Author: WBEZ Chicago

In the past year, two tent encampments have been cleared by the city, but people are still living in tents and green spaces and under viaducts throughout the city. As President Trump begins a high profile campaign to clear encampments in D.C., we look at the ways being homeless and living outside is criminalized, the strain on residents when there are encampments in parks and what the city and social service organizations are doing to find homes for the unhoused. Reset speaks with Sendy Soto, Chicago Chief Homelessness Officer, David Wywialowski, director of Outreach and Health at the Night Ministry, Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition To End Homelessness and Mark Ishaug, CEO of Thresholds. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Have you ever wondered, “What is the oldest house in Chicago?” Well, you wouldn’t be the first. In this latest edition of our What’s That Building series, we explore the Noble–Seymour–Crippen House, named after three families who owned it before the Norwood Park Historical Society purchased the building. Reset learns more with Reset architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin, Rev. Kevin Anthony Ford of St. Paul Church of God in Christ and Noble-Seymour-Crippen house docent Art Krumrey. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois state lawmakers missed the deadline to close the $770 million budget gap for the CTA before the end of the fiscal year. If the budget gap is not filled, Chicago area-wide transit could face cuts, possibly eliminating 4 train lines and more than 65 buses. Reset hears more about the public transit fiscal cliff and how it will affect the CTA with Illinois Sen. Ram Villivalam of the 8th District, RTA director of government affairs Rob Nash and Better Streets Chicago executive director Kyle Lucas. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The FBI is said to be helping find Democratic Texas legislators who fled to Illinois. Indiana expands immigrant detention centers. The last of four convicted ComEd co-conspirators has been sentenced to prison. Chicago Public Schools cuts custodians in an effort to save money. Reset breaks down those stories and much more with Chicago Tribune political writer, Dan Petrella, Chicago Sun-Times reporter, Mary Norkol, and anchor of WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” and host of “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices,” Brandis Friedman. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Record stores aren’t dead. Across the Chicago area, they’re a mainstay for discovery and for community connection. So, let’s salute the role they play in expanding our musical horizons. We chatted with Jack and John Dreznes, father-son duo at Beverly Records in the Beverly neighborhood, Nigel Ridgeway, co-founder of Miyagi Records, Kelli Lynch, music director at WRRG at Triton College and Natalie Moore, Chicago Sun-Times columnist. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

There have been many plans for what should happen to the 62-acre site known as the 78 along the Chicago River at Roosevelt and Canal. The latest is a new stadium for the Chicago Fire soccer team. The project promises more affordable housing and economic growth, but some residents of neighboring Chinatown have concerns and are making them heard. Reset sits down with Sarah Tang, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community’s director for programs, Matthew Zhao, Teen Coalition for Chinatown intern, and Debbie Liu, president of Ping Tom Park Advisory Council. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Recent anti-immigration policies have left many home healthcare workers on edge. As a result, many individuals who require long-term care and rely on this labor to assist with daily living tasks related to health and hygiene have had to go without this much-needed service. Reset checks in with Michelle Garcia, a woman living with disability who has had to scramble to find care for her and her husband and Chicago Sun-Times healthcare reporter Elvia Malagon. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

August 6 marks 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima. Its effects are still being felt all across the world eight decades later. Reset discusses with DePaul University religious studies professor Yuki Miyamoto, Japanese Art Foundation board president John Donners and Rebecca Ozaki and Jeannie Tomoda Harrell, program directors at the Japanese American Citizens League Chicago.