Author: WBEZ Chicago

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons - WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: Nov. 20, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the withdrawal of Texas National Guard troops from Chicago represents “unconditional surrender” by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, alders hand the mayor a massive defeat by rejecting his budget plan. Plus, Illinois debuts digital driver’s licenses. In the Loop dives into those and other top local stories with WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel, Fox 32 political correspondent Paris Schutz and Chicago Sun-Times opinion pages editor and columnist Rummana Hussain. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
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Curious City - Does your iguana need x-rays? A local exotic animal hospital can help

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: A hedgehog, a river otter and an iguana walk into a local exotic animal hospital … Whether intentional or otherwise, exotic pets like sharks, macaws and pythons have made Illinois their home. But finding medical care for these animals isn’t as simple as visiting the neighborhood vet. Last episode, we explored some of the out-of-place animals that’ve been found in Chicago, including a peacock, an alligator and a 20-pound vervet monkey. Today, we’re asking, what happens when they get sick? Take a trip with us to the Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie to meet Gomez Addams the tegu lizard and a few of his friends. Plus, hear some wild stories from the people who care for them.