Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

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.