A Cook County judge ruled Friday that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to alter the real estate transfer tax to raise up to $100 million a year to fight homelessness is invalid. Reset checks in with WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Bayless Family Foundation is giving grants to Definition Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, the Chicago Children’s Theatre and the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. The funding will go toward theater programming and operations. Reset sits down with TimeLine Theatre artistic director PJ Powers and Chicago Children’s Theatre co-founder and artistic director Jacqueline Russell. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago’s punk scene is fresher — and younger — than ever. Case in point: The teen band Uniflora just played Metro’s iconic stage. The high school sophomores discuss their new single “Hellgirl,” the new age of Chicago DIY music and how their parents shaped their musical sensibilities. Reset checks in with drummer Ruby O’Brien, bassist Theo Williams and guitarist and vocalist Quinn Dugan. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker delivers his budget address. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils a major economic development plan. Chicago closes four migrant shelters. Early voting resumes after a temporary pause. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more with WBEZ state politics reporter Dave McKinney, Crain’s Chicago Business government and politics reporter Justin Laurence and Brandis Friedman, co-anchor of WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” and host of “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices.” For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The sketch comedy and improv show “Black By Popular Demand” examines the Black experience in America, and no topic is off limits. The seriously funny performance is playing at The Second City in Chicago Fridays and Saturdays through March 25. Reset checks in with the show’s director Rob Wilson. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset. To sign up for our daily newsletter, go to wbez.org/resetnews.

In his annual budget address Wednesday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced sweeping medical reforms to root out predatory healthcare practices, erase $4 billion in medical debt and invest in Black maternal health by opening birth centers. Reset gets the scoop from WBEZ public health and politics reporter Kristen Schorsch. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset. To sign up for our daily newsletter, go to wbez.org/resetnews.

The author of ‘The Power of Habit’ is out with a new book on the neuroscience and psychology of how we communicate with one another. It’s called Supercommunicators: How To Unlock The Secret Language Of Connection. Reset checks in with award-winning journalist and writer Charles Duhigg. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to WBEZ.org/reset.

Governor Pritzker delivered his annual budget address Wednesday. WBEZ state politics reporter Dave McKinney breaks down what you need to know about the state’s finances and future outlook. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to WBEZ.org/reset.

Governor Pritzker delivered his annual budget address Wednesday. Reset is providing his full speech for listeners of the podcast. You can also find an episode in our feed where WBEZ’s Dave McKinney provides context and analysis about the governor’s assessment of the state of Illinois’ finances and what lies ahead for Illinoisans. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to WBEZ.org/reset.

Rep. Danny Davis, a Democrat, has been representing parts of downtown Chicago and the West Side since 1997, but he faces a number of challengers in the March 19 primary election. Meanwhile, in the 4th Congressional district, Democrat Jesus “Chuy” Garcia also has a notable challenger who wants to take his seat. So, what factors could contribute to who wins in those races? And what do the races tell us about the way the political winds are blowing in the Democratic Party? Reset checks in with WBEZ city government and politics reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg. For another dose of Reset — beyond the podcast — sign up for our daily newsletter at wbez.org/resetnews.

Billy Dee Williams got his start as an actor on Broadway when he was seven years old and later made sci-fi history as ‘Star Wars’ con man turned good guy Lando Calrissian. Reset chats with Williams about his new memoir ‘What Have We Here: Portraits Of A Life’ ahead of a WBEZ event on Thursday, Feb. 22. For a full archive of Reset conversations, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Imagine making a mid-career pivot and going on to raise $76 million to support climate-technology startups. That’s what Amy Francetic did when she helped found the women-led Chicago venture fund Buoyant Ventures. Reset meets Francetic and learns about how Buoyant is working to fight climate change by investing in young companies with big ideas. We’re also joined by Karen Weigert, Reset Sustainability contributor and director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility.

Chicagoan Kevin Pang is a James-Beard award winning food writer. He and his dad have a cooking channel called the Hunger Pangs, where they cook traditional Cantonese recipes and Chinese-American classics, which they adapted into the New York Times 2023 Best Cookbooks List. A Very Chinese Cookbook. Reset hears from Kevin on the significance of Lunar New Year foods and the power of cooking with family to preserve memory.

Whether you’re a long time resident or new to the area, we have the latest on what you need to know to vote early in Illinois’ Primary election. Reset hears from Max Bever, Director of Public Information at the Chicago Board of Elections, on how to make the best out of your early voting experience.

Chicago folk singer Naomi Ashley’s new album Love Bug explores the different stages of love, from infatuation to obsession to heartbreak and beyond. Reset sits down with the artist for more on what it takes to turn heartbreak into a love song.

Residents on the South and West sides claim their 911 calls were ignored, as data shows the rapid response teams made traffic stops instead. Parts of Lurie Children’s Hospital’s system have been restored after a cyberattack forced it to shut down. And a Yelp list ranks a Chicago restaurant’s pizza as number one in the country. Reset hears more about those stories and more with Chicago Tribune state government reporter Dan Petrella, WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith, and WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel.

Chicago became the largest U.S. city to outlaw a lower minimum wage for tipped workers last year. Now, Democratic lawmakers in Springfield have introduced legislation that would get rid of the lower minimum wage for the state’s tipped workers, something advocates for higher pay call the “subminimum wage.” Reset hears two perspectives on the proposed legislation: Audra Wilson, president and CEO of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and Mario Ponce, owner of Takito Brands restaurants.

More than half of U.S. tenants can’t afford their rent. Here in Chicago, thousands — tens of thousands by one measure — are experiencing homelessness. To complicate matters, the city continues to struggle to find shelter for the more than 35,000 migrants who have arrived in Chicago since August 2022. Reset goes behind the scenes of Evicted, a new exhibition at the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago with its Executive Director, Lisa Yun Lee, to shine a light on national housing policies and tenants’ rights.

Chicago is severing ties with Shot Spotter – rebranded just last year as Sound Thinking – at the end of the summer. Supporters of the gunshot detection technology say this will slow response times to gunshot victims, but studies by the city and county officials find the tech system rarely produces documented evidence of a gun crime. Reset learns more from WBEZ criminal justice reporter Chip Mitchell.

There’s no perfect formula to love, but a set of good questions can get you far. Reset chats with dating coach and founder of Smart Dating Academy Bela Gandhi on her best advice for deepening relationships.

Bring Chicago Home is an initiative to create a dedicated funding stream in the city budget to support the city’s unhoused population. Reset chats with WBEZ’s city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel about how that referendum could impact not just the unhoused, but also renters and the real estate market.

Since August 2022, over 35,000 people have come to Chicago from the southern border, most sent here by plane or bus. Reset hears from a father of two about his journey to Chicago and when he hopes to be reunited with his family.

Firefighters are an important part of keeping a community safe. Not only do they literally put out fires, they also help clean up hazardous materials and in some cases, make sure our buildings are up to code. And Skokie Citizens Fire Academy teaches interested residents about all that goes into the job, plus some firefighting skills. Reset learns more about the program from Inspector Timothy Taylor and hears from its oldest graduate, Mort Feldberg.

Chicago officials have spent nearly 160 million dollars on the migrant crisis, from shelter and clothing, to food and funding for other services for the 13 thousand migrants in the city today. Reset hears from one migrant who may be subject to the city’s eviction notice for migrants staying in city run shelters on his journey of getting to Chicago and his hopes for the future.

Lil Hardin Armstrong, Mary Lou Williams and Nina Simone are notable singers of their time, but trumpeter, composer and director of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Orbert Davis, wanted to highlight their songwriting skills. In a new composition for the Philharmonic, Davis confronts the gender inequalities in jazz. Reset learns more about why Davis wanted to highlight each of the singer-songwriters with his new composition debuting this weekend.

During the pandemic, saxophonist Mai Sugimoto, bassist Joshua Abrams and drummer Isaiah Spencer came together to perform and honor the life and legacy of Chicago saxophonist Fred Anderson. From that moment on, Sugimoto recognized the magic and chemistry of the trio leading to the creation of her latest album “Sunlight Filtering Through Leaves". Reset sits down with the Japanese-born, Chicago-based improvised jazz artist to learn about her journey in music.

A judge rules that an Illinois challenge to former President Donald Trump appearing on the ballot won’t be delayed. Meanwhile, Springfield takes up the so-called “subminimum wage” for tipped workers and Chicago’s elected school board. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in the Weekly News Recap, this week with Simone Alicea, executive producer of City Cast Chicago, Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association, and Amanda Vinicky, WTTW political correspondent.

The Environmental Protection Agency is strengthening air quality standards on industries like factories, power plants, and vehicles that emit soot. Those fine particulate particles have been found to collect in people's lungs, cause respiratory problems, and have even been linked to cancer. Reset learns more about this change from Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Hawthorne, and how the change could improve our health from Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at the Respiratory Health Association.

Chicago Police have been found to have varied response times to emergency calls across the city, and now the City Council is requiring the department to conduct a workforce study to identify why. The city’s governing body also discussed a recent resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as solutions to the migrant crisis. Reset learns the latest from WBEZ’s city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel.

Chicago’s expressways can be traced back to the 1908 Plan of Chicago that envisioned a road system of roads that connected the city center to distant neighborhoods. But in the process of constructing them, thousands of residents were displaced – more than half of whom were Black, despite being only 23% of the city’s total population. And the result was the entrenchment of segregation in Chicago. For a walk through this history, Reset turns to two reporters: Richard Cahan, journalist, author Lost In America: Photographing the Last Days of our Architectural Treasures, and Susy Shultz, freelance editor and journalist, looking into this legacy.

It’s a tragic story that’s all too common in the city: gun violence ending young lives too soon. But a new public-private effort headed up by gun violence prevention nonprofit Chicago CRED aims to reduce shootings by 50% in the next five years. Reset speaks to Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education and Founder of Chicago CRED, on how he plans to improve safety among Chicago teens.

The Census Bureau's latest 5-year dataset was released in December, and WBEZ just crunched the numbers for Cook County tracts. But the gap between Cook County’s highest and lowest earning areas is among the highest in the nation. Reset learns more about what’s driving that change and which neighborhoods are being left behind from WBEZ’s Data Projects Editor Alden Loury.

As Chicago begins its transition to an elected school board in the fall, Local School Councils (LCSs) could become the place for candidates to prove themselves. LSCs are a unique and powerful feature of Chicago’s public school system, and the deadline to run for a seat is Feb. 8. Reset talks to Crystal Paul, a freelance journalist, and Karonda Locust and JP Paulus, LSC members, about the upcoming elections in spring.

Illinois’ primary election is March 19th, but early voting starts as early as next week. Do you know where you’re voting? Or how to vote by mail? Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the area, WBEZ’s primary guide’s got you covered. Reset learns more from WBEZ government and politics editor Tony Arnold.

City Council approves Gaza ceasefire resolution and Chicago becomes the largest city in the U.S. do so. Mayor Brandon Johnson gives migrants more time in shelters. And Chicago Tribune reporters go on strike for the first time in the paper's nearly 180-year history. Reset hears more about those stories and more with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, AXIOS Chicago reporter Monica Eng and WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel.

With recent pushes by Chicago’s city council to go electric and move away from natural gas in new buildings, it makes us wonder, “Could our power grid even handle that?” Reset discusses this question and more with Reset’s sustainability contributor and director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility Karen Weigert.

Chicago becomes the largest city in the U.S. to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. With a narrow vote of 23 against and 23 in favor, Mayor Brandon Johnson cast a tie-breaking vote to pass the resolution. Reset checks in with WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel to understand how the city’s ceasefire resolution fits into the larger picture.

Thousands of parents rely on free preschool options which Chicago Public Schools has been able to expand thanks in part to COVID relief funding. But that money is set to run out in the next school year. So what will this mean for parents and the kids enrolled in these programs? Reset finds out from Reema Amin, reporter at Chalkbeat Chicago.

After a unanimous vote, the Illinois State Board of Elections decides to keep former president Donald Trump on the primary ballot. The Board decided the suit is out of their authority and jurisdiction. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal to get the latest update.

The 1,900 migrants who were set to be evicted from shelters Thursday will now be able to stay until at least mid-March. Reset learns the latest on the 60-day shelter limit, City Council’s upcoming vote on a Gaza cease-fire resolution and how polling staff shortages will impact the Illinois primary election from Tessa Weinberg, WBEZ city government and politics reporter.

As we continue to better understand systems of oppression in America, the question is: What can we do about them? That’s what writer Ijeoma Oluo tackles in Be A Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World — And How You Can, Too. Oluo documents her years spent shadowing movement workers across the country in areas including gender justice, disability justice, systemic racism and education. Reset sits down with Oluo to learn more about her call to action and how people can bring positive change to their own communities.

Since he was just 14 years old, meteorologist Tom Skilling has predicted the weather, and helped Illinoisians understand the science behind it. He’s guided residents through rain and shine, floods and droughts, blizzards and heat waves. He’s chased tornadoes — and been chased by them. Reset talked to the longtime meteorologist about his legendary career ahead of his retirement.

The Chicago rapper, activist and actor Common spills on the importance of staying grounded, setting boundaries and taking time for self. That’s advice from his new book “And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self.”

In 1987, Carlos Tortolero opened the National Museum of Mexican Art’s doors in Pilsen with the guiding principles that it should be free and accessible. Now, as the longtime leader takes a step back, the organization welcomes José Ochoa as its new leader. Reset learns more about José Ochoa’s plans for the museum.

Chicago shaped the early years of Pitchfork, a music review site that laid off half its staff last week. We caught up with the original Pitchfork crew: Ryan Schreiber, founder of Pitchfork, Chris Kaskie, co-founder of Pitchfork Music Festival and former co-owner of Pitchfork, and Amy Phillips, ex-executive editor of Pitchfork to hear the history of the pillar of music journalism. And talked about the future of music criticism with Alejandro Hernandez, freelance music journalist and Britt Julious, music critic for the Chicago Tribune.

Mayor Johnson wants Chicago to say goodbye to gas. Pritzker joins Democratic governors in asking the federal government for help with addressing the needs of migrants. A Chicago police officer is sentenced for participating in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Nearly a third of alders ask Mayor Johnson to scrap the 60-day shelter limit policy for migrants, while City Council debates cracking down on dollar stores. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with Leigh Giangreco, government and politics reporter, Crain’s Chicago Business, Brandon Pope, reporter/anchor at CW 26 and Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago reporter covering Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards.

Art space and gallery Roman Susan in Rogers Park has a new landlord. Loyola University purchased the building it occupies along with other businesses and residential tenants. As Roman Susan’s lease comes to an end next year, the future of the community art space is uncertain. To learn more about it and its impact in Rogers Park, Reset spoke with Roman Susan executive director Kristin Abhalter Smith and managing director Nathan Abhalter Smith. Check out the rest of our interviews and conversations at wbez.org/reset.

As the U.S. population ages, many Americans are thinking about what they want their golden years to look like. And more and more are saying “no” to nursing homes and “yes” to staying put. Aging in place is the practice of seniors staying in their homes with care from friends, family, and/or paid staff, rather than living in a retirement facility. It’s been gaining popularity as a way for seniors to maintain independence. Reset learns more about how to effectively, and safely, age in place with Mary Mitchell, columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times, and Margaret Laraviere, executive director of the Area Agency on Aging. Check out the rest of our interviews and conversations at wbez.org/reset.

A new American Cancer Society report shows more adults under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with certain cancers. Some researchers point to changes in lifestyle, environment, ultra-processed foods, or something more unidentifiable. Reset learns more about this study and cancer outcomes from Dr. Adam DuVall, assistant professor of medicine at UChicago Medicine, and Dr. Christina Annunziata, senior vice president of extramural discovery science at the American Cancer Society.

Illinois lawmakers are looking to ban five ingredients listed to be banned in a proposed bill in Springfield have been connected to cancer, behavioral problems in children, and overall to poor health outcomes. Reset hears more about the legislation under consideration in the state Senate from Stephanie Zimmermann, consumer investigations reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. We also learn about the long term health impact of these additives in our foods from Rochelle Trotter, entrepreneur, health coach, and founder & CEO of R’Culinare.

As Chicago delayed its 60-day shelter-stay limit due to weather, New York has been enforcing its limit on single adults for months — and in January, started removing families. But advocates in New York City warn of chaos and inhumane conditions as the city has cast migrants on to the street. Reset compares the two city’s responses to the migrant crisis with Michael Loria, a reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times, and Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio with the New York-based outlet, Documented.

An ordinance to be introduced Wednesday in Chicago’s City Council would raise emissions standards and require new buildings to go electric. That means stoves, water heaters and furnaces that run on gas would no longer be part of the architecture of most new buildings in Chicago if a new proposal passes in City Council. Reset talks with advocates for the legislation, Sarah Moskowitz of the Citizens Utility Board and 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden about the benefits of such a move, as well as the concerns that groups like Peoples Gas and the American Gas Association have about the proposed changes.

Under a major bus driver shortage, Chicago Public Schools isn’t providing busing to general education students for the rest of the school year. The district is in early talks with a ride-share service that provides students transportation in other districts across the nation, like Denver Public Schools in Colorado. Reset talks with Jewél Jackson, investigative education reporter for the Illinois Answers Project, and Ismael El-Amin, a parent of two Chicago Public Schools students, on the best way to bridge the gap.

Officials have touted the Unity Initiative, a donation-funded partnership between the city of Chicago and its faith community, as one reason the city is no longer relying on police stations as shelter. Reset checks back in with Jonathan de la O, pastor of Starting Point Community Church in Belmont Cragin, about participating in that program and what migrants need ahead of an impending stay limit being imposed at city-run shelters.

Four former employees in the mayor’s office say they were improperly placed on City Hall’s do-not-hire list. Reset talks with Leigh Giangreco, government and politics reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business and David Greising, president, Better Government Association about those stories and how the city’s do-not-hire list is supposed to work.

From overseeing the forest preserves’ centennial celebration to making a strategic conservation plan for the next century, Arnold Randall left an indelible mark during his 13 years as the general superintendent of Cook County’s forest preserves. Ahead of his departure from the district, Reset reflects with Randall on his legacy and conservation in Cook County over the past decade.

Continued freezing temperatures add another challenge to housing migrants. Car insurance rates are on the rise. And Illinois releases new assault weapons registration rules after only a fraction of eligible gun owners registered their weapons with the state. Reset breaks down these stories and more with Ravi Baichwal anchor at ABC 7 News, Stephanie Zimmermann, consumer investigations reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor, WTTW.

Museums like the Field are now federally required to get “free, prior and informed consent” from tribes or descendants before allowing display of cultural items or ancestral remains. The Field already does not display those remains, but it does hold one of the largest collections in the nation. Reset hears from Debra Yepa-Pappan, artist and former community engagement coordinator for the Native American exhibition renovation at the Field Museum, about the museum’s repatriation procedures and the changes following these rules.

Stern Pinball, based in suburban Elk Grove Village, created a new machine styled after Steven Spielberg’s classic summer blockbuster Jaws. Reset gets the scoop from Zach Sharpe of Stern Pinball and horror fan Moses Gibson of The Horror House Shop.

The Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Department of Transportation released a plan in November that aims to create a more reliable bus service in the city. Reset learns more on what the plan includes from Jennifer Henry, CTA’s director of strategic planning. We then heard from public transit advocates Kyle Lucas of Better Streets Chicago and Julia Gerasimenko of Active Transportation Alliance about what improvements they’d like to see to the CTA bus system.

A bipartisan deal reached in the U.S. Senate could expand the child tax credit for lower income families, many of whom do not currently earn enough to qualify. Lawmakers are trying to pass the bill before the current filing deadline of Jan. 29, but it’s unclear if it can pass in the House. Additionally, there’s a bill in the Illinois House to create a permanent child tax credit. Reset learns about the proposed expansions from Deirdre Walsh, NPR Congressional correspondent and how this could benefit lower income families in Illinois from Audra Wilson, president and CEO, Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Mykela Collins, parent ambassador, Ada S. McKinley Community Services.

Around this time of the year, people are starting to work toward their New Year's resolutions. For many, their goals are to lose weight, work out more or eat healthier. But how can we embrace a more positive and less anxious relationship with our bodies, food and movement? Reset discusses with a panel of health and nutrition experts: Bethany Doerfler, a research specialist and clinical dietitian for Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center; Dana Buccheri, the owner and trainer of StrongWithDana; and Àngel Casas, a non-diet personal trainer.

With frigid temperatures, Chicago officials postponed kicking newly-arrived migrants out of city shelters. But the new deadline is still looming. Reset spoke with a panel of people who are connecting migrants with resources: Veronica Saldaña, a volunteer lead for the police station response team, Annie Gomberg, another lead volunteer, and Andre Gordillo, director of New Vecinos – or “New Neighbors” in English – at New Life Centers, a nonprofit that is partnering with the state to provide services.

Chicago Restaurant Week can be a fun opportunity to eat new dishes and set menus at a more affordable price — and this year 414 restaurants are participating. Reset hears from local foodies Monica Eng and Louisa Chu, co-hosts of the Chewing Podcast, on their picks and suggestions to make the most of the event.

Amtrak is getting $93 million in federal funds to renovate Union Station, which will include upgrades to the ventilation systems, expansion of platforms and changes to make the facility comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Amtrak is currently seeking public comment on proposed improvements to the station that the company says serves more than three million passengers annually. Reset finds out more about the renovation goals and how the public can weigh in with Mark Magliari, spokesperson for Amtrak Government Affairs; Sarah Freishtat, transportation reporter for the Chicago Tribune; and Mark Walbrun, a retired industry expert.

During his life and since his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. was and has been the face of the Civil Rights movement, but how much do you know about the man behind the myth? King: A Life taps new material, including an unpublished memoir by King’s father and FBI surveillance tapes, to give a full, unflinching portrait of King. On MLK Day, Reset revisits a conversation with the Chicago-based author of the biography, Jonathan Eig.

Snowy owls are a rare and coveted sight for bird watchers in the Midwest, but if you know what to look for you might have a better chance at spotting them. Reset learns more about snowy owl irruptions — the term for the mysterious and unpredictable migration cycle for the arctic bird — from Stephanie Beilke, senior manager in conservation science at Audubon Society Great Lakes and Edward Warden, president of the Chicago Ornithological Society.

A winter storm hammers Chicago, migrants housed on CTA buses, and, as the weather worsens, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson delays a 60-day limit on how long migrants can stay in city shelters. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with panelists Carrie Shepherd, reporter for Axios; Dave McKinney, WBEZ state politics reporter; and A.D. Quig, Cook County and Chicago government reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Weather disasters are wreaking havoc across the country this week as Chicago prepares for a winter storm expected to hit today. Reset talks with atmospheric scientist Scott Collis with Argonne National Laboratory to learn more.

Ask any Midwestern surfer and they’ll tell you: the worse the weather, the better the waves. But beware of wading in those waters unless you know what you’re doing. As surfers navigate both environmental hazards and extreme weather, the difficulty and shared risk has built a tight-knit community on the Third Coast. Reset speaks with local surfers Mo McFadden and Rex Flodstrom and WBEZ freelance reporter Zachary Nauth to learn more about winter surfing on the Great Lakes.

Josh Long, Chicago Public Schools’ new chief of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services, was the principal of Southside Occupational Academy High School for 14 years. Reset learns more about how the department's new leader plans to support special education students throughout the district.

