Author: WBEZ Chicago

Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - Local Safety Net Hospitals Are Keeping Their Doors Open For Chicago’s Uninsured

Health coverage for millions of people is on the line as the federal government cannot get on the same page on a new health care plan or extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year. If subsidies expire, premiums for Marketplace coverage will become much more expensive. Millions are projected to lose their coverage and providers that serve primarily uninsured, Medicaid and other vulnerable patients will bear the brunt of this change. In the Loop hears from Loretto Hospital CEO Tesa Anewishki and Sinai Chicago CEO Dr. Ngozi Ezike about how they’re continuing to provide healthcare to Chicago’s most vulnerable. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Posted on

Curious City - How one organization is transforming Englewood’s vacant lots

The city of Chicago owns thousands of vacant lots, and more than 80 percent of those parcels are in communities where the population is at least 80 percent Black. That’s according to a report from the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. Residents and organizations are investing in these lots to improve the community. Last episode, we learned about how complicated it can be for individual homeowners to buy a vacant lot in their neighborhood. Today, we focus on an organization that is acquiring these types of spaces. Anton Seals, Jr. is the co-founder of Grow Greater Englewood, an organization that is doing innovative work on abandoned areas on the South Side. In the name of land sovereignty and building lasting community, he and his colleagues are transforming vacant lots into urban farms, a farmers market and a nature trail.
Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - Chicago Favorite Son Robert Townsend Is Back In Town

Acclaimed actor, filmmaker, and comedian Robert Townsend is hosting a pop-up film festival to support local charities. The West Side native joins In the Loop to talk about his storied career and efforts to give back to Chicago. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - How Trump Cuts Could Affect Chicago’s Unhoused

Starting in January, the amount of federal money states use to provide permanent supportive housing for disabled residents who have experienced homelessness is decreasing by two-thirds. This is part of the Trump administration’s shift away from the housing first model in favor of transitional housing with work and treatment requirements. In the Loop makes sense of how this major shift could affect Illinoisans with Thresholds CEO Mark Ishaug and Illinois Chief Homelessness Officer Christine Haley. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - What Could Trump Cuts Mean For AIDS In Chicago?

An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV around the world, including more than 41,000 in Illinois. Thanks to medical advancements, a disease that has killed tens of millions has become more manageable, but doctors and advocates worry that federal funding cuts under the Trump administration could derail that progress. In the Loop discusses with AIDS Foundation of Chicago president and CEO John Peller, Vivent Health president and CEO Brandon Hill and director of Center on Halsted’s HIV hotline Jasmine Mikell. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - Tarts, Sorbets, Mousse, Oh My!

If you want to wow your family and friends with a tasty twist on Thanksgiving classics, look no further. In the Loop gets tips for celebratory desserts and sweets from Martin Sorge, winner of the 6th season of “The Great American Baking Show.” For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - ‘Wicked’ Fans Can Get An Ozian Fix In Downtown Chicago

If the new “Wicked” movie makes you wish you could be whisked off to the Emerald City, you might want to visit Chicago’s Driehaus Museum. Their latest exhibit showcases rare items from the 1939 musical “Wizard of Oz,” replica costumes, and gives visitors an inside look at how L. Frank Baum’s beloved classic was adapted from book to screen. We talk with the museum’s executive director Lisa Key about what else visitors looking for an Ozian fix can expect. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Posted on

In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - Ask The Mayor, November 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget proposal took a hit this week when the Chicago City Council’s Finance committee voted down $600 million in taxes 25-10. One of the major sticking points? A corporate head tax that would charge large employers $21 per employee per month. The mayor and alderpersons now head back to the drawing board. In the Loop checks in with Johnson for our monthly “Ask the Mayor” series and takes listener questions on the budget ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline to pass a plan. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.