WBEZ News

A Chicago community kitchens program held its graduation last week. It trains people who have a hard time finding work in the food industry. Host: Kate McGee Reporter: Natalie Moore

In her reelection campaign, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx remains under attack for her handling of TV actor Jussie Smollett. But that celebrity case is not having a big impact on her main base of support.
 
 Host: Mary Dixon
 Reporter: Chip Mitchell

When Finnie Rosner was a teenager, she moved to Chicago with her parents to escape the persecution of Jews in her homeland of Austria. In December, she sat down with Jonathan Schwartz as part of our StoryCorps series.

Our Picks: Health officials are warning more cases of the coronavirus will likely begin appearing soon in the U-S. but how are public health experts rolling out information to the public.
 
 Host: Lisa Labuz
 Speaker: Bruce Lambert

School without letter grades is often associated with private schools, but more public schools are trying this progressive style of grading. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Illinois' largest community college system, which serves 71,000 students, has few other places to turn to generate new revenue. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

A new report questions the wisdom of the city's $5 million-per-year investment, saying the youth program lacks transparency and accountability. Host: Melba Lara Interviewee: Joe Ferguson

Local immigrant rights groups are suing the Trump Administration over raids in Chicago two years ago, just as the administration prepares to step up immigration enforcement efforts in the city.
 
 Host: Mary Dixon
 Reporter: Maria Ines Zamudio

Reproductive justice advocates in Illinois work to protect abortion access, fight stigma and change the narrative on abortion rights. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Natalie Moore

CPS’ Inspector General found unusual patterns among thousands of test results, prompting CPS to significantly upgrade testing security. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Sarah Karp

WBEZ has obtained more than a thousand pages of emails that show just how close Commonwealth Edison was with Illinois’ most powerful politician, House Speaker Michael Madigan. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Tony Arnold

In a series of raids across Illinois in recent months, federal agents have taken aim at local corruption. A factory owner shares that he felt strong pressure to give campaign cash to a politician under federal investigation.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is calling on the city’s Police Board to explain a disciplinary decision after a WBEZ investigation raised questions about it. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich spoke to a crush of reporters outside his Chicago home Wednesday morning. He had high praise for the president, and harsh words for the justice system. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Dave McKinney

Illinois Republicans are lashing out against President Trump's decision to let Rod Blagojevich out of prison early. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Tony Arnold

Disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich is now a free man. Blagojevich was released from a Colorado federal prison Tuesday night. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dave McKinney

President Trump is commuting the 14-year prison sentence of disgraced ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. WBEZ's Dave McKinney covered the Blagojevich saga and gets into the details about what happened. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Dave McKinney

Hundreds of Greek-Americans from the Chicago area go north to see NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

The fight over transgender student rights in Illinois’ largest high school district is finally over. Palatine based school district 211 approved a legal settlement last night with a transgender student. Host: Melba Lara Interviewee: Nova Maday

The musical "Chicago" is based on real women who, in the 1920s, occupied a section of the Cook County jail known as “Murderess Row.” The new book “He Had It Coming” tells their true stories. Host: Mary Dixon Interviewees: Kori Rumore, Marianne Mather

Young people from around the country are headed to Washington DC this weekend. Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ advocacy organization has named a new class of youth ambassadors.
 
 Host: Melba Lara
 Reporter: Susie An

Cook County’s Chief Judge undercounted the number of murders allegedly committed by people out on bail according to an investigation from the Chicago Tribune.
 
 Host: Melba Lara
 Reporter: Patrick Smith
 Interviewee: David Jackson

It is an unprecedented step to make amends after Illinois found an overhaul of special education led to illegal delays and denial of services. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Sarah Karp

After the mass shooting in Aurora last year, the governor, state police, lawmakers and gun control activists promised major changes to address loopholes in Illinois gun laws. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Patrick Smith

Aurora Police Officer John Cebulski was just one of hundreds of officers who responded to an active shooter situation a year ago this Saturday at the Henry Pratt Company. He remembers that day and reflects on his recovery.

Saturday will mark one year since a deadly work-place shooting in west suburban Aurora, IL. Five employees of the Henry Pratt Company died when a disgruntled worker opened fire in a meeting room.

Actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted again after charges were dropped last year by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

Chicago baseball gets underway this week as pitchers and catchers report for spring training in Arizona. WBEZ's Cheryl Raye Stout breaks down how each team is shaping up.

It's been less than a year since Lori Lightfoot became the first black woman to become Chicago’s mayor. Mayor Lightfoot joins WBEZ's Mary Dixon to review what's been a busy start to her term.

The works by contemporary Chinese artists use unusual materials such as human hair and cigarettes to create monumental-sized works spread over two museums.

A 30 year agreement between the City of Chicago and Commonwealth Edison to provide electricity to city residents expires at the end of the year. A growing number of activists and aldermen wants to take ComEd out of the picture.

Delphine Cherry has lost not one but two of her children to gun violence. She spoke to her daughter, Tamika Howard, at the Chicago StoryCorps booth about living with pain.

Richard Miller, from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine​ says last month's executive order is a good start, but more will be needed to deal with Illinois' opioid crisis.

Chicago Police Board members did not review key evidence about Sgt. Khalil Muhammad’s off-duty shooting of an unarmed teenager with autism before they decided in December to keep him on the force, a WBEZ investigation has found.

Erosion is becoming a bigger problem for those living along an ever-rising Lake Michigan. Residents and officials in Northwest Indiana say the situation is being made worse by their state’s inaction.

Tony Sarabia moved to Iowa last year after retiring as a host at WBEZ, and he give us the highs and lows of Monday night’s Caucus.

Four-year college isn't right for all students, and a group in north suburban Waukegan says that's OK.

Sunshine couldn't draw out the usual parade crowds. But officials stress that the risk of contracting the virus in Illinois remains low.

The Chicago police pension board had approved a pension for former Officer William Pruente but reversed itself Thursday.

A significant collection of 87 paintings and sculpture created by African American artists are up for auction Thursday in New York City. The collection is another asset being sold off by Chicago-based Johnson Publishing.

The Chinatown Chamber of Commerce says the coronavirus is not a danger in the Chicago neighborhood. Chinatown is getting ready for this weekend’s New Year celebration and parade.

A former executive for Planned Parenthood of Illinois was arrested earlier this month and charged this week with stealing more than $100,000 from the organization.

The U.S. Census Bureau has not yet reached its goal to hire 30,000 workers in Illinois for the decennial headcount to be conducted this spring. Officials said a number of challenges are getting in the way.

Some migrant parents send their children across the border without them to escape harsh living conditions. They ask: "What would you do?"

A report out Monday finds that Chicago police are focusing their prostitution enforcement efforts almost exclusively on people selling sex, rather than sex buyers or traffickers.

Mark Medrano wanted to get the attention of people who were bullying him at his Chicago high school when he was a freshman, so he posted threatening messages on Facebook.

Last fall, Michael Ferro sold his shares of Tribune Publishing to Alden Global Capital. Rick Edmonds from the The Poynter Institute for Media Studies has been tracking the controversial hedge fund.

The Iowa caucuses are less than two weeks away and the state is filled with volunteers campaigning for their favorite candidates. Over the weekend, more than 100 teenagers from the Chicago area joined them.

Andy Cutting, a firefighter with the Skokie, Illinois Fire Department, grew up outside of Melbourne, Australia. He fought the devastating Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.

A retired ornithologist has 40 years of evidence that scientists say indicates a link between warming climate and smaller birds.