Apartments at a building in south suburban Harvey got boarded up — while some residents say they were still inside. Videos of the situation went viral on TikTok. Reset gets the latest on the story and discusses tenants’ rights across Cook County with Daily Southtown reporter Hank Sanders and two organizers with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization: Philip DeVon and David Wilson.

A group of real estate and business groups are pushing back against the city’s proposed real estate transfer tax that’s meant to combat homelessness, also known as the Bring Chicago Home ordinance. Plus, Brandon Johnson is trying to move away from Tax Increment Financing. Reset learns more from WBEZ city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel.

What’s considered a normal blood pressure? How often should I get a Pap test? What am I at risk for at my age? Reset checks in about checkups and screenings with Dr. Sam Wainwright, a pediatrician and health services researcher at University of Illinois Chicago, and Dr. Steven Rothschild, a family medicine physician with RUSH University Medical Group.

Only a small fraction of migrants have been approved for the documents they need to start working legally, according to a CBS Chicago review of internal city data. But not everyone is eligible for work permits under Temporary Protected Status. Reset discusses who is left out and checks in on the permit process for new arrivals with Eréndira Rendón, vice president of immigrant justice at The Resurrection Project and Sabrina Franza, general assignment reporter, CBS 2.

Only a small fraction of migrants have been approved for the documents they need to start working legally, according to a CBS Chicago review of internal city data. But not everyone is eligible for work permits under Temporary Protected Status. Reset discusses who is left out and checks in on the permit process for new arrivals with Eréndira Rendón, vice president of immigrant justice at The Resurrection Project and Sabrina Franza, general assignment reporter, CBS 2.

A Northwestern law student is suing the Biden administration over what she says is its failure to evacuate her U.S. citizen family members from Gaza. Palestinian American Yasmeen Elagha has spent the last three months talking, negotiating and pleading with different U.S. agencies — and even different governments — for help to get her family in Gaza to safety. Reset sits down with Elagha for more on her story.

Move over hot dog bun, there’s a new carb in town. The pastry chef at Daisies, the Logan Square pasta emporium, joined forces with The Weiner Circle to bring a new twist to Chicago’s favorite dog and the Midwestern classic pigs in a blanket. Reset discusses the newest twist on a Windy City classic with WBEZ staffers Katie O'Connell, Cianna Greaves and Reset’s own Meha Ahmad.

Fans of David Bowie will know of his deep love of jazz. Though he never ventured into the genre in a literal sense, the inspiration is clear when you listen to his impressive body of work. The Metropolitan Jazz Octet, in partnership with Paul Marinaro, is reimagining some of Bowie’s classics with a new show titled “The Bowie Project.” Paul and MJO Co-founder Jim Gailloreto join Reset to discuss their love of the psychedelic space explorer, adapting Bowie's work in a new medium, and how the MJO came to be.

A group of Illinois residents have challenged Donald Trump’s candidacy. An undercount of people living in group quarters on the 2020 Census might mean Illinois isn’t losing population after all. Plus, there’s a slew of new laws you may have missed – like an e-cigarette ban in indoor public spaces. Reset breaks down those stories and more with Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project, Quinn Myers, Block Club Chicago reporter covering Wicker Park, West Town and Bucktown, and WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp.

Reset learns the history of two schools, hotels and a warehouse that are currently being used to house migrants for our What’s That Building series with architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin.

Want to get out of your comfort zone and try something new this winter? Reset sat down with Jenny LeFlore, creator of Mama Fresh, Alison Cuddy, cultural producer and freelance journalist, and Breezy Fasano, co-founder of Chicago Craft Club to get tips on how to stay active and connected this winter.

A new program for West Side families wants to help ease the burdens of parenthood during the first year of a baby’s life. Reset learns more about West Side Healthy Parents & Babies by speaking with Ayesha Jaco, executive director of West Side United, Katelyn Kanwischer, director of maternal and child health initiative at Lurie Children’s Hospital, and WBEZ public health and county government reporter Kristen Schorsch.

This year the city of Chicago is rolling out a violence-prevention strategy to bring resources and investment to four of its most crime-impacted neighborhoods: West Garfield Park, Little Village, Englewood and Austin. This comes after a drop in homicides and gun violence both locally and nationally in 2023. But Chicago did experience an unusual spike in robberies last year. Reset learns more about crime in Chicago and the steps being taken to reduce it by speaking with Chicago’s deputy mayor of community safety Garien Gatewood and Kim Smith, the director of programs at the University of Chicago Crime Lab.

The year ahead will be a big one for local politics. Former Illinois House speaker Mike Madigan goes on trial, Alderman Ed Burke will be sentenced after being convicted on 13 charges in his federal corruption trial, the Illinois primary is coming up on March 19, and the Democratic National Convention comes to town this summer. WBEZ government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel give a preview of the stories that will shape Chicago politics in 2024.

Is 2024 the year some of us finally keep a New Year’s resolution? It can be easier said than done, but experts say if you follow the best practices unearthed through research, it’s doable. Reset turns to Katy Milkman, professor at The University of Pennsylvania, host of the Choiceology podcast and author of How To Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be for tips and tricks on how to actually make desired changes.

At a breezy 17 minutes, fawn – the 2023 EP from Chicago band OK Cool – explores big topics in a precise yet carefree way. Reset revisits a conversation with Haley Blomquist and Bridget Stiebris – creative partners behind OK Cool – about the duo’s stop-motion music videos, musical inspirations, and their collaborative writing process.

Angel Bat Dawid’s latest album explores the potential “death” of jazz, providing an Afrofuturist requiem to lay it to rest. Increasingly layered, the Chicago artist’s 2023 release also draws parallels to Mozart’s last work. In this April 2023 conversation, Angel Bat Dawid joined Reset to talk about her early days learning the clarinet, her goals for teaching Black children and the 1959 documentary that inspired her latest work.

As Reset wraps the year, we’re giving some of our favorite interviews with musical guests an encore presentation. Today, we take a look back at a conversation with DJ Mochi and DJ IGGY – the founders of Global Currency – and play some tunes from South America, Africa, and more.

Your upcoming holidays may be full of movie nights and good food. So, why not combine the best of both worlds? From Big Night to Tampopo, Reset digs into the films that inspire us to eat and cook delicious food with Monica Eng, Axios Chicago reporter and co-host of Chewing Podcast, and Jesse Dukes, co-host of Upper Middlebrow.

Former alderman Ed Burke is found guilty of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion. A months-long strike of adjunct professors at Columbia College ends. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent migrants to Chicago this week by plane. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with David Greising, president and CEO of the Better Government Association, Amanda Vinicky, WTTW political correspondent, and Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, on the Weekly News Recap.

Set in the 1930s, A Christmas Story takes place in the fictitious town of Hohman. Reset learns more about the real-life places in Hammond, Indiana that inspired the iconic holiday film from WBEZ architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin.

Sorry Taylor Swift, but we’re doing our end of year albums the Reset way. We’re talking about the Best Albums of 2023 (Chicago’s Version) with the co-host of Sound Opinions, Greg Kot, music critic for the Chicago Tribune, Britt Julious, and host and producer at Vocalo, Nudia Hernandez.

New lawsuits against the Chicago Park District allege lifeguarding for teens was no day at the beach. Dan Mihalopoulos, WBEZ investigative reporter on government and politics who broke the story of the toxic workplace culture and sexual abuse in the city’s lifeguard program, shares details from the latest lawsuits.

The holidays can add extra pressure to drink. But a cup of good cheer doesn’t have to include alcohol — and a growing movement toward mocktails is motivating the creation and distribution of more fun, non-alcoholic beverages. Reset talks with WBEZ’s Courtney Keuppers and Mary Moss, owner of Beverly Dry Goods, who searched for Chicago’s most creative mocktails and found recommendations for sober folks in 12 Chicago neighborhoods all in time for the festive season.

According to new guidance released this week by the Vatican, “irregular” unions should not be denied the right to receive God’s blessing. Pope Francis’ guidance did not, however, amend church doctrine on marriage. Reset speaks with Steve Millies, associate professor of public theology and director of Bernardin Center at the Catholic Theological Union Mary Donnelley, board president at Dignity Chicago and Chris Pett, former national Dignity president to learn more.

Medical experts expect respiratory virus hospitalizations to continue to rise in Chicago. One reason? Only 11 percent of Chicagoans have gotten the most recent flu and COVID-19 vaccine. Reset chats with Dr. Mia Taormina, an infectious disease specialist with Duly Health and Care, about precautions to keep in mind this holiday season.

Producer: Landon Jones Editor: Brenda RuizIllinois has one of the greatest shortages of mental health care workers in the country, and new arrivals to Chicago face even greater barriers to access. This is because migrants may be disconnected from their families and support systems, lack a job or permanent address or have language or cultural barriers that keep them from seeing a therapist or social worker. Reset learns more about the need for mental health care in the city’s migrant shelters from Kristen Schorsch, WBEZ public health and county government reporter, Laura Pappa, director of behavioral health education at Northwestern Family Medicine, Veronica Armenta-Sanchez, licensed social worker and Aimee Hilado and Rebecca Ford-Paz from the Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health.

The Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering gun violence, created a Survivor Storytelling Network, with the aim of helping survivors tell their stories in essay form. The goal is to reach a broad audience to add nuance to the conversation about causes of violence and the fluctuating ideas of redemption and justice. Each essay offers a peek into the ways violence rearranges a life. Reset hears the stories of Aja Johnson, Marlon English, and Jaree Noel, who are survivors of gun violence in Chicago, and Justin Agrelo, Chicago Community Engagement Reporter for the Trace who led the project.

Fans of Johnny Cash, Television and the Beach Boys can sink their teeth into this new melting pot of classic genres. La Rosa Noir’s songs have changed over many years of performing, and listening to the polished and orchestrated studio album, Arellano, you can tell. Yeshi Regalado, frontwoman of La Rosa Noir, and Jannese Espino, her lead guitarist, join Reset to talk about their Chicano heritage, musical inspirations and the new album.

This week Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson touted a near end to the use of police stations to shelter migrants. But, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about how the new city-run shelters will be managed. Reset spoke with the city’s deputy chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas about the city’s strategy to house migrants.

Voters won’t get to weigh in on Chicago’s welcoming ordinance. Chicago workers will have to wait until July for the new mandatory ten days of paid leave. The fate of Alderman Ed Burke is now in the hands of a jury. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith, editor and reporter for Block Club Chicago Mick Dumke and reporter and anchor at CW 26 Brandon Pope.

Months ago, footage of kids crawling under and over stopped train cars at a railroad crossing put the spotlight on Hammond, Indiana. Reset checks in back with Joce Sterman, a national investigative reporter for Investigate TV, for an update on what has changed since – especially as a new video reveals a stopped train car beginning to move forward as a young girl tried to walk across the tracks.

From Michelin stars to James Beard nominations, it’s been a year of culinary greatness for Chicago. Reset sits down with local food writers and foodies alike to highlight the city’s best new restaurants. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out our previous episode on the best movies of 2023.

A recent ProPublica investigation finds gun sellers face few repercussions for failing to prevent illegal gun sales. The investigation also finds that tens of thousands of guns sold in cities outside Illinois have been linked to crimes in Chicago. Reset checks in with Vernal Coleman, reporter for ProPublica’s Midwest newsroom, to learn more.

The late Laurence Msall, who previously led the Civic Federation, was a wizard of public finance, someone who knew the ins and outs of city and state budgeting and had a keen eye for cost-effective approaches to government. Joe Ferguson brings a different background and perspective as a former federal prosecutor and good government advocate who spent 12 years as a tenacious city watchdog for Chicago. Reset talks to Ferguson about his plans for the group.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But, let’s face it, gift giving can be stressful. So how should you pass along goodwill and cheer to service and tipped workers — and what’s the standard? Reset speaks with culture and etiquette coach Akilah Siti Easter about how to properly tip this season.

Chicago lawmakers have scrapped plans to build a migrant camp in Morgan Park a week after the state stopped a potential camp in Brighton Park. Meanwhile, conservative Democrats on the council are asking for the resignation of seven officials from the Johnson Administration for greenlighting construction on toxic land in Brighton Park. Reset learns the latest about housing for migrants and other news from Chicago’s City Council from WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg.

Tis the season of giving. And the season of scams. There are a lot of different ways scammers are scheming to take your money and information. Reset sits down with Tom Johnson of the Better Business Bureau to learn about the top scams to look out for this holiday season. Get info on the latest happenings in Chicago and dig deeper into Reset conversations with our newsletter. Sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Mahbuba, a refugee from Afghanistan, didn’t have a way to communicate for the first six years of her life. Expressing herself as a deaf child was difficult. With no access to education in rural Afghanistan as a deaf girl, she didn’t experience language education until coming to Chicago. Reset talks with author and freelance journalist Elly Fishman who covered Mahbuba’s story. If you want to hear more stories like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Robberies in Chicago have increased more in the last five months than in any other consecutive five-month period since 2001. From July 1 to November 26, 2023, nearly 5,000 people filed reports of robbery with the Chicago Police Department. Reset speaks with the journalists behind the investigation, WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury and Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Sophie Sherry, to learn more.

Competing on a cooking show can be ruthless and cutthroat, but Chef Javauneeka Jacobs handles it with ease. Reset learns about the chef’s journey through the kitchen and into success — and her winning dish, Chef J’s Cassoulet Mexicano, which is being served at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill through December.

Governor Pritzker halts construction on a migrant tent camp in Brighton Park, while criticism grows over new protocols for seating the public at City Council meetings. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with executive producer of City Cast Chicago Simone Alicea, Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers and WBEZ Politics & Government editor Angela Rozas O'Toole.

Chicago Public Schools graduates take longer to complete college than students nationally, according to a study from the University of Chicago. Reset checked in with two co-authors of the study, as well as CPS’s director of College Pathways Brian Harris to hear about this issue – and discuss what efforts are needed to solve it. For more conversations like this one, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

For those who often drive past the Leaning Tower of Niles, it might have lost its novelty. But for one Chicagoan the off kilter, domed, belltower structure was a new sight thanks to detours caused by construction on the Kennedy Expressway. So why is there a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Illinois? We speak with Reset’s architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin to find out. If you liked this conversation, you can find more interviews with Dennis Rodkin in WBEZ’s “What’s That Building?” series at wbez.org/reset.

City officials faced pushback on construction of a winterized migrant shelter in Brighton Park from the community and health advocates even before an environmental study showed unhealthy levels of mercury at the site. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker nailed the coffin shut on this project citing health concerns. Reset hears from Alderwoman Julia Ramirez, 12th Ward, on the move and on what comes next.

We go to the movies for magic. To laugh, to cry, to care… at least that’s what Nicole Kidman says in the preview that runs before films start. We chat about our favorite flicks (and those that missed the mark!) with Brandon Pope, anchor at CW-26 and host of Season 4 of WBEZ’s Making Podcast, Michi Trota, Hugo Award winning editor and culture critic, and Cody Dericks, seasonal manager at the Music Box Theater and film critic for the website Next Best Picture.

For many, a little extra cash each month could go a long way. So one local scholar and sociologist set out to understand what a no-strings-attached monthly stipend could do for Chicago residents. Reset sits down with Eve L. Ewing about her limited podcast series “Guaranteed,” which examines what $500 monthly cash payments are making possible for some residents.

Generally, seniors 65 and older – who are retired and no longer use employer-provided insurance – will need to choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. This can be a daunting choice, with tradeoffs to each. Reset learns about the different parts to Medicare and gets advice for thinking through the options with Mary Mitchell, columnist and director of culture and community engagement for the Chicago Sun-Times, and Tricia Neuman, executive director of KFF’s Program on Medicare Policy.

The reporters on the seven-part series from City Bureau and the Invisible Institute found that Chicago detectives repeatedly brushed off family members' concerns, mishandled evidence and recorded inaccurate data that made finding missing people harder. Reset learns more from the duo behind the investigation, Trina Reynolds-Tyler, data director at the Invisible Institute, and Sarah Conway, senior reporter at City Bureau.

It’s challenging to become a classically trained professional ballerina, and people of color say they face more significant financial and accessibility challenges than their white counterparts when breaking into the field. Reset talks with Tatiana Chen, Shania Cook, and Rozhan Shabahang about being leads in A & A Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker and what it’s like to be part of the growing diversity in ballet.

From lions and a zebra born at the Lincoln Park Zoo, to spottings of snapping turtles, bats, and rats throughout Chicago, the reminder that wildlife is here, not just on TV, is all around. Reset revisits some of the biggest animal stories from this year with Seth Magle and Dave Bernier of the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Since the start of the AIDS epidemic, what’s changed? The medicine. What’s continued? The stigma. Reset brings together two people living with HIV in a conversation crossing generations and speaks with Dr. Sadia Haider of RUSH University Medical Center about efforts to educate heterosexual women about HIV transmission.

The Illinois primary is 109 days away. The Ed Burke trial is heating up. And the city of Chicago teams up with churches to house migrants. We’ll break down those stories and more in WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap with panelists Monica Eng, reporter for Axios Chicago, Michael Loria, reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, and Dave McKinney, WBEZ state politics reporter.

Federal investigators are taking aim at the role aldermanic prerogative has on the lack of affordable housing in Chicago. After a nearly five-year investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that alderpersons’ ability to veto affordable housing proposals has been “instrumental in creating Chicago’s patterns of segregation.” Reset learns more from Roderick Wilson, executive director of Lugenia Burns Hope Center; and Monica Dillon, resident of the 41st ward and member of Neighbors for Affordable Housing. For more Reset news delivered straight to your inbox, visit wbez.org/resetnews.

As winter sets in, a new partnership between the city and local churches called the Unity Initiative will house newcomers on a temporary basis in an effort to address the migrant crisis in Chicago. Reset checks in with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Michael Loria and Rev. Jonathan de la O of Starting Point Community Church. For more conversations like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

All eighth graders in Illinois public schools need to take this test to graduate. Traditionally, it’s been a 15 true-false question quiz covering the U.S. and Illinois constitutions. Now, more school districts are moving away from that version and opting for short answer questions that require more critical thinking. Reset discusses how civic education these days is focusing less on dates and facts and stressing the important role students play in shaping democracy. Plus, we’ll see if a couple of our WBEZ colleagues can pass the test!

Sports writer Rick Telander started writing poetry when he was hospitalized with a serious illness and thought about what kids who were in his situation might be going through. Reset talks with Telander about seeing his longtime side project come to fruition with the publication of Sweet Dreams: Poems and Paintings for the Child Abed. If you liked this conversation, check out our full catalog of interviews with Chicago artists and newsmakers at wbez.org/reset.

Nearly 26,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago since August 2022. The post-Thanksgiving cold snap has highlighted just how important it is to find housing for the thousands currently sleeping in police stations, tents and the city’s airports. Reset gets the latest on the Johnson administration’s plans for a tent camp in Brighton Park and hears about other efforts to house migrants and asylum seekers from WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg. To explore our full catalog of interviews, head on over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago-based Foxtrot Market and Dom’s Kitchen and Market — both upscale supermarkets with food service — will join forces. Reset talks with Virginia Lee, a market research expert and Food Institute writer, about what the merger means. To explore our full catalog of interviews, head on over to wbez.org/reset.

After having often felt like the only Native or queer person in a room, River Ian Kerstetter set out to make her own space with TIES Poetry, a series of open mics and readings celebrating Indigenous queer, trans and Two-Spirit writers. Reset talks with Kerstetter about the group and their own artistic journey. For more conversations like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Hospitalizations are nowhere near past years, but the virus is still here. Plus, two new vaccinations to protect babies against RSV were approved this year, but rollout has been spotty. Reset gets insight into the increase in cases and the state of vaccine access for COVID and RSV from infectious disease specialist Dr. Mia Taormina. For more conversations like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

The latest season of the docuseries High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America continues tracing the development of American food and food culture by examining more (relatively) recent history: Reconstruction and the Great Migration. Reset learns more about the history of Black cooking in Chicago with James Beard award-winning chef Erick Williams and Dario Durham, co-host of the history and food podcast 77 Flavors of Chicago. For more conversations like this, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The new book Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement introduces readers to a figure whose story has largely been overshadowed– until now. Reset learns more about how Moon shaped the Civil Rights Movement from author and historian Tanisha Ford. For more conversations like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Federal investigators are so far saying a “design issue” caused the Yellow Line crash, but a full investigation still needs to be conducted. Reset dives into what we know about the crash — and what it means for train safety with Sophie Sherry of the Chicago Sun-Times and DePaul University’s Joseph Schwieterman. For more conversations like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Chicago politics can be complicated, but jury members in former and longtime alderman Ed Burke’s corruption trial had to quickly get up to speed. Reset gets the latest on the trial from WBEZ city government reporter Mariah Woelfel. For more conversations like this one, browse our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

At least 26 trans or gender-nonconforming people have been killed in the U.S. this year, the majority of whom were Black trans women, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Transgender Day of Remembrance reminds us to pause and mourn these people’s lives — as well as celebrate the resilience of the trans community. Reset discusses the meaning of Transgender Day of Remembrance with Zahara Bassett, founder and CEO of Life Is Work, a West Side social service agency for trans and non-binary people. For more conversations like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

The city unveiled the next phase of its migrant response and resettlement efforts, which imposes limits on how long people can stay in city-run shelters based on when they arrived. The city says this is meant to free up shelter space and fast track resettlement efforts. Reset hears from volunteers Erika Villegas and Debra Michaud about how they’re preparing to help people navigate these limits. For more conversations like this, check out our entire catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

One Evanston man searched high and low for green coffee beans since he moved to the city from Seattle. He wanted to find them because he likes to roast at home — a method preferred by some coffee lovers because it can be cheaper, tasty and provides more control over the brew. One of our producers lent a hand. Along the way, Reset learned about the joys of at-home roasting. Do you have a Chicago-area question Reset could help you find an answer to? Give us a call at 888-915-9945.

Jessie Montgomery, CSO’s Mead Composer-in-Residence, is nominated for “Best Contemporary Classical Composition.” CSO’s audio engineer Charlie Post has picked up a third nomination for “Best Engineered Album, Classical” with the CSO album Contemporary American Composers. Reset checks in with Montgomery and two CSO musicians to celebrate the honor and talk classical music in the modern day. To hear more conversations with Chicago’s 2024 Grammy nominees, head over to wbez.org/reset.

An earthquake rocks Illinois. Alders approve Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first city budget. More than 100 people are arrested for protesting outside the Israeli Consulate. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Axios Chicago’s Carrie Shepherd, David Greising, president of the Better Government Association, and WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos. For more on the week’s top stories, check out our catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Mayor Brandon Johnson lists reducing recidivism as part of his community safety plan. In that spirit, his office has launched a collaboration between the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services and community groups to fast track housing and jobs for people getting out of Cook County Jail and state prisons. Reset learns more about this collaboration and how it works. For more conversations about topics impacting Chicagoans, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Dom Flemons is a Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter and folklorist up for Best Folk Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Flemons sat down with WBEZ’s Jason Marck to talk about some of the big ideas that run through his work, like preserving and pushing forward Black musical traditions. Check out more of our conversations with Grammy-nominated Chicago talent at wbez.org/reset.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, or CCPSA, recently voted to pass a policy that could ban Chicago police from actively participating in hate and extremist groups. Reset discusses the ban with CCPSA commissioner Remel Terry to understand how it will work and what this change could mean for the department. To hear more Reset interviews like this, go to wbez.org/reset.

