WBEZ News

Rafael Galarza was a shy boy when he started out at school, speaking little English. Now this star student is graduating as valedictorian, in the middle of a changing Chicago neighborhood. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Sarah Karp

“I'm not afraid to make my voice heard” — 2020 grads share their take on graduating amid a pandemic and protests, and how they’ve changed. Host: Lisa Labuz Producer: Kate Grossman

A WBEZ investigation reveals the long list of applicants that Illinois Democratic Party boss Mike Madigan urged Governor J.B. Pritzker to employ after taking on the office.
 
 Host: Greta Johnsen, Lisa Labuz
 Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Kevin had a really hard time last school year with bullying. We hear from him, and the music teacher who helped him through it, Matthew Jones-McCann. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

City of Chicago officials respond to reporting showing banks lend extremely unequal amounts to the city’s white, black and Latino neighborhoods. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Linda Lutton

DeMario Tribbet, a local college graduate, explains what his boss and mentor Patricia Guy means to him. Host: Mary Dixon Producer: Kate McGee

When Fenton High School senior Malien Tingpalpong joined the speech team, she didn't know she'd find a lifelong friend in Melissa Feinberg. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Miguel Blancarte, Jr. is a resident of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. In the middle of the pandemic, he decided to make a big career change in service of his community. Host: Melba Lara Producer: Lynnea Domienik

After reopening amid protests, Chicago health officials are watching for a surge in COVID-19 cases. Here's how they're preparing. Host: Melba Lara, Lisa Labuz Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

College graduate who are the first in their family to earn a degree share the triumph and heartache of graduating online amid protests and a pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kate McGee

Hundreds of activists rallied in Humboldt Park Saturday to protest systemic police abuse, but also to call for unity between blacks and Latinos across Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

For a neighborhood that has tried to overcome a history of racial violence, Bridgeport's so-called "vigilantes" get support and some pushback. Host: Reporter: Claudia Morrell

The former CEO of Chicago’s last locally-and black-owned bank, Norman Williams, recounts how it helped African Americans build wealth and community. Host: Melba Lara Producer: Ashish Valentine, Linda Lutton

Earlier this year the Holloway sisters visited the StoryCorps booth at the Chicago Cultural Center to talk about why they are each other’s best friend and biggest fan. Producer: Bill Healy

Five years ago, Kwame Raoul helped pass police reform legislation. But he had to drop the policy he says would’ve been the most impactful — and now he wants it back. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Tony Arnold

Aaron Allen is a young Chicago journalist wrestling with why the white and black neighborhoods near him looked so different growing up. He recently discovered a big reason why. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Linda Lutton, Andrew Fan Producer: Joe DeCeault

Businesses owners along one of Chicago's longest streets, Western Avenue, share how they are faring at the start of the city's latest phase of reopening during the pandemic. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Some business owners and residents have been trying to prevent looting during ongoing unrest. In Chicago's Humboldt Park, gang members have been guarding the central business corridor there at night. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Patrick Smith

Redlining is supposed to be illegal, but a new WBEZ analysis shows how closely home loans are tied in Chicago to the race of the neighborhood. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Linda Lutton

Some Chicago businesses have had to put reopening on hold after the past few days of unrest. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

The bloodshed has violence prevention organizations scrambling to prevent retaliation, while at the same time helping their communities recover from the recent destruction. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Patrick Smith

Dozens of activists stood outside a police station for hours Monday demanding the release of a prominent activist and poet, Malcolm London. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Maria Ines Zamudio

Marshall Hatch is the senior pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on the city’s West Side, where there’s now no place to buy groceries because of looting. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Chicago community activist Xavier Ramey says there are coordinated attacks on the Black Lives Matter movement. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Natalie Moore

Residents in Garfield Park said the chaos Sunday was “stupid” “hooliganism.” But they also understand the anger driving it. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Patrick Smith

A look at how Chicago's City Hall is cleaning up after a weekend of civil unrest, and how they're preparing to keep the peace Monday night. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Becky Vevea

Chicago is under curfew each night until further notice, after days of protests were set off by the police killing of George Floyd of Minneapolis. Host: Susie An, Shawn Allee Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

One family is recovering from COVID-19 together after two siblings and their elderly parents were all hospitalized with the virus. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

Looters hit retailers in the suburbs and in city neighborhoods like Chicago's the South Side. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Chip Mitchell

BLM Chicago cofounder Aislinn Pulley spoke with WBEZ about the many factors she believes have culminated in people taking to the streets. Host: Melba Lara

Allure Dyer ended up at a Chicago high school she didn't want to attend, but this valedictorian found it to be a place of unexpected opportunities. Host: Susie An Reporter: Sarah Karp

No gym? No problem. Competitive bodybuilder Daniel Zhou says significant others make great weightlifting equipment during quarantine. Host: Melba Lara Producer: Lynnea Domienik, Joe DeCeault

Along with restaurants, businesses like salons, non-essential retail stores, and gyms are opening back up under tight restrictions across the state Friday. Patrons said nothing about returning to their favorite businesses felt normal. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Certain businesses are reopening in Illinois, including restaurants. Some essential workers are worried about the influx of thousands of new people they'll be interacting with. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Michael Puente

Data kept by the state show that in 80% of COVID-19 cases, the patient’s job is unknown — vital to preventing potential future outbreaks. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Salons preparing to re-open are putting state-mandated protocols in place: temperature checks, social distancing, face masks. But some stylists don’t feel safe to face clients.
 
 Host: Melba Lara
 Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

College prep usually ramps up during junior year. But with no in-person school and SATs postponed, anxiety among the class of 2021 grows. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Chicago renters who rely on their landlords to pay for water services have few options when the water has been shut off by the city. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

A valedictorian from the south suburbs wants to help girls of color get into the sciences. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Millions may recover from COVID-19's physical symptoms, but the anxiety of 'what-ifs' may haunt us for some time. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

Students are taking Advanced Placement tests from home now. Can the same be done for the SAT college entrance exam? Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Working parents are flummoxed about how they're supposed to go back to work if daycares are still closed. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

For the first time ever, Chicago Public School students won’t be allowed to graduate without a plan for what they will do after high school. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Sarah Karp

How has the pandemic affected our stress levels and how does that translate into what hobbies or activities we partake in? Host: Mary Dixon Speaker: Amy Bohnert

More people could be asked to collect their own sample for COVID-19 tests... but are they accurate? Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

Chicago and Illinois restaurants offer ideas on how they can open more quickly as the city and state offer reopening plans. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Monica Eng

A group of Chicago teens lost out on a once-in-lifetime chance to perform with the Lyric Opera, but are still finding ways to connect and shine online. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Flooding damage to the rare, natural communities at Illinois Beach State Park extends over hundreds of acres. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Jerome McDonnell

A small-business owner from southern Illinois says she notified officials about the “insane” disclosure of Social Security numbers and other personal data.
 
 Host: Mary Dixon
 Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

“Frida: 20-20” was billed as the Chicago area’s largest exhibit of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s work in more than 40 years. Then, the pandemic hit. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Carrie Shepherd