Author: WBEZ Chicago

By the time Wednesday morning came around, people across the city already knew who their aldermen-elect were. Some wards are seeing familiar faces while a handful are welcoming fresh faces. Reset sits down with Alderwoman-elect Julia Ramirez of the 12th Ward and Alderperson-elect Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward to talk about their plans.

Chicago voters were focused on crime and public safety when deciding on who should be the next mayor of Chicago. Reset hears from WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith, Elmhurst University professor Connie Mixon and Democratic political strategist Delmarie Cobb about the role this issue played in the election.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for a second term in office. Meanwhile, former CPS CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, the top two vote getters, will head to a runoff on Apr. 4. Reset checks in with Johnson the morning after he learned he’s still in the running to be the next mayor of Chicago.

Reset analyzes the results of Chicago’s municipal election — from a historic mayor’s race to aldermanic races to police district councils. Panelists include WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury and Northwestern University political science professor Jaime Dominguez.

Chicagoans use the CTA to get around the city and use the color lines depending on where they need to go. But color coding isn’t always how the trains were organized. Reset talks to reporter Kayleigh Padar and transit historian Graham Garfield about when the color system was adopted and how some long-time Chicagoans are still nostalgic for the old days.

The Century and Consumers Buildings on State Street have a commanding presence in Chicago’s Loop. But after 17 years of being held in limbo, the federal government plans on spending $52 million to demolish them. Reset learns more about the pair of early 20th-century skyscraper structures and the fight to save them with Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Biden v. Nebraska today, the case that will decide the fate of the president’s student loan forgiveness program. Reset hears analysis from Steven Schwinn, professor at the University of Illinois Chicago Law School, NPR higher education reporter Elissa Nadworny and directly from people who would benefit from having their debt forgiven.

It’s Election Day in Chicago. Are you prepared? Reset discusses what to expect at the polls and gets a quick voter guide on key races in this year’s municipal election from Tessa Weinberg, WBEZ city politics and government reporter and Amy Qin, WBEZ data reporter.