Kurt Elling has been a jazz singer for nearly 30 years. He’s won two Grammys and been nominated for more than a dozen. And now he’s snagged another nomination in an all new category: Best Alternative Jazz Album. Reset chats with Kurt Elling about his latest album “SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree” after working on it with fellow musicians Charlie Hunter, Corey Fonville and DJ Harrison during the COVID-19 lockdown. We spoke to Kurt as a part of our Chicago Grammy nomination week. To hear more of those interviews, go to wbez.org/reset.

According to AIDSVu, about 1 in 5 of all new HIV diagnoses in 2021 were among people ages 13 to 24, with Black youth disproportionately affected. And while HIV medication pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is safe for all ages, it’s mostly been geared towards adults. Reset learns about a new campaign to reach more teens and young adults in the 13 to 24 age group and explore how expanding information and health care options for teens can improve health outcomes with longtime AIDS advocate Jim Pickett, PrEP4Teens youth leader Ryder Kennedy, TaskForce’s Chris Balthazar and muralist and artist David Gauna. To hear more conversations like this, go to wbez.org/reset to check out our full catalog of interviews.

Chicago J. Ivy won the first Grammy Award in the Spoken Word category earlier this year, and now he’s up for another one. Reset catches up with J. Ivy to hear more about his recent project. Check out more of our conversations with Grammy-nominated Chicago talent, go to wbez.org/reset.

A recent study by the Collaborative for Community Wellness found several barriers that make it difficult to get mental health resources for Chicagoans, especially for folks who are uninsured or undocumented. Reset hears more about the study and what changes advocates want to make with WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel. Listen to more Reset at wbez.org/reset.

The 2024 GRAMMY nominations are in and Chicago artists are getting some love. Reset talks with Chicago’s Third Coast Percussion about their latest nomination and learns more about the group with ensemble members David Skidmore and Robert Dillon. You can engage with Reset in so many ways! Along with our live show and podcast, you can also sign up for our newsletter at wbez.org/resetnews.

A $336 million loan will be used over five years to primarily fund the city’s program that replaces lead service lines when they break or leak. The Department of Water Management’s other programs to replace lead service lines at daycares and for low-income homeowners will continue. Reset learns about the scope of this effort and how this could help improve Chicagoans’ water from Reset sustainability contributor Karen Weigert and commissioner of the Department of Water Management Andrea Cheng. To check out our entire catalog of interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The strike is over. The negotiating committee for the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA won increases in minimum rates, greater access to health care and baseline protections against AI technology for its members. The union also conceded streaming residuals by agreeing to split among union actors an estimated $120 million bonus paid out by studios for streamed content deemed “successful” during the 3-year contract. Ahead of the member vote to ratify, Reset checks in with Charles Andrew Gardner, president of SAG-AFTRA Chicago, to learn more. Want to stay up to date with all things Reset? Sign up for our newsletter at wbez.org/resetnews.

One of Brandon Johnson’s top City Council allies resigns his leadership post; state legislators wrap up fall veto session; President Biden visits UAW workers at Belvidere auto plant and is met with protesters. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Leigh Giangreco, government and politics reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business; Ravi Baichwal, anchor at ABC7; and Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. If you want to check out more Reset conversations, go to wbez.org/reset.

A new federal program is launched Thursday in Chicago. Its goal is to help bring assistance to asylum seekers and new arrivals to apply for work permits. It’s a collaborative effort between the White House, Illinois, Chicago’s City Hall and Pilsen-based community organization The Resurrection Project. Reset gets more details about the program with Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at The Resurrection Project, to learn how it will operate and how they plan on helping all new arrivals. To listen to more of our coverage on migrants and asylum seekers in Chicago, go to wbez.org/reset.

Each day Mohammed Abu Realh and his nephew, Mohammed AbuSafia, wait to hear from their remaining family in Gaza. In the last month, they’ve lost more than 30 relatives in airstrikes. Reset sits down with them to remember their family’s lives, and talk about the continued fear they’re facing. To hear more of Reset’s coverage on the local impact of the ensuing war, go to wbez.org/reset.

In March, Chicago voters will get to decide the future of the city’s Bring Chicago Home ordinance. The ordinance would raise the city’s tax rate on properties sold for over a million dollars and would lower tax rates on properties sold for less than that. According to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s camp, this referendum is a key part of his plans to address homelessness in Chicago. Reset hears from Bring Chicago Home organizers Kennedy Bartley of United Working Families and Electa Bey of Communities United. We also hear from Farzin Parang of the Building Owners and Managers Association to understand what those opposed are concerned about. If you want to listen to more Reset, you can check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

The number of kids being diagnosed with myopia, or nearsightedness, is increasing. And if our tech habits continue, eye doctors predict that half of the world’s population will have myopia by 2050. Scary. Reset talks to Dr. Lisa Thompson, an attending physician of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Cook County Medical Center, and Dr. Noreen Shaikh, an optometrist at Lurie Children’s Hospital, to understand the way screen time is affecting children’s eyes. Stay up to date with Reset by signing up for our daily newsletter at wbez.org/resetnews.

On Monday, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th Ward, resigned from two key leadership positions at the urging of Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus after an interaction Ramirez-Rosa had last week with Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th Ward. Reset learns more.

The U.S. leads the world in mass incarceration, with nearly two million people behind bars. But what paths are there to rehabilitation and freedom? Reset speaks with Chicago-based journalist Ben Austen about his new book “Correction: Parole, Prison and the Possibility of Change.” If you want to listen to more conversations like this, check out wbez.org/reset.

On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 240. Reset hears how two area rabbis are confronting the attack, the war and growing antisemitism as they help congregants deal with the grief, sadness and other emotions they’re facing. For Reset’s full coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and how it’s affecting the Chicago area, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In the last month, two Chicago-area Muslim schools have received violent threats, a six-year-old Palestinian American boy was fatally stabbed and a suburban man was charged with a hate crime for threatening to shoot two Muslim men. For some Arab and Muslim Chicagoans, these news stories take them back to their lives in the days and weeks after 9/11. Reset learns more about what the community is experiencing from Chicago Sun-Times reporter Nader Issa. For Reset’s full coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and how it’s affecting the Chicago area, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Next year, for the first time, Chicago voters can elect the members of the Chicago Board of Education. We check in with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp on one hurdle that’s standing in the way: the state legislature needs to agree on a voting map.

I don’t ONLY like to listen to one type of music,” says Resavoir frontman Will Miller. So, of course, his new work is a blend of genres. Resavoir started as a musician collective, but during the pandemic Miller embraced a more solitary style of making music. The hard work paid off, and the new album is out now. Reset talks with Will Miller, frontman of Resavoir and the man behind the project.

Chicago gets the season's first snowfall, fierce debate continues in City Council over where to house the more than 20,000 migrants, and Mayor Brandon Johnson heads to Washington D.C. with other mayors, looking for federal help. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor with WTTW; Daniel Knowles, Midwest correspondent with The Economist; and Tina Sfondeles, chief political reporter of the Chicago Sun-Times.

For the second Halloween in a row, Chicago saw a mass shooting. Reset learns about the shooting that happened in North Lawndale over the weekend and what survivors need to heal from the physical and emotional trauma of gun violence. If you want to listen to more conversations exploring topics that impact Chicagoans, check out wbez.org/reset.

Disco is at the root of many of our favorite music genres today, but there’s more to its history than Saturday Night Fever, and you don’t have to look far to find it. Reset learns more about The War on Disco and the genre’s influence on popular music from Ayana Contreras, music and content director at our sister station Vocalo 91.1 FM. If you want to check out our entire catalog of interviews, go to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Public Schools doesn’t track immigration status, but this year nearly 8,000 students are enrolled in the district as English-language learners, compared to a yearly average of around 3,000. Reset speaks with Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin to learn more about a program at Brighton Park Elementary to support the unique needs of migrant students.

Chicago is juggling multiple housing crises at once. There’s a growing number of unhoused Chicagoans; more asylum seekers are arriving in the city; and there’s a lack of affordable housing overall. Reset discusses how Chicago’s housing system has evolved over the years and explores potential solutions.

Cook County property tax bills are due Dec. 1, and most homeowners will be paying more than last year. Reset explores why bills are rising with WBEZ Cook County and public health reporter Kristen Schorsch and Chicago Tribune county and city government reporter A.D. Quig.

Chef Sohla El-Waylly’s debut cookbook explains the hows and whys of cooking, introducing the fundamental skills any home cook needs to be confident in the kitchen. Reset speaks with the chef about her career and Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook. If you want to check out our entire catalog of interviews, go to wbez.org/reset.

Do you have a morning ritual? For Chicago pianist Pat Leary, each day starts behind the keys improvising beautifully calming tunes. He recorded this practice and turned it into an album. And Reset chats with the musician to learn more. If you want to check out our entire catalog of interviews, go to wbez.org/reset.

Temperatures are dropping in the Chicago area and there are thousands of asylum seekers and unhoused without adequate shelter. The Johnson Administration recently announced sending warming buses to locations around the city, but what else is needed? Reset checks in with leaders and volunteers working directly to provide services to new arrivals and the existing homeless population in Chicago to talk about the current situation, how we should be talking about the needs of these two groups and future solutions. If you want to listen to previous conversations about this crisis in Chicago, check out wbez.org/reset.

Happy Friday! We’re back with our Weekly News Recap where we bring you the top stories this week and go behind the headlines with a panel of Chicago journalists. This week we were joined by CW 26 reporter and anchor Brandon Pope, Chicago Tribune state government reporter Dan Petrella and Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers, covering Wicker Park, West Town and Bucktown. If you want to check out more Reset conversations like this, go to wbez.org/reset.

More people are starting to bring their climate anxiety, also known as eco-distress, to their therapists. And as more are starting to become aware of climate change, therapists and other professionals are starting to practice climate therapy. Reset explores what climate therapy looks like in practice and how we can turn that distress into action with Marilee Feldman of the Life Counseling Institute practice and Karen Weigert of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. Sign up to receive our daily newsletter at wbez.org/resetnews.

If you’re an avid public radio listener, you’re probably familiar with the weekly educational program Science Friday. And if you’re a fan, you have a chance to catch host Ira Flatow and the rest of the SciFri team on Sunday, Oct. 29 for a special live event! Reset chats with journalist and host Ira Flatow to get to know him more and learn more about the Don’t Be A Stranger event. Check out our entire catalog of Reset interviews at wbez.org/reset.

According to an annual report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 2022, 17 million households are food insecure. That’s up from 13.5 million households in 2021. This trend is reflected with what’s happening in Chicago where 1 in 5 American households are food insecure. Reset discusses what contributes to food insecurity and what could be done to address the problem with Sophie Milam of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. We host interviews like this every day and dive deeper into conversations in our daily newsletter. Sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Halloween is just around the corner and do you know what winged animal might be waiting there, too? Bats! There are swarms of bats making their ways through Chicago as they migrate to warmer places to get away from the cold. Reset talks with Liza Lehrer, assistant director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at Lincoln Park Zoo, to learn about our bat friends. Visit wbez.org/reset to hear more of our interviews like this.

The city of Chicago is eyeing a vacant lot in Brighton Park to serve as a winterized base camp to house migrants. Last week, Ald. Julia Ramirez of the 12th ward went to a protest outside of the site to hear residents’ concerns and it turned violent. Reset hears from Alderwoman Julia Ramirez about getting more feedback ahead of a community hearing tonight.

Craft cannabis growers in Illinois face systemic obstacles to gaining a foothold in the industry, so Illinois is investing millions in an effort to solve the problem. Reset learns more from Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project of the Better Government Association.

There are nine officers who were on a leaked membership list for the anti-government group the Oath Keepers currently serving in the Chicago Police Department. Reset learns about the investigation into the way these officers interacted with the public and what’s being done to address the extremism and racism within CPD with WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos and Chicago Sun-Times criminal justice reporter Tom Schuba. For more interviews like this one, go to wbez.org/reset.

The new graphic novel ‘Monica’ bends genre and reality to confront the themes of belonging, family and home. Reset talks with the author about the novel.

Anti-hate group the Anti-Defamation League and the University of Chicago’s Chicago Project on Security and Threats surveyed 8,000 American adults to learn about the connections between antisemitic views, political violence and antidemocratic conspiracy theories. We talked through the results of the survey, how they connect to antisemitism we’ve seen since the start of the Israel-Hamas war and what the poll might tell us about the 2024 presidential election cycle in the U.S. Check out more conversations like this at wbez.org/reset.

Chicago DIY superstar Sen Morimoto says his forthcoming album “Diagnosis” is a commentary on capitalism, the music industry and more. Ahead of the November 3 album release, we had a listening party with Sen. Check out more conversations like this at wbez.org/reset.

The nation mourns the killing of six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume. Meanwhile, as the city attempts to set up housing for migrants ahead of winter, some residents are upset. We went behind these headlines and more with Block Club Chicago’s Melody Mercado, WTTW’s Heather Cherone and Axios Chicago reporter Monica Eng. Check out more conversations like this at wbez.org/reset.

Jewish Voice For Peace and If Not Now planned protests in cities across the country and in Washington D.C. at the White House and U.S. Congress. They’re calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Reset hears from an organizer who went to D.C. and a local rabbi about why they support this movement.

After hundreds died in an explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City Tuesday night, international efforts to verify claims about who is responsible have been unsuccessful — and it’s overshadowed the loss of life and trauma inflicted on health care workers and civilians seeking safety. Reset speaks with a Dr. Zaher Sahloul, a local doctor who is president of MedGlobal — an NGO with doctors working in Gaza — to get an update on the needs of Gazans amid demands for an end to the blockade on international aid and war monitoring.

Cities like Chicago and New York have more migrants than they can handle. St. Louis says it would like more migrants to come to town. We get the story from Esther Yoon-Ji Kang, WBEZ race, class, communities reporter.

At Morton College in Cicero Thursday, you can visit a “human library.” No, we’re not kidding. It’s a library where you can “check out” a person — like you would a book — to listen to their life story. Each “reader” can ask questions that you might avoid in polite conversation. Reset spoke with Prairie Markussen, organizer of a “human library” event at Morton College, and Alejandro Joleanis, a human “book” participating in the library.

Lawmakers in City Council have until the end of the calendar year to approve the budget. Reset talks with WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg about the process as well as steps the administration is taking to house migrants ahead of the cold winter months to come.

Nearly 200 people from more than 30 nations have not been seen since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Among them are an Evanston mother and daughter. Reset speaks with the family’s rabbi Meir Hecht of Chabad of Evanston about their kidnapping and how it’s impacting the Evanston community.

Last year, 60 people died from opioid-related overdoses on the CTA, according to an analysis by the Chicago Reader. Reset talked with impacted Chicagoans and the reporter who broke down those numbers.

A Palestinian American boy and his mother were stabbed by their landlord, in their home on Saturday, October 14. The boy died and the mother is in critical condition. The accused killer yelled anti-Muslim epithets and stabbed the child 26 times. Reset hears how media and political rhetoric of the Israel-Hamas war may have played into this attack. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago office of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also explains what he hopes U.S. politicians and Chicagoans will learn from the tragic story.

Actor Brought a Vice is a new record from Chicago band Young Man in a Hurry. Frontman Matthew Baron joins Reset to talk about the new release. Check out more interviews like this one at wbez.org/reset.

Chicagoans on their way home from an interfaith trip in Jerusalem had to take shelter as rockets from Gaza struck Israel. Reset hears from three of them about their experiences, and the conversations they’re having with community members about radical empathy as the war in the Middle East continues. Check out more conversations like this at wbez.org/reset.

Residents voice opposition to new migrant shelters. Chicago Marathon winner breaks world record. Northwestern’s new stadium plan faces resistance. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap. If you want to check out past News Recaps or other conversations, you can see our entire catalog at wbez.org/reset.

Mayor Brandon Johnson called housing an “essential focus” of his administration’s focus. The question is, will he be able to put the money where his mouth is? Reset sits down with stakeholders to hear what they want to see from the administration and what housing investment could look like under the mayor’s proposed budget plan. To hear more conversations like this one, check out our full archive at wbez.org/reset.

After three open heart surgeries, Donnie Seals Sr. knew he had to change his life, so he took up cycling. His son joined him in the pursuit, eventually proposing an epic bike ride from St. Louis to Chicago to celebrate his dad’s health — and they caught it all on film. Reset talks with the father-son duo about what this journey meant to them, and how it takes on health disparities in the Black community. Like the Reset podcast? Then you’re going to love our daily newsletter. Subscribe at wbez.org/resetnews.

The population of Illinois is becoming more educated, more foreign-born and higher paid, according to a report conducted by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois. Reset turns to a co-author of the report to learn more about the state’s shifting demographics and the fact that, contrary to popular belief, the state’s population is not on a steep decline. To hear more conversations like this one, check out our full archive at wbez.org/reset.

Johnson spoke Wednesday at City Council, laying out his plans for Chicago in the coming fiscal year. This is his full address.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presented City Council with his first city budget proposal Wednesday. From supporting migrants to a $538 million budget gap to investing into historically disinvested people in Chicago, there’s a lot to address. Reset breaks down some of the mayor’s plans with Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government and politics reporter, and Justin Marlowe, research professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Like the Reset podcast? Then you’re going to love our daily newsletter. Subscribe at wbez.org/resetnews.

Many Chicagoans have connections to friends, family and loved ones in the Middle East. On Monday morning, Reset spoke with David Jacobson of Evanston whose son and daughter live in Israel as well as with Deanna Othman of Oak Lawn. She has family in Gaza. Stay up to date and listen to more from Reset at wbez.org/reset.

President Biden spoke to the nation Tuesday afternoon after a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is his full address.

Evanston-based housing advocacy group Open Communities recently filed a federal lawsuit alleging companies using AI to discriminate against renters — specifically renters that would use housing vouchers. Reset spoke to WBEZ race, class, communities reporter Esther Yoon-Ji Kang about the story and learned how leasing companies use AI chatbots. You can listen to more of our interviews at wbez.org/reset.

When you think of postpartum depression, often you’ll think of mothers. But did you know fathers can also suffer from the condition? Reset spoke with Dr. Sam Wainwright of UI Health’s Two-Generation Clinic and his patient Lushon Lee about this effort to understand postpartum depression among new fathers. You can check more of our conversations at wbez.org/reset.

For many Native Americans, their families have lost their language and history because of years of Indigenous people forced to go to boarding schools where they had to assimilate to white culture. Reset spoke with president of the American Indian Association of Illinois, Dorene Wiese about preserving languages and oral history. To hear more conversations like this one, you can find an archive of our work at wbez.org/reset.

Average life expectancy in the U.S. decreased by just under three years because of the COVID pandemic. But, if you break it down further by racial and ethnic group, life expectancy for Black and Hispanic people declined about four years. There are a number of reasons for this disparity. Dr. Brian H. Williams is a trauma surgeon and author of the new book The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal joins Reset. We check in with him about his experiences in healthcare as a Black man and seeing how ongoing inequities in the system are impacting his non-white patients. Check out the rest of our catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Filipinos have been living in the Windy City since at least the early 1900s. From the first wave of men coming from the Philippines to the U.S. to forming a community in Chicago to the second wave of Filipino women arriving, there’s a rich history of Filipinos in the Windy City. Reset celebrates Filipino American History Month by talking about the history of Filipinos in the city and learning about an upcoming exhibit featuring the archived photos of the community from the mid 1900s with Ruben Salazar and Ashley Dequilla of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago. Check out more conversations like this at wbez.org/reset.

NASCAR is coming back to Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson is planning a visit to the southern border and has appointed the city’s first chief homelessness officer. Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley was the only Democrat to vote ‘no’ on a bill that helped avoid a government shutdown. Reset discusses these stories and more with a panel of Chicago journalists: Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago reporter covering Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards, Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association and Crain’s Chicago Business political columnist Greg Hinz. If you want to check out past News Recaps or other conversations, you can see our entire catalog at wbez.org/reset.

October is Filipino American History Month. It’s a time to reflect on the experiences of people that came before, connect with others in the community and build a stronger sense of identity being Filipino American. Starting October 6, an exhibition called “More Than Lumpia” will be held at the Catacombs Gallery at the Epiphany Center for the Arts until November 17. It aims to challenge stereotypes and narratives about Filipino Americans and shed light on the work of Filipino artists who are often underrepresented in the art space. We spoke with Cesar Conde, an artist and curator of the exhibition, to learn more about it and discussed with artists Abby Mendoza and Jimmy Bulosan about exploring their identity through art. For more conversations like this, check out our entire catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Ramon Diaz is a former Northwestern football player who played from 2005 to 2008. Now, he’s bringing a lawsuit against the school, alleging hazing and racist treatment. Reset gets the latest on the multiple allegations against Northwestern and what’s next. You can check out more of our conversations at wbez.org/reset.

Galleries, museums and theaters are still feeling the impact of the pandemic. According to a report on the health of arts and culture in the city, donations, memberships and attendance numbers are down and haven’t gotten back to pre-pandemic levels. Reset learns about what’s been happening and discusses potential solutions Leslé Honoré, poet and CEO of Urban Gateways, Kacie Smith of Arts Alliance Illinois and Kara Riopelle, managing director at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. If you love Reset, then you’ll also love our daily newsletter! You can sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Reset learns more about why Hispanics and Latinos are more at risk for the diseases. We also talk about the altar honoring those lost to the diseases at the National Museum of Mexican Art’s Día de Muertos exhibit. Our guests are Cesareo Moreno, chief curator at the museum, and Amelia Garza, manager of diversity and inclusion at the Alzheimer’s Association. You can also find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Not many people who suffer from long COVID end up fully recovering from complications. So-called long-haulers can experience a myriad of debilitating symptoms, including extreme fatigue, brain fog and difficulty sleeping. Reset learns more about the study with Nirav Shah, primary investigator of RECOVER studies and director of infectious disease research at NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health. We also check in with Chimére L. Sweeney, a long COVID patient, writer and advocate to see how she’s been living with the condition. You can also find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

In August, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the assault weapons ban, which took effect earlier this year. Residents who owned these weapons prior to the ban now must register them by January 1. Reset checks in with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mary Norkol and Adam Winkler, author of the book Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America. Did you know Reset also has a daily newsletter? Each edition features a breakdown of one big topic in news or culture, fun activities to try in the Chicago area and a chance to weigh in. Sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Meta, Bloomberg and others pirated more than 190,000 e-books to train generative AI, according to a dataset made searchable by The Atlantic. The news has sent shockwaves through the publishing industry. Reset speaks with Chicago authors Rebecca Makkai, Sonali Dev, and Ben Austen about their copyrighted material being used to train generative AI without their permission. You can also find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset

Borrowers suffering from financial hardship and other classes of people with outstanding federal student loans could benefit from President Biden’s latest efforts to wipe out student debt. The news came just as payments resumed after a suspension during the pandemic. Reset gets the latest on student loan forgiveness from WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip. And don’t forget, we’re bringing you conversations like this every day. Find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

It’s officially fall. The season of pumpkins, leaves changing colors and 80 degree days, apparently. A recent poll shows that more adults in the U.S. are experiencing extreme weather and that more of them believe a warming planet is partially to blame. Reset discusses this shift in public opinion and fighting climate change with Lesley Showers of the Climate Action Museum and Reset sustainability contributor Karen Weigert. You can also find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

The Talking Heads 1984 classic concert film Stop Making Sense is back in theaters, and this time it’s in 4K. Reset hears from Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune, Camryn Lewis of Music Box Theatre and WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz. For more stories like this, check out Reset’s daily newsletter. You can sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

The auto workers’ strike expands to Chicago. Hundreds more migrants arrive from the U.S.-Mexico border. The Chicago Park District quietly settles sexual misconduct cases. Plus, is a government shutdown inevitable? Reset breaks down the top stories of the week with David Greising of the Better Government Association, Rummana Hussain of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos. And don’t forget, we’re bringing you conversations like this every day. Find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

In another installment of What’s that Building, Reset gets a glimpse into the history of an elegant 100-story high-rise on the Mag Mile. Reset talks to journalist Dennis Rodkin about 875 N. Michigan’s unique design, why the name changed from the John Hancock Center, and what happened to the Signature Room.

