Author: WBEZ Chicago

The late Laurence Msall, who previously led the Civic Federation, was a wizard of public finance, someone who knew the ins and outs of city and state budgeting and had a keen eye for cost-effective approaches to government. Joe Ferguson brings a different background and perspective as a former federal prosecutor and good government advocate who spent 12 years as a tenacious city watchdog for Chicago. Reset talks to Ferguson about his plans for the group.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But, let’s face it, gift giving can be stressful. So how should you pass along goodwill and cheer to service and tipped workers — and what’s the standard? Reset speaks with culture and etiquette coach Akilah Siti Easter about how to properly tip this season.

Chicago lawmakers have scrapped plans to build a migrant camp in Morgan Park a week after the state stopped a potential camp in Brighton Park. Meanwhile, conservative Democrats on the council are asking for the resignation of seven officials from the Johnson Administration for greenlighting construction on toxic land in Brighton Park. Reset learns the latest about housing for migrants and other news from Chicago’s City Council from WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg.

Tis the season of giving. And the season of scams. There are a lot of different ways scammers are scheming to take your money and information. Reset sits down with Tom Johnson of the Better Business Bureau to learn about the top scams to look out for this holiday season. Get info on the latest happenings in Chicago and dig deeper into Reset conversations with our newsletter. Sign up at wbez.org/resetnews.

Mahbuba, a refugee from Afghanistan, didn’t have a way to communicate for the first six years of her life. Expressing herself as a deaf child was difficult. With no access to education in rural Afghanistan as a deaf girl, she didn’t experience language education until coming to Chicago. Reset talks with author and freelance journalist Elly Fishman who covered Mahbuba’s story. If you want to hear more stories like this, check out our full catalog of interviews at wbez.org/reset.

Robberies in Chicago have increased more in the last five months than in any other consecutive five-month period since 2001. From July 1 to November 26, 2023, nearly 5,000 people filed reports of robbery with the Chicago Police Department. Reset speaks with the journalists behind the investigation, WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury and Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Sophie Sherry, to learn more.

Competing on a cooking show can be ruthless and cutthroat, but Chef Javauneeka Jacobs handles it with ease. Reset learns about the chef’s journey through the kitchen and into success — and her winning dish, Chef J’s Cassoulet Mexicano, which is being served at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill through December.

Governor Pritzker halts construction on a migrant tent camp in Brighton Park, while criticism grows over new protocols for seating the public at City Council meetings. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with executive producer of City Cast Chicago Simone Alicea, Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers and WBEZ Politics & Government editor Angela Rozas O'Toole.