The Chicago Teachers Union took a no confidence vote in Pedro Martinez, the CEO of CPS, citing concern that the district might be considering closing or consolidating schools – which Martinez vehemently denies. And four sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times that Chicago’s mayor is now asking Martinez to resign.
Reset gets the latest on how this could affect the district finances, and the school year ahead with education reporters Sarah Karp of WBEZ and Nader Issa of the Chicago Sun-Times.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
In Australia, due to the country’s system of mandatory voting, turnout for federal elections is around 90%, but in many remote Aboriginal communities, it’s far lower. As part of our Democracy Solutions Project, Reset executive producer Dan Tucker traveled to the town of Yuendumu in Australia’s vast Northern Territory to understand why voters stay away from the polls and what it says about political representation in the country.
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.
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.
