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.
