Author: WBEZ Chicago

As Earth continues to get hotter, local scientists are asking what this will look like in Chicago. This past July, scientists led by Argonne National Laboratory turned to balloons to find out. They launched balloons into the sky from four different Chicago neighborhoods as part of a research project to look into how infrastructure traps heat in different parts of the city and creates “micro-climates.” Reset learns more about heat in Chicago with WBEZ environment reporter Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Steve Slagg is no stranger to Chicago’s queer and DIY music scene. You can often find him playing the keys in local indie-rock band Mooner. But now, Slagg is taking the lead as the front person in his latest album I Don't Want to Get Adjusted to This World. In it, Slagg explores themes of queerness, spirituality and nature. He stops by Reset for more about his musical journey. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois Republicans called on Democrats to “end dangerous rhetoric” after an apparent second Trump assassination attempt, while the Illinois Supreme Court heard challenges to the state’s assault weapons ban. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, ABC7 News anchor Ravi Baichwal, and WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Garrett mix, caramel and cheddar popcorn, has inspired many knockoffs, and has become known as the “Chicago Mix”. We’ll mark the anniversary of the legendary Chicago company. Reset talks with the owner Megan Chody about what keeps the iconic treat so tasty, and tries a new flavor ahead of its debut on September 23.

From sea-level rise to plastic pollution and environmental justice, young people around the world are making films that tackle environmental harms and offering calls to action. Out of 400 submissions, 10 films have won awards, and will be screened this weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center, including two films made by Chicagoans. Reset hears what to expect from the screening this weekend and chats with one of the filmmakers who is attending Loyola University.

The Biden administration announced a program called Keeping Families Together in June that would allow some undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to stay in the country while they go through the process of changing their immigration status. A judge in Texas issued an order to pause the program until Monday, Sept. 23. Reset checks in with Elvia Malagón, Chicago Sun-Times social justice, immigration and income inequality reporter to see how Chicago families are being impacted. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

White Sox fans, look away! The team is on pace to have the most losses in a single season in the history of the MLB. Where did things go wrong? Reset digs into the Sox season, what’s not working and what needs to happen to get this team to win a game.

Today marks one year since the Pretrial Fairness Act went into full effect, making Illinois the first state in the country to end cash bail. Many were opposed and believed ending cash bail would affect crime and jails for the worse. But what is the data actually saying? Reset spoke with a panel of guests to break down the effort that ensued in 2016 and what it took to get there, along with what were the blockages, and why. Then, we hear from the research on what we’ve seen in the past year.

The zoning committee oversees small scale renovations on people’s homes and also larger development projects. For months the chairmanship has been vacant, after political turmoil ensnared former chair Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa. Reset gets the latest on the political jockeying and drama that has surrounded the post, and how Ald. Burnett could steer the committee from WBEZ city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel.