Author: WBEZ Chicago

Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon are the co-creators of the dance performance “Sweet Gwen Suite,” which will be performed at Hubbard Street Dance Company Nov. 15-24. The return of Fosse’s work to Chicago isn’t just noteworthy because Fosse is legendary and a Chicago native. Hubbard Street Dance Company is the only company in the world authorized to add Fosse’s works to its repertory. Reset sits down with Cassie Walker Burke, WBEZ senior editor for arts and culture, to talk about who Fosse was, and what makes his work and this particular dance special. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Chicago Bears are eyeing a move to the Bronzeville neighborhood, revisiting a potential new stadium site that the team had already seemingly crossed off its list. The team also announced firing its offensive coordinator this week and that it’s cutting loose offensive lineman Nate Davis. Reset checks in on the latest Bears news and more with WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout and Mitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Ella Jenkins, known as “First Lady of children’s music,” released 39 albums for kids. She had a deft touch with young audiences, often using call-and-response as a way to engage kids and get them involved in the music. Reset takes listeners through Jenkins’ musical legacy with songs and archival interviews from WBEZ and beyond.

In an effort to close the $986 million budget gap for 2025 without slashing social programs or instituting mass layoffs, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson broke a campaign promise and proposed the largest property tax hike in a decade. Reset gets an update from DePaul Public Service professor Amanda Kass and WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

When the Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate, the decision begins to ripple outwards, affecting everyone from credit card holders to car buyers to corporations. Reset talks with Morningstar personal finance expert Christine Benz about what you need to know about the recent rate cut as well as tips for saving for retirement in today’s economy. Her latest book is titled “How to Retire.” For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Voters chose 10 members, and Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint the remaining 11 members. The board will transition to being fully elected in 2026. Reset sits down with Ebony DeBerry and Angel Gutierrez, two newly elected school board members to hear their visions for the board and how they’ll approach the job. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Federal funding is the state of Illinois’ largest source of revenue. And the city of Chicago depends on it for various projects, including the current Red Line Extension and O’Hare Modernization. But President-Elect Donald Trump has a fraught relationship with the state’s prominent politicians, and has threatened to withhold federal funding from political opposition. How could a second Trump term affect the money that Illinois and Chicago receive from the federal government, and will projects like these stall during the next four years? Reset sits down with : Justin Marlowe, research professor in the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to learn more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Every two years, Cook County voters are asked whether circuit court judges should be retained for another six-year term. It’s rare for judges to not be retained, but this year, three judges are close to losing their seats. Reset gets an update from Maya Dukmasova, senior reporter at Injustice Watch. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Reset executive producer Dan Tucker shares his takeaways from a recent reporting trip to Australia. Unlike the U.S., the country has a rich history of changing its voting system to create a more representative government and a more democratic society. As a result, voting is mandatory in Australia, voters rank candidates from multiple parties, the Senate uses proportional representation and an independent commission administers federal elections. So, how do these systems work? And could they work in the U.S.? In this episode you’ll hear from: Judith Brett, author of “From Secret Ballot To Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting”; Samantha Ratnam, member of parliament in the state of Victoria for the Greens; Nick Minchin, former finance minister, former Liberal leader in the Senate; Shane Singh, professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia, author of the book “Beyond Turnout: How Compulsory Voting Shapes Citizens and Political Parties”; Tom Rogers, Australian Electoral Commissioner; and Bill Browne, director of the Democracy and Accountability program at the Australia Institute, an independent think tank in Canberra. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.