As a potential government shutdown looms, over 42,000 Illinois federal workers are at risk of losing their paychecks. Some might even need to go without pay until funding comes through. And many governmental programs that people rely on – like food stamps and child care assistance – also hang in the balance. Reset learns more about who will be impacted from WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal. We also hear more about what changes Chicagoans could see from Kellie O’Connell, CEO of Nourishing Hope, a Chicago food pantry, and Tamisha Holifield, a parent who uses Head Start and WIC programs. For more deep dives into local news, check out Reset’s daily newsletter. It arrives in your inbox Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. You can sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

A decades-old Illinois law is supposed to prevent Black drivers from being pulled over disproportionately, but it’s not working. In fact, the numbers are going in the wrong direction. Reset checks in with Alden Loury and Matt Kiefer from WBEZ’s data team for more on their investigation. For more deep dives into local news, check out Reset’s daily newsletter. It arrives in your inbox Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. You can sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Jianan Shi says he leads by “listening and collaborating” and that his experience as an immigrant shapes his views on how schools can lift up kids and their families. At 33, Shi is the district’s youngest leader in decades. And perhaps surprisingly for a board exec, he’s not a parent. Reset learns more about his vision for Chicago Public Schools. If you like this podcast, check out our conversation on why Chicago student math scores still lag behind pre-pandemic levels. You can also find our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

The Johnson administration is ditching INVEST South/West, the Lightfoot-era program that aimed to bring economic development to underserved neighborhoods. It says it has its own approach. Meanwhile, the mayor and his allies are under fire for hiring a controversial security firm to monitor tent housing for migrants. Reset talks with WBEZ city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel. You can learn more about the Chicago region in Reset’s daily newsletter. It arrives in your inbox Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. Sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Did you know that unpaid doctor and hospital bills can lower your credit score? The Biden administration is taking steps to stop that from happening. Reset checks in with Edith Avila Olea from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Carrie Chapman from the Legal Council for Health Justice. If you like this podcast, you may be interested in our interview on why more adults over 65 are giving cannabis a try. You can also check out our full catalog at wbez.org/reset.

The Windy City’s current system calls for annual inspections for some highrise apartments, but other rental units are only inspected when they’re built or when there’s a complaint. Dozens of people have died over the past few years in building fires in Chicago in structures the city knew had fire safety issues. Reset learns more about what issues tenants face today and where city officials can find solutions with Alex Nitkin, investigative reporter for the Illinois Answers Project at the Better Government Association, and John Bartlett, executive director of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization. You can check out more of Reset’s work at wbez.org/reset.

She’s a 12-foot wooden puppet of a Syrian girl who walks for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people worldwide, half of whom are children. Little Amal is making friends through art, food and education in a months-long tour across the United States — and this week she’ll be in Chicago. Reset speaks with local partners about where you can meet Little Amal and what you can learn from her while she’s in the city. Our guests include Lauren West, from the Syrian Community Network, Jacqueline Russell of the Chicago Children’s Theater and Paige Whitson-Martini of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Did you know Reset also has a daily newsletter? Each edition features a breakdown of one big topic in news or culture, fun activities to try in the Chicago area and a chance to weigh in. Sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration and the Illinois Restaurant Association struck a compromise Wednesday to raise tipped workers’ minimum wage over the next five years. The measure still needs approval from the full Council before it goes into effect. Reset checks in with WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg and Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage.

Happy first day of fall! Don’t be left wondering what you’ll do on the weekend this fall. WBEZ has you covered. Reset checks in with WBEZ editor Cassie Walker Burke on the station’s Fall Bucket List to keep you in the loop.

Chicago sues chemical manufacturer Monsanto over polluted waterways. The defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears resigns, and the team cuts its backup quarterback. Reset breaks down those stories and more with this week’s panel of journalists: Leigh Giangreco, government and politics reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business, Jacoby Cochran, host of City Cast Chicago, and Mick Dumke, investigative editor and reporter at Block Club Chicago.

Math scores remain low and low-income students are especially lagging, according to Chicago Public Schools data released this week. Reset talked with CPS director of math to hear about the district’s strategies to address the gap – and WBEZ’s Sarah Karp, who has covered this issue.

Whether you’ve been with the same sweetie for decades or are trying to lock it down with someone new, dates play an important role in maintaining the spark in a relationship. Dating expert Bela Gandhi offers tips for planning romantic outings, and Reset producer Claire Hyman plans a date for a Chicago couple.

Nearly a decade after medical marijuana became legal in Illinois, senior citizens are the fastest-growing age group of cannabis users. Reset speaks with Dr. Rahul Khare, founder and CEO of Innovative Care, Tom Gliszewski, owner of the Chicago Cannabis Company, and Jungle Cae, a social media cannabis educator, to learn more about safely using pot.

Chicago has long been an advertising industry hub, attracting all kinds of voice artists looking to make a buck. You may be more likely to succeed as a voice actor than for film or TV, but don’t expect that sending off a few voice recordings will be enough to bring the checks flying in. Reset learns more about the industry from Tal Rosenberg, freelance writer for Chicago Magazine. We’ll also meet two local voice actors: Harlan Hogan and Morgan Lavenstein.

TV and film production has slowed to a near-halt after unions for actors and writers started striking earlier this summer. But this week, the Writers Guild of America is set to return to the negotiating table with major Hollywood studios. But what about SAG-AFTRA’s effort? Reset checks in with Charles Andrew Gardner and Courtney Rioux, two local union members, about the progress of their strike.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is receiving some pushback for his progressive campaign pledges in the City Council, from raising wages for restaurant workers to raising revenue for the unhoused. Reset checks in with WBEZ city government reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel on the mayor’s achievements and shortfalls.

Research shows spending stress-free time in nature regulates the nervous system and contributes to healthy brain function. In a new pilot program at the Lincoln Park Zoo, people with dementia and their loved ones and caregivers can do that and more. The Memory Enrichment program, which was developed in partnership with Sunrise Senior Living, is the first of its kind at a zoo or aquarium. Reset spoked to program creator Bill Green to learn more about why the program was developed and how it reduces the symptoms of dementia.

Illinois became the first state in the U.S. to eliminate cash bail after years of debate and legal challenges. The change — which went into effect Monday, Sept. 18 — will dramatically impact the way people are detained in jail before trial. Reset discusses what this means for Illinois with WBEZ criminal justice editor Patrick Smith.

Chicago Public School data shows that the number of suspensions across the district dropped from 49,708 in 2014 to about 10,000 in 2022. The district also started moving away from a zero tolerance policy for misconduct and toward more restorative practices like peace circles that encourage students to reflect on their actions. Reset checks in with WBEZ Education reporter Sarah Karp for the details.

Teenage girls in the U.S. are reporting record levels of sadness and suicidal ideation. Reset speaks with the director of a school-based group counseling program and a health policy reporter to learn about how the Chicago-based program, Working on Womanhood, could become a national model to combat the crisis of mental health in girls.

Chicago opens its first casino. Libraries are evacuated over bomb threats. Mayor Johnson reveals a projected $538 million budget deficit for Chicago. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more with Carrie Shepherd, Chicago Axios reporter and Ray Long, investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune.

Mary Mitchell has been writing columns for the Sun-Times since the 1990s, but she’s taking her work in a new direction. Her new column ‘Starting Over’ will publish on Sundays, and focus on redefining what it means to be an older American. Reset gets to know the columnist and explores how ageism continues to be prevalent in our lives today.

Comedian Maggie Winters is About to Blow Up! This week, we hear from the Chicago-native about how her experience growing up in the city has shaped her journey in comedy, including her recent one-woman comedy show.

Poverty rose 12.4% in 2022 according to census data released Tuesday. So, why the rise? Reset talks with an economist who studies household finances and the labor market and with two Chicago leaders working to end poverty.

On September 8, 2023, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake devastated major cities in Western Morocco. The death toll is close to 3,000 and thousands more have been injured. Days later, heavy rainfall broke two dams in Libya leading to massive flooding killing over 2,000 people. Reset talks with an international relief organization about efforts to respond to these disasters.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a plan to move roughly 1,600 migrants from Chicago police stations to tent camps around the city. These tents are being modeled after the ones built in New York City that can house up to 1,000 people. Reset turned to WBEZ city government and politics reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg to get the latest on that plan and on the city’s financial forecast.

More than a dozen states have passed laws that restrict the full participation of transgender students in K-12 schools, according to a Chalkbeat analysis. And at least 18 states have passed laws restricting gender-affirming health care for minors. Reset speaks with an organizer and a parent on how Illinois has become a new home for people leaving states that have passed laws targeting trans youth and adults.

The $3.7-billion project — 50 years in the making — has reached what transit officials call “the final phase” of the federal funding process. When complete, the Red Line will include four new stops, including a new terminus at 130th Street near Altgeld Gardens. Reset checks in with community leaders from the far South Side: Cheryl Johnson with People for Community Recovery, Rev. Otis Moss III from Trinity United Church of Christ, and Andrea Reed with Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce. And they sound off about the potential positive impacts of connecting their neighborhoods to the El system.

With writers and actors on strike, studios are banking on reality TV more than ever. From The Golden Bachelor to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Primetimer editor-in-chief Danette Chavez, WBEZ Morning Edition anchor Mary Dixon, and CW26 anchor and reporter Brandon Pope tell us what they’re watching – and skipping – this fall.

According to the EPA, approximately 90% of the nation’s water systems rely primarily on groundwater. Reset turns to water supply experts, like UIC’s Freshwater Lab director Rachel Havrelock, and Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jen Walling, to learn about sustainable ways to relieve Illinois’ stressed water systems. We also talk with Illinois’ 11th District State Representative Ann Williams.

Hasbro’s classic murder mystery board game comes to life in Clue: A Walking Mystery. In this immersive investigation, “detectives” will visit various locations across downtown Chicago to collect clues and solve puzzles in order to find out who did it, with what weapon and in what room. Reset speaks with director of operations and actor Sophie Grimm and game designer Juliana Moreno to learn more about the popular whodunnit experience.

The political career of the nation's longest serving state House Speaker comes to an end, while prosecutors prepare for the trial of Ed Burke. Plus the Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park as the city’s first casino gets ready to open its doors. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more with Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago reporter, Rick Pearson, chief political reporter at the Chicago Tribune, and Brandon Pope, reporter and anchor at CW26.

Narcan, the nasal spray version of opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, will become available this week at pharmacy chains like Walgreens, CVS and Walmart without a prescription. Reset talks with harm reduction experts, including Fanya Burford-Berry with the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force, John Wernings with the Chicago Recovery Alliance and Chelsea Laliberte Barnes with the Illinois Harm Reduction & Recovery Coalition.

Catching up and chatting isn’t the only way for the older set to socialize. What if adults “played” with their friends like kids do? Reset checks in with Rhaina Cohen, producer and editor at NPR’s Embedded podcast, who explores the topic in a forthcoming book and an article in The Atlantic titled “What Adults Forget About Friendship.” We also hear from Reset digital engagement producer and improv comedian Claire Hyman.

Chicago is one of the nation’s freight hubs and the 17th most ozone-polluted city in the country, which the American Lung Association says can lead to heart and lung conditions and, in some cases, even death. Reset hears from two experts — Brian Urbaszewski from the Respiratory Health Association and Northwestern postdoctoral scholar Sara Camilleri — on a new study showing how Black and brown Chicagoans have borne the brunt of the city’s pollution.

From Chinese bao and Haitian doumbrey, to Filipino lumpia [loom-pee-AH] and South Asian samosas, Reset talks with event organizer Mónica Félix and Phillipe Sobon, a founder of Polombia, a participating restaurant, about how dumpling-like dishes can be unique in every culture.

We’re back with another update on the Johnson administration. This week, we’re taking a look at the long-awaited Medinah Temple temporary casino. WBEZ’s city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel give us the latest updates on what’s left to be done before opening day.

Chicago is losing a war with city rats. Reset discusses the root of the rat problem and takes a close look at a recent investigation into possible solutions. We spoke with Better Government Association reporter Casey Tuner, Block Club Chicago reporter Mina Bloom and Landmark Pest Solutions’ Rebecca Fyffe.

Inspired by the 1976 electronic album for plants and plant people, the Empty Bottle is organizing a celebration of electronic music and plants at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Reset learns more about the two day event from Brent Heyl, an organizer of Plantasia, and musician Jonn Wallen.

Illinois politicians press the federal government to grant work permits to migrants and questions remain about the White Sox game shooting as the team announces its new General Manager. Reset breaks down these stories and more with Alice Yin, politics reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Patrick Smith, criminal justice reporter at WBEZ, and Brandis Friedman, WTTW co-anchor and correspondent and host of “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices”.

For the past three summers, the lakefront near Buena Park on the North Side has been home to a popular event: Friday Morning Swim Club. It started with a handful of friends and grew exponentially — nearly 3,000 people participated at its peak this summer. Reset talks with reporter Katie Anthony, and Megan, an attendee, about the popular swim club and what led to its cancellation.

In the latest in our series of Chicago’s Architectural Icons, we learn about the history of the gorgeous Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette from Dennis Rodkin, real estate reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business.

A new rule from the Environmental Protection Agency could strip federal protections from up to 63% of the nation’s wetlands. Reset hears from Paul Botts, executive director of The Wetlands Initiative, and Allyson Chiu, climate reporter for the Washington Post, on what this ruling means for the health of wetland ecosystems and the environment at large.

This year the Chicago Public Library system is celebrating 150 years of service to Chicagoans, and a lot has changed in the last century and a half. With a library card, Chicago residents can stream movies and music, get digital magazine subscriptions, listen to audiobooks, and so much more! Reset turns to a CPL branch manager, Kendall Kidder-Goshorn, to learn tips and tricks to make the most of your library card.

The Chicago City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate gave initial approval for Chicago to buy land to convert a Marine Corps training center into a temporary migrant shelter. We got an update on the groundwork the Johnson administration is laying to create more infrastructure for newly-arriving migrants. We talked to WBEZ politics reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg.

The health benefits of therapeutic writing have been studied since the 1980s, but a new study from researchers at Boston University found that writing exposure therapy is as effective as other forms of therapy recommended by the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat post traumatic stress disorder. We talked to one of the authors of the study, Denise Sloan, who’s a psychologist and the associate director of the Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD, and Professor of Psychiatry at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University.

The Electronic Funds Transfer Act – passed in 1978 – is meant to protect U.S. consumers from being defrauded when they make a transaction via an ATM, debit card or direct deposit or by point-of-sale and phone transactions. But the law makes an exception for wire transfers. And in recent years, wire fraud has exploded as scammers are making use of the loophole. According to the FBI, its Internet Crime Complaint Center received reports of this type of fraud totaling $2.4 billion in losses in 2021. Reset sat down with Stephanie Zimmermann, consumer investigations reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, to learn more.

Starting September 1, Swedish Covenant Hospital in Lincoln Square, Chicago will combine midwives with obstetricians in a single department to care for pregnant people. The move scales back a midwifery program that some patients praise as defining their pregnancy and delivery experience. We talked to two journalists, WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch & Block Club Chicago’s Kayleigh Padar, to learn more about this shift and how midwives can play a fundamental role in patients’ care experience.

What did you do this summer? If you’re anything like the children of WBEZ staff, you made the most of your time off. From an alpaca farm in Korea to staycations at the local pool, the kids of WBEZ shared the favorite things they did this summer and what they’re looking forward to this school year. We talked to nine-year-olds Auggie and Ethan, eight-year-old Kezzia and four-year-olds Claire and Margot.

From Barack Obama to Jay-Z, comedian Jay Pharoah is best known for his uncanny impressions. Pharoah sits down with Reset ahead of his show and comedy special taping at The Den Theatre in Wicker Park on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Bomb threats force suburban libraries to close their doors. A jury finds longtime chief of staff to former House Speaker Madigan guilty. And a Chicago alderman calls for a quiet zone around a downtown clinic that provides abortion services. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Nader Issa, WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg and Washington Post national and breaking news reporter Kim Bellware.

Investors are suing the successful Chicago restaurant, saying its owners misappropriated Paycheck Protection Program funds for personal use, including the purchase of a $2 million Learjet in 2021. Reset checks in with WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos.

Summer is THE time for festivals in Chicago, and this weekend has a slew of them! We chat with Sandra Treviño, an organizer of the LatiNxt Festival, and a participating artist, Alex Aguayo of Chicago band Cabeza de Chivo. They tell us the festival celebrates the diverse genre of Latin music and how it’s evolved over time. We also learn about the connection between dance and the environment people can experience at the Uptown Rhythm Festival with event organizer Shiwali Tenner, Chi-Nations Youth Council member Anthony Pochel Tamez and Soul Line dancing teacher Adjora Stevens.

Experts are urging residents to stay cool this week as a heat wave pushes through Northeastern Illinois. Temperatures may reach the triple digits, and it will feel even hotter. Reset checks in with Illinois State climatologist Trent Ford about why we’re seeing such hot weather and what people need to do to stay safe.

Ever wondered about life down in the depths of the ocean? For many of us, the deep ocean remains a mystery. In her new book, The Underworld, explorer and author Susan Casey uncovers the mysterious world of sea creatures and objects beneath the waves.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s allies want him to make good on his campaign promises, but 100 days into his first term, some say he’s less ambitious than his predecessors and hasn’t achieved enough. The mayor has defended his approach, saying it’s important to spend time building bridges. Reset checks in with WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel about what the new mayor has accomplished so far.

A city law is supposed to protect abortion seekers from harassment by anti-abortion protesters as they enter clinics, but enforcing the buffer zone around the medical facilities has been a challenge. Reset hears from 34th ward Alderman Bill Conway about changes he says could strengthen the so-called “bubble ordinance” in Chicago.

Shopping on State Street holds fond memories for Chicagoans, but the growing popularity of online shopping has pushed storefront vacancies to record levels. A new city-commissioned panel offers recommendations on how to revitalize State Street. We checked in with two experts on the panel: Mark Kelly, former Commissioner of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and Michael Edwards, president and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance.

Director Andrew Davis is best known for his 1993 action-thriller “The Fugitive,” starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The Chicago-set film celebrates its 30th anniversary this month. And the film showcases a wide scope of early-’90s Chicago – from the realistic chaos of Cook County Hospital to a two-flat on 90th and Houston. A native Chicagoan, Davis says his local roots influenced his works, with other movies set in the city such as “Stony Island.” Reset talks with the director about the role Chicago plays in his work.

Held v. Montana is the first lawsuit of its kind to go to trial, with plaintiffs ranging from age 5 to age 22. It’s also a landmark ruling: climate change must now be considered when approving or renewing future fossil fuel projects in the state. Reset gets reaction from Danica Sun and Natasha Bahtia, youth climate activists in Illinois, and what they’re working on here. Then we turn to two policy experts: Howard Learner of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University, to learn what kind of related lawsuit could be possible in Illinois.

With free jazz and hip-hop influenced samples, the new album from the Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist takes the shape of a fictional pirate radio station, preaching ideas for a new future and societal change. The new album, released last month, is called New Future City Radio. Reset talks with Locks about meaning, multimedia collage, and his work as an educator.

Chicago Public School students are heading back to the classroom, with thousands still unclear how they’re getting there. President Biden issues a disaster declaration for Cook County and a man is sentenced for setting fire to a Peoria Planned Parenthood. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for AXIOS; Becky Vevea, bureau chief for Chalkbeat Chicago; and Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune state government reporter on the Weekly News Recap.

Rising seniors and incoming college students have big decisions to make: from how to pay for college to picking a major that will pay off in the long run. From FAFSA to scholarships to finding a lucrative career. Reset gets tips on how students and families can prepare for college finances. We also get advice on how to find out the cost (and pay-off) of a major. For help, we turn to Lynne Baker with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and Stacia Edwards, City Colleges of Chicago Deputy Provost.

Chicago Public School leaders say they want to fix special education services in the district. And that fix becomes increasingly urgent, as the number of CPS students who rely on special ed has grown steadily since 2018. But some parents say the district is focusing too much on legal mandates and not quality education. WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp shares the latest on how Chicago schools are serving students with special needs and what more parents and faculty are calling for.

Perfectionism is harming us – at least, according to Chicago author L’Oreal Thompson Payton. She stops by Reset to talk about her new book, growing up with the idea of “working twice as hard to get half,” and how breaking her Peloton streak helped her ditch perfectionism.

Summer vacation might be fun, but all play and no work can make Jack a dull boy. Or rather, it can make students run the risk of losing some of the lessons learned and academic gains from the previous school year. And this can mean starting the next school year on the wrong foot. We hear from UChicago Education Lab’s Monica Bhatt, Northwestern School of Education and Social Policy’s Paula Hooper, and Mama Fresh blogger Jenny LeFlore, on how parents and teachers can work to get their students back on track sooner rather than later.

Pediatrician Dr. Allison Arwady led the Chicago Department of Public Health through the COVID-19 pandemic. A Lightfoot appointee, Arwady’s leadership has been scrutinized by progressives and ultimately led to her dismissal by Mayor Brandon Johnson. We spoke with Becky Vevea, Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat who has followed Arwady’s career.

A recent study from the Medical University of Poland found that just 4,000 steps a day can reduce your risk of death of any cause. So, say goodbye to that 10,000 step goal. We know that there are health benefits – both physical and mental – of walking, but we wanted to hear from the average Chicagoan about why they love to walk. Reset walks the walk with guides who lead walking tours about the art and joys of walking. Linda Tinson leads Walking Meditation at Unity Chicago and is a nurse practitioner, Maria Barwegen, Free Chicago Walking Tours, Hillary Marzec, Inside Chicago Walking Tours, Dr. Sheila Dugan, professor and chairperson of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Rush University medical center

Mayor Brandon Johnson has chosen 29 year CPD veteran Chief of Counterterrorism Larry Snelling as top cop after a month-long wait. Reset discusses what challenges Snelling will face if he’s confirmed with Chip Mitchell, WBEZ criminal justice reporter

Fixing stuff around your house can be intimidating. You need the right tools, parts and know-how to take on many home or car projects. Fortunately, there are places and people in Chicago who are here to help. Reset talks to Tessa Vierk, founder of the Chicago Tool Library, Nancy Bennett, education manager at Rebuilding Exchange and Molly Heyen, co-founder of Gearhead Workspace about their workshops and programming that teach all things DIY. Then they talk to advocates Gay Gordon, executive director of The Repair Association and Kyle Wiens, founder and CEO of iFixit about the Right To Repair movement.

Fewer performances, less staff – those are just a few ways arts organizations have had to cut back to keep their doors open. But that can’t go on forever; could there be a better way? Reset learns how arts organizations are funded and how it needs to evolve to keep up with the changing entertainment economy with Claire Rice, executive director, Arts Alliance Illinois Julie Jenkins, artistic director of The Midnight Circus and Dave McDermott, executive director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

As two business women, actress Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis know that it’s easy for a house to get out of control when trying to juggle family and work life. That’s why in their new show, “Honest Renovations”, they want to make the lives of families easier by giving the home a makeover. Reset talks to the co-hosts about their new project and what it was like to get their hands dirty with the construction.

