Author: WBEZ Chicago

New EPA data show that air pollution from Chicago and the rest of Cook County makes its way to neighboring states, and Wisconsin suffers the worst. Reset checks in with Chicago Tribune environmental reporter Michael Hawthorne for more on how Chicago and its suburbs are polluting places like Wisconsin, Michigan and even Connecticut.

A $200 ticket for truancy. A $175 fine for having a vape pen. A $450 ticket for disorderly conduct. In schools across Illinois, students are being ticketed and fined for minor offenses that previously may have warranted a trip to the principal’s office or detention. Reset talks to reporters Jennifer Smith Richards and Jodi Cohen who have shone a light on the ticketing. Their work has prompted a bill in Springfield that aims to make the practice illegal.

Pandemic-era federal funds were a lifeline for Chicago theaters. Now, those federal funds are drying up. And theater seats aren’t filling up at the same rate as before the pandemic. Do theaters need to rethink their business model to stay alive? Reset checks in with Jeannie Lukow, executive director of Porchlight Music Theater, Kara Riopelle, managing director with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Tribune critic Chris Jones and Claire Rice, executive director, Arts Alliance Illinois.

In recent decades, more women have pursued higher education and have joined the workforce, helping narrow the wage gap between men and women during the '80s and '90s. But that progress has stalled over the past two decades, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis. Reset talks to Felicia Davis Blakley, president and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women and Sharmili Majmudar, executive vice president of policy and organizational impact at Women Employed about closing the gap in the Chicago area.

The Chicago mayoral runoff pits a serial schools CEO against a former high school social studies teacher backed by the teachers union. Reset talks to Chicago education reporters Sarah Karp and Mauricio Peña about the candidates’ deep ties to education and different approaches to schooling.

For the past five years, U.S. attorney John Lausch has led major corruption cases against Ald. Ed Burke and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. His last day as U.S attorney for the Northern Illinois District is March 11. Reset discusses his time in office and his impact on Chicago and Illinois politics with Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is dealt a disappointing loss. Meanwhile, aldermanic seats are filling up after a wave of retirements from City Council. Plus, both the city’s top cop and top federal prosecutor announce their resignations. Reset breaks down the week’s biggest stories with WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone, WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel and recently retired Chicago Sun-Times columnist Maudlyne Ihejirika.

The 23-year-old Chicagoan has appeared on Showtime’s hit show “The Chi,” and hosts his own youth-led talk show. Reset talks to the multi-talented actor about his love for performing, networking and giving a platform to young people for our series on black joy.

Chicago’s new police District Councils are designed to bring more community input to police oversight and accountability. The three-member councils can recommend policies but not enact them — so what power do they really have? Reset talks to three newly elected representatives: Anthony Michael Tamez, 17th Police District Council member; Brad Kessler, 18th Police District Council member; and Daniel Martin, 16th Police District Council member.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown resigned his post Wednesday, less than a day after incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for reelection. The news also comes on the same day the city learned that a Chicago police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty. Reset turns to WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith for the latest details.