WBEZ News

Many infected with COVID-19 develop long-term symptoms associated with the disease, nearly 10% in recovery now referred to as “long-haulers.” Dr. Jose Biller at Loyola Medicine is behind the latest clinic opened to study and treat these patients in particular. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

In 2009, Illinois created a board to provide checks and balances for the development of affordable housing, but it’s never heard a case. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Natalie Moore

The Little Village community has been hit hard by COVID-19. One family there is banding together to confront the pandemic’s worst effects. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

The co-creator of the University of Illinois' COVID-19 saliva test looks ahead to the next semester, as students return campus this week. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter:

Illinois has lost a lot of small businesses because of COVID-19, but some new businesses are springing up. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente

Last fall, Illinois launched a program to teach community health workers about COVID-19. These workers use a peer-to peer-model to distribute public health information in Latino communities. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

Senior citizens throughout Illinois are anxiously waiting their turn to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Details about the sweeping legislation passed during the Illinois General Assembly during the lame duck session this week. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Music teacher Duane Davis, 74, talks to his former student, Brooke Zino, 29, about a universal challenge: overcoming self-doubt. Producer: Bill Healy

A national survey shows rural residents, who have higher hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine, could be swayed by their local doctors. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

How the first week of in-person learning went for Chicago Public Schools and a look to what lies ahead. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Sarah Karp

This week Chicago Public Schools started offering in-person learning to a few thousand preschoolers and students with special needs. Some parents were thrilled, while others were surprised to find their teacher locked out of the virtual classroom for not showing up in schools. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad, Sarah Karp

Welch replaces Michael J. Madigan as House Speaker, ending Madigan's decades-long grip on power. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Some Chicagoans who participated in violent insurrection at U.S. Capitol have been fired after being identified and called out on social media. Host: Marie Lane; Reporter: Maria Ines Zamudio

After an all-night session, Democratic state Rep. Chris Welch appeared best positioned to replace embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tony Arnold

A major political earthquake in Illinois, as Michael Madigan has suspended his campaign to retain the title of Illinois House Speaker. The Chicago Democrat is often described as the most powerful politician in the state. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Tony Arnold

But how many teachers will show is unclear amid strong opposition to reopening from the Chicago Teachers Union, nurses and aldermen. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Colleges are trying to instruct and create performance opportunities for their arts students despite COVID-19 limitations. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mark LeBien

As second doses begin for health care workers, Chicago hospitals met with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to figure out how to speed up COVID-19 vaccinations so that next priority groups can start. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

WBEZ’s Patrick Smith reports on the way tens of thousands of bullets have scarred bodies, emotions and communities in Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon

Chicago teachers check in with high school students after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Some young black activists in Chicago compared how police treated white extremists yesterday in the Capitol to their own experiences demonstrating this summer. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Linda Lutton

WBEZ’s Odette Yousef chronicled the rise of the modern day hate movement in the most recent season of the Motive podcast. She helps decipher some what was seen during yesterday’s attempted coup at the nation’s Capitol. Host: Lisa Labuz; Producer: Lauren Frost

Illinois lawmakers who witnessed firsthand yesterday’s historic and violent day at the nation’s Capitol talked about their experience as protesters stormed the building. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Members of Illinois’ congressional delegation sheltered in place at the U.S. Capitol after a mob of pro-Donald Trump extremists stormed the building. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from the northwest suburbs was among them. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Claudia Morell

19 year old Ieisha Lowe told her story to WBEZ’s Patrick Smith about the stray bullet that hit her this summer while she was walking near her house. Host: Mary Dixon

For every person killed in a city shooting, five are shot and survive. Those victims — about 50,000 since 2000 — are marked for life. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

The first wave of CPS staff is due back Monday to prepare for the return of students. The Chicago Teachers Union is strongly opposed to reopening. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Too many Illinois Nature Preserves don’t get the care they deserve. The new group Friends of the Illinois Nature Preserves rallies support for what remains of the real Illinois. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Jerome McDonnell

There’s a city’s worth of people living in Chicago with injuries from gun violence. Their experiences are unique, their suffering is real and their needs are great. Stories from those who did not die. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Eve Creelman speaks with her young daughter Vivian about what it's like to go to second grade online. Host: Greta Johnsen; Producer: Bill Healy

This year, music fans swapped concerts and clubs for livestreams, but there was no shortage of new tunes to get us through the year. Bekoe from our sister station Vocalo reveals his favorite music from 2020. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Lauren Frost; Find more of 2020's best tracks on WBEZ.org

The consulates of some European Union countries in Chicago have seen a big increase in applications for citizenship and passports this year. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Activists and faculty for years have pushed for changes they say would make the university more welcoming to people of color. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

While you may have worked on your hobbies during quarantine, one north suburban high schooler ran mask distribution program in Illinois. Host: Marie Lane; Reporter: Vivian McCall

Families have endured challenging moments with remote learning, but they’ve also enjoyed times of unexpected fun. This fall, parents have been getting a rare peek into how their kids behave (or don’t behave) in class. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

At StoryCorps in Chicago, Steve Pemberton looked back over his childhood in the foster system, and the Christmas that changed his life. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Bill Healy

In his 100th year of life, Oak Park resident Ulric Basil Crosby has now survived the coronavirus. Crystal Brown, his niece, helps take care of him. She shared more about Uncle Nip’s long life as they celebrate another Christmas together this year. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

A creative, neighbor-to-neighbor effort to get food to people who need it continues to expand across Chicago. Love fridges are popping up on city streets: brightly painted with signs saying FREE FOOD, stocked by community donations. Host: Odette Yousef; Reporter: Linda Lutton

In cell-phone images and words, high schoolers at Benito Juarez Community Academy reflect on their fears, losses and hope. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Linda Lutton

WBEZ asked doctors and nurses from hospitals throughout the city and suburbs to send in recordings documenting their experience receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Host: Marie Lane; Producer: Mariah Woelfel, Kristen Schorsch

Chicago high school teachers are seeing an increase of students working to help their families during the pandemic, but are skipping class and not turning in school work. Host: Susie An; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Two suburban high school juniors made it through a fall of remote learning during a pandemic, but their experiences are very different. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Susie An

Shanna Sigers’ husband died from Coronavirus in April. For StoryCorps Chicago, Shanna spoke about how his death has transformed her. Host: Becky Vevea; Producer: Bill Healy

Clinical psychologist Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler discusses how to handle the holiday stress in the midst of the pandemic, and shares some strategies to reduce holiday stress and anxiety. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

Stay at home mandates, teleworking and e-learning in 2020 have greatly altered the daily commute in Chicagoland. City and suburban ridership has fallen by the millions during the pandemic. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Claudia Morell, Michael Puente

Mercy Hospital on Chicago’s Near South Side cannot close. Illinois regulators have unanimously voted against the proposed closure. Regulators say they're worried about access issues for patients, especially in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Health care workers lined up for some of the very first COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois. On the same day, the state announced an additional 117 Illinoisans have died from the virus in the past 24 hours. Host: Becky Vevea
 Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Leaders at local fraternities and sororities talk about trying to build community and connect with new students during a pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Minju Park

The vaccine is finally here. How some doctors are lining up to get immunized this week. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kristen Schorsch