Author: WBEZ Chicago

Ramadan is a time for fasting, good deeds and charity for Muslims around the world and here in Chicago. But the holiday’s usual celebrations are more somber due to the war in Gaza. Reset sat down with a group of local Palestinian Americans to discuss how the holy month feels this year. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Delays to election results leave some holding their breath. Chicago sues Glock over its ability to turn its weapons semi-automatic. And the Bring Chicago Home referendum flounders during the primary election this week that saw a record-low voter turnout. Reset delves into these and other top local stories with WGN’s Tahman Bradley, the Chicago Tribune’s Ray Long, and WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Local heir to the Walmart fortune, Lukas Walton, founded Builders Vision to address environmental challenges. And recently, the group won a Parkinson Award from Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility for its work. Reset sits down with Matt Knott, president and chief operating officer of Builders Vision, and Karen Weigert, Reset sustainability contributor, to learn more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

It’s hard to find a more iconic Chicago movie than “The Blues Brothers”, and the chance to learn something new about the 1980 film? Yes please! Reset sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Daniel de Visé about the new stories he uncovered while researching the making of this cult favorite. Daniel’s book, “The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic” is available now wherever you buy books. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is recognizing the decades-long career of Rick Bayless and the impact he has had on the city’s restaurant scene and on making Chicago a food destination. The prolific chef owns several restaurants and brands, and he also supports small farmers and the arts in Chicagoland. Reset sits down with Bayless to reflect on his career and accomplishments. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump each won their primaries in Illinois on Tuesday. But a growing call for a protest vote among Dems and a never-Trump wing among Republicans could mean that both candidates have to shore up their support before the general election in November. Meanwhile, other items on the ballot remain too close to call, including the Bring Chicago Home ballot referendum. Reset digs into who won, who didn’t and which races are still too close to call with WBEZ state politics reporter Dave McKinney. For more on the latest results, go to WBEZ.org. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to Wbez.org/reset.

Long before there was Bush v. Gore and the “dimpled chad” fiasco in Florida, there were Penny Pullen and Rosemary Mulligan, two suburban Chicago Republicans vying for the same state house seat in a race so close, it was decided at points by a handful of votes, a coin toss and eventually the Illinois Supreme Court. Reset talk with author Patrick Wohl about his new book “Down Ballot: How A Local Campaign Became A National Referendum On Abortion” for more on the significance of that race and why every vote counts. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Microbes are everywhere, including in our stomachs, and they have a big influence on our overall health in a variety of ways. Reset explores the mind-gut connection with UChicago Medicine’s Alyse Bedell. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset

The latest in our series What’s That Building? takes us to the former Cabrini-Green neighborhood to visit a boarded up church that community members and preservationists are working hard to save. Reset checks in with our architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin for the story. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.