WBEZ News

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

Chicagoans travelling to the city from Indiana are being ordered to quarantine. For some people on the city’s Southeast Side living on the state line, it means they could literally cross the street and then need to stay home for 14 days. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Michael Puente

Experts say the pandemic, a shortened timeline, quality control failures and politics could lead to a headcount that is not fit for use. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

In-person early voting kicked off in Chicago neighborhoods this week, and many are wondering how they can vote safely during the pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Claudia Morell

The Illinois Gaming Board wants to put Jeffrey Rehberger Jr. out of business. But other state officials back his bid for cannabis shops. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Voters in Chicago can request mail-in voting ballots in six languages, including English. But, some residents receive bilingual ballots even if they don’t request one and aren’t bilingual. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

School funding isn’t a specific ballot item this election season. But election results will play a role in how much money Illinois schools could get in the coming years. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Debate over the tax amendment has shaped up as a clash between two of the wealthiest people on the planet. But what would it mean for you? Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Tony Arnold

The number of dual language schools has tripled, raising concerns about whether support for nonnative speakers is being stretched too thin. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Sarah Karp

In Chicago, the COVID-19 pandemic brought racial disparities in health care to the forefront. The coronavirus has killed mostly Black and Latino residents. One major source of the problem: money for "safety net" hospitals, that mainly treat people of color and vulnerable populations.
 
 Host: Melba Lara
 Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, is an avowed pro-lifer. But is abortion the only issue that matters? Host: Marie Lane Reporter: Mike Puente

There are 67,000 students learning English in Chicago public schools. But according to evaluations of the bilingual programs meant to support them, 72% of those programs don’t measure up, a new WBEZ analysis finds. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Chicago officials announced a new project to review monuments and public art in the city’s collection. This comes after a summer of protesters vandalizing or toppling statues connected to white supremacy. Erin Harkey of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is helping lead the effort.
 
 Host: Melba Lara, Lisa Labuz
 Producer: Lauren Frost

After an unpredictable first month of college, many freshmen are developing their own routines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s obvious this semester is still lacking in many ways. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kate McGee

Chase Bank is planning to increase home lending to African American and Latino families in Chicago to the tune of $600 million dollars. The bank wants to address some big inequities revealed by WBEZ this past summer. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Linda Lutton

The future of Chicago’s iconic sketch comedy club and improv school The Second City is in flux. Longtime owner Andrew Alexander stepped down in June as CEO after former and current performers accused Second City of racism and sexism. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Carrie Shepherd

The Chicago Reporter has produced investigative reporting on racial and economic inequality for decades. But alumni of the Reporter say they’ve learned that the owner, the Community Renewal Society, recently put the publication on hiatus and removed its editor and publisher with no explanation. Host: Melba Lara Guest: Laura Washington

Young Chicagoans are signing up in droves to work the polls this year compared to 2016, according to an age breakdown of a “record” number of applicants from the Chicago Board of Elections. The Board is creating a list of back-up judges after already assigning 12,659 of them, with more applications still being processed.
 
 Host: Melba Lara
 Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Chicago plant stores are thriving during the pandemic as plant lovers flock to them, particularly in Latino communities. Some Latinos have turned their deep cultural connections with plants into successful businesses. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Maria Ines Zamudio

Bill Durkin reflects on the life of his younger brother Bob, who was estranged from the family for decades before a late-in-life reunion. He spoke with his friend Casey McCarthy, the two were recorded by StoryCorps. Producer: Billy Healy

The previously unreported allegations were outlined in a recently unsealed motion as part of Kelly’s divorce proceedings. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Patrick Smith

Classes are starting to open up for in-person learning across the region, and some teachers say they feel safe with their school’s plan. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An