The Tom & Jerry cocktail didn’t originate in Chicago, but this cakey drink feels very Midwestern. We get into the drunken history of this classic drink, and why it’s become a holiday tradition.
‘Tis the season for The Nutcracker! For three weeks, and in true holiday fashion, the Joffrey Ballet is lighting up the Lyric Opera House with its local twist on a classic tale. The show is set on Christmas Eve, months before the opening of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair. It features dazzling cultural performances, a visit from the mysterious Great Impresario and the magical adventures of the Nutcracker Prince and Marie, the young girl protagonist. The Reset team watched the show on opening night and sat down with the head of the ballet company Greg Cameron to learn more about the production.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Doulas support, educate and advocate for their pregnant patients. A new program at Stroger Hospital makes 10 doulas available to patients for free. Reset learns more with WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch, Cook County commissioner Donna Miller and doula Vivian Moreno.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
The U.S. economy added 277,000 jobs in November. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.2%. Reset gets an update and hears what the latest numbers could mean for the local economy from KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
