people are out of work and can't pay their rents. Illinois has a statewide moratorium on evictions. But renters worry what happens when the moratorium is lifted. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Natalie Moore

With Illinois all but certain to vote blue again, liberals from the big city turn their attention to nearby battleground states. Dan Mihalopoulos reports

Spiking positivity rates and hospitalizations are the metrics behind the renewed restrictions. But officials aren’t really telling us where the new cases are coming from.

Chicago United for Equity is a nonprofit focused on reforming the city's budget to meet the needs of communities. Esther Yoon-ji Kang reports.

Vendors at the Little Village Discount Mall fear a redevelopment plan will wipe them out. Alderman Cardenas says there’s room for everyone: “Target’s not going to sell a quinceañera dress.”

Chicago Public schools want to return some students with special needs to the classroom, saying these students need more support and services. But many parents of students with disabilities are against that. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Journalists from the Better Government Association, The Chicago Reporter and Injustice Watch have been digging into the data relating to millions of Cook County criminal cases. Emily Hoerner shares what this investigative collaborative called ‘The Circuit’ was able to uncover about justice in Cook County. Host: Mary Dixon Producer: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

Democratic Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is taking aim at her challenger’s record on wrongful convictions a week before the election. Her Republican challenger is former judge and prosecutor Pat O’Brien. Libertarian candidate Brian Dennehy is also running for state’s attorney Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Patrick Smith

Loans were approved for an Illinois company tied to Betsy DeVos, crooked contractors and a congressional candidate whose family business employs 1,400 workers. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Since remote learning began in Chicago Public Schools, many teachers say sitting for long hours in front of a computer is not only hard on students, but also on them. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Something happened in Chicago’s suburbs in 2018: two reliably red congressional districts turned blue. Now, those two Democrats are fighting to hold on to their seats. Democrat Sean Casten is being challenged by Republican Jeanne Ives in the 6th district. Lauren Underwood represents Illinois' 14th, where she is facing a challenge from Republican Jim Oberweis. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Mariah Woelfel, Becky Vevea

An annual commemoration at Chicago's National Museum of Mexican Art takes on new meaning in a pandemic year. Host: Marie Lane Reporter: Minju Park

Crain’s Chicago Business published its annual list of the region’s most innovative companies on Friday. While the coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the economy and businesses, there have been some bright spots if you know where to look. Host: Melba Lara Guest: John Pletz

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she won’t apologize for last year’s $1 billion budget increase, and sees this year’s proposed property tax increases as a "last resort." Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea

In Chicago, life sheltering in place isn’t changing any time soon as restrictions on gatherings remain. With COVID-19 changing the way people live and get around, some planners see the pandemic as an opportunity to rethink urban living. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Natalie Moore

Despite the assurances of city officials, many Pilsen residents remain opposed to a historic landmark district for the neighborhood. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will debate one last time Thursday night. A group of Chicago-area students took part in a mock presidential debate this week, but with a lot more civility than some candidates have shown so far. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled her 2021 spending plan yesterday morning, and many Chicago aldermen and civic groups aren't happy. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Claudia Morell

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride is under fire from new GOP scrutiny over his ties to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Kilbride’s unexpected acceptance of $550,000 from the state Democratic Party that Madigan chairs is drawing sharp GOP criticism. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dave McKinney

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride, who’s seeking another 10-year term on the court, needs 60% of the vote in a largely Republican district to win the seat. If he loses, it could help Republicans pave a path toward conservative control of the court. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dave McKinney

New York Times reporter, Davey Alba, found a nationwide network of local news sites publishing propaganda, including in Illinois. Sites with names like the Cook County Record, The Kankakee Times, and The Lake County Gazette may look like regular news sites, but many of the articles are ordered up by PR Firms or conservative political groups.

This year’s race for the position of Cook County’s top prosecutor offers a competition between two very different visions for the county’s criminal justice system. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Patrick Smith

Chicago is seeing its highest number of cases since the spring, and they’re expected to keep climbing. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot implored people to wear masks, keep their distance from others, and especially avoid big gatherings as the holidays approach. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

The $1 billion increase in Chicago’s budget last year is only partially due to ballooning pension obligations. Here's a look at how increases across the city added up. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea

Recently StoryCorps Chicago has been collecting stories about the experiences of being Muslim in the United States. Actor Bassam Abdelfattah spoke with his friend, hip-hop musician Kayem, about how Muslim people are presented in the media. Producer: Bill Healy

Enrollment in Chicago Public Schools dropped by 4% this year amid the pandemic and remote learning. That’s the biggest decrease in two decades and in line with drops in other big city districts around the country.
 
 Host: Melba Lara
 Reporter: Sarah Karp

Public university leaders in Illinois were relieved this year when the state kept funding flat despite the pandemic. But without more federal aid, the governor is now warning of cuts at a time when schools are seeing costs rise and revenues drop. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kate McGee