We learn more about the role of fentanyl in causing opioid overdoses to reach record highs in Cook County, the nine-year-old shot while playing outside, and the woman tapped to chair the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more with Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor, WTTW, John Fountain, journalism professor, Roosevelt University and David Greising, president of the Better Government Association.

Artists from across the globe have gathered in Chicago this week for Titan Walls, the city’s 5th annual mural festival. Festival goers can enjoy food and drink while watching more than a dozen artists paint murals on the walls of District Brew Yards in the West Loop. Reset talks about the ins and outs of public art with Chicago-based muralists.

Crafting can be the low-commitment, low-stakes and low-cost relationship you need in your life. Reset discovers more on how to let your creative side shine, and maybe learn a new skill with Greta Johnsen, host of WBEZ’s Nerdette podcast, Donna Palicka, owner of Sister’s Art Studio, Shaun Devine, founder and instructor of Chicago School of Woodworking, Andy Kuby, turning-saw instructor at Chicago School of Woodworking and Chris Busse, owner of Penguin Foot Pottery.

Since the start of the pandemic, people have opened more than 70 million new credit card accounts. In addition to the quantity of cards, interest rates have also been rising, reaching 22.2% in May. Reset talks to Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist with the Washington post, to learn what this means for the average consumer and best practices for navigating and paying credit card debt.

Gov. JB Pritzker approved a commission to explore whether or not Illinois needs a new flag. The current one — which has been the same for about a century — has a lot going on. An American eagle clutching a stars-and-stripes-decorated shield while taking a bite out of a red banner in the foreground. There’s a yellow sun over blue water in the background, and a gray rock bearing the years 1818 and 1868. But what would an updated flag look like now? What should it look like? We turn to a longtime flag maker for his take. Reset talks to Carl “Gus” Porter III, owner of WGN Flag Company for insight on what makes a flag iconic.

Over 47,000 Illinoisians lost Medicaid coverage at the start of August and hundreds of thousands more could lose coverage before the redetermination process is complete. Reset discusses how to get reinstated and what residents need to do to prove coverage eligibility with Samantha Olds Frey, CEO of Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans.

Trauma can be passed down from generation to generation. It can impact families and whole communities and our relationships with both. But how do you identify it and – more importantly – break the cycle and take the first step towards healing? Reset sits down with Dr. Niranjan Karnik from the University of Illinois Chicago, Amanda Seanior with RUSH’s Division of Community Behavioral Health, and Vee L. Harrison, with the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force and author of Hood Healing.

Illinois drivers’ car insurance rates are going up – and women, renters, and drivers with any credit score below an “excellent” rating may be among the folks getting hit the hardest. Reset digs into what’s going on and what drivers can do about it with Chicago Sun-Times consumer investigations reporter Stephanie Zimmermann.

Cooking after a long day at work can feel like a chore even if it saves you a buck. Today, Reset talks with a few folks about how to put the fun back in cooking and cook like a pro even if you’re a kitchen novice. Our guests are Lisa Counts, executive chef at The Chopping Block and Jordan Wimby, a food preservationist and cultural historian.

Kindergarten classes in 2027-2028 will have a focus on “play based learning.” Reset discusses the impact with an early childhood education expert Katherine Zinsser, psychologist and UIC associate professor.

Life can get a little sour between work and politics and our personal lives, but never fear! National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is here! Reset checks in with bakers Joana Fischer, owner of Twisted Cookie and Michelle Manske, kitchen manager at Defloured bakery, to hear about their favorite chocolate chip cookies.

More lawsuits filed against Northwestern University in sports hazing scandal. Meanwhile, 40 teens are arrested in South Loop after a disorderly Sunday night. Plus, businesses brace for hundreds of thousands of Lollapalooza fans. Reset goes behind the headlines with.Rummana Hussain, editorial board member and columnist at Chicago Sun-Times, Carrie Shepherd, Chicago reporter for Axios and Dan Mihalopoulos, WBEZ investigative reporter on government and politics.

Chicago is one of 18 communities across the country to participate in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s project to train citizen scientists to measure and map the hottest parts of cities, known as urban heat islands. Reset learns how this data will help the city of Chicago reduce the health impacts of extreme heat with Kyra Woods, project manager for the Office of Climate and Environmental Equity, Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility and Dulce Garduño, volunteer with Heat Watch program.

Mies Van Der Rohe is practically a household name for some Chicagoans due to his many buildings around the city. Today in another installment of our Chicago Icons series, Reset gets to go inside one of his modern marvels on the lakefront.

Large crowds, summer heat and parking: what could be worse? Reset discusses how to navigate those issues and get the most with WBEZ Lollapalooza veterans Dave Miska, Studio Operations Manager, WBEZ, Mary Dixon, Morning Edition Anchor, WBEZ, and Stephen Bekoe, Vocalo morning host and producer to learn how to make the best out of the weekend.

Do you have the gift of gab? Well, whether you love small talk or you don’t, we could all benefit from learning how to have better and more engaging conversations. Reset has a conversation about having conversations and how to navigate tough discussions with Paula Marantz Cohen, author of Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation; dean of the Pennoni Honors College and professor of English at Drexel University, Stephanie Boron, assistant clinical professor at Northwestern University and Danielle Portis, licensed clinical professional counselor at Rose Gold Crowns

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is supporting an additional levy on sales of homes over $1 million to fund services for unhoused people. Meanwhile, Chicago’s interim police superintendent is in hot water, the city budget process is about to kick into gear and street vendors are calling on Mayor Johnson for help. Reset discusses those stories with WBEZ reporters Tessa Weinberg, Mariah Woelfel and Esther Yoon-Ji Kang.

SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America are on strike simultaneously for the first time in 63 years. Reset learns about the demands of writers and actors and explores how this national strike is impacting our local scene with Eric Chaudron, executive director of SAG-AFTRA Chicago, Ilyssa Fradin, SAG-AFTRA member and National Board Representative for the Chicago Local, Martín Zimmerman, WGA West Captain and playwright and actor J. Nicole Brooks.

We’re riding another wave of COVID-19 as we enter August. Cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, according to the CDC. Reset gets the latest on what we need to know moving forward with Dr. Mia Taormina, infectious disease specialist with Duly Health and Care.

From sipping wine while shopping to more self-checkout, the customer experience at grocery stores has been changing in recent years. Reset learns about those changes with Steve Caine, expert in Bain & Company’s Retail and Customer Strategy and Marketing practices.

The U.S. population of adults over 65 is rapidly growing. So how do we meet the challenge of caring for an aging population? Reset learns about creating a long-term care plan and finding resources for caregivers.

Ethan Schwabe, Reset’s engineer and occasional music correspondent, shares interviews with attendees and artists at Chicago’s iconic Pitchfork Music Festival.

Northwestern University faces a new lawsuit from a former female volleyball player amidst its hazing scandal. Meanwhile, another Chicago Park District lifeguard is fired after allegations of misconduct surfaced two years ago. Plus, City Council alders complain of criminal activity outside neighborhood migrant shelters. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Angela Rozas O'Toole, WBEZ senior editor for politics and government, John Chase, deputy metro editor at the Chicago Tribune, and Christian Farr, NBC-5 Chicago reporter.

Two lawsuits filed against two large Cook County landlords allege that blanket policies of rejecting rental applicants with prior eviction filings discriminate against Black applicants. Reset learns more about the lawsuits and what housing advocates hope to accomplish with Dennericka Brooks, director of the Housing Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago, and Emily Werth, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Illinois.

Chicago has changed a lot in the last century. And every day, it can feel like another local longtime bar or shop is forced to shutter. But there are some things you can still rely on, like the mom-and-pop shop that’s been around the corner forever. Reset meets a few of the Chicagoans at the helm of longtime family shops for advice.

Housing prices are hitting an all-time high in Chicago, and it’s making the city the hottest market in the nation. Reset find out why with Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business.

Every summer, Chicago officials release recommendations on how to stay cool in extreme heat. But the suggestions can be challenging to follow for people experiencing homelessness. Reset talks through available options for unhoused people and what else can be done to support them with Andy Robledo, a Chicagoan providing tents to homeless encampments and Colleen Ryan, nurse practitioner with Heartland Alliance Health.

Organizers and officials recently held a summit to discuss how the city responds to mental health crises, with Mayor Brandon Johnson saying he would invest in more social services. Reset discusses how it could affect Chicagoans with Northwestern University’s Dr. Eric Reinhart, anthropologist of policing, prisons, and public health, and Emily Piff, member of Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.

Millions of borrowers will have to start paying back their student loans starting this fall, after three years of payment pauses. Reset digs into what borrowers need to know and do to prepare themselves for October. Our guests are Lisa Philip, WBEZ higher education reporter, and Jack Wallace, the head of government affairs and industry relations at Yrefy.

Chicago’s $3.8 billion Deep Tunnel flood-control project was seemingly ready to go before the torrential downpours in early July. But as the rain came down, runoff overflowed onto streets and into residents’ homes in what would become a record-setting storm. So why didn't the Deep Tunnel system reduce floods like it’s supposed to? Reset gets the latest from Chicago Tribune environment and public health reporter Michael Hawthorne.

July is Disability Pride Month — a time to celebrate those with a range of physical and mental abilities. But one of the key issues the disabled community still faces is accessibility in the workplace. Reset discusses what’s being done to help with a panel of Chicago disability advocates: Daisy Feidt, vice president of Access Living; Jamie Sandberg, assistant director of Duman Opportunity Center at Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago; and Emily Blum, executive director of Disability Lead.

July is Disability Pride Month — a time to celebrate those with a range of physical and mental abilities. But one of the key issues the disabled community still faces is accessibility in the workplace. Reset discusses what’s being done to help with a panel of Chicago disability advocates: Daisy Feidt, vice president of Access Living; Jamie Sandberg, assistant director of Duman Opportunity Center at Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago; and Emily Blum, executive director of Disability Lead.

The recent case of a Little Village mother and daughter fatally shot in their home highlights the need for greater protections for survivors of domestic abuse. Reset talks with folks who work with survivors about how society can step up to better assist and protect them. Our guests are Stephanie Love-Patterson, executive director of Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), and Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy, and research at The Network.

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie may be perfect opposites on the vibe spectrum, but that’s not stopping crowds of moviegoers from pairing them together for a five-hour double feature. Reset hears from Chicagoans gearing up for the experience, which folks are calling OppenBarbie, Barbenheimer or Boppenheimer. Our panel is Ross W Berman IV, wrestling journalist; Brianna Wellen, writer and editor at Primetimer; and Daniella Mazzio, writer and performer.

Illinois becomes the first state to eliminate cash bail. Kim Foxx publishes names on State’s Attorney’s “Do Not Call” list of officers they will not call to testify in court. Jesse Jackson passes the torch at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel this week: Amy Guth, host of Crain’s Chicago Business podcast “The Daily Gist”; Patrick Smith, WBEZ criminal justice reporter; Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association.

A proposal in Chicago’s City Council would end lower minimum wage for tipped workers like waitstaff and bartenders. But the proposal faces opposition from the hospitality industry. We turn to Ald. Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward, one of the council members behind the proposal, for more.

We check in with Maureen Ryan, author of the new book Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood, about what led to the current double strike in Hollywood and what needs to change to get the industry back on track.

At this time, Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability does not have “sufficient evidence” to recommend disciplinary actions be taken against officers. Reset discusses the ongoing investigation with Andrea Kersten, chief administrator, COPA

Voguing is a dance style created by Black and Latino queer communities that went mainstream in the ‘90s, when big acts like Madonna started incorporating the style into their work. WBEZ podcast host Erin Allen reached out to Reset because she was struggling to find a place in Chicago that taught the dance style. For our “Lost & Found” series, Reset got in touch with TEXTUREDance in Buena Park to learn about voguing’s roots and a few moves to boot.

A team of WBEZ reporters spent a day embedded on the West Side where migrants are in a holding pattern, staying in the 12th District police station, a tent city or a nearby shelter. The result is a look into a slice of the migrant experience, and the network of Chicagoans who have stepped up to help them. Reset talks to WBEZ reporters Kristen Schorsch, Mariah Woelfel, and Claudia Morell. We also check in with Erika Villegas, a volunteer helping migrants at the 8th District police station, and Sonia Lopez, employee of New Life Centers.

Artificial intelligence can do a lot, but can it write a poem as lovely as a tree? The explosion of AI technology has placed a vulnerability on the creative world. Writers of novels, poetry, and scripts all face the possibility of being replaced by software coded to mimic their own human experiences (see: the current Hollywood crisis and strikes). But many artists have remained confident in the idea that a computer simply can’t beat the creativity and emotion of the human soul. But that’s not for lack of trying. Writer Robbie Q. Telfer investigates this through his latest book of poetry “lonely line breaks: ChatRQT.” Reset sits down with the poet about the book and his experiences with AI.

It’s been a couple weeks since the SCOTUS decision, so how will the country’s selective schools continue to promote diversity? Reset discusses what’s next with Oiyan Poon, associate professor affiliate of higher education leadership at Colorado State University and Anthony Chen, associate professor of sociology at Northwestern University.

The civil rights organization Rainbow PUSH has welcomed a new leader after its longtime president and founder, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, formally announced his exit Saturday. To learn more about Jackson’s legacy and the future of the organization, Reset sits down with Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, U.S. Senator from Illinois (1993-99), and Delmarie Cobb, political strategist who worked for Rev. Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1988. Correction: The interview refers to the announcement and event happening on Sunday. It was on Saturday.

Thursday evening the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced the three finalists seeking the title of Chicago’s top cop: Chicago Police Department veterans Angel Novalez and Larry Snelling, and Shon Barnes, the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin. This leaves Mayor Brandon Johnson with about 30 days to make a decision. Reset gets the latest updates on the search and hears more on the finalists.

“Live on Logan” is a free weekly jazz show hosted in Palmer Square this summer. Reset will talk with the Chicagoan who founded the series and a musician performing this weekend. Plus, a family farm in Wisconsin hosts an annual music festival with deep roots in Chicago’s DIY scene. We’ll talk with a prolific local musician who co-organizes the fest.

Hazing scandal hits Northwestern University football program; tornadoes touch down in the suburbs and near O’Hare Airport; community activists protest for better living conditions for migrants. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more with Alden Loury, WBEZ data projects editor, Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW and Mick Dumke, editor and reporter for Block Club Chicago.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Thursday the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S. Reset learns more about the medication and what its approval means for contraceptive access in Illinois and beyond with Kai Tao, co-founder and principal of Impact and Innovation at Illinois Contraceptive Access Now.

The Chicago SummerDance series is back! All dancers, no matter the age or skill level, are invited to take free dance lessons happening at parks all across the city. This kick-off event on Saturday, July 15, will happen in partnership with Taste of Chicago at Pullman Park. Reset learns more about the event and what to look forward to.

Northwestern football head coach Patrick Fitzgerald was fired Monday after allegations of abuse. Now, baseball coach Jim Foster is under fire. Reset discusses the updates about the current investigations with Jonathan Bullington, senior reporter at Chicago Tribune and Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributor.

Research shows that screens – and the hyper-social connections they provide – can trigger dopamine responses in users so frequently it can turn us into actual addicts. And for kids, that’s especially concerning. That’s why some people are trying “anti-dopamine parenting.” Reset checks in with two experts on what a digital rest could look like for kids. Devorah Heitner is author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and Growing Up in Public. Dr. Khalid Afzal is assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medicine.

When Wendy Singer’s daughter was going through a mental health crisis, she didn’t know where to turn for help. Her experience led to the creation of a new comprehensive, free guide for parents and caregivers when a child is going through a serious mental health challenge. Reset talks to Singer about her new guide.

After the Chicago area got battered by rains, flooded basements, and more rain to come, Reset checks in on what non-profits and elected officials are doing to combat climate change and mitigate flooding. We talk to Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist, Kyra Woods, policy director for Chicago’s Environment and Sustainability Team, and Margaret Frisbie, executive director for the Friends of the Chicago River.

Mayor Johnson released a 223-page report charting his four-year plan for Chicago. We talked to WBEZ city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel to learn more about Johnson’s vision for the city.

The Illinois EPA announced an “Air Pollution Action Day” for the thirteenth time this year. Those announcements are issued when air quality is at or above an unhealthy level for sensitive groups, and the first half of 2023 has had more than any year in the last decade. So what should we do when there’s an advisory, and how does poor air quality affect our mental and physical health? We spoke to Zac Adelman, executive director of the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium, Stacy Montgomery, researcher with Northwestern’s Climate Change Research Group, Steve Mosakowski, director of respiratory care at RUSH university medical center, and Gina Ramirez, Midwest outreach manager at Natural Resources Defense Council.

Meta just rolled out its Twitter competitor, Threads. And as other social media platforms like Spill, Mastodon, Bluesky and Post are hitting the market, what does this mean for the future of social media? Reset discusses with Ross Schulman of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Naomi Nix of The Washington Post, Jim Speta of the Northwestern University School of Law, Arionne Nettles of the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism and Paul Booth of DePaul University.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw many young people off the path to graduation or getting jobs out of school. So, how do you reach the folks not in school or in the workplace? Reset checks in with Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Mila Koumpilova about her reporting on programs working to get these young people back on track.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw many young people off the path to graduation or getting jobs out of school. So, how do you reach the folks not in school or in the workplace? Reset checks in with Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Mila Koumpilova about her reporting on programs working to get these young people back on track.

According to a recent Harvard Business Review report, women in leadership positions face ageism at every age. Reset chats with UChicago professor Amy Hilliard, Rohini Dey of Vermillion and Let’s Talk Womxn and Karen Layng, national president of the board of directors of Girl Scouts USA to hear how they’ve navigated discrimination in the workplace and how they’re changing things for future generations of working women to come.

Artist Edra Soto immigrated from Puerto Rico to Chicago in 1998. Since beginning her life as a transplant to Chicago, she’s worked on a decade-long project exploring how she is inhabiting space in a new country, culture and home. As well as highlighting Puerto Rican architecture and its roots. through her sculptures. Reset chats with the “GRAFT” artist to learn more.

Dom Flemons is on a mission to uncover, preserve and push forward America’s musical past — particularly Black musical traditions.The world renowned singer-songwriter and folklorist sits down with Jason Marck, host of WBEZ’s Radio Z and senior producer of Curious City, to talk about some of the big ideas that run through his work.

The second season of the hit FX show The Bear makes a point of highlighting the vibrant restaurant and bar scene across Chicago. Reset talks to two foodies about the show’s portrayal of some of city’s most beloved spots.

Record rain floods basements and puts a damper on NASCAR’s downtown street race. Mayor Johnson shakes things up at the Chicago Board of Education. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Jacoby Cochran, City Cast Chicago Host, Brandon Pope, reporter/anchor at CW 26, and Hannah Meisel, politics reporter, Capitol News Illinois.

Mayor Brandon Johnson shook things up Wednesday when he replaced nearly the entire Chicago Board of Education with new appointees. The seven-seat board that was once largely filled with consultants, bankers and lawyers will now be dominated by educators and education activists. Reset gets the rundown on what this means for Chicago schools.

The pandemic changed how and where we work from, and recent articles suggest remote work could be detrimental to our physical and mental health. Reset digs into those claims and learns what employees need to feel fulfilled wherever their ‘office’ may be.

Northwoods Baseball Radio Network on WSLP-AM features fictitious matches between teams such as the Baraboo Bombers vs. the Big Rapid Timbers and the Old Timers Exhibition! Reset learns more on the eclectic broadcast from its creator and host, Mr. King.

Over a year since the overturn of Roe vs. Wade and many states across the country have instituted abortion bans. For high-risk pregnancies that often means a tough decision between finding out-of-state means for reproductive care or delivering a child with little to no chance of surviving. Reset hears from a high-risk pregnancy patient and healthcare experts on the issue.

On the heels of another violent Fourth of July weekend, Reset checks in with a panel of anti-violence workers trying a variety of solutions to end cycles of violence in Chicago.

The Mellon Foundation granted Chicago $6.8 million to invest in several monument projects. One of those will include the Rekia Boyd Project on the West Side. Reset talks to Scheherazade Tillet, executive director of A Long Walk Home and one of the organizers of the monument.

Actor Judy Greer has made a career out of being one of the most versatile people in any room or set in Hollywood. With more than 150 film and TV credits to her name, you’ve seen her in everything from rom-coms like “13 Going On 30" to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And this month, you can see her debut at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre with the play “Another Marriage.” Reset sits down with the booked-and-busy actress to go behind the curtain of her new play and talk about working in a fickle and changing industry.

Chicago is home to several mural corridors – from Pilsen to Rogers Park. These murals tell stories and are available for everyone to see. Reset learns more about the art form from muralists Sandra Antongiorgi and Rahmaan Statik, and also Robert Herguth, who writes the weekly Murals and Mosaics newsletter for the Chicago Sun-Times.

On July 4, 2022, seven people died and dozens more were wounded in a shooting during Highland Park’s annual Independence Day parade. An upcoming documentary called “Memorial” features the stories and voices of survivors of the Highland Park shooting. We talk with Highland Park-born filmmaker and director Jonathan Siskel, and two survivors of the shooting, Jacqueline von Edelberg and Rachel Lander.

A new report by Crain’s Chicago Business reveals the sky-high construction costs for housing developments being built through the city’s Invest South/West initiative — one of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s signature programs. Reset learns more about the cost disparity and what the status of the project is under the Johnson administration with Alby Gallun, Crain’s Chicago Business senior reporter covering real estate and David Doig, president of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives.

Kara Jackson is known for being the National Youth Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2020. And now, she’s receiving glowing reviews for her debut album, Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love. The Chicago-based singer-songwriter joins Reset to talk about her inspirations, her mandatory piano lessons growing up in a musical household and other local artists who encouraged her latest work.

Some Chicago drivers experience road rage over street closures for NASCAR race; Canadian wildfires fill Chicago’s air with smoke and haze; President Biden comes to town for fundraisers and kicks off his political messaging with what he calls “Bidenomics”. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Mike Flannery, political editor at Fox 32 News, Ben Kesling, reporter, Wall Street Journal and Derrick Blakley, former CBS2 Chicago politics reporter Journal

Season two of FX’s The Bear is a hit – receiving a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans are raving about everything from the story telling, the food to the cameos. Reset chats with Michael Muser, co-founder of Ever in the West Loop, one of Chicago restaurants featured on the show

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit this week against the city of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department over unlawful traffic stops. The suit alleges that Black drivers are four to seven times more likely than white drivers to be pulled over and that Latino drivers are twice as likely. Reset hears more about the suit from Alexandra Block, Senior Supervising Attorney for the Criminal Legal System and Policing project at ACLU Illinois.

This morning the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark affirmative action case stating that race-based admissions practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina are unlawful. Reset talks to University of Illinois Chicago law professor Steve Schwinn and WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip about what the ruling will mean for the future of college admissions.

FACETS movie theater and Color Comics are coming together to host a screening and discussion about Black women in science fiction and fantasy TV shows. They’ll explore the characters of Star Trek Discovery’s Michael Burnham, Lovecraft Country’s Hippolyta and Doctor Who’s ‘The Fugitive Doctor. Reset hears from one of the panelists, WBEZ audio producer Cianna Greaves, to learn more.

