Author: WBEZ Chicago

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Illinois Is Losing Newspapers, Journalists And The Truth

More than two newspapers shut their doors every week in the U.S., according to a new study from Medill. Closer to home, Illinois ranks No. 6 in the country for the most number of newspaper closures in one year. At least five counties in the state are considered “news deserts” and 40 Illinois counties only have one local news source. Reset learns more about what the current state of journalism means for Illinois residents from the director of the Medill Local News Initiative, Tim Franklin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Look To The Stars With Chicago’s Soulful Duo The O’My’s

Their sound is effortless, magical and all their own. Chicago duo The O’My’s blends beautiful melodies and raspy, colorful vocals with elements of hip-hop, jazz, soul, blues and house. Their latest album, Trust The Stars, was several years in the making, channeling the group’s natural evolution with passion and grit. Reset checks in with the men behind the music Nick Hennessey and Maceo Vidal-Haymes. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: Dec. 6, 2024

Divide between Chicago’s mayor and its city council remains over how to close a nearly $1 billion budget gap. Meanwhile, drama in the Johnson administration continues as alders call for reforms to the city's “Do Not Hire” list. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and more with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering government and politics Mitch Armentrout, and Block Club Chicago reporter covering the Loop, West Loop, River North and the Gold Coast Melody Mercado in our Weekly News Recap. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Behind The Power Struggle Between Mayor Johnson, Pedro Martinez, And The Chicago Board Of Ed

The Chicago Board of Education offered the Chicago Public Schools CEO a buyout this week – though the move doesn’t seem to have worked. It’s the latest in the months-long power struggle between Pedro Martinez and the mayor’s office. Reset gets up to speed with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp, and we look ahead to what could come next. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - This Black-Owned Soul Food Spot Moved In To What Was Once A Whites-Only Club

Back when the South Shore Cultural Center was a country club in the early 1900’s, it excluded Black and Jewish patrons. Since the Chicago Park District took over, the space has become a destination for weddings, private events, and classes. And now, it boasts a Black-owned restaurant that is open to the general public. Reset learns more about the vision and what the restaurant offers from Nafsi restaurant owner Donnell Digby. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Would You Switch Your Home From Gas To Electric?

Not looking forward to the higher gas bills this winter? One option to explore: switching to electric. Research has shown switching to electric can lower bills in the long term, and even improve indoor air quality. But where to start? The process can feel confusing – and can be expensive. Reset learns about local efforts to help families make that transition. We talk to Anne Evens, Elevate’s CEO; Chicago homeowner Doris Martin; and Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Curious City - Beer, architecture and Lincoln Square: The lasting impact of German culture in Chicago

If you’ve ever shown up to a bar on a Sunday afternoon or listened to a concert at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, you’ve experienced firsthand the lasting impact of German culture in the city. Last episode, we went to Christkindlmarket, one of the most prominent examples of German culture in Chicago. There are key organizations like the Goethe Institute and DANK Haus. But there are also more subtle, everyday activities we participate in that would be different had German immigrants never settled in this area, centuries ago. Curious City host Erin Allen talks to two experts on German language and culture. They discuss how it has shaped Chicago’s history and present, from the products we consume to the rights and freedoms we enjoy.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - This Chicago One-Woman Show Makes A ‘Mixtape’ With The Audience

If you ask us, the Chicago theater scene doesn’t play enough Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. Enter: Chicagoans Ruth Guerra and Ricardo Gamboa. They are the co-creators of “Ruth on the Rocks,” a one-woman play starring Guerra that’s not your typical show. Each show, the audience picks a track from a list of songs that Ruth uses as inspiration in real time to tell a story from her life. Together, they create a “mixtape,” making the show a different experience every time. Reset sits down with the co-creators Ricard Gamboa and Ruth Guerra to understand the unique artistry behind the show.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Property Taxes In Chicago’s South Suburbs Soar

The median increase in property bills was 20%, but in the majority Black southern suburbs, bills went up by 30% or more. This left some residents paying more than homeowners in the northern suburbs, where homes are valued higher. Reset learns about the factors leading to the increase and what could be done to lower these bills from WBEZ metro reporter Adora Namigadde. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.