Chicagoans may have to dig a little deeper into their pockets to pay their electric bills next year as a result of advancing technology like data centers, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Reset checks in with watchdog reporter and assistant editor Brett Chase from Chicago Sun-Times to find out what the connection is between our electric bills and energy-hungry tech operations.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Some Illinois residents checking the mail have been in for a big surprise: A letter confirming that their medical debt has been erased. Reset learns more about the program and looks at other recent efforts to erase medical debt in our area with Elizabeth Whitehorn, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
A year and a half ago, Oak Park’s architecturally significant Village Hall was headed for demolition. But the building, a modernist structure designed in the mid-1970s by architect Harry Weese, survived that threat. And late last week the village board selected a River North architecture firm to work out a plan for revitalizing the building for long-term use.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Chicago footwork is essential to the city’s history of electronic dance music and culture. It was pioneered in the 1990s by dancers, DJs and producers like DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, DJ Clent, RP Boo and more on Chicago’s South and West sides. And it’s characterized by fast choppy vocal samples, interesting basslines and hi-hats and snares. Reset sits down with Litebulb, Steelo and P-Top of The Era Footwork Crew to learn more about the evolution of Chicago footwork and its continuing legacy.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
There’s a plot twist in the years-long Jussie Smollett case and we got a look at the “magic list” of former Illinois House speaker Mike Madigan. Reset breaks down those stories and more with CW-26 reporter and anchor Brandon Pope, WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone, WBEZ criminal justice editor Patrick Smith and Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, same-sex couples are preparing for potential setbacks in LGBTQ rights and legal protections. Reset learns more from parent Tia Lantzy and attorney Nidhi Desai.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
While the Thanksgiving meal can be delicious, making it — and getting it on the table — can be stressful, especially for the pies. Reset gets tips for crusts, fillings, time management and more with Martin Sorge, winner of Season 6 of the Great American Baking Show. And we’ve got a special guest for this episode: Reset senior producer Meha Ahmad!
November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous people in our country. If you look around Chicago, you see echoes of Native American history in names like Washtenaw, Skokie and Wabash. But Indigenous history is often presented from a settler or non-Native perspective.
Today, we get into a project out of the Newberry Library called “Indigenous Chicago.” Through art, education and collaboration, its goal is to change the dominant narratives about Chicago’s history with the overarching message: Chicago is, and always has been, a Native place. It all began a few years ago with conversations within the Native community.
“One of the things we heard over and over again was this issue of invisibility,” said Rose Miron, director of the D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies. “Native community members found that there were far too many people who didn’t understand the long history of Chicago as an Indigenous place, but also didn’t realize that there was a large contemporary community here today.”
“Indigenous Chicago” is a collaboration between representatives of tribal nations and includes multimedia art, oral histories, public programs, educational curriculum and an exhibition. Curious City’s Erin Allen spoke with curators Miron and Analú María López, the Ayer Librarian and assistant curator of American Indian and Indigenous Studies.
President-elect Trump has chosen North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Department of the Interior, former NY Congressman Lee Zeldin to head the EPA and Chris Wright, the owner of fracking company Liberty Energy to lead the Department of Energy.
Reset discusses what impact this could have nationally, and what is, and will continue to happen at the state level to safeguard the environment. With director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility Karen Weigert.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Chicago comedians Josh Linden and Paula Skaggs have published a new book that aims to make life more bearable — even if only by a tiny bit.
Tiny Pep Talks: Bite Size Encouragement for Life’s Annoying, Stressful, and Flat-Out Lousy Moments is out now.
Reset sits down with the two comedian-authors Josh LIden and Paula Skaggs to hear more.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
