Author: WBEZ Chicago

Jury selection in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan continues this week. Madigan was long known as the “velvet hammer” for his subtle but powerful grip on state politics. He was the longest-serving speaker in American history, a position he held for 36 years under seven Illinois governors. In March 2022, he was indicted on 22 counts of racketeering and bribery charges for “allegedly using his official position to corruptly solicit and receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Reset discusses with Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel what you need to know to follow WBEZ and Sun-Times reporting on the trial as it unfolds. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

It’s Filipino American History Month, so we’re learning about how kamayan, the communal style of eating with hands, preserves Filipino culture. Plus, we discuss places in Chicago to sit down to a table covered in banana leaves and delicious Filipino dishes like lechon, longganisa and fish. Reset checks in with local restaurateurs Christine Ledesma, owner and co-founder of Kubo Chicago and Billy Dec, the CEO and founder of Sunda New Asian. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Siblings Olivia Hardy and Will Gao didn’t always know making music together was in the cards. “I feel like the process was pretty organic,” Hardy said. “There was never like a, ‘Today marks the beginning of everything.’” But even so, music has always been a big part of their lives. Gao recalls there always being music playing in their childhood whether it was on the CD player or the radio. The two have gone on to form the band Wasia Project. They’ve released a handful of singles and EPs and toured with the likes of Grammy-award winning jazz singer Laufey and artist Tom Odell. The duo dropped their latest EP ‘Isotope’ in August featuring tracks like ‘Is This What Love Is?’ and ‘Somebody Come Through.’ Hardy and Gao stopped by WBEZ’s studios ahead of their sold-out Chicago show at Lincoln Hall for an interview with Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson replaced the entire Board of Education, the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan got underway and the Chicago Bears head to London. Reset dives into these and other top local stories with CW26 reporter and anchor Brandon Pope, WBEZ assistant managing editor Kate Grossman and Better Government Association president David Greising. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Forget the planet Krypton. Did you know Illinois is Superman’s home state? In 1972 the state legislature declared Metropolis as his home town, and the residents there have embraced the Man of Steel by painting Superman on their water tower, building a 15-foot statue of him in front of their courthouse and even dedicating a museum to him. Reset intern Jules Yaeger explores the Super Museum, a shrine to the Man of Steel himself. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago alderpeople are not up for reelection, but residents across the city are receiving mailers that either praise or criticize alders for their stance on a proposal to electrify new homes in Chicago. WTTW looked into who is sending the mailers, and why. Reset learns what’s going on with Heather Cherone,Chicago politics reporter at WTTW. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Filipinos made up 4% of all registered nurses in the U.S. in 2020, but they accounted for more than 30% of all nurse deaths from COVID and they’ve long been the unsung backbone of the American healthcare system. A new documentary called “Nurse Unseen” shines a light on their contributions and sacrifices during a time of uncertainty, isolation and rising anti-Asian racism and violence.Reset sits down with the filmmakers Michele Josue and Carlo Velayo to learn more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Chicago International Film Festival kicks off its 60th year later this month, and for the ambitious filmmaker, getting on the fest’s programming may be an important stop on the road to Hollywood’s Dolby Theater. Reset checks in with WBEZ arts and culture reporter Courtney Keuppers and Rebecca Fons, director of programming for the Gene Siskel Film Center, one of the theaters participating. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

It’s that time of year where you have to ask yourself: is that weird tickle in your throat a cold, the flu, RSV, or is it COVID? Reset gets the latest guidance on how to survive the viral season from Dr. Mia Taormina, infectious disease specialist with Duly Health and Care. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

It’s been one year since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and the start of Israel’s ongoing military response that has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians. Reset checks in with Jewish religious leaders, including one who wrote about the experiences of the last year in an op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times. Our guests are Rabbi Michael Schwab of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park and Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein from Hyde Park. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.