Author: WBEZ Chicago

Around 45,000 dockworkers from Maine to Texas remain on strike weeks after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a point. So, what will these recent pieces of economic news mean for the economy and consumers in Chicago, the Midwest and beyond? Reset checks in with Austan Goolsbee, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The White Sox and the Bears are seeking public funds to build new stadiums. But real estate professionals have other ideas on how taxpayer money could be invested in Chicago. Crain’s Chicago Business commercial real estate reporter Danny Ecker sifts through the alternatives, which include more funding for police, a reimagining of the Loop as a cultural hub instead of a business center and much more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Vice President Harris and former president Trump say they will work to revive American manufacturing. There’s a lot at stake in Chicago. WBEZ’s Alden Loury and Esther Yoon-Ji Kang dig into who could benefit locally. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is trying to buy time to close a budget gap of almost a billion dollars. “Everything is on the table,” says the city’s budget director. But what options are there? And which will most impact everyday Chicagoans? Reset gets the latest with WBEZ city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

They’ve been trash talking on the campaign trail, but finally, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance will go head-to-head on primetime TV, Tuesday at 8 p.m. Central. Will the two be “Midwest nice” or go for the political jugular? Reset checks in with political expert Tabitha Bonilla, associate professor at Northwestern University, for her take on what to look out for at the vice presidential debate. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Reset received an email from a listener inquiring about the 700 block of Maxwell street, wondering about the story behind the historic 19th and 20th century facades. Reset’s architecture guru Dennis Rodkins explains how in the late 1990s, the University of Illinois Chicago redeveloped the area south of Roosevelt Road, the site of the Maxwell Street Market which led to the array of historic designs we see today. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Lake Michigan’s waters are the warmest they’ve ever been in documented history, and it's not just Lake Michigan either. The five great lakes are all seeing rising temperatures and this trend is not showing signs of slowing. Reset WBEZ’s environment reporter Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco breaks down what’s behind these rising temperatures and what they mean for wildlife and Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Since 1986, Chiu Quon Bakery has been a Chicago staple for traditional Chinese baked specialties. Featured in season three of FX’s The Bear, it’s the oldest Chinese bakery in Chicago, and it has two locations in the city. The bakeries have dozens of different kinds of sweets that are made by hand daily. The specialty treats they offer are part of a dying tradition that their bakery is making sure to keep alive and offer for generations to come. Reset speaks with one of the co-owners, Joyce Chiu, to learn about the bakery’s story. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Honestly, what’s better than some fall vibes and a good book? Because ’tis the season for spooky thrillers, horror, romance and mystery! For our Question Of The Week, we asked our listeners: What are you reading right now and what’s on your fall reading list? Reset talks books and fall reads with assistant commissioner of collections Lindsay Laren and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Review of Books Michael Welch. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.