The long-anticipated street race is finally happening this weekend and everyone has an opinion. Reset chats with Neil Steinberg, columnist for Chicago Sun-Times and two locals who are looking forward to NASCAR.

A proposed ordinance would create protections for some of Chicago’s most iconic vintage outdoor signs. Reset learns about the history of these signs, and their importance in the urban landscape and about restoring vintage signs from a Martin Treu, author of Signs, Streets, and Storefronts: A history, of architecture and graphics along America’s Commercial Corridors.

Wildfire smoke from Canada continues to smoother Chicago today. Experts anticipate the air quality index, as tracked by Air Now, could exceed Tuesday’s high of 288 - the second highest ranking that government agency tracks. Reset hears from Kelly Nichols, Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy, Respiratory Health Association of Chicago and Dr. Ravi Kalhan, Northwestern Medicine deputy division chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine on what to expect

Chicago’s hourly minimum wage is set to rise to $15.80 starting July 1, while tipped workers will get paid $9.80 an hour. Reset learns more about the so-called “subminimum wage” for tipped workers and the latest on discussions around phasing it out. We check in with Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa of the 35th Ward; Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association; and Terri Evans, owner of Windy City Ribs & Whiskey.

Research shows that queer youth who are supported by their families grow up to be happier and healthier adults. But some parents can feel unequipped to navigate their child’s coming out. Reset hears from two Chicago families about their experience navigating and supporting their own LGBTQ children: Florrie Chappa with the group Mama Bears joins the show with her son Javier Chapa with Howard Brown Health, and Mike Mazzeo, a parent of a nonbinary child.

As Chicago’s youth start their summer jobs, we follow up on Mayor Johnson’s campaign promise to bring more employment opportunities. WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg gives us the update.

The library is open, free of charge to all, bringing resources for accessing knowledge. And In the midst of battles over freedom of speech and book bans, the Chicago Public Library is committed to being a sanctuary for books. Reset talks with Alison Cuddy, host of the podcast Library for the People, about the ways the library has lived out its mission and served the people of Chicago for the past 150 years.

This week, Supreme Court justices are expected to drop opinions on several cases about major issues including student loan forgiveness and affirmative action. Reset learns more about how they could rule with Steven Schwinn, professor at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race will take place on July 1 and 2, bringing tens of thousands of spectators to downtown and closing off many roads to cars, buses and pedestrians. Reset hears from 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata about what to expect before, during and after the events.

The former warehouse district of Fulton Market was a hub for meatpacking and meat wholesalers in the 19th and 20th centuries. But as the price of rent continues to increase in the area, many of these shops have left. Reset learns about Peoria Packing’s history as a mainstay in the West Loop and the changing nature of the neighborhood. We talk with Paul Durica, director of exhibitions at Chicago History Museum.

Reset hits the road and heads to South Shore for a day of barrel racing and horse tricks. The Broken Arrow Riding Club’s Speed and Action Rodeo and Horse Show is an annual event that puts a spotlight on the city’s little-known cowboy scene. Reset spends the day at the rodeo and learns more about the often-overlooked contributions of Black cowboys in American history. We talk to documentarian Charles Perry; Murdock, director and president of Broken Arrow Horseback Riding Club; and club members Amber Leslie, Korey Flowers, and Devyn Branscomb.

Chicago’s NASCAR race is gearing up. Illinois scales back healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants. Cook County projects a nearly $86 million budget. And one Chicago startup is on a mission to make sustainable seafood with fungi. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Paris Schutz, WTTW reporter and anchor; Amanda Vinicky, WTTW political correspondent; and Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government and politics reporter.

After some time on the road, Fran is back in Chicago. The local indie band will perform at the Empty Bottle on Friday. Doors open at 9 p.m. Reset talks to frontwoman and songwriter Maria Jacobson about the tour, her band’s latest album Leaving and the inspiration she gleaned from Alan Watts and his book The Wisdom of Insecurity.

Summertime is in full swing! From festivals to art exhibits to live music performances, there are hundreds of things to do in the city this season. Reset gets a taste of the summer fun with the folks behind upcoming events and WBEZ’s latest summer guide.

As we approach one year since Roe v. Wade was overturned, there is a lot of process. States across the U.S have banned the right to abortion, and some of those laws are having unintended consequences for mothers and families. Reset hears from providers and patients affected by the Dobbs v. Jackson decision last summer and how Illinois is protecting mothers.

Mifepristone has recently been in the headlines after conflicting court rulings about the abortion drug's FDA approval more than 20 years ago. But even before that, the drug had been the subject of controversy. Cover Up: The Pill Plot, is a new podcast series that shares the shocking story of how mifepristone was smuggled into the U.S., kicked off a U.S. Supreme Court battle, and led to the founding of a secret lab to manufacture a copy of the drug. Reset talks to creator and host of the series, TJ Raphael, about why this history has yet to be told and what it reveals about the current debate.

Ten organizers, artists and advocates are receiving a no-strings-attached $25,000 grant to support their work in the fields of art, media, storytelling and justice. The award is given annually by the Field Foundation, with support from the MacArthur Foundation. Reset learns more about who the leaders are and the future they envision for Chicago. We talk to Mark Clements, community organizer at the Chicago Torture Justice Center; Glo Choi, community organizer at HANA Center; Ling Young, youth organizer at Southside Together Organizing for Power; Vanessa Harris, president and founder at Strategy for Access Foundation; Yvette Moyo, founder and executive director at Real Men Charities.

City Council goes for a vote today on making the Warehouse a Chicago landmark. Music director and resident DJ Frankie Knuckles helped the Warehouse grow to be regarded as the birthplace of house music. Reset speaks with DJ Lady D Jackson and DJ Terry Hunter about what this landmark status would mean for the city and the iconic music genre.

The city of Chicago will be receiving nearly $7 million dollars to fund eight memorial projects including a memorial dedicated to survivors of torture by the “Midnight Crew” in the South Side. Reset learns about this effort to honor over 100 survivors of police torture from Dan Mihalopoulos, investigative reporter for WBEZ’s government and politics team.

Chicago renters must make at least $50,000 a year, or work two jobs at minimum wage, to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. That’s according to a new study by Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Reset discusses the causes of and solutions to the lack of affordable rental housing in Chicago and Illinois with Bob Palmer, policy director for Housing Action Illinois.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is a month into the job; so how’s it going? Reset talks to WBEZ reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg to get an update on Johnson’s initial political and policy moves, his negotiating style with City Council, how well he's keeping campaign promises and his handling of the city’s resource crisis for asylum seekers.

Health experts are raising the alarm on rising rates of depression, suicide and other mental health issues among U.S. teens. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth between the ages of 10 to 25 years old make up 15% of all suicides. Reset discusses why the teen mental health crisis is happening, the role social media plays and how Chicago-area organizations are working to address the problem.

Juneteenth has only been a federal holiday since 2021. If it’s new to you or you want to learn more, here are some resources.

Hip hop marks its 50th anniversary this summer. For Juneteenth, we look back on that history and celebrate highlights of the genre.

Almost 70% of visitors to national parks in the U.S. are white, and Black people are the most underrepresented group to visit them. Reset meets Chevon Linear and Kameron Stanton, the Chicago couple working to change that through their popular TikTok account Black People Outside and through meet-up events.

Five fresh hip-hop and R&B tracks are "In Rotation” all month on Vocalo Radio, WBEZ’s sister station. Chicago emcee Jovan Landry brings the heat on a new catchy tune with an uplifting message, singer th0rn’s latest track will make you want to dance, and up-and-coming Chicago artists Elijah LeFlore and Galaxy Francis team up for a summer banger. Michigan musician Bri Miller and Ohio native Amar Miller also top the list with their smooth vocals. Reset learns more about the new songs and the artists behind them.

Reset talks with florist John Pendleton of Black Men Flower Project, which allows Black men to give other Black men a bouquet.

Asylum seekers, NASCAR, a ban on book bans, and the latest from City Hall. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more with David Greising with the Better Government Association, Brandis Friedman with WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight,” and WBEZ reporter and editor Natalie Moore.

Chicago is a deep dish and tavern-style town, but there’s good pizza by the slice available if you know where to look. Join Reset and Curious City as we go on the hunt for delicious single slices around the city.

Reset heads out to Chinatown to hear about some key sites in the neighborhood, including the Chinatown Gate on Wentworth Ave. just south of Cermak Road. Sasha-Ann Simons speaks with What’s That Building contributor Dennis Rodkin of Crain’s Chicago Business.

Since February, police officers have been turning unhoused people away at O’Hare International Airport so they won’t sleep there. The situation is just one sign of how persistent and pervasive homelessness is in Chicago. Shelter beds are full, and recently arrived asylum seekers are also in need of the social safety net. Reset learns more about the options left for the city’s unhoused population and what solutions social service agencies and the city’s new administration are considering with guests Elvia Malagón, social justice and wage gap reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, and Ali Simmons, case and outreach worker with the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

lllinois Democratic lawmakers continue pushing to keep abortion accessible after the U.S. Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade last year. Since then, five measures expanding and protecting abortion access passed in Springfield, while GOP lawmakers have failed to pass anti-abortion-rights bills. Reset talks to Mawa Iqbal, statehouse reporter for WBEZ about the efforts.

Earlier this year, Illinois formed the African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission to look into economic inequities due to the impacts of slavery. Reset learns more about the commission’s mission and work with Illinois State Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood) and Marvin Slaughter, chair of the African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission.

In another installment of our series “What’s That Building,” Reset learns about a building in the West Loop that played an important role in Chicago’s transit history with Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business.

Longtime Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak says he’ll be leaving the show after its 41st season, which starts in the fall. He was raised in Chicago and initially pursued a career in radio. Reset learns more about Sajak’s Chicago roots and the void he’ll leave in the game show world with Darel Jevens, entertainment editor for the Chicago Sun-Times

A downtown building known for its legacy pipe and cigar lounge, holds layers of history dating possibly as far back as before the great Chicago fire in 1871. Reset’s architecture sleuth, Dennis Rodkin, reveals the stories within this classic marvel in The Loop.

In his show “Little Syria,” MC and rapper Omar Offendum explores the forgotten history of Syrian Americans in Manhattan. Offendum performed earlier this month at the Old Town School of Folk Music, along with DJ Thanks Joey and Chicago-born multi-instrumentalist Ronnie Malley. Reset sat down with the three artists to talk about weaving both different languages and genres in his music.

Widespread catalytic converter theft has cost millions of dollars in repairs for car owners across the city. A Chicago Sun-Times analysis looks into how the thefts are pulled off and how the city is working to crack down on the crime. Reset speaks with Stephanie Zimmermann, consumer investigations reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, to find out what you should know about the issue.

How is Chicago responding to the growing sense of loneliness in the U.S? Reset talks to groups working to build social connection and community in the area. The panel features Jeremy Foster, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago; Julia Logan Labow, director of impact and learning at OneTable; and Jacob Rosenblum, Shabbat dinner host for OneTable.

According to recent data from the U.S Census Bureau, Americans are spending more time alone. But what happens when a lack of social connection leads to loneliness? Reset talks to Eve Escalante, clinical social worker with RUSH University Medical Center, about what’s behind the so-called “loneliness epidemic” in America and ways to build connections.

Stalled trains and blocked railroad crossings have created dangerous conditions for residents of cities like Hammond, Ind., for decades. Now a first round of federal funding aims to change that. Reset talks to Joce Sterman, national investigative reporter for InvestigateTV, to learn more about the $570 million nationwide plan.

Typically Reset’s “What’s That Building?” series feature architecture stories often lost to history or overlooked in the Chicago area. Over the next few episodes, however, the series is giving a fresh look at some of the city's most iconic buildings. What better place to start than with the gleaming Wrigley Building on the riverfront? Reset talks to its architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin to get the story.

Former President Donald Trump is set to be arraigned in court again — this time in Florida. A grand jury has indicted him on seven counts related to classified documents he stored in his Mar-a-Lago home. He has denied any wrongdoing. Reset hears reactions from Congressman Mike Quigley, who represents Illinois’ 5th District. Then Reset turns to Alvin Tillery, professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy at Northwestern University, to hear what the charges could mean for Trump’s presidential campaign.

Chicago’s tourism industry rebounds, with hotels setting a record for highest occupancy rates. Meanwhile, three Chicago chefs take home the coveted James Beard Award. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more with Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association, Carrie Shepherd, Chicago reporter for Axios, and Rummana Hussain, editorial board member and columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.

The tension between the PGA and Saudi-backed PIF has been growing for years. The two are now united in a historic merger in an attempt to move past antitrust lawsuits, accusations of human rights abuses and confusion among players. Reset gets analysis from Chicago-area golf expert Rory Spears, co-host of Golfers on Golf Radio, and editor and director of content for Golfersongolf.com.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on two cases challenging affirmative action by the end of June. One case alleges Harvard’s admissions policies discriminate against Asian Americans. Reset checks in with WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip for what to expect from the ruling and how Asian Americans got wrapped up in the debate.

As cycling season kicks into high gear this summer, parents who bike with their kids in the city are pushing for changes that will make the roads safer for them and their children. Reset talks with Courtney Kueppers, a digital producer and reporter for WBEZ, to learn more about these efforts.

For their Chicago’s 50 Closed Schools project, WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times education reporters investigated the impact of massive school closures a decade ago. Reset dives into their latest story on the so-called “welcoming schools” that received displaced students with reporters Sarah Karp and Nader Issa.

A surge in calls for shelter requests is overwhelming Chicago’s 311 help line. Reset discusses how the hotline works and what can help the city’s shelter system serve unhoused people and asylum seekers better with WBEZ reporters and a panel of advocates and shelter workers.

The Chicago area has been blanketed by dandelion-like fluff for the past week. Reset learns more about what’s behind the weird event and the role the plant its from plays in the ecosystem with Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility, Jessica Turner-Skoff, science communication leader, Morton Arboretum, and Jalene LaMontagne, professor of biological sciences, DePaul University.

How do you like the sound of the Arlington Heights Bears? Well, how about the Naperville Bears? That’s right. The Chicago Bears are now exploring the western suburb as a potential spot for its new stadium. Reset checks in with WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout for the latest.

The Field Museum is welcoming its newest and biggest addition to its collection of dinosaurs. In the main hall, you can find a 46-foot-long cast of one of the most scientifically up-to-date Spinosaurus in the world. Reset puts on its paleontology hat and learns more about the dinosaur with Jingmai O'Connor, an associate curator of fossil reptiles.

From construction on the Kennedy Expressway to road closures because of Nascar, traffic in Chicago is getting worse. Reset discusses how the congestion is affecting drivers and potentially putting cyclists and pedestrians in danger with Rick Resnick of See it All mini tour bus company, Audrey Wennink of the Metropolitan Planning Council and Sharon Hoyer, a cyclist and Streetsblog freelance journalist.

If your lawn has not looked quite as green and lush as usual, you can blame a “flash drought” and one of the driest months of May in 150 years. And if you’re getting air quality alerts in your area, you can blame Canada. Reset checks in with atmospheric scientist Scott Collis.

The director of the new A24 film “Past Lives” joins Reset to talk about going from the stage to the big screen. After working as a playwright for the past 10 years, Celine Song is starting her career in film. She sat down with us to talk about making a movie about real life and touching on themes of love, fate and immigration.

While Pride Month is usually packed with events to celebrate and support the LGBTQ community, queer families are often left with a few options. To learn more, Reset chats with Keewa Nurullah and Kristen Kaza, co-organizers of a free, all-ages Pride event.

Chicago welcomes patio season with a win for restaurants. We talk with Chicago foodies Nick Kindelsperger, Marnie Shure, and Jack Dengel about the city’s new permanent outdoor dining policy and our favorite spots to wine and dine this summer.

Looking for a theater experience that beats the summer blockbusters? Music Box Theatre will be screening William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill on June 7 and 8, complete with gimmicks the legendary director was known for. Reset learns more about Castle’s contributions to the genre, and what the theater is planning for the event with Morgan Wiercinski and Jeremy Marder, co-programmers of the event.

Chicago’s City Council approves $51 million for migrant services. Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers pass a new budget in Springfield. Reset goes behind those headlines with A.D. Quig, Cook County and Chicago government reporter for the Chicago Tribune, CW 26 reporter/anchor Brandon Pope and WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg.

Reset sits down with comedian Hari Kondabolu to chat about his new material and his executive producer role on a film about immigration and the rise of the far right in the U.S. and Germany.

Illinois leads the nation in the number of lead service lines, yet it received a smaller share of federal funding to replace those lead pipes than states like Florida and Texas. Reset gets the details from Michael Hawthorne, an environment and public health reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Reset breaks down what the debt ceiling deal could mean for your student loans with Cody Hounanian, executive director of the Student Debt Crisis Center, and Jack Wallace, the head of government affairs and industry relations at student loan refinance group Yrefy.

In a 34-13 vote Wednesday, Chicago’s City Council approved $51 million to help care for migrants. The decision came after an intense debate among council members and residents. Reset gets the latest from WBEZ reporters Indi Khera and Mariah Woelfel, who have been covering the migrant crisis.

Companies are keeping prices the same while shrinking quantities. While inflation has dropped from its 40-year high in June 2022, the phenomenon of “shrinkflation” has not disappeared. Many items, from paper towels to Oreos, are getting smaller while prices remain the same. Reset talks to Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporter Stephanie Zimmerman and consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky about why “shrinkflation” is happening and about its impact on consumers.

A bill that’s passed in both the Illinois House and Senate would provide basic protections for freelancers requiring clients to pay them within 30 days of work completed. But it still needs Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signature to be law. Reset digs into how this legislation protects freelancers’ right to compensation with two freelancers: writer Anna Burgess and audio producer Mary Mathis.

Swimming season is here. Reset discusses water safety with Chicagoan Dave Benjamin, co-founder and executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Benjamin has made it his mission to prevent drownings in Lake Michigan and beyond.

From housing to health, Chicago agencies, groups and individuals are taking on the challenge to help asylum seekers create a home in the city. Reset checks in with people working on the ground to support migrants and learn about an effort to provide trauma-informed training to volunteers.

Half of Chicagoans witness a shooting by age 40, according to a recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association. And the average age for witnessing the shooting is only 14 years old. Reset learns about how this trauma can impact young people’s developing brains and discusses efforts to help students heal and turn the tide of violence.

After months of hype and controversy, the live-action remake of the Disney princess classic, “The Little Mermaid,” is finally in theaters. Reset talks to culture writer Brittney Pierre and CW-26 anchor Brandon Pope about their thoughts on the film.

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions many people make in their lifetimes, but many people have been avoiding making moves due to high interest rates and high prices. Now, things could be starting to change in the Chicago area. Reset talks with a real estate expert Ilyce Glink about how to navigate this unique market moment.

In what ways is democracy under threat in the United States? And how do we strengthen our union? Those are two of the key questions posed in a new series of reports, editorials, podcasts and radio segments from WBEZ and the Sun-Times called “The Democracy Solutions Project,” which will run through the 2024 presidential election. The project is a partnership between Chicago Public Media and the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy. To kick off the project, Reset sits down with the center’s director Will Howell.

In what ways is democracy under threat in the United States? And how do we strengthen our union? Those are two of the key questions posed in a new series of reports, editorials, podcasts and radio segments from WBEZ and the Sun-Times called “The Democracy Solutions Project,” which will run through the 2024 presidential election. The project is a partnership between Chicago Public Media and the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy. Reset sits down Eric Liu of Citizen University to hear more about the role civic engagement can play in strengthening democracy.

As we celebrate Memorial Day, Reset talks to a veteran and service member parent working to serve veterans in need.

The rapper Kayo explores loss, acceptance and perspective in his latest work. Ahead of his show at the Epiphany Center next week, the artist stopped by WBEZ’s performance studio to share some songs and his story. Reset sits down with the Chicago-based rapper to hear about his journey so far and what’s to come.

A new police training program is underway in Chicago. And it’s drawing from successes in departments in other major cities like New York and LA. The Policing Leadership Academy will focus on just that: training police leaders and supervisors. But even though it’s here in Chicago, the lesson plan won’t be based on practices within the Chicago Police Department. As the academy welcomes its first cohort, Reset turns to Roseanna Ander, Executive Director of the Crime Lab, Kenneth Corey, Former New York Police Chief of Department and Director of Outreach and Engagement at the University of Chicago Policing Leadership Academy, and Charlie Beck, former LAPD Police Chief and interim Chicago police superintendent in late 2019 to early 2020, who helped design the six-month program.

Illinois lawmakers pass a budget and wrap up their spring session. Neighbors on Chicago’s Northwest side are divided over proposals to shelter migrants at local City College. Reset goes behind the headlines with Tina Sfondeles, Chicago Sun-Times chief political reporter, Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor for WTTW-TV, and Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city politics reporter.

The upcoming Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions is raising questions about legacy admission policies and other practices that tend to favor white, wealthier students at the expense of historically underrepresented ones. Reset speaks with WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip on the latest from the case.

Back in October, the FDA announced a shortage of amphetamine mixed salts, more commonly known as Adderall, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This has had real impacts on individuals and families in Chicago trying to get their hands on the stimulant. So, what’s behind the shortage? Reset dives into a conversation about the demand for ADHD medication, overdiagnosis and what it’s like living and treating the condition with Steven Meyers, licensed clinical psychologist with Chicago ADHD Associates and Zoe Smith, child and adolescent clinical psychologist and assistant professor with the department of psychology at Loyola University.

Dirty cars, crime and significant delays are a few of the problems riders have pointed out about the Chicago Transit Authority in recent years. Reset discusses the woes of riding the CTA with Natalie Moore, interim editor of WBEZ’s Race, Class and Communities Desk and Cassie Walker Burke, external editor at WBEZ. Then we hear from Illinois State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), co-chair of Mayor Johnson’s transition team transportation subcommittee and Brian Steele, CTA spokesperson about how they plan to address the issues.

Chicago is having an urban wildlife moment. Has this always been the case, or is this emergence of city critters indicative of something bigger? Reset checks in with a panel of wildlife experts and ecologists, including Seth Magle, director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at Lincoln Park Zoo, Al Scorch, botanist with Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, Tyler LaRiviere, Chicago Sun-Times photographer and Rebecca Fyffe, urban wildlife manager.

After a five-year investigation, the AG’s office released a 696-page report showing that the Catholic church failed to acknowledge hundreds of clerics and brothers who abused at least 1,997 across Illinois dioceses. Reset talks with Bob Herguth of the Chicago Sun-Times who has been covering the investigation for years and Larry Antonsen, an abuse survivor and leader of SNAP Chicago, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

West Side Chicagoan @mycousin_tiera is being heralded by some as the city’s best kept comedy secret. You might recognize her from short Instagram and TikTok skits which have garnered millions of views. Now, the mother whose punchlines often focus on what it’s like to raise children, is on a multi-city comedy tour with stops in the Chicagoland area this weekend. Reset gets to know comedian Tiera Oleary and hear what to expect from her stage performance.

Hope Chicago is a college-access nonprofit that launched in 2022 with the goal of getting more Black and brown students from the South and West sides into college. But, it doesn’t stop there. The group also wants to send parents to college too. Reset checks in with CEO Janice Jackson to learn more about the organization’s work and hopes for the future.

Around the Chicago area, cicadas are starting to emerge, and you could see many, many more soon. Next year, the din will get even louder as 13-year and 17-year periodical cicadas come out of the ground. Reset checks in with Allen Lawrance of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago to learn everything there is to know about the fascinating insects.

