Author: WBEZ Chicago

As early voting expands in Chicago and Cook County, voters will choose between a Democrat, Republican and Libertarian to replace Kim Foxx as the next Cook County State’s Attorney. The state’s attorney – the county’s top prosecutor – oversees an office of about 1,300 employees and sets the tone for how justice is meted out in Cook County. WBEZ’s Reset sat down with two of the candidates seeking to replace her. (Libertarian Andrew Charles Kopinski was not able to come to the station for an interview.) In this episode, we sit down with Republican Bob Fioretti is a private defense attorney and former Chicago alderman who previously ran unsuccessfully for Chicago mayor, Cook County Board president and Cook County State’s Attorney. A longtime Democrat, he switched his party affiliation in 2022. To hear our conversation with his opponent Democrat Eileen O’Neill Burke, look back at our podcast feed. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Typically, freelance musicians don’t have the benefits many 9-to-5 jobs offer, like retirement accounts or health benefits. But a new group called Golden Egg, in partnership with the Experimental Sound Studio, is trying to change that through a matching grant program funded through the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. It will select 16 artists to receive a share of $50,000 to put into a retirement fund. Reset learns more about the goals of the effort with Golden Egg’s project manager Deidre Huckabay and steering committee member Adrian Ruiz. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

This weekend, Chicagoans can catch a celebration of the WGN icon and red-haired jester Bozo the Clown. The event will be hosted by Chicago native and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and will feature actor David Arquette as Bozo himself. Ahead of the weekend celebration, Reset opens the phones to hear listeners share their Bozo Circus memories that run the gamut. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Former president Donald Trump makes a stop in Chicago, questions around the Chicago Board of Education, the city’s Greyhound station to stay and Open House Chicago. Reset dives into these stories and more with Block Club Chicago reporter Melody Mercado, WTTW news correspondent Nick Blumberg and WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Open House Chicago is back! The architecture festival will run from Oct. 19 to 20. You’ll be able to see more than 170 buildings for free. And this year, 25 new sites have been added to that list. Reset gets the latest from the Chicago Architecture Center’s Adam Rubin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Scientists found the comet back in 2023. You can see it now for the next few days. It’s thought that the last time this comet was seen from Earth was 80,000 years ago. Reset checks in with Adler Planetarium astronomer Michael Zevin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Half a century ago a dozen Chicago women working in a male-dominated profession launched, “Chicago Women in Architecture.” Among the issues the group discussed in those early years were lack of recognition for their part in what are often team projects, the challenge of working in a demanding profession while raising children and inequitable pay. The Chicago Architecture Center currently has an exhibit called “Disrupters,” that tells the story of women in architecture. Reset goes on a field trip with architecture guru and resident real estate journalist for Crain's Chicago Dennis Rodkins to explore the buildings downtown that were designed by women. Beginning at this exhibit they find along the way legendary Chicago architect Carol Ross Barney, an original member of Chicago Women in Architecture to discuss her experience and why women have a prominent place in architecture. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

When entering the voter booth, you may be more prepared to mark your choice for president. But the longest part of your ballot has to do with officials who are more likely to have a direct impact on your life: judges. They’re the ones presiding over your case whether you’re disputing a speeding ticket, getting a divorce, fighting for child custody, or suing for damages in a car accident. And a majority of those judges are elected. But who are these candidates asking for your vote, and what do you need to know about them? We dig into the main candidates to know and where to find out more with Alejandra Cancino, senior reporter at Injustice Watch and Sonni Williams, president Illinois State Bar Association. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Before you even get to the “President of the U.S.” part of your voter ballot, there may be an “advisory referendum” you’ll be asked to weigh in on. Then at some point, you’ll have the option to weigh in on pages and pages of judges. Then there’s that office of the county circuit clerk – but what does that person even do? And what even is the Water Reclamation District, and why are you being asked about it? Reset demystifies your Election Day ballot with Tony Arnold, WBEZ government and politics editor, and WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.