Author: WBEZ Chicago

In the midst of the fear and frustration that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our outlooks, our priorities, and even our habits changed. The pandemic’s impact was far reaching – whether it be in pop culture to how we shop. That’s the premise of a new book aiming to help readers frame the current moment and reconcile their pre- and post-COVID lives. Reset sits down with the author of The Time We Have: Essays on Pandemic Living to unpack the changes and lessons learned from the pandemic. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A majority of young voters are worried that Biden is too old to effectively serve a second term in the White House. Yet, some of Illinois’ youngest delegates are sticking by his side. Reset hears why these delegates are concerned by Trump’s campaign, and why they think Biden should stay in the race. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Some areas of Illinois’ Lake Michigan shoreline are losing up to one hundred feet of shoreline per year. Others are so poorly protected from high water that entire neighborhoods are flooding. These are just some of the problems erosion poses. But how does erosion work? And how can we stop—or at least slow—it? Reset digs deeper with an advocate and a reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Rush University Medical Center, Cook County’s Stroger Hospital and UI Health Stroger are preparing for the worst case scenario, be it a mass shooting, an explosion, or tear gas, but say they’re prepared for any contingency. Reset hears how the hospitals will ensure smooth service in the face of the expected traffic delays and in case of emergency. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Less than two days after an apparent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee on July 15th. Reset checked in with a WBEZ reporter who is on the ground at the RNC to get a preview and hear how the news is affecting delegates. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Enjoy a summery vibe with instruments reminiscent of the funk and soul of the 1970s. The new album Roger That! is out now and pairs reflections on love and loss with a fun, upbeat sound. Zac Bron, front person of Smooth Rogers, joins Reset to discuss the new album and their musical inspirations. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Mayor Johnson calls for federal help after more than 100 people were shot over the Fourth of July weekend. Multiple U.S Congress members from Illinois call for President Biden to step aside. Reset breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Fifty years ago, Mafat and Tulsi Patel opened their first grocery store off Damen and Devon avenues. Fast forward to 2024, and Patel Brothers is the nation’s largest Indian grocery chain with 52 stores across the country. Reset learns how the iconic grocer came to be and the impact of connecting the community with South Asian foods and ingredients with one of the partners, Swetal Patel. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A student’s elementary school is a key predictor of who gets into an elite, test-in high school, WBEZ found. Students from mostly low-income and Black neighborhood schools rarely get into these high schools. New WBEZ data analysis demonstrates the barriers to enrollment at these elite schools. Reset gets the breakdown from a WBEZ education reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.