New reporting from Block Club Chicago shows that Chicago City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights didn’t meet for more than a year as the city struggled with its migrant crisis. Reset checks in with Block Club’s Mick Dumke.

Ready for Summertime Chi? Lake Michigan and the Chicago River are fantastic ways to enjoy your Chicago summer. Reset hears about all the reasons to appreciate our lakefront and waterways and gets some aquatic inspiration to kick off our summer. We check in Marlon Harvey, commodore at the Jackson Park Yacht Club; Alex Surmach, vice president of the board of directors at Learn Scuba Chicago; and John Quail, director of conservation at Friends of the Chicago River.

Illinois lawmakers are back in the Capitol this week for an extended spring session after failing to agree on and pass a budget. For more on what the sticking points are and what else is on the agenda before the spring session wraps up, Reset gets a Springfield update from WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman.

When 50 Chicago Public Schools were closed a decade ago, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and district leaders promised students would be better off and that the buildings would be transformed into community assets. A new WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times series takes a closer look at those promises and the long-term consequences on the city’s district, neighborhoods and families. Reset learns more from the team behind the series: Kate Grossman, WBEZ senior editor for education; Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter; Lauren FitzPatrick, Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporter; and Nader Issa, Chicago Sun-Times education reporter.

Chicago is home to a rich arts scene, but advocates say more can be done to support arts education, expand access to the arts and recognize that the arts can be a powerful economic engine for the city. Reset talks to Leslé Honoré, poet and CEO of Urban Gateways, Monica Trinidad, co-founder of For the People Artists Collective, Abby Pucker, founder of GERTIE, a Chicago arts wayfinding platform, about the ways the Johnson administration could lean into the arts. The trio are co-chairs of Johnson’s transition subcommittee on arts and culture.

WBEZ is out with a new guide to 80 markets you can find in Chicago and the suburbs this summer, just in time for farmers market season. Reset learns more about where to find fresh produce, flowers and other extras at markets in the region with Julia Binswanger, WBEZ audio producer and curator, Veah Larde, market manager at Austin Town Hall City Market, and Liz Abunaw, founder and owner of Forty Acres Fresh Market.

Brandon Johnson is inaugurated as Chicago’s new Mayor. Illinois lawmakers work to wrap up their spring session. Reset breaks down those stories and more with Alice Yin, politics reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Christian Farr, NBC-5 Chicago reporter, Angela Rozas O'Toole, WBEZ Politics & Government editor.

It’s AAPI Heritage Month. Reset invited three Asian American artists in Chicago’s thriving music scene to talk about the AAPI’s community’s contribution to the arts. Sen Morimoto, Yna Pineda, and Stuti Sharma share their fave AAPI musicians in Chicago, discuss resources the city may be lacking and talk through how their heritage influences their craft.

A new WBEZ project called First 12 Weeks chronicles the journeys of three new mothers. From isolation to breastfeeding to expectations, these mothers faced a lot in just the first few weeks postpartum. But, they also persevered through. In the final installment of the series, Reset discusses the challenges new LGBTQ+ parents face with Elly Fishman, reporter and WBEZ contributor and Dr. Liz Glassgow, executive director of Innovations to Improve Maternal Outcomes in Illinois and medical director of the UI Health Two-Generation Clinic

The saga continues for the Illinois assault weapons ban as the question of “Can I legally buy an assault rifle?” has a new answer for the third time this year. Reset hears from statehouse reporter for WBEZ, Mawa Iqbal, and Highland Park Survivor, Ashbey Beasley, on the latest.

Asian Americans have been reported to be the fastest-growing racial group in the country. And this is also a time when AAPI representation in the media has been growing and celebrated with historic wins for films like Everything Everywhere All At Once. While more representation and visibility of AAPI folks is still needed, it begs the question of what’s next? Reset dives into a discussion with writer and fire performer, Michi Trota, and environmental justice fellow at the Grist, Siri Chilukuri, about the growth of representation for the Asian American Pacific Islander community, and what to do with more visibility.

A new WBEZ project called First 12 Weeks chronicles the journeys of three new mothers. Today, we hear the story of Asel, a new mother and Kyrgistanian immigrant. Reset talks with reporter Elly Fishman and Annie Conquest, a certified nurse-midwife at Erie Family Health Centers.

The pandemic affected employment in a massive way, but it especially affected young people. And not all young people have recovered or been able to make their way into the workforce. Between 2019-2021, the unemployment rate has almost doubled for Black women, from 32 to 59 percent. Reset learns why and what efforts there are to address these barriers with Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of Economic & Workforce Development and UIC Great Cities Institute.

Reset discusses the barriers and stigma Asian Americans face when it comes to both physical and mental health, and how groups are working to increase access to culturally-competent care They speak to a panel of experts featuring Heain Chung, director of direct services at KAN-WIN, Brandon Liu, licensed marriage and family therapist and Shobhana Johri Verma, executive director of South Asian American Policy and Research Institute.

A new WBEZ project called First 12 Weeks chronicles the journeys of three new mothers. Today, we hear the story of Kristal from West Englewood. Reset talks with reporter Elly Fishman and Kristal’s caregiver Karie Stewart, a certified nurse-midwife in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UI Health.

During his life and since his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. was and has been the face of the Civil Rights movement, but how much do you know about the man behind the myth? Reset talks with author Jonathan Eig about his biography King: A Life. It taps new material, including an unpublished memoir by King’s father and FBI surveillance tapes, to give a full, unflinching portrait of King.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has released plans for how he’ll tackle youth employment, crime and public safety, but he hasn’t said quite as much about how he’ll go about reopening shuttered mental health clinics, a pledge he made on the campaign trail and in his inaugural address. Reset learns more about that and the first four executive orders Johnson issued on his first day in office from Tessa Weinberg, WBEZ city government and politics reporter.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has been inaugurated. Listen to his address in full in today’s other episode. For some analysis, we talked to Northwestern University professor Jaime Dominguez, WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury, and Connie Mixon, a professor of political science at Elmhurst University.

The city of Chicago has a new Mayor. In his inaugural address, Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke about his upbringing and humble beginnings, key moments in Chicago history and his hope and pride in Chicago. Here’s Mayor Johnson’s full address. Check out our analysis in another episode out today.

James Beard-Nominated Chef Abra Berens focuses her latest cookbook, Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit, on varieties grown along the “Fruit Belt” along Lake Michigan. Reset learns more on how Berens cooks her favorites into sweet and savory treats.

Britain’s popular and wholesome baking competition returns stateside with its spin-off “The Great American Baking Show.” And this season, Chicago is well represented, with three local residents heading to the English countryside and competing to best impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The Chicago contestants Martin Sorge, Sarah Chang and Nirali Chauan, join Reset for more on competing in the famous bake-off tent, the terror of the technical challenges and the friendships made along the way.

In his show “Little Syria,” MC and rapper Omar Offendum explores the forgotten history of Syrian Americans in Manhattan. Offendum will be performing Friday and Saturday night at the Old Town School of Folk Music, along with DJ Thanks Joey and Chicago-born multi-instrumentalist Ronnie Malley. And for their Chicago show, Offendum will pay homage to the city’s rich history of Arab American communities. Reset sits down with the three artists to talk about weaving both different languages and genres in his music.

Chicago braces for possibility of more migrants arriving from Texas as pandemic border restrictions are lifted. Brandon Johnson prepares for his inauguration as Chicago’s next Mayor. Reset goes behind the headlines with Rummana Hussain, Chicago Sun-Times.editorial board member and columnist, Amanda Vinicky, WTTW political correspondent and Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune state government reporter.

Summer is just around the corner, and whether you prefer a bucket of popcorn at a movie theater or kicking back on the couch at home, there are a ton of movies making their debut in the coming months. And according to Chicago movie critic Richard Roeper, there are 15 films we should add to our watch list. Reset gets a preview of summer 2023’s movies to watch with Richard Roeper, entertainment columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.

On Tuesday, outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot declared a state of emergency regarding the influx of migrants into Chicago. The declaration comes as Title 42 is set to expire today, which allowed for the immediate expulsion of migrants who crossed the U.S, Mexican border. Reset gets an update from Elvia Malagón, social justice and wage gap reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times, about the asylum seekers arriving in Chicago and what the city plans to do next. They also talk to Helena Olea, associate director of programs at Alianza Americas about how migrants are faring.

Several years after publishing a riveting memoir about her adoption story, Nicole Chung returns with a new book on grief, forgiveness and capitalism. Reset talks to the bestselling author about navigating her guilt and anger over her parents’ deaths, and how she couldn’t tell her family’s story without confronting broken systems in the United States.

Chicago’s ushering in a new City Council next week, and its members are younger, more progressive and more diverse than any previous council in the city’s history. Reset heard from Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa of the 35th Ward about this historic group.

A new survey found that more and more working Americans say they don’t feel confident they’ll have enough money to live comfortably when they retire. And nearly half of all Baby Boomers report having no money saved for retirement. Reset turns to Christine Benz, a personal finance and retirement planning expert, for advice.

The Jazz Institute of Chicago is cultivating the next generation of musicians. The Institute provides opportunities for middle and high school students to learn improvisations on jazz standards alongside experienced musicians. Reset talked with three participating students — Brandon Harper, Zach Bezirgan and Oscar Evely — as well as the Institute’s executive director, Heather Ireland Robinson, about the institute's teaching philosophy.

A recent Chicago Tribune investigation found that lead is showing up in the water at public schools all across the state. Reset learns more about the findings and the impact lead can have on kids from Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune investigative data reporter.

Monday, May 8 marked the start of Mayor Lightfoot’s final week as mayor of Chicago, and she delivered a goodbye address. Reset hears what she said and reviews her tenure with Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government and politics reporters.

Season five of WBEZ’s Making podcast brings you the origin stories of some of the world’s biggest leaders and game changers. The latest installment begins with a two-part exploration into the making and “unmaking” of Chicago’s Kanye West, now known as Ye. Reset chats with Making host Brandon Pope.

The Chicago Bears are one step closer to moving away from Soldier Field to northwest suburban Arlington Heights. The team filed paperwork Wednesday to begin the demolition of the Arlington International Racecourse, which sits on the site of their proposed new stadium. Reset gets the latest details on the team’s next steps from WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout. The Chicago Bears are one step closer to moving away from Soldier Field to northwest suburban Arlington Heights. The team filed paperwork Wednesday to begin the demolition of the Arlington International Racecourse, which sits on the site of their proposed new stadium. Reset gets the latest details on the team’s next steps from WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout. Get Reset in your inbox every morning by signing up for our newsletter.

While Nashville often gets the credit for being the home of country music, Chicago has played an important role in the genre’s history since the very beginning. In his new book, Country & Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival, author Mark Guarino celebrates the artists, venues, and organizers who made up the vibrant folk and country scene throughout the city. Reset talks to the author and musicians Robbie Fulks and Jane Baxter Miller, who were part of the scene in the ’80s and ’90s

The state’s historical relationship of being hands-off with regulating car insurers is leading to potential negative outcomes for consumers. Reset learns the details from Chicago Sun-Times reporter Stephanie Zimmerman and hears from State Rep. Will Guzzardi who wants to pass legislation to combat the potential rate hikes.

Stalled trains and blocked railroad crossings are normal in communities like Hammond, Ind. This has been an issue in the city for decades, but it’s getting worse and putting children in danger. Reset talks to Sterman, national investigative reporter for InvestigateTV and Mike Hull, president of Hammond Local 556, to find out why this is a persistent problem from. They also hear from Hammon Community members Carlotta Blake King and Akicia Henderson about what solutions they’d like to see.

With a South by Southwest debut, and Bonnaroo in their future, it’s safe to say local indie-trio Friko are blowing up. The band joins Reset in the WBEZ’s performance studio to play a LIVE set and chat about putting a song together, their friends in the scene, and plans for the future.

Police stations, park district buildings, closed schools being used to house migrants, as more arrive on buses from Texas. Mayor-Elect Johnson chooses an interim police superintendent. Reset goes behind the headlines on the Weekly News Recap with Mike Lowe, reporter for WGN TV News, David Greising, president of the Better Government Association and Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer

Is your neighborhood or town walkable? When Reset asked that question on Twitter, most people said yes — with room for improvement. Plus, a recent report shows that the demand for walkable neighborhoods far outstrips the supply. That, combined with today’s housing crisis, emphasizes the need for more mixed-income and well-connected real estate. Reset digs into what makes communities walkable, with Courtney Cobbs, co-founder of Better Streets Chicago, Sam Kling, a fellow and director of global cities research at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Jose Manuel Almanza, director of advocacy and movement building for Equiticity

From finishing up a degree, going for the first time, or pursuing a different career, going back to school as an adult can look so different from person to person. Whatever the reason, going back to school later in life presents opportunities and challenges. It can also be intimidating. Reset hears from non-traditional students about what going back to school was like and the impact it’s had on their lives. We also learn about programming that creatively meets the needs of adult students.

At a breezy 17 minutes: fawn, the new EP from Chicago band OK Cool, explores big topics in a precise yet carefree way. When asked about the band's name, bassist Haley Blomquist says “...it fits the lack of seriousness I feel like we have.” Haley and Bridget Stiebris, creative partners behind OK Cool, join Reset to talk stop-motion music videos, musical inspirations, and their EP release show this evening at Schubas Tavern.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will continue to bus more migrants to sanctuary cities like Chicago over the next few weeks. But the city is already struggling to find shelter and resources for more than 8,000 migrants who’ve arrived in Chicago since August. Reset talks to Sun-Times reporter, Elvia Malagón, and WBEZ reporter, Mike Puente, about the conditions asylum seekers are facing.

New research from Nielsen shows that Asian American, Native Hawaiin and Pacific Islander audiences watch more streaming content than the general population. But how well are these communities represented on screen? Reset digs into the report with Patricia Ratulangi, vice president of global communications for diversity, equity and inclusion at Nielsen.

On Tuesday, 12 jurors handed down a guilty verdict to the four defendants in the ComEd bribery trial. Though a big win for the prosecutors, the fight is long from over as the case will likely head to Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Reset hears the latest from a WBEZ political reporter, Dave McKinney, and what’s next for the defendants and former House Speaker Michael Maddigan, who is set to begin his trial on April 1, 2024.

The Chicago skyline’s tallest member is celebrating a major birthday. Reset hears from Randy Stancik, General Manager of SkyDeck Chicago at Willis Tower and Dennis Rodkin, reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business about the significance of the 50th anniversary.

Real estate investor Twenty Lake Holdings bought the land Chicago’s Greyhound station is situated on last year and plans to turn the plot into residential developments. If the station were to close, Chicago would become the largest metropolitan area without an inter-city bus terminal. Reset discussed the implications of a closure or relocation on riders with Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times editorial board member and architecture critic.

The two mile stretch of shopping along 26th street in Little Village is the second-highest-tax-revenue generating shopping district in the city of Chicago. Jennifer Aguilar, a former member of the group’s board, will lead the organization that supports Mexican and bilingual businesses across Chicago. Reset sat down with her to find out her top priorities in her new role.

After the Northern District refused several lawsuits attempting to block the ban, a Southern District judge has ruled in favor of allowing assault weapons across the state. The ruling comes in the midst of a flurry of lawsuits and legislation following the Highland Park shooting. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal.

Brandon Johnson will be inaugurated as Chicago’s 57th mayor on May 15. Reset talks with Emma Tai, one of the co-chairs of the overall team, about how the work of planning the next administration is coming together.

In what ways is democracy under threat in the United States? And how do we strengthen our union? Those are two of the key questions posed in a new series of reports, editorials, podcasts and radio segments from WBEZ and the Sun-Times called “The Democracy Solutions Project,” which will run through the 2024 presidential election. The project is a partnership between Chicago Public Media and the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy. To kick off the project, Reset sits down with the center’s director Will Howell.

Mayor Lightfoot is sounding the alarm as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to bus more migrants to Chicago starting Monday. Recently arrived asylum seekers, including children, are sleeping on the floor of police stations as the city and aid organizations struggle to provide housing and services to an increasing number of migrants arriving from Central and South America. Reset checks in with Laura Mendoza, immigration organizer with The Resurrection Project, and Mario Garcia, executive director of Onward Neighborhood House — two groups working on the ground to help migrants in Chicago.

The frequency with which we buy new clothes, wash and care for them and design clothes all contribute to this problem. But many environmental advocates say that the greatest responsibility of addressing this pollution is on manufacturers, not individuals, and that finding ways to design and manufacture clothes without petrochemicals is what’s needed. Reset learns about the scope of this problem, the way microplastics harm aquatic and human life and what can be done about it with Andrea Densham, senior strategic advisor with Alliance for the Great Lakes and Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility

Chance the Rapper’s mixtape Acid Rap turns 10 this week, and the independent Chicago rapper is celebrating this major milestone with a concert at the United Center on Aug. 19. Reset hears from one of his early-career mentors, Ayana Contreras, content director of Vocalo, about his music and career.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announces she’s not running for a third term. Plus, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson picks more members of his transition team. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more with Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association, Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW, and Kimberley Egonmwan, commentator for WVON and attorney.

New data from the American Library Association show attempted book bans are at its highest since the organization began collecting data more than 20 years ago. In 2022, there were more than 1,200 reported attempts to ban library books and resources. During National Library Week, Reset catches up with Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the American Library Association, to learn more about why book challenges are on the rise and what made the ALA’s list of the most challenged books.

Only one in four third graders in Illinois can read at grade level, a gap that has only widened since the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this disparity in literacy, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking to overhaul the way reading is taught by the state, and lawmakers want to give them a deadline to do it. Reset hears the latest on the proposed changes from Cassie Walker Burke, WBEZ editor.

In her new book Without Children: The Long History of Not Being a Mother, University of Chicago gender historian Peggy O’Donnell Heffington investigates the biggest reasons women have given for not having children and the impact it has on society today. Reset talks with the author.

Chicago is home to many federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi. However, the guidance for teaching Native American history is based on pre-1900 standards. Reset hears from Susie An, WBEZ education reporter, who has been following the issue and Andrew Johnson, board member of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, about how to improve education and how this relates to the fight for native land.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has decided not to run for a third term, leaving the seat up for grabs next fall. Kim Foxx made history in 2016 when she became the first Black woman to be elected Cook County State’s Attorney. The progressive prosecutor announced Tuesday she won’t seek another term. Reset discusses what’s next for Foxx and the country’s second-largest prosecutor's office with WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith.

Chicago leaders are working on a new vision for downtown development over the next two decades and will kick off their planning process with a public webinar Thursday. What does the updated plan mean for the Loop’s future? We’ll get background from a reporter and hear from community members on what the city should prioritize.

Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate is avery r. young — an award-winning composer, teacher, visual artist and producer. young believes poetry is all around us, and that our earliest exposure comes from learning something as simple as the cadence of the alphabet. In his new role, he’ll act as an ambassador for poetry in Chicago, and create new public programming for young people and students. Reset sat down with the poet to hear more.

In 2021, the U.S. life expectancy was about 73 years for men and about 79 years for women – the biggest gap in a quarter-century. Boys and men at every age are at higher risk of death than girls and women, according to the CDC. Some people point to biological factors — like high levels of testosterone weakening the immune system — while others point to social factors such as masculinity and a lack of support. Reset discusses what’s behind the growing longevity gap between men and women, and what can be done to improve physical and mental health outcomes among men. We talked to Dr. Omer Raheem from the University of Chicago, Dr. Sam Wainwright from UI Health, Todd Adams, executive director of MenLiving and Erik Treese and Mervin Colin Canham from the ManKind Project.

The Chicago-based nonprofit Surviving the Mic is led by, and serves, Black and brown femme survivors of sexual harm. After years of being volunteer-run, it’s now a nonprofit — allowing the group to reimagine how a healing art space can also function as a spiritual, church-like community. The group will begin hosting so-called Survivor’s Revivals on Sundays featuring poetry, storytelling and meditation. Reset learned more about the group and how its members are creating a space for survivors of sexual violence to heal. We spoke to executive directors Niiki Patin, Mojdeh Stoakley and Saunté Harden-Tate.

Financial aid letters aren’t federally regulated and can vary wildly from college to college. Most high school seniors across the country must decide where to go to college in the fall by May 1. Money can play a big role in which school they pick, and that can be challenging if you don’t have a good grasp of what your financial aid package offers. Reset learns more about how to understand those award letters from WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip.

Public health and drug enforcement officials are raising alarms about a veterinary tranquilizer known as Xylazine. Reset hears from Matt Kiefer, digital editor for WBEZ, and Dr. David A. Ansell, Professor of Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, about how substance is impacting the opioid epidemic and what health and community organizers are doing to address it. Then they talk to Lindsay Allen, health economist, assistant professor in Northwest, and Vauna Hernandez, executive director of Phoenix House, about how expanding medicaid for residential treatment centers could help the opioid crisis.

From the Green Bay Trail to the Illinois Prairie Path to the 606 to the I&M Canal Trail, the Chicago area has a lot of beautiful trails to cycle on that were once train lines or canal paths. And more are in the works. Reset learns more about existing trails with Christine Hubert, Joliet resident, volunteer for Ride Illinois, and Alan Cubbage, president of the Evanston Bike Club, member of the National Rails to Trails organization.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled to allow continued access to the drug Mifepristone by sending it back to the courts. Reset gets the latest on the case what it means for reproductive care access with Kristen Schorsch, health and county government reporter with WBEZ and Megan Jeyifo executive director Chicago Abortion Fund

The Chicago City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to designate Promontory Park, a longstanding staple in the Hyde Park area, an official city landmark. Reset talks with Alderman-elect Desmon Yancy, 5th Ward and Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, to learn more about the lengthy process to make this happen and what the designation means for the city and its residents.

Chicago band Half Gringa’s new EP contains a unique blend of alt-country rhythm, folk-inspired vocals and a dash of crunchy distorted guitars. Reset discusses ancestors, musical inspirations and coping with loss through music.

Research has shown cutting down or cutting meat out of your diet is one way to be kind to our planet. To celebrate Earth Day this weekend, Reset learns more about what inspired one James Beard Award-nominated chef, Rodolfo Cuadros, to open his third restaurant that serves Mexican vegan food.

Alderman Ed Burke gives his final speech on the floor of the City Council. Meanwhile, a judge upholds Illinois’ assault weapons ban. Reset goes behind the week’s headlines with Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for AXIOS, Carrie Shepherd, lead producer of daily podcast and newsletter City Cast Chicago, and Patrick Smith, criminal justice reporter, WBEZ.

Twice over the weekend, large gatherings of young people turned violent — leaving three teens shot. This reignited a conversation about where teens should gather, what kinds of structure and support they need, and how to create safe spaces for teens to hang out especially in the warmer months.Reset checks in with Eric Davis, executive director of The BASE Chicago and Melissa Mister, Chief of Strategy and Staff, After School Matters, about the youth programming they provide and hears Carvell Anderson, After School Matters alum, about his experience being involved in after-school program

Reset gets an update on how the cannabis industry from Edie Moore, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Chicago chapter, Akilah Easter, dean of the urban agriculture department at Olive-Harvey College, and Melissa Picciola, director of pro bono and community partnerships at Chicago Legal Aid, to find out how its changed and evolved in the last three years, and where promises fell short when it came to clearing public records.

The high court is expected to drop its opinion deciding two conflicting federal rulings questioning FDA approval of mifepristone, a drug commonly used for abortions. Reset digs into when justices will drop that decision and how it could impact abortion access across the country with Steven Schwinn, Professor at University of Illinois Chicago Law School.

Providing childcare can be expensive. In fact, parents in Cook County with young children are spending about 20 percent of their income on, according to a recent report. Reset hears from Kaya Jackson, a local childcare provider in Chicago, who plans to bring her concerns to legislators in D.C.

The Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation launched their “Redefine The Drive” study in 2013. This spring and fall there will be more public hearings where people can weigh in on the latest plans. Reset talks with transportation experts Joseph Schwieterman, professor of public policy at DePaul University, Sam Kling, director of Global Cities research at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and MarySue Barrett, former president of the Metropolitan Planning Council, about the plans that exist so far.

Nearly half of medical positions inside Illinois Prisons are unfilled, according to a recent WBEZ story looking at these realities of an aging incarcerated population. Reset speaks to criminal justice reporter, Shannon Heffernan, to learn more.

Americans spend roughly $1,300 every year on prescription drugs. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that cost leads people to not fill prescriptions, skip doses or cut their pills in half to ration the medicine. Reset learns why drug prices are so high, and offers recommendations on how to navigate options for lowering the amount you pay monthly.

Lawmakers across the country have proposed over 100 pieces of legislation related to banning health care options for LGBTQ people. Indiana and Idaho are the latest states to pass bills that limit access to gender-affirming care for minors. Reset digs into why this care has become a target for GOP lawmakers with Lauren Chapman, digital editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting and Nora Huppert, staff attorney at Lambda Legal, and hears the personal story of a transgender woman living in Indiana.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its most stringent rules to date on tailpipe emissions. The agency believes these rules could reduce CO2 emissions by 7.3 billion tons through 2055 and could result in 67% of vehicles being electric by 2032. Reset talks to Dany Robles from the Illinois Environmental Council, Brian Urbaszewski from the Respiratory Health Association, and Larissa Koehler from the Environmental Defense Fund about what impact the rules could have on the climate and public health.

A large gathering in the Loop over the weekend turned violent, leaving two teenagers shot and more than a dozen people arrested. Reset checks in with Kara Crutcher from Good Kids Mad City to hear how city officials are responding, and what solutions are on the table to prevent further violence among young people.

Some are hailing the diabetes medication Ozempic as a miracle drug, while others claim its weight loss side effects perpetuate disordered eating. And as the drug continues to make headlines, it’s becoming harder to access for people who need it to manage their diabetes. Reset talked to Dr. Disha Narang, an endocrinologist at Northwestern Medicine, and Dr. Kim Dennis, a psychiatrist at SunCloud Health, to discuss the mental, physical and ethical implications of Ozempic.

Responders have not identified actual threats as a result of these fake active shooter reports. But Illinois State Police say these so-called “swatting” incidents are targeting schools throughout the U.S. Reset digs into why these threats are happening and how schools are responding with Sophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times reporter.

The Chicago musician Angel Bat Dawid draws parallels between Mozart and the ’60s documentary “The Cry of Jazz” in her latest album, Requiem for Jazz. Angel joins Reset to talk about the new album, her hopes for future Black musicians, and her early days learning the clarinet.

Chicago gets the DNC, staff at local universities continue to strike, and workers at the Museum of Science and Industry vote to unionize. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Alice Yin, politics reporter for the Chicago Tribune, David Greising, president and CEO of Better Government Association, and Dave McKinney, WBEZ state politics reporter.

The city is a food writer’s delicious playground, and a new guide book aims to point you to all the best dishes created in the city. Reset learns about the origin stories that started them all with Monica Eng, author of Made in Chicago and Chicago reporter for AXIOS and David Hammond, author of Made in Chicago and Chicago food writer

Chicago residents weighed in on what they want in the city’s next police chief at a town hall meeting Tuesday night. The next meeting is set for April 19 at St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham on the South Side. Reset hears from leaders of Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, Anthony Driver and Remel Terry, about the progress in their search.

Vocalo’s Stephen Bekoe stops by Reset to share the top five tracks he’s spinning this month.

Fast fashion stresses water supply, leaches chemicals into the environment and requires diesel and gasoline to transport the goods. Reset learns about the problem with Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. Sasha-Ann Simons also sits down with fiber artist and teacher Kristine Brandel, and Katherine Bissell Cordova, executive director of Chicago Fair Trade, about how to reuse clothes in creative ways to keep them from heading to the landfill.

U.S. district court judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled a ban on the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of medical abortion pill mifepristone. Since then, the Biden administration has urged the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to keep the drug available to Americans as litigation continues. Reset breaks down what’s happening nationwide and locally with Lee Hasselbacher, director of the University of Chicago’s Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Illinois Democratic Representative Kelly Cassidy of Chicago, and Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Reset digs into the five ways Mayor Elect Brandon Johnson plans to improve public safety in Chicago with WBEZ criminal justice reporters Chip Mitchell and Patrick Smith.

Thanks to its unique geology, companies are eyeing Illinois to be the terminus of carbon dioxide pipelines that send liquid CO2 long distances to be stored deep underground so the gas does not need to be released into the atmosphere. Reset talks to Chicago Tribune reporter Nara Schoenberg about how the technology works and what people from downstate Illinois have to say about the greenhouse gas being stored in Illinois sandstone.

Do you have to be wealthy and knowledgeable about everything there is to know about art to be a collector? Not according to Chicago artist Patric McCoy. In our Chicago Innovator series, we get to know the people shaking up the city. In this installment, Reset talked to McCoy about his journey to embracing the term “art collector,” and about his new exhibit, which chronicles Black gay culture in the 80s.

Independent artists have it harder than ever and big streaming platforms pay less than a penny per listen. So how can you give back to the person behind that song you have on repeat? Reset learns more about finding new artists and supporting them outside of the streaming platforms. We spoke to Sen Morimoto, musician and co-owner of Sooper Records, Shane Bradley, AKA DJ Moonlanding, Marketing Director at Audiotree Music, and Stephen Bekoe, a host at our sister station Vocalo.

An investigation from the Chicago Tribune shows how a cascade of failures within the Cook County criminal justice system leads most murder cases to take four years to go to trial, with some lasting up to or more than a decade. Reset talks with journalists Megan Crepau and Joe Mahr, who reported “Stalled Justice,” and with Shapearl Wells, a Chicago woman who’s still seeking justice in her son’s death.

There are a lot of long-standing disparities in healthcare, from unequal allocation of resources to a lack of diverse representation of providers. Reset spoke to Neelam Dhadankar, a healthcare policy analyst at Access Living, and Myles Brady Davis, the communications director at Equality Illinois, about how mandated cultural competency courses for medical professionals could solve some of these inequities.

Because science says so! In honor of National Hug Your Dog Day, Reset sits down with Mark Lukas, a volunteer at PAWS, and his own pup, to find out more about the bond between dog and man.

Public university professors across Illinois are fed up, with faculty from Chicago State University and Eastern Illinois University already on strike, and staff at Governor’s State University set to strike on Tuesday. Reset learns more about what’s driving faculty at public universities in Illinois and across the country to hit the picket line. Reset checks in with WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip and Valerie Goss, CSU faculty union president.

Chicago’s new City Council will be more progressive, more diverse and younger than it’s been in years past when new members are sworn in May 15. Reset sits down with 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee and 46th Ward Ald. Angela Clay to discuss the importance of representation at City Hall, their top priorities when they take office and their plans for working with mayor-elect Brandon Johnson.

Reset talks to Simone and Jory Luster of Luster Products, one of the biggest Black-owned hair care manufacturers in the world. We also talk to Leslie Roberson, CEO and founder of the Black Beauty Collective, a new black-owned beauty supplier in Hyde Park.

The Lutheran School of Theology has been a modernist mainstay in Hyde Park since 1967. Now the school along with its neighbor, McCormick Theological Seminary, has been purchased by the University of Chicago. Reset talks to architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin to learn about the history of the buildings and how they’ll be incorporated into the UChicago campus.

Chicago gets a new mayor. The trial of ComEd lobbyists continues. Two firefighters die in the line of duty within two days. Protesters postpone the opening of an Englewood grocery store. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Kesling, Block Club Chicago investigative editor and reporter Mick Dumke and WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury.

David Barksdale and Mayor Richard J. Daley are names you might not put together. But scholar Lance Williams does just that in his new book, King David and Boss Daley: The Black Disciples, Mayor Daley and Chicago on the Edge. Williams argues that amid urban renewal in the city two men ruled their respective Black and Irish neighborhoods with an iron fist. Reset talks to Lance Williams to learn the story.

Two Chicago firefighters died in the line of duty this week battling housefires. Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt called the back-to-back losses “unprecedented.” The tragedy has some Chicagoans wondering how the city could prevent residential fires before they happen. Reset talked to David Greising from the Better Government Associations about solutions to this overlooked public safety issue.

When the owners of a local vintage and antique store opened shop in 2009, they weren’t expecting people to also come to them with questions about estate liquidation. That’s when their store morphed into the Estate Sale Goddess. Reset chats with Lynn and Ty McDaniel to learn more about what it takes to run their business and what people need to know about navigating estate sales.

After seven years as a correspondent for The Daily Show, Roy Wood Jr. will now get behind the desk as a guest host this week. Wood will also be venturing into new territory as the emcee of the White House Correspondents Dinner at the end of April. Reset speaks with the entertainer about these two big gigs, and how fatherhood has changed his outlook on his life career.

Reset speaks to mayor elect Brandon Johnson about his victory and his initial plans as the new mayor of Chicago.

The results are in and Chicago voters have chosen Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson as the next mayor of the city. Reset dives into the results with a panel of experts including Jaime Dominguez, professor Northwestern University; Connie Mixon, professor of political science and director of the urban studies program at Elmhurst University; and political strategist Delmarie Cobb.

The University of Chicago founded the Oriental Institute in 1919 to be on the cutting edge of research into ancient West Asia and North Africa. More than 100 years later, the institution was in need of an update. Reset learns all about the changes with Marc Maillot, associate director and chief curator at newly-rebranded Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum at the University of Chicago.

How did one state Supreme Court race become possibly the most consequential election of 2023? Reset learns what the state race could mean for abortion access in Wisconsin, and how this will impact services provided in Illinois. Reset checks in with Molly Beck from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Brigid Leahy, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Illinois Action.

Today marks 55 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was killed during Holy Week (the time between Palm Sunday and Easter). Reset talks to Vann Newkirk, host of The Atlantic’s new podcast “Holy Week,” which explores the week following King’s assassination, and how it set the stage for today’s fight over voting rights, redlining and critical race theory.

In 1997, thirteen-year-old Lenard Clark was brutally beaten by three white teenagers in Bridgeport for being Black in a white neighborhood. A new podcast by Yohance Lacour, who covered the incident and its aftermath as a young journalist, revisits the story decades later in “You Didn’t See Nothin.” Reset spoke with Lacour to learn more about the new series.

After a spike of shootings in 2016, Chicago stepped up its violence prevention efforts. Reset sat down with some of the leaders of this endeavor to learn what’s changed in the eight years since the movement began. We talked to Dominique McCord from Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, Teny Gross from the Institute for Nonviolence, Chris Patterson from Illinois’ Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, and Kanoya Ali from Chicago CRED.

A new three-part documentary tells the story of the last season the White Sox played at the original Comiskey Park before it was demolished in the early ’90s. Reset learned a piece of Chicago baseball history from Matt Flesch, the producer and director of the docuseries “Last Comiskey.”

Do you know what a police officer does on a day-to-day basis? It’s not something Chicago’s Police Department grants public access to, and it’s what Chicago’s new Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability leader Anthony Driver says has led to a lack of empathy and understanding between the community and police. Reset spoke with WBEZ reporter Patrick Smith to learn more.

Several recent polls show a tight race between Chicago mayoral runoff candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas. City Council members are pushing to have more independence from the next mayor. Plus, the Fed’s star witness takes the stand in the ComEd bribery trial. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Kim Bellware, national and breaking news reporter for The Washington Post, John Fountain, journalism professor at Roosevelt University and Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW.

This year the jazz fusion ensemble Snarky Puppy won their fifth Grammy. Michael League, founder and bandleader, joins Reset to chat about the band's beginnings, his label GroundUP Music and how sounds from around the world influence his work. You can catch Snarky Puppy this evening at the Riviera Theatre this evening.

On March 30, Reset’s Sasha-Ann Simons sat down with mayoral hopefuls Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson for their last forum before the April 4 runoff.

In his latest book, An Immense World, science writer Ed Yong takes a break from his tireless pandemic reporting for The Atlantic to invite readers inside the wondrous and innumerable different ways animals perceive the world around them — from bees and songbirds to scallops and crocodiles. Reset talked to the award-winning writer to learn more about the book and some of his favorite quirky wildlife.

Spring this year in Chicago means flowers blooming, pollen galore and (because of that pollen) what’s shaping up to be one of the worst allergy seasons in recent history. Reset spoke to allergist Dr. Baiju Malde from Northwestern about how to muscle through an epic sneezing season. We also learned how climate change plays a hand.

There are nearly 100 crisis pregnancy centers in Illinois, but many of them do not provide abortion care, medication or contraceptives. A proposed bill would allow people to sue the centers for deception, misrepresentation of facts and interfering access to abortions. Reset discussed the proposed legislation with WBEZ reporter Mawa Iqbal and Megan Jeyifo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund.

The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board says that “us vs. them” thinking in economic development needs to become a thing of the past and that lifting up neglected neighborhoods in the city can benefit Chicago as a whole. Reset talks with editorial board member and architecture critic Lee Bey.

Members of Congress questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the safety and security of the app and expressed their concern that China would access information about Americans through the app. Reset digs into the latest on the hearings and the fate of the video-sharing app with Washington Post tech writer Shira Ovide.

After at least 38 migrants died in a fire in an immigration detention facility near the U.S.-Mexico border, Reset shares the latest on migrants and asylum seekers making their way to the U.S. with Gladis Molina Alt, executive director of Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and Nicole Hallett, director of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School.

The Chicago-based group Queers on the Rocks is building a community of LGBTQ climbers and promoting representation of queer athletes. Reset talked to group organizers Danya Rosen and Daniel Bedoya.

Yesterday a 28-year-old shooter killed three 9-year-old children and three staff members — all in their 60s — at an elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee. In a twist of fate, Ashbey Beasley, a survivor of the Highland Park shooting, was in the area during the attack. Reset checks in with Beasley about Monday’s tragic events and her push for gun reform in Washington.

The Covenant School in Nashville is the latest school to be targeted by a mass shooter. What do schools in Illinois do to prepare for a school shooting? And what runs through the minds of educators when they hear about Sandy Hook, Uvalde and now Nashville? Reset spoke to two local education advocates for their perspective: Katherine Buitron-Vera, former school safety consultant and volunteer with March Fourth, and Nate Pietrini, executive director at High Jump and former principal at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy.

hat were the mayoral hopefuls like as kids? Teens? Young adults? Brandon Johnson is the son of a pastor and one of 10 kids in a family who lived in Elgin. Paul Vallas, the second of four kids, started life in Roseland and as a teen moved to suburban Alsip. Reset heard from WBEZ reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg to learn more about the candidates’ backstories.

Barbara Gaines has directed more than 60 productions since founding the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 1986. We talked to the artistic director ahead of her final production of "The Comedy of Errors," which runs through April 23.

All Advocate Health Care locations in the Chicago area are dropping mask requirements and easing visitor limits starting Monday. The policy changes at the health care system will affect patients and care teams at locations in Chicago, the suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Reset hears the details of Advocate’s plans from Chicago Sun-Times reporter David Struett and checked in with University of Chicago infectious disease specialist Dr. Emily Landon.

Back in 2019, a wave of younger, more progressive aldermen joined Chicago’s City Council, some of them self-identified Democratic socialists. This year, they won a second term. Reset is joined by two progressive aldermen — one soon to start his third term in office, the other his second — to hear about their plans for the coming years and how they see themselves working with a Vallas or a Johnson administration. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th Ward joined the council in 2015. Alderman Andre Vasquez, 40th Ward, joined in 2019.

Across the country, drag performances are under attack: Republican lawmakers in states like Arizona, Oklahoma, Idaho and Kansas are moving to regulate when and where drag can take place, and Tennessee has already restricted performances in public. We checked in with ACLU Illinois’s Ed Yohnka after an Illinois bakery announced it’s closing this month after threats last summer for planning a drag event. We also heard from Alex Grelle, Chicago drag theater queen and performer, to hear his thoughts on the state of drag.

More dramatic testimony in the ComEd trial. Abortion opponents descend on the State Capitol. Meanwhile, endorsements continue to roll in for Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor, WTTW-TV, A.D. Quig, Cook County and Chicago government reporter for the Chicago Tribune and Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.

In Chicago, you have to take advantage of every warm day you can. Luckily, WBEZ’s got you covered with a guide to the hottest events of the season. We checked in with editor Cassie Walker Burke to get the scoop.

The Chicago Police Department has prioritized seizing illegal guns. A new investigation suggests that tactic is not leading to meaningful improvements to public safety and that it’s upending the lives of Black men in the city, who have guns seized at five times the rate of any other racial group. Reset learns more about the arguments for and against this tactic and what happens when police prioritize seizing guns with Lakeidra Chavis and Geoff Hing from The Marshall Project.

A new report shows no state in the country has enough affordable housing for the families most in need. Reset discusses what’s driving the shortage in Illinois, how a lack of affordable housing can put a family’s health at risk and how organizations and lawmakers are working to close the gap with Bob Palmer, policy director of Housing Action Illinois, Amanda Henley, community expert of the Housing Committee at the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Nancy Heil, chair of the Housing Committee at the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Guacolda Reyes, chief real estate development officer of the Resurrection Project and Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago).

“Three Black women. Three generations. No filters.” That’s the tagline for WBEZ’s latest podcast. Reset sits down with “When Magic Happens’ hosts Cheryle Jackson, Jennifer “Shea Love” Long and Taylor Coward.

How do you help actors feel safe during intimate scenes in film with nudity or simulated sex? Hire an intimacy coordinator. Much like a stunt coordinator in action movies, intimacy coordinators are essential in scenes involving full or partial nudity. As a part of our Chicago Innovators series, Reset is joined by Chicago-based intimacy coordinator Jessica Steinrock to learn about her work.

Lead paint was banned in Chicago in 1978, but many city homes still contain potentially toxic levels of the substance. Reset learns the details of an investigation into this citywide problem from WTTW’s Paris Schutz.

A new report details the financial and emotional toll medical debt is having on Illinois families. Meanwhile, a proposed state law could be a win-win for both debt-burdened patients and the hospitals that treat them. Reset digs into the problem and possible solution with two authors of the report: Luvia Quiñones from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and Carrie Chapman from Legal Council For Health Justice.

Match Day is when medical students find out where they’ll be doing their residencies. It can be a festive, or stressful, affair, with schools hosting ceremonies for students and families. Reset checked in with two medical students at RUSH Medical College — Jordan Cisneros and Sharice Hall — to hear about the process of getting their match and to hear about the challenges Black and Latino med students face on their journeys to becoming MDs.

A collection of South Asian art, donated by the late arts patron Marilynn Alsdorf is causing problems for the Art Institute of Chicago and raising questions about origin and ownership. ProPublica and Crain’s Chicago Business recently published an investigation which uncovered evidence that at least several pieces in the large collection were stolen and exported illegally. Reset sits down with Elyssa Cherney from Crain’s and Steve Mills from ProPublica to learn more. We also hear from Erin Thompson from the City University of New York. She’s the only art crime professor in America.

In Chicago, the unofficial marker of spring is when the music festival lineups for Lollapalooza and Pitchfork are released. Reset reviewed the 2023 headliners and musical guests for the fests with Ayana Contreras, content director for Vocalo and Leor Galil, writer for the Chicago Reader.

Hundreds of thousands of lead pipes need to be replaced. Homes are flooding due to climate change. Water bills are too high for some residents to afford. And parts of Chicago’s shoreline are falling into the lake. Those are a few of the water issues Chicago’s next mayor will need to address, according to a new op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times. Reset speaks with Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, for more.

Teonna Rainwater’s story of abuse is just one of the brutal pieces of historical fiction in the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923.” The hit series has a stellar cast that includes Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren and Hammond, Indiana’s own Aminah Nieves. Reset learns more about Nieves and what it’s like to play her character Teonna Rainwater.

It’s been two decades since the U.S. invaded Iraq over alleged weapons of mass destruction. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed, and no “WMDs” were found. Today many analysts say the war and 2011 American withdrawal destabilized the country and paved the way for the Islamic State’s rise to power in 2014. Reset hears from Iraqi refugee Ekram Hannah (with MIRA: Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance) and Thomas Day, a former military journalist and veteran, about how they are reflecting on 20 years since the start of the war.

Tens of thousands of children in the Illinois foster care system face a constant cycle of being moved from one place to another. Reset speaks to CBS-2 Chicago investigative journalist Dave Savini about his team’s investigation into this ongoing issue.

Religious imagery, small town ideals, and complicated relationships shape the work of Andy Shauf, a Canadian singer-songwriter. We discuss his interest in God as a concept and the new album Norm. Andy Shauf joins Reset ahead of his show in Chicago.

The trial of the so-called “ComEd Four” is now underway, and the search for Chicago’s next police superintendent is on. Meanwhile, mayoral endorsements keep rolling in. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with The Washington Post’s Kim Bellware, Chicago Tribune’s Ray Long and former CBS-2 politics reporter Derrick Blakley.

The Shedd Aquarium and The Morton Arboretum have been named the first Centers for Species Survival focused on trees and freshwater species. They’re now part of a network of nine other centers around the world. Reset learns more about how this designation will expand their conservation efforts globally. We check in with Chuck Knapp, vice president of conservation research at Shedd Aquarium and co-chair of the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group; Silvia Alvarez Clare, director of global tree conservation at the Morton Arboretum; and Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility.

Groups opposed to the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger say they don’t want the additional noise, potential disruptions and increased risk of crashes and exposure to hazardous materials the merger could bring. Reset learns more about the deal from WTTW investigative reporter and producer Jared Rutecki.

Four people with connections to ComEd and former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madgian go on trial over an alleged bribery scheme to push the utility company’s legislative agenda in Springfield. WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos and Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel join Reset to explain the players, the stakes and what it all means for Illinois politics.

Chicago’s next mayor will have to choose the new Chicago Police Department superintendent. Reset hears analysis from police accountability experts and a former CPD sergeant about what they’d like to see in the next hire and what challenges lie ahead.

A new CDC study reveals an increase in the rate of unexpected deaths among infants during the first year of the pandemic, particularly among Black infants. Reset speaks with health experts about risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUIDS), and how to be proactive about infant safety.

Illinois is now the third state in the U.S. to mandate paid leave to be used for any reason. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman for the latest details of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which Governor JB Pritzker signed into law Monday.

Paul Vallas has positioned himself as the “tough on crime” candidate. Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson is calling for a comprehensive approach to public safety. Northwestern University professor Andrew Papachristos joins Reset to discuss what’s shaping the candidates’ views and what research shows about efforts that really work on the ground.

The lawsuit against JUUL Labs is one of several steps the city of Chicago has taken in recent years to stop smoking rates from climbing. Reset checks in with Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwardy about how vaping affects teens’ lungs and overall health and how the city plans to use the settlement money to fight underage smoking.

New data out Tuesday show inflation remains a thorn in the side of the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, bank failures have Americans on edge. Reset checks in with NPR chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley for the latest on inflation, recent bank failures and what it all